I have kept an electronic journal for the past 10 years straight, without interruption. The first entry in my journal is from July 10th, 2010. When I reflect back I am not sure why or how I came to start journaling but I think I read about journaling on Steve Pavlina’s website at the time. Steve wrote a great book called ‘Personal Development for Smart People’ which I highly recommend.
Just do it!
Getting started on anything new can be the hard part and as the saying goes you have to ‘Just do it’! Luckily when I started journaling I decided to keep an electronic journal and I am delighted that I did. I downloaded the excellent journaling software by David Rm Software simply called ‘The Journal’. To begin with I started off my journaling very tentatively and was not sure what to write. I just wrote about my day and my thoughts initially. But that means that I can now go back and read the things that I was doing and struggling with 10 years ago today. For example I am reminded that I was in a different job at the time and was not very happy with it. Ten years ago today I was working on writing a boring report for work and was really looking forward to my upcoming holidays with my wife and children. My journal transports me back to that time of my life. Using my journal I can also jump to any date in the future. I sometimes travel ahead in my journal and ask my future self to pray for me. I know my future self will pray for me as I also pray for my past self when prompted!
My daily journaling routine
Over the years I have developed and refined a daily routine which includes journaling as a key component and I have to say that I don’t feel right if I miss my daily journaling! The practice is an essential part of my morning routine. Journaling is one of the first things I do each day. My days begins at 5am and I have a cup of coffee, pray, meditate, learn Spanish and then I journal. I usually spend about 10-15 minutes daily on my journal. In ‘The Journal’ software I have a series of templates saved with my favourite quotes and I also review my life’s purpose (ikigai) and the key goal I am working on for that quarter of the year. As part of an attitude of gratitude exercise I write 5 things that I am grateful for in my life right now. Reflecting on what I achieved yesterday I think about how I can make today better and I write the three key things that I want to get done today.
Features of The Journal Software
As I mentioned previously I use a journaling software by David Rm Software which is called The Journal. The software is simple and intuitive. At the basic level you can simply write in your daily journal. There is an option to include pictures and links to videos and files outside the software. You can jump to any day past or present and leave a note or message. You can tag diary entries to make them easy to find. A great feature is that you can save templates. For example I have created a template called ‘Experiment – Each Morning’. This template was made by me for me and includes all my favourite quotes and inspirational pictures, affirmations and a link to my own personal mind movie. I also have a ‘not to do list’ which I review daily (a list of things I promise myself not to do such as complain, criticise or eat sugary or salty snacks between meals). Everything I want to write about or remind myself of is in that morning template. I also add lib and off-load whatever is on my mind. It is amazing how good you can feel after writing out what is making you anxious, sad, worried etc. It feels like sharing a burden with an old friend.
What I have learned after 10 years
As time passes we forget or our memories can become vague so it is important to capture what is going on in our lives and what we are thinking about. There are important lessons we are learning and we need to make sure we write them down and capture them. I have no doubt that the process of reflection and writing in my journal helps me improve my ability to learn. As I jump back in time each morning as part of my journaling I learn about myself. As my current thoughts appear on the computer screen in front of me I reflect and I learn.
Looking back at our lives can also help us look forward. Think of how your life has changed over the past 10 years. What caused these changes? Were they in your control of caused by events outside your control? What happened in the past ten years gives us clues to what might happen to our lives over the next 10 years. My journal allows me to go back to what I was doing and thinking on this day ten years ago. I am not relying on memory alone to know how my life has been over the past 10 years. Another key lesson from ten years of keeping a journal is that the journal is like my friend and counselor. Writing in the journal is a form or therapy where I work out issues and emotions in my life. Journaling has enabled me to become a more stable and thoughtful person.
Conclusion
My recommendation is that you start keeping a journal today and write in it daily. You will be very happy you did as time passes and you have more and more to look back at in your journal. My electronic journal has become my time machine as I jump between the past, present and future. You will also be delighted to time travel using your journal! To get started you can download the DavidRM software. It’s simple and easy to use and very intuitive. If you want more ideas on journaling I have included further details on my course Transform Your Life: 30 Experiments in Personal Change (Assignment 31 -Keep a Journal and Reflect). The course also includes details on other practices mentioned in this article such as affirmations, mind movies and developing an attitude of gratitude.
Best wishes and happy journaling!
Tom
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