I need to start writing a journal

[dompie85]

I started to write a new thread and halfway through I answered my own question. Obviously, I did not post that thread; which brings me to this thread. I need to keep a daily journal. Write down everything I did that day, write down any progress, negative and positive things that I did or happened to me, who I saw, any distractions, what I did throughout the day, everything. I feel like this is a better way to answer my own questions. It seems like its a reality check on the person that I am vs the person I want to become. I feel like this could be the best tool anybody can have.
To those who do write daily journals, I have a few questions.
- How do you write down/categorize your day? do you split things up or just keep everything in one big paragraph?
- How often to you go back and review your journal?
- How honest are you with yourself in your journal? (Seems like a silly question, but essential)
- What other pointers could you offer?

Thanks!

 

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[Fox]

I believe there are a few threads on this already but Ill jump in...

I track 5 main things everyday:

-Input (what I read, studied or listened too that was productive)

-Output (what I worked on that day that is getting me towards my goals)

-Income (my main job plus any additional incomes -ebook and app)

-Expenditure (bills/food/purchases - plus my average daily cost: rent+bills+insurance+phone/30)

-Goals (top 5 goals for that day with my one or two main goals)

At the end of the day I take my expenditure from my income and I calculate how much time I spent learning and also taking action.
Those figures go at the bottom of the page

At the end of the week I add up all the figures and have a look at where I can approve.

I also have an additional section where I track that I followed my full morning routine and also that I planned the next day before I went to bed.

 

[dompie85]

If there are other threads on this topic, I apologize. I'll have a search now.

 

[marklov]

It's quite relaxing recording the day's events.

Instead of paragraphs I mindmap the days event's and include a quick
summation to flesh the even out a little bit.

I tried using an audio recorder but it became annoying when I wanted to quickly
revisit a specific event.

 

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[Aleksandra88]

Hi, you read my mind starting this thread! I started a journal which keeps track of things I do, because I tend to get lost on the way.

"- How do you write down/categorize your day? do you split things up or just keep everything in one big paragraph?
- How often to you go back and review your journal?
- How honest are you with yourself in your journal? (Seems like a silly question, but essential)
- What other pointers could you offer?"

1. I split the categories (see below), and have one "other" category each day. One page=one day
2. I review each week. Other than that sometimes I go back for one specific reason (ex. review what I did to chieve long-tem goal)
3. 100%. At least I try.
4. My way i to write in the morning (3-5min) and in the evening (3-5min). Sometimes I take note during the day if I have some idea.

I'm doing it for 3 months so far, I'm not an expert, but hope this helps. My ideas for categories so far:
- (morning) 3 things I'm grateful for today (to get up my mood and keep me going)
- (morning) main goal for today
- (morning) things that would make this day better (ex. going to gym, meeting friends)
- (evening) what I learned today
- (evening) what I did - productive things only
+ a weekly review of my long term goals

Numbers 1 and 3 are important to me because I tend to forget about the good things that happen and get depressed. I want to have record of the good in my life to reiew in bad times.

I'll be watching this thread in future and hope for further inspiration!

 

[Mattie]

I probably should keep a journal, but I don't, simply because I'm a writer, so I already kind of do that by creating content.
I suppose I would write what I accomplish or important information I think I would need for projects, but fortunately I just write that in a notebook specifically for that intention, more than just a journal.

 

[GrayCode]

I started to write a new thread and halfway through I answered my own question. Obviously, I did not post that thread; which brings me to this thread. I need to keep a daily journal. Write down everything I did that day, write down any progress, negative and positive things that I did or happened to me, who I saw, any distractions, what I did throughout the day, everything. I feel like this is a better way to answer my own questions. It seems like its a reality check on the person that I am vs the person I want to become. I feel like this could be the best tool anybody can have.
To those who do write daily journals, I have a few questions.
- How do you write down/categorize your day? do you split things up or just keep everything in one big paragraph?
- How often to you go back and review your journal?
- How honest are you with yourself in your journal? (Seems like a silly question, but essential)
- What other pointers could you offer?

Thanks!

A member pointed this link out to me and i think it would be helpful.

https://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/2...e&show_recommendations=false&view_mode=scroll

 

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