Digital Journaling No.1 Starter Guide
If you want to improve yourself, start with daily digital journaling.
It can help you discover new things about yourself, improve your focus, create better habits, and boost your creativity.
According to Tim Ferris, the author of “The 4-Hour Workweek”, his 5-minute daily morning journaling routine has an immensely positive effect on his life.
He is one of the successful people who journals. (Createwritenow)
Whether you’re just exploring digital journaling or already keeping a journal, this article will provide everything you need to know about starting and practicing daily digital journaling.
What is Digital Journaling?
A digital journal is an online version of a traditional paper diary. You can document your thoughts and experiences in an organized way and share them with others if desired.
Daily digital journaling can have various purposes, such as a personal organizer or a writing habit.
Whatever you want to achieve with digital journaling, the daily writing habit can improve your life and help you in many ways.
Learn why and how you should start digital journaling today!
Why Start a Digital Journal?
Here are some advantages of a digital journal:
No more lost diaries
Digital diaries cannot get lost, torn, or ruined by water. You can save your digital journal on your phone and always have it with you.
Unlimited amount of pages
No more worrying about running out of pages like you would with a paper journal.
Great privacy features
Your digital journal is private, and only you can access it with your password.
No need to buy extra supplies
You don’t need to buy any special journals, paper, pens, etc.
Ease of archiving and transferring
Archive, back up, and transfer your journal. You can store it on several devices or share it.
Journals for various purposes
You can find digital journals for various purposes, such as travel and gratitude journals.
Start your digital journaling practice
Benefits of Digital Journaling
Better Organization
When you keep your journal in digital form, you will find yourself logging your entries with much more ease and organization than if you owned a paper journal.
You can search your entries quickly and easily, saving you time in the long term. That is perfect when you like to read through your journal.
Visibility to Others
Have you ever thought of sharing your notes? It is much easier with your digital journal.
If you want to share your journal with others, you can easily share your entries and let people know how to view them.
Greater Self-Awareness
When you journal digitally, you can easily keep track of your moods and emotions.
You can also track other aspects of your behavior, such as your eating habits and amount of sleep.
The more you journal, the more self-aware you become, which can help you understand your habits on a deeper level.
More Focused Thinking and Writing
When you journal digitally, you can use tools to concentrate on your thoughts and writing.
For example, use a timer to create a time limit for your writing, as well as a journaling prompt to help you get started.
Journaling prompts can help you think more clearly, and inspire you to write on a particular topic.
More Accurate Memory Retention
Studies have shown that memory retention is greater when you write your thoughts and ideas down in a journal than when you speak them out loud.
This is because you’re visually recording your thoughts and ideas, which is more accurate.
Improved Confidence and Self-Esteem
Journaling can be a great way to explore your feelings and thoughts on different topics, including your strengths and weaknesses.
The more you journal, the more confident you become in yourself and your abilities, which can help you build your self-esteem.
Enhanced Creativity and Writing Skills
Be as creative as you want, and let your creativity flow freely without worrying about the visual appearance of your journal.
Journaling can also help you become a better writer, and explore your emotions and thoughts on different topics.
Set and Achieve Goals
Journaling can be an effective way to set and achieve goals. When you set goals, you’re actively making an effort to improve and make changes in your life.
This can make you feel more confident and you are more likely to achieve them when you write your goals down, review, and adjust them over time.
Finding the Right Journal App
Finding the right digital journaling app is key. You should research before deciding on one. Here are a few things to keep in mind when doing so:
Ease of Use: The app should be easy to use and intuitive so you don’t feel overwhelmed when starting. Avoid apps that have too many features and, instead, find one that focuses on the essentials.
Privacy Settings: Ensure you read the privacy and terms of service of the app you are considering using. Make sure the app meets your needs and is trustworthy.
Content and Functionalities: The app you choose should have the features you need. Is it designed for daily journaling? Does it allow for multimedia content?
Explore your app store to find the right app.
Best Digital Journaling Apps
Day One
Day One is popular among Apple users and is rated as the top journaling app in the Apple Store.
App features:
use templates to make journaling easier
automatically add metadata - weather, location, step count, currently playing music, and motion activity
configure multiple notifications
Your Day One app may remind you to write in the morning, at lunchtime, and at the end of the day to keep track of your activities and thoughts.
Darium
Darium is the best cross-platform app; you can use it with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
Main app features:
add media types - images, audio files, and drawings
accurate voice recognition
Voice recognition is a real plus. It makes it easy to put down your thoughts when you don’t want to write.
In addition, Darium can synchronize with your favorite cloud app, which lets you safely store your data and always access it on any device.
Penzu
You like to keep it simple with excellent security. This journaling app is well-known for its safety features.
Besides your account password, you also have a separate password to lock your journal.
If you like a familiar and straightforward design, Penzu is best for you because it is like writing a blog post in WordPress.
App features:
reminders
a text formatting toolbar
clear structure
Make a journaling plan
3 Steps to Start a Daily Practice
Now that you’ve chosen an app and understand the basics of digital journaling let’s dive into the actual process of starting a daily digital journaling practice. Follow the steps below to get started.
1. Create a Title and Description
Start by creating a title and description for your journal. It can be whatever you want – you can choose something general or specific.
You can also write a short intro about why you journal and what you hope to get out of it. This is helpful because it keeps you focused and reminds your journaling goals.
2. Develop a Strategy
You don’t have to start journaling right away. Before beginning the journaling practice, you can take some time to create a strategy and plan for your journal.
Ask yourself questions like:
Why am I starting to journal?
What do I want to get out of it?
What do I like to log?
What are my goals?
3. Create Your First Entry
Once you’ve created your strategy and have a bit of time, you are ready to start journaling! You can use what you’ve written in your intro as your first entry, or you can pick your favorite topic.
Also, define a time for journaling, ideally in the morning or evening, and stick to it.
Now that you are ready, it is time to start your journey and make your digital journaling a daily habit. Enjoy it!
Get the Best out of Your Journal
Make organization of your notes easy and transfer them if needed
Become more focused and self-aware through daily journaling
Give your journal a personal touch with an individual design
Secure your journal with a password, backup, and archive feature
Journaling is an excellent way to get in touch with yourself, your thoughts, and your emotions.
It can help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings, allowing for self-reflection and personal growth.
With many apps available, digital journaling is an accessible, convenient way to achieve personal growth and a successful lifestyle.
PRO TIP: Get some inspiration from Tim Ferris who explains his journaling habit in this business insider article.
Download one of the apps presented and start journaling today!
Sources:
Examples of Highly Successful People Who Journal (createwritenow.com)
Tim Ferriss Explains His Journaling Habit - Business Insider