Keeping a diary/journal

[Dataunit]

I decided a month ago to start keeping a diary again. I did it before at two points in my life and they did help me. Instead of the thoughts going round and round in my head, writing them down fees like I've discussed them with someone - someone who never tires of hearing what I have to say and never judges me. Obviously, there's the risk that other people will sneak a peek at what I've written, so some of the more personal entries are either extremely vague ("I was with X and we were talking about that thing we'd been worried about and we came to the conclusion that Y"), or they're written in code. I never feel obliged to write anything. I write about personal issues as well as current political affairs, and my opinion thereof. I only ever write when I feel like it, and it's an awful lot - I've been through a whole book in less than 4 weeks!

Does anyone else have experiences or keeping a diary?

[Puck]

I kept a diary for years when I was a teenager until my mum thought something was wrong and read the whole thing making me have no trust to have a diary again.

However in recent months I bought a notebook and I'm going to start writing again, I already do like scales of symptoms and how good or bad they are. But not yet written how I actually feel or what is on my mind but I yearn to do so, so will just be sensible in what I reveal for any prying eyes.

It's good to use them it really helped me when I was younger.

[nonperson]

I’ve never had a proper daily diary but I did use Live Journal quite prolifically back in the day.

I still do the same with the journal here and in ranting/venting although it tends to just be about life struggles rather than political issues or general stuff.

You’re right in that writing it down or typing it out is a way to discuss it openly or even just with yourself and sometimes it helps to make sense of things.

[one_step_closer]

I write every day, I find I express things better in written words and it can help to get thoughts into a kind of viewable from the outside form. I also have a private blog on Blogger, I just transfer my daily diary entries to the blog so I have a digital copy that I can add tags to for easy searching. If you were worried about someone finding your writing you could create a private blog.

I don't think anyone should really 'force' themselves to write every day, it's ok to write when you feel like it and when you need to rather than making it like a task. I hope you're finding it useful.

[Dataunit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by one_step_closer

I don't think anyone should really 'force' themselves to write every day, it's ok to write when you feel like it and when you need to rather than making it like a task.

This. I think the main reason why I gave up writing previously (after a year or so of doing it) was that it felt like a chore and that I felt I had to write at least one A5 page daily. Now I only write when I have something to say. Some days, I don't write anything, or just one short paragraph, and other days I write pages upon pages. I always note the date and time so I can make several entries in one day if I want to. Furthermore, I'm not too picky about how I formulate the entries. If I was writing an essay, I'd spend more time on that but I find that worrying about format just slows me down and stops me from putting down everything I wanted to say.

[Buttons.]

I've written in a diary for many years on and off.

[Straight 3]

I find it helpful.

[yoyogirl]

I find it helpful for me too, as i can write about how I am really feeling in a place that is safe and I don't have to worry too much about what I have written or fear of being judged or what my handwriting looks like.


I am also writing two blogs at the moment, my student blog and main blog on wix. i find that i really helps me when things are tough and i need write down something and also gives me that motivation to get up in the morning.

[Soft Kitty]

I use a blog for a diary, similarly to how I'd use the R/V. You can also get diary apps on your phone where you have to have a passcode to enter. I really like using a diary/blog, whether to process things, note things down for memory purposes, or host write down upsetting or funny thoughts I have. It's quite nice sometimes to use blogs as you can also post photos to help you record moments, but you do lose the personal-ness of a paper diary.

[Kyrilnys]

I started keeping a diary again a month or 2 ago. It helps me stop thinking about things so I write in it daily.