How do you use your Journal?

[Mike H]

I am curious as to what you guys put in your journal. Work related, home, family, spiritual, little bit of everything...

I have been carrying around my B&B FC Journal for several weeks now, but can not decide how I want to use it.

 

[Hunter]

I use it to put down thoughts from the day, lists of stuff I need to do, half finished poems.

 

[Mike H]

I use it to put down thoughts from the day, lists of stuff I need to do, half finished poems.

Do you put dates on your entries?

 

[archi77]

I've used a journal since I was 16. It's morphed back and forth a lot, but generally, it's "whatever I need to write at the time". A lot of it is my thoughts, venting so I don't scream at someone. Sometimes it's a to-do list. Sometimes it's a day-by-day listing of what I did (specifically, when on vacations or business trips, so track what I did from day to day...) Sometimes I tape momentos in (ticket stubs, pictures, etc).

Ultimately, I've found that when I "set rules" for what my journal is, I tend to use it less. When I just say "it is what I need it to be today", I use it a whole lot more... and that's the whole point of having it! At least for me. YMMV.

EDITED: Oh, and yes, I do date them. It's nice to go back and look at specific events in life years later. I have a whole military footlocker full of full journals... lots and lots of memories there.

 

[Lmarkow]

There's a little bit of everything in my journal. Entries include thoughts, lists, pen/ink tests, drawings, cursive practice, etc. I do date pages.

 

[Boro62]

My B&B folio is my work notebook...lots of to do....lots of notes from meetings...etc

 

[Hunter]

Do you put dates on your entries?

Everyone one yes.

 

[coyotewhisper]

I use my journal for random thoughts and ideas. Starting in 2014 I want to keep a shave journal, pen and ink journal, and an everyday thought one.

I do date my pages.

 

[ChefJohnBoy-ardee]

I mostly write a letter to myself saying what I did and what I'm thinking or feeling. I have a smaller work one with passwords, phone numbers, todo lists etc.

 

[Slivovitz]

No rules, what do you want to do with it?

Depending on what I count as a journal, I have between two and seven of the things. There's a main journal, a travel journal, a notebook where I'm keeping track of diet and exercise, a take everywhere pocket notebook for jotting down facts or ideas I don't want to forget, and well a few more. I write down things that happen and what I think of them, newly learned facts that interest me, poems and fiction (unpublished) of my own, my opinions about life in general, and occasionally pause to note what pen and ink I'm writing with at the moment.

I note the date on journal entries, sometimes even the time of day, and number the pages. If I'm using paper with ruled margins, I use them for short notes on what I'm writing about. It sometimes helps me find stuff later.

 

[Mr5x5]

Mine is gratitude journal. 3-5 bullet points at the end of the day with things I am grateful for that day.

 

[syngent]

I have a larger Journal for ink and pen reviews and testings, I bought the B&B leatherbound journal not knowing what I wanted to do with it, but Ed and Celestino always tell me I should write stories or keep track of my goofy trouble I always end up in and I thought hey, why not a real journal,... just a little more on the lighter side of my life so I think thats what Im going to do with it

 

[Purplemonkey]

I carry a moleskin book in my pocket most days. I just jot down to do lists, things I want to explore, thoughts, ideas, items I want to check out. It helps keep my brain from constantly racing. I do not date the entries or pages. If I need sometime time sensitive, I put it in my phone

 

[musicman1951]

I date each entry. It's a little bit of everything: thoughts, entertaining things the grandchildren say or do, a bit of handwriting practice, etc.

 

[DevinLT1966]

My journal has evolved over time. I started about 8 years ago when my daughter was born. At that time I treated it more like an ongoing letter to her. More about what she did or funny things she said. But I really didn't keep up with it and the entries were really hit and miss.

I started back up a year ago when she was diagnosed with a cancer. I used a small Moleskine that I carried everywhere. It was mostly a place to write down everything I needed to know because my brain wasn't focused. Once her treatment was over I switched to a larger journal as a place to record my thoughts, daily activities that I didn't want to forget or just random thoughts.

I have been keeping the current journal long enough now that it has become habit. In fact, I look forward to the few minutes of quiet time to write. I don't write everyday but at least every few days. I think now of the reasons I have been successful is that I don't feel like I have to write everyday and there isn't a set topic.

I still carry a small pocket notebook almost everywhere to jot down notes, lists, ideas, or whatever. Although I think of that as a "dumping ground" I think it still gives a picture of my life. Isn't that the real reason, to have something to look back on or to share with a future generation?

And yes, I date every page.

 

[merkur59]

...
Ultimately, I've found that when I "set rules" for what my journal is, I tend to use it less. When I just say "it is what I need it to be today", I use it a whole lot more... and that's the whole point of having it! At least for me. YMMV.
...

I wasn't using mine much because I was trying to keep it "neat and organised" - I think I will just adopt your approach

 

[Ru4scuba?]

Mine is a mess...lots of lists, random thoughts etc. Mostly checklists for work, and it's getting time to buy another one for the new year. I've typically used smaller ones but thinking of going larger this year

 

[Micheal Halliday]

interesting thread.

I am starting a journal this week.

A few goals/ ideas I have are:

• Ben Franklin approach : As a young man Ben had a sort of daily scorecard he kept for the "virtues" he prized, i.e. industry, temperance, etc.... I think My list of areas that I will consider noting successes and failures in each day are:​
  • Industry ​
  • Fidelity ​
  • Honesty ​
  • Patience ​
  • Integrity ​
  • Healthy ​
• I will keep this VERY Keep private as I am wrestling with some habits/behaviors etc that I am not proud of and will want to honestly document successes and failures ​
• Will follow -somewhat- my work notebook style : I keep almost all my work notes "in the cloud" using oneNote. When I do choose to use one of my paper notebooks for meeting notes, ideation sessions etc... I scan the pages into OneNote with appropriate date. I think I will enjoy the journaling experience more if I do it long hand, but will use a OneNote notebook for capture of ideas throughout the day etc.
  Been wanting to improve my handwriting and perhaps learn to write italics, so may us the journal for practice in that as well. The exercise of slowing down and focusing on my words, might add to the reflection/ meditation ​
• Started before but never stuck with it - really wish I had, must remind myself of that regret when I start to abandon it this time ​

As others have said, I do not plan to impose RULES per se, but merely these things above will be "starters" if I feel like I have nothing to write, or perhaps just a method for improving in the areas of my life in which I think I need to be better.

Anyway , wish me luck guys, and success​

 

[acesn8s]

I date all my entries.

My journal is a catch all for me. I write down thoughts, dreams, rants, story ideas, shaves, etc.

The hardest part is getting started. So, I usually start with a shaving status: what I used, how was the shave, what I thought of the products, etc. By the time I'm done describing my shave I've already moved on to something else.

 

[Bob L.]

I keep a separate journal for each class I teach. If it needs to be remembered or acted upon it is written down. Dates are always entered. I use lots of lists. Several other teachers I work with are now following suit.

My personal journal is also dated. As someone else said, I've found that if I try to apply rules I end up ignoring them. So, the only journal rule is a date starts each day's entries.