Haha yes I have but have failed at every attempt. I just can't keep up with but then again I do alot of other writings that replace it. I have a few blogs and such that function essentially as a journal. I also have 5 or 6 journals with probably like a page or two written in.
Starting or Using a Journal
- Thread starter n4^_xd
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Excellent point Korg. I think this is why I have strayed away from journaling for a while ... it gets quite depressing ...
Did you find a way to remedy this? or did you just press on and journal anyway?
Ive tried to start a journal, but found to it hard to actually think about what to write in it, Ive found it very hard to understand my thought process and conveying it into words is often madding for me. When I try to make sense of it all, I feel like I only touch on the surface of most things and feel the need to delve deeper but cant. My understanding of the nature of things come sporadically, I'm often none the wiser to how I came to any given conclusion.
My mind is my journal, I write in it everyday and it lets me know when I need to read it.
My mind is my journal, I write in it everyday and it lets me know when I need to read it.
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I had a thread that was pretty much the same. Here are my thoughts and some other members as well.
http://forums.infjs.com/showthread.php?t=9427
http://forums.infjs.com/showthread.php?t=9427
I always have a hard time keeping them up. I have an art journal that I use from time to time, but it is so messy and involves so much work to set up and clean up I don't do it a lot. I don't use my member blog on a daily thing and I'm not sure if I did have a daily journal/diary what I would write about. The events of the day? My thoughts? Would it be more of an observational piece, self-reflective, or opinion analysis? No idea.
I know several people who keep journals, myself included, and all benefit from it. However, I think everyone has a different approach.
I use mine as a way to keep myself writing. I don't always write about myself. Sometimes it's just poetry or short stories.
However the only way I can actually keep mine up is by forcing myself to write at least two pages every day. If I tell myself to write "only when I feel like it" then I end up writing never.
It can be hard to get into the habit. I failed the first two times because (a) as above, I only wrote when I felt like it, and (b) I tried to put down every detail of my life. One thing that can be sustaining is getting some feedback on your journal, as long as it's not private. You could start a blog on this forum, where you post the highlights of what you write. As long as people are commenting on your work, you'll have incentive to keep going.
I used to actually keep two journals. One, I left at home, and wrote my daily two pages in. The other, I took with me everywhere I went, and wrote random little notes that I didn't want to forget. It actually became sort of a trademark of mine. Now I use the same journal for both, and keep it close so that no will read my private stuff.
It's ok to start off slow. Don't immediately jump into five pages a day (unless maybe you're doing it weekly), because you'll exhaust you creative resources (at least I would). Do half a page, then work up from there. At first, you'll find yourself writing awkward little descriptions of your day. (I cringe when I read my first journal entry. It sucks.) This goes away in a month, don't worry.
As for choosing a journal itself, keep in mind that within a year you could conceivably fill it up. There's no huge reason to get a really nice leather one. I use normal composition notebooks. However, I did get a nicer one for when I knew I would be going on a month long trip to Vietnam. You'll find that you do your best writing when you're in a strange, foreign place. I wanted to save it in something more fancy.
At home I have a box where I keep all my old journals, as well as cards, pictures, and programs from events I've participated in. Though it goes against the "eggs in one basket" philosophy, it's nice to have a place with so much emotion concentrated in one spot.
Don't feel bad if it takes you a couple tries to get going. Like I said, I made three attempts over about four years before I caught one. Eventually, you'll start to enjoy it. Good luck!
I use mine as a way to keep myself writing. I don't always write about myself. Sometimes it's just poetry or short stories.
However the only way I can actually keep mine up is by forcing myself to write at least two pages every day. If I tell myself to write "only when I feel like it" then I end up writing never.
It can be hard to get into the habit. I failed the first two times because (a) as above, I only wrote when I felt like it, and (b) I tried to put down every detail of my life. One thing that can be sustaining is getting some feedback on your journal, as long as it's not private. You could start a blog on this forum, where you post the highlights of what you write. As long as people are commenting on your work, you'll have incentive to keep going.
I used to actually keep two journals. One, I left at home, and wrote my daily two pages in. The other, I took with me everywhere I went, and wrote random little notes that I didn't want to forget. It actually became sort of a trademark of mine. Now I use the same journal for both, and keep it close so that no will read my private stuff.
It's ok to start off slow. Don't immediately jump into five pages a day (unless maybe you're doing it weekly), because you'll exhaust you creative resources (at least I would). Do half a page, then work up from there. At first, you'll find yourself writing awkward little descriptions of your day. (I cringe when I read my first journal entry. It sucks.) This goes away in a month, don't worry.
