[removed]
I’ve been keeping a journal for a YEARS now, and recently I realized how much it’s changed the way I observe things around me.
Before I started writing consistently, little moments-a great conversation, a random thought while listening to music, or just a shift in mood-would pass by and vanish. But now, I find myself paying much closer attention to tiny details during the day just because I know I want to capture them on paper later. It’s almost like journaling turned on a light switch for my everyday awareness. Plus, looking back at entries from the past is like stepping into a time capsule of who I was back then.
For those of you who write, keep diaries, or do creative writing: Has it changed how you navigate daily life or view your own memories? How long have you been doing it?
[removed]
I love dreaming so I have a daily dream journal and write my interpretation of what they mean or are trying to tell me, and have been doing it about 20 years now. I have done “normal” journaling, on and off but I’d only write happy good things because anything negative would make it more real if that makes sense. The past 3 weeks I’ve made a point to journal after every dream journal entry no matter what even if negative and it’s helped me distance myself from that negativity and realize it’s just a thought or feeling that will pass. Actually, thinking about it now it’s definitely made my thoughts less hectic and my mind more quiet since I know there’s a time to write and dump them all out in my journal and don’t have to keep thinking about them except for that moment.
Do you also use AI to journal for you? Because that's not journaling.
Do you just default to trolling no matter what?
I used to write down my thoughts onto a notepad, but that didn't really work well for me since I wasn't consistent in doing that at all. Now I just journal to study a new language, but I do have to admit that it does feel satisfying reading out your own thoughts and see the change though.
i used to journal sooo much. its been years now, i might need to get back into it
Did you worry about privacy at any point of time?
I journal in a very difficult language that I have a degree in so my family can’t read anything😂
Good point; when I left for college I actually burned my high school diary. And it was really tame.
yeah, a bit. i just keep it somewhere hidden and don’t write anything i’d be devastated to lose
yeah, it’s weird how writing things down makes you actually pay attention to your own life
I’ve been journaling for almost 20 years, on and off since I was in elementary school. It is so funny to read my first journals from elementary school, and so precious to see the progression of how I write, what I write about, and seeing my handwriting change. I think the best times of my life are the periods when I’m the most active in writing in a journal. Like you, journaling does change the way I think. While something is happening, in the back of my mind I’ll be thinking of *how* I want to capture this moment, this interaction, this feeling. And for me, it is such a great coping mechanism. I’ve had many AH-HA moments/ some self-realizations while in the middle of writing a sentence. I’ve also kept some dream journals, but I do less of that now. What’s fun is that I’ll reread an entry about a dream, and I’ll instantly remember the whole dream and be transported back to that dream world. So fun and cool
I had a desire to be a writer from a young age, so I think I’ve always looked at things this way. When I learned about mindfulness I found it pretty easy to get into because I was already living in the moment quite a lot. I never did publish anything, although I have a few poems and such. But I’m grateful for the ability to appreciate the things around me.
I don't write, but I capture pictures and make collages of the day's vibes if it's something special. Also, I force my students to talk about their routine every lesson starts with it and it's made them more vigilant too
I had a white page syndrome when it comes to journaling. I know the basics and the 101s but i still dont know to apply it to myself. I freeze every time i try, so i find it so impressive and cool when someone does it on routinely. What made you start ?
Just write whatever comes to mind. Don't think about it, just write down your stream of thought!