Best Method for Keeping a Journal

[Dwane J.]

I have a nice unused moleskine journal that has been sitting on my desk for about a year now.

I want to start writing in it but not sure what to put in it.

For those who are writing in your journals, what is the most successful method of keeping a journal that helps you on your path to success? Do you follow a certain format or outline or just let the words flow on paper?

[YouseffTheSheep]

Hey Dwane!

I recently just started writing in a journal of my own, however, I do so very infrequently... I'm probably on the same boat as you slightly confused how it's supposed to work out, but I suppose it comes from your goal on what you should be writing in your journal.

I started the journal to begin cataloging my life, which became sort of tedious and hard to stick with. So, over the past month it's kind of evolved to me writing in the journal about every week or so (usually on the weekends) about things that interest me, or about big changes in my perception of things.

I guess it all really depends on what your goal is; Whatever you like, write about that, whatever you want, write about that :-P.

For formating, I generally put the date and time. :-P. Content wise, it's mostly stream of thought for me.

Hope I helped you.

[Jes]

I've just begun keeping a journal so that I don't get distracted by the same issue more than once. It's more of a scientific journal than a personal journal. I'll write about key points of my day ("started a new project," "had lunch with my friends," "came to an important realization," etc.) and if I have any thoughts on either those points, or points I'll be tackling the next day, I'll jot those down, too. So it looks a little something like this:

4/23/7, 1:43 p.m. EST

This morning I finished writing the rough draft for the new businessplan I wrote about yesterday. I think I'll make revising it my goal for tomorrow. But I need to learn to not get distracted by Oprah at every day at 4:00. That Oprah is a fine, fine woman. So how can I prevent myself from getting distracted by such a marvelous creature? Well, I don't really watch TV much these days. I guess I don't really need one at all. Maybe I'll move it down into the basement in case there's an emergency and I need to flip on the local news. OK, that's my second goal for tomorrow!

And then when I write the next entry, I usually review the previous one to make sure I'm keeping up with myself. I basically just use it to clear my head.

[A.K.Light]

Free journal software is cool. I can't bring myself to write more than a line or two with a pencil, but I can type 80 WPM accurately. Using software makes it a thousand times easier. It was password protection, it saves whatever you write automatically, and it keeps everything in order, ect... I used to write in it every day but then that habit was replaced with something else that I actually like more. I think the main thing that keeps me going is that I don't have any rules for my journal. If I had rules, I would probably not follow them, lol.

[C.F. Jackson]

Originally Posted by Dwane J.

I have a nice unused moleskine journal that has been sitting on my desk for about a year now.

I want to start writing in it but not sure what to put in it.

For those who are writing in your journals, what is the most successful method of keeping a journal that helps you on your path to success? Do you follow a certain format or outline or just let the words flow on paper?

Dwane,

I have several journals. My number one
journal that stays near my bed contains
my 5 successes of the day.

Before I retire at night I write at the very
least 5 successes for the day. This allows
me to close my day with success on my
mind and allows my subconscious to marinate
on it as I sleep.

Also, I have my journals where I write my
articles that I share with those who have
subsribe to the Won't Be Denied E-zine.

You have to determine what is it you'd like
to release from the inner you into it and make
it a success habit.

Make this an awesome day!

Won't Be Denied!
C.F. Jackson

Lighting 1,000 Dreams Worldwide!

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Dwane J.

For those who are writing in your journals, what is the most successful method of keeping a journal that helps you on your path to success? Do you follow a certain format or outline or just let the words flow on paper?

I use my laptop and a word processor to keep my journal. Each morning when I get up I start by putting the day and date in bold and start writing. I write during the rest of the day when I have something that belongs in my journal and almost anything can go there. I carry the laptop when traveling and so it is with me and available most of the time.

I've been using this method of journaling for several years now and find it fits me better than writing with pen and paper.

[Mark Lapierre]

I journal to keep a record of my impressions of my life. Thus there is no set format or style, otherwise I'd be limiting those impressions. The style changes depending on what I'm writing about and how I feel about it.

Sometimes there are so many thoughts and feelings that I want to express that I write in shorthand, or in point form, or with abbreviations. Then when I feel I've got everything out, I go back and flesh out some of the earlier points.

Other times I write slowly and carefully, stopping to think for a minute or two before continuing. But usually I just keep writing. It means I think less, but it does help to bring some order to my thoughts.

If you're trying to think of what to write in your journal, the most important question to ask is "Why do I want to keep a journal?" Considering the chosen forum, and your reference to success, I assume you want to keep a journal to help you improve yourself. C.F.Jackson's suggestion is a good one. You can also write responses to these questions:

• What have I accomplished today?
• What could I have done better, and how?
• What did I learn today?
• What am I grateful for?

You could also use it to reaffirm your goals. Write out your major goals each day, and any you haven't worked on recently, to keep them all at the forefront of your mind.

I also have a journal on my computer, but that's used for more structured writing; goals, posts on various online forums, reference material, etc.