As for choosing a journal itself, keep in mind that within a year you could conceivably fill it up. There's no huge reason to get a really nice leather one. I use normal composition notebooks. However, I did get a nicer one for when I knew I would be going on a month long trip to Vietnam. You'll find that you do your best writing when you're in a strange, foreign place. I wanted to save it in something more fancy.
At home I have a box where I keep all my old journals, as well as cards, pictures, and programs from events I've participated in. Though it goes against the "eggs in one basket" philosophy, it's nice to have a place with so much emotion concentrated in one spot.
Don't feel bad if it takes you a couple tries to get going. Like I said, I made three attempts over about four years before I caught one. Eventually, you'll start to enjoy it. Good luck!
Lately I've been keeping one. At first it was because last fall I started college and wanted to write down my initial reactions to various experiences, but it's sort of evolved into a more personal chronicling of my life. Not so much of "Today I did this and this," but more of writing a new entry when something exciting happens, and then I dramatize it a little bit so it'll be interesting to reread later on. 
But some of my favorite entries are the ones where I write about an ordinary day in an romanced retelling. But I also tape in movie tickets, old bus passes, pictures of my celebrity crush (it's a running gag lol), and other random artifacts.
But what I like about journals is that I can expel all the thoughts floating in my head that I don't share. That's probably an INFJ thing, but it's nice to write in the journal all my thoughts so I don't feel smothered by them. But I've found that I personify the journal a little bit. haha
But yeah, I really like keeping one! In fact, I just filled up my old journal and started writing in a new one, which is...odd. Been so used to the old one. lol Journaling isn't a hobby for everyone, but I think it's a fun one that everyone should at least try out.
But some of my favorite entries are the ones where I write about an ordinary day in an romanced retelling. But I also tape in movie tickets, old bus passes, pictures of my celebrity crush (it's a running gag lol), and other random artifacts.But what I like about journals is that I can expel all the thoughts floating in my head that I don't share. That's probably an INFJ thing, but it's nice to write in the journal all my thoughts so I don't feel smothered by them. But I've found that I personify the journal a little bit. haha
But yeah, I really like keeping one! In fact, I just filled up my old journal and started writing in a new one, which is...odd. Been so used to the old one. lol Journaling isn't a hobby for everyone, but I think it's a fun one that everyone should at least try out.
I have to. It's a compulsion. The words somehow just flow out of my pen, and I'm so much more articulate, which is good, because my conscious thoughts are verbal. It helps me with accuracy. I'll write on gum wrappers, or napkins if I don't have my journal. If I write poetry, I write a little side note on what occured to stimulate my writing it. Which, I am so thankful I've done. Sometimes, with time, you may edit some of your memories, so journal keeping can remind you about what was actual. What your response was from your less evolved self.
Can you please tell me what kind of journal are you using ? I am going to start my diaries, but I don't know where is it better to write it. I am thinking to buy a nice qualitative leather journal, but I still don't know where I can find it. I would appreciate if you will help me, guys.
I use an A5 Clairfontaine 150 odd page book. Used to use 300 page spiral bound A5. A5 because it's easy to carry and easy to store. In the past two years I've gone through five spiral bound 300 page notebooks. I only write on one side .. so pretty much can write one or two A5 pages almost close to each day. Sometimes go bananas and write ten or so. Sometimes I'll miss a few days but I remember eventually.
I've found it good therapy for me. It helps put my thoughts in order. As I live alone, it helps as a replacement SO sometimes
I even recently bought a nice fountain pen to make it more significant for me. My hand writing .. unfortunately .. is almost unreadable. I can barely read back what I write in it yesterday
Just start writing! Sometimes I write about how I feel, or some conflict in my life, or how pleasant things are. I try and write about pleasant things as well as the typical "problems" I am trying to come to terms with. It's a hotch potch but honestly my head feels clearer once it is all down
I've found it good therapy for me. It helps put my thoughts in order. As I live alone, it helps as a replacement SO sometimes
I even recently bought a nice fountain pen to make it more significant for me. My hand writing .. unfortunately .. is almost unreadable. I can barely read back what I write in it yesterday
Just start writing! Sometimes I write about how I feel, or some conflict in my life, or how pleasant things are. I try and write about pleasant things as well as the typical "problems" I am trying to come to terms with. It's a hotch potch but honestly my head feels clearer once it is all down
an update: journaling helps me to reach my goals better.
when I do not journal
I use a word document. I have various notebooks but have abandoned them.
I find typing allows me to keep up with my thoughts better. I also don't have to
worry about others reading my personal thoughts.
I often have a lot to say, a lot I am thinking and writing pages of pages really
does cause a cramp lol.
when I do not journal
I use a word document. I have various notebooks but have abandoned them.
