from dear diary to life documentation
the planner method that took away blank page pressure (and other easy journaling wins)
One thing I told myself I wanted to do differently this year is to be more consistent with journaling. Instead of it being a weekly habit, a rage journaling sesh, or gushing over something awesome, I wanted to capture the everydayness of my life.
I’ve been journaling since 1999, so the habit is established, but I wanted to revive it to focus more on what's happening around me, rather than just what's happening to me.
Let’s call it a shift from “dear diary” to intentional life documentation.
I like to think I have a sharp memory, but as life gets more complicated and jam-packed with “things” to be at or done, I forget a lot of the small details I want to keep alive.
I write about everything now. Any given entry can consist of what I ate, who I saw, what I watched or read, something fun I did, conversations I’ve had, and what’s happening at home.
Let me tell you, this documentation of life isn’t overly complicated; I keep it simple. I’m not narrating the entire day, just the cliff notes.
During therapy, we always start with a “check me in” moment. I have my journal right beside me. I flip back to the last day I had therapy and then scan to see what highlights or major moments I need to share. It’s helped my therapy sessions become more structured and fruitful because I can recall a comment that made me feel a certain way or share a major communication win, as I wrote it all down.
In addition to documenting daily living, I’ve been tracking all the books I’ve read with short reviews and listing every movie I’ve watched so far.
Capturing this time capsule of life is so enjoyable. It’s fun, it’s cute, and it’s all just for me. I love having everything in one spot to file away, then reopen and revisit when nostalgia is knocking on my front door.
I wish I had documented some of the smaller things, like movies, shows, and books, when I was younger. But boys, outfits, and secret parties filled up my journals decades ago.
Those are some memories I am very shy about revisiting. I turned my high school journal into a physical book more than four years ago, and I haven’t mustered the courage to get past the first few entries from the fall of 1999.
My 13-year-old brain was WILD. Repeatedly confessing love for a boy I met at church camp. If you could see how that boy turned out today. *giggles*
I’ve become more of a private person over the course of this year … or shall I say I’ve become much more intentional about what I am sharing with others.
My text threads and group chats have become more like a “timeline” for me, rather than Instagram. I’m sharing more of what’s going on with people who are closest to me. They even get some of my cutest pictures because if I’m honest, that is who I would want a “like” from anyway, so why not send it right to the source.
Refocusing on my Substack has also been a breath of fresh air. Journaling has helped me discover ways to become a better writer, and it’s inspiring me to share more about myself in a way that truly resonates with me, not what others want or prefer.
A few of my journal entries have turned into blog posts.
This one about friendship was a lengthy journal post that had me going to the back of my planner (journal) to rage out. This one was when someone told me my kid didn’t look special needs. And this one consistently finds its way into journal entries, my love for this current season of life.
I’m hooked. I can’t go back to digital journaling, but I am digitally documenting life right here on Substack.
If you want to create a better journaling habit, these are some easy tips to get you started.
Purchase a planner as your journal. A planner takes away the pressure of a blank page. Sometimes people are like, “what do I write in this wide open space?” Having a dated planner as your journal almost immediately prompts you to jot down notes about your day.
If you're starting this habit now, most stores offer mid-year planners that include the rest of this year and the next full year. If not, pick up the current year, which should be on sale since it’s mid-year, and begin.
Start with things you do daily. Write down where you went, what you did, what you ate, who you saw, etc. It might feel weird, but writing down little things like that gets your creative juices flowing. Even if you just write down your thoughts after watching an episode of your latest binge.
Use the calendar layout to record your personal (not work) appointments and other important events. I love writing down my plans in the calendar format when I am meeting up with friends, date nights, sporting events, etc. This bird's-eye view snapshot is a great memory jogger when I need to recall something.
Write one day behind. If you are picking up the habit today, tomorrow, write down what happened today. You can write in the moment, which I think is a stellar talent, but then you might take up space in your layout. So I like waiting until the day is officially done, meaning after a sleep.
If you do need more space than the layout boxes provide, most planners have a “notes” section in the back. Make a small arrow to indicate that the rest of the day is noted in the back. Then flip back there, write the date of the entry (which should always be the day before), and continue with your thoughts.
Take your journal with you. I like to keep it with me most of the time when I'm out and about, working or reading around the city. My preferred time is to journal in the morning, but sometimes it doesn’t happen, and I am writing midday or while waiting in the school pickup line.
This was my first year that I journaled my way through group trips. I loved waking up eager to write down yesterday’s shenanigans and memories. It definitely took intention, because sharing a house with several people can make for distractions at any given moment. And I was still able to find time to journal.
Make lists! There are a lot of pages in standard planners that might not fit your style or vibe. Like, what was I going to do with the notes page that is before each calendar spread? I ended up using that as my book list. I write down the titles I read that month, dates read, reviews, and rating included. I use the “to watch” page at the front to list all the movies I have watched this year.
Come up with some unique list ideas: sporting events, concerts, TV shows, favorite websites, restaurants, coffee shops, etc. But start small; don’t try to list everything, because then you will become too overwhelmed and retreat from the original reason you began this journaling journey.
Journaling is a wellness habit. It’s a way to release tension, anxiety, and stress from your body. It’s also a way to celebrate life, joyful moments, and occasions. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you for it.
Are you a journal bae? What’s your method or practice for journaling?
Talk to me in the comments.