I find typing allows me to keep up with my thoughts better. I also don't have to
worry about others reading my personal thoughts.
I often have a lot to say, a lot I am thinking and writing pages of pages really
does cause a cramp lol.
I've tried, but I literally can't write anything down for longer than 5 minutes. I'm not really wired to journal.
I've been journaling since I was 13 years old, I think. Started writing in my native language and now almost 100% in English. Probably the best habit/ritual I've incorporated in my life and stuck to all these years throughout different chapters in my life. My self-awareness is sharp because of the introspection journaling allows. I've encouraged my sister to do it, which has done her wonders, and I hope to encourage my kid(s) to practice it also when the time comes.
Now, I am thinking of starting a professional journal, to document experiences, achievements and lessons learned. The first five years of my career were axed on exploring different career paths in my field and ensuring financial security. Now that I know which field I want to specialize in, I want to take my career to the next level and I think journaling provides that type of discipline, focus, and analysis to get me to where I want to be.
Now, I am thinking of starting a professional journal, to document experiences, achievements and lessons learned. The first five years of my career were axed on exploring different career paths in my field and ensuring financial security. Now that I know which field I want to specialize in, I want to take my career to the next level and I think journaling provides that type of discipline, focus, and analysis to get me to where I want to be.
I don't keep a journal strictly speaking, but I see my fiction as a kind of journal.
What is the field you want to specialise in, if that's not too indiscreet? And what is your native language?
What is the field you want to specialise in, if that's not too indiscreet? And what is your native language?
This is from nine years ago. I still write in that thing. I value it so much, I put two archives of it on two different forms of storage and put it in a safe deposit box along with some other stuff.
My oldest entry is from October 19, 1998 and my most recent is from last night.
I have 1,654 entries. That means I've been writing once every 4.69 days for the past 21+ years. That is insane to me.
I am going to destroy it before I die because ...fuck anyone ever reading it. It's also in my will that it (and all archives) be destroyed in the case I die unexpectedly.
I'd rather not give specifics but I work in Engineering and I'm a mix of Middle Eastern and North African.
Cool! I actually meant to add "feel free to speak in broad terms if that's more comfortable" but then forgot, woops.
I'm sure you've heard that before but it would be impossible to guess English isn't your native tongue based on your writing. It's flawless! Well, according to a non native speaker anyway
Cool. Things have changed for me. I have been keeping a diary since April 2019.
It started out as very observational. I was chronicaling what happened in my life partly to process it. I had just transitioned from being a hermit to trying to actively socialize and be part of a community. I was also trying to create an identity for myself separate from my family, because at 25 I still hadn't done that. I was also beginning my weight loss journey. So in the beginning of my diary it was very focused on what happened, what I was doing, and trying to figure out the meaning of what happened.
I didn't understand people and I had a lot of unhealthy frameworks that influenced my behavior subconsciously. I was very much driving blind.
Everything happened gradually so it's hard to put dates on it. I think it began sometime in July of 2019. I transitioned to being very introspective. Instead of focusing on the motives of other people and trying to figure them out, I started expressing my own internal struggles in more depth. I wrote critiques of society. I even started to read my diary at open mics so that influenced me to stop writing about people and focus on myself and abstract ideas.
Phase three was maybe in October. I started my m&p (mindful and present) sheet which has evolved to my self triad sheet which I've shared on other threads. Essentially what this did was introduce a daily " what were positive moments of today, what was my mood, what am I grateful for" independent of my diary. So I no longer felt the need to include those thoughts in my diary, I was tracking them elsewhere, so it gave me the freedom to stop writing about days events completely and instead focus on my feelings and internal philosophical thoughts.
Also during this time I changed the schedule of when I used my diary. In the beginning I only wrote in it right before bed, but at that point I realized I could use my diary to "talk through" my problems within myself, so whenever I was struggling I would write in it, sometimes multiple times a day.
I was recently without my diary for 6 days and that was hell. I considered getting a new one or writing on scrap paper and transferring it once I got my diary back but I decided I wanted to keep all my thoughts in one place and rewriting would be far too tedious. So I simply didn't write at all. That week was incredibly stressful. I realized how much I now rely upon my diary to keep my mental state in check. Not only that but I frequently read back my diary to look for patterns or to see the "big picture" of my life because it's easy to forget what's all happened. This has allowed me to make a lot of realizations I don't think would have been possible otherwise. The human brain can only remember so much information at once.
I even wrote a bit about how my diary is my boyfriend. but it's true. My diary is very dear to me and though I don't like being attached to physical things I would say my diary even above my cellphone is my most prized possession.
I have always wanted to keep a journal. I have yet to figure it out, as though it is some mysterious form of mad science.