Summary

The author describes their struggle to maintain a journaling habit due to the pressures of organization systems, aesthetics, and comparison to others, leading them to simplify their approach to journaling.

Abstract

The author of the web content reflects on their failed attempts at journaling, initially enamored with the idea of a highly organized and aesthetically pleasing bullet journal. They detail the challenges faced with maintaining complex organization systems, the time-consuming nature of decorating journal pages, and the unhealthy comparison to the elaborate journals showcased by others on social media. These pressures led to a cycle of starting and abandoning journals. Eventually, the author adopted a minimalist approach, using a simple notebook to record thoughts and ideas without the previous constraints, which revitalized their journaling practice.

Opinions

The author expresses a strong desire to be organized and to use their journal as a tool for productivity and creativity but found that elaborate systems did not suit their lifestyle.
They admit to feeling inadequate when comparing their journal to those of others, which are portrayed as perfect and Instagram-worthy, leading to journal envy.
The author believes that the unnecessary focus on appearance and organization detracted from the primary purpose of journaling, which is to record thoughts and ideas.
They emphasize the importance of personalization and flexibility in journaling, advocating for a method that requires minimal effort and is tailored to individual needs.
The author suggests that the key to successful journaling is to focus on content over form, and to carry a notebook everywhere to capture fleeting ideas.

4 Reasons I Failed At Journaling

I had to forget the fancy stuff and do it my own way.

There’s something magical about a new journal. It has that fresh Moleskine smell. It’s crisp, clean and full of promise. A brand new notebook is a blank canvas, ready to become whatever you want.

It’s like the entire season of Spring condensed into a tight, special little packet just for you.

As you fill your notebook, it enters the season of summer. If you write in it daily, it grows like a jungle of words. Then you come to the end of a journal, and it enters winter. Time to put this one on the shelf. Solidified memories and thoughts. Reference material for your own life.

I kept a bullet-style journal going and labored over it, off and on for a couple of years. I loved those books. I stenciled, wrote and scribbled all over the insides of more than one expensive wad of papers. But I just can’t keep it up, although I keep trying sporadically.

Here’s what sidetracked me and stopped my journal habit from continuing.

1. I Was Struggling To Use Fancy Organization Systems

I fell in love with the idea of a Bullet Journal. I wanted to be a person that could keep a super organized notebook with a table of contents, calendars and appointments all laid out, and tasks forwarded to the next day or week. A place to put my one month look ahead. More than once, I got a new dotted style journal and embarked on a journey of The Journal. It was a quest to become someone I wasn’t.

It was like fighting with a messy bear in a cave in the back of my subconscious mind. I got roughed up and tossed out. This style just doesn’t work for me. But I wanted it to fix me so bad!

I started every new journal this way. I even made it a full month once. And then everything ground to a halt.

Too much willpower required. Me too lazy. Mind and soul sleepy.

2. I was Spending Too Much Time On Stencils and Decorating

I was trying to make it pretty by drawing lots of boxes, itemized to-do lists with circles beside each one to check off, and other time-consuming tasks. At one point I even used washi tape. I was packing two pen colors. I had to get each page outlined before I could put anything in it. I used up all my willpower on this part and then wasn’t ready to write.

Why was I doing all of this stuff? I was hooked on the idea of what a journal is supposed to be. And that leads to my next problem.

3. I Was Comparing Myself To The Fabulous Journal Folk

Have you ever watched a video showing off someone’s fantastical personal journal of magic? It probably had washi tape, colored markers, little pictograms, stencils, sunshine, and rainbows, unicorns and pure ecstatic happiness.

The to-do lists were to die for.

Forget body envy and poor self-image. I had journal envy and poor journal image.

This made me try harder and worry more about appearance, in my personal journal that no one would see. This should have been the one place where I could do whatever I wanted, but instead, I was worried about how it measured up to the perfect Instagram journal. Crazy!

4. I Didn’t Take It Everywhere

Do you know all those good ideas that come up at random times? These thoughts deserve to be saved for later. And you can write them down if you have your notebook with you.

My fancy bullet journal didn’t fit in a pocket, it was too big. I don’t carry a purse. That means it got left at home. Tons of ideas got left lying around on the ground wherever I happened to be. I would think of a great new book chapter or character name, then just toss that idea over my shoulder and walk away.

Just stop and imagine how many ideas are in a ton, and you can appreciate how many ideas I wasted. They’re really light, so its more than a thousand.

I Was Journaling For All The Wrong Reasons

Worrying about all that other junk made me forget about what I was supposed to do in these notebooks. I lost my way worrying about what other people seem to be using them for.

I wanted to record my thoughts. I hoped to save writing ideas. I wanted to doodle and be creative. I wanted to have fun with it.

What did I try to copy? To-do lists, organization systems, decorating ideas. I dumped the content and filled these books with fluff. I was off track.

Now I Just Keep Notes

I took a break for several months from any sort of journal keeping. Then about 4 weeks ago, I grabbed a cheap spiral-bound 100 page one subject notebook and started my idea file back up. I’m using an entirely different method from before. It’s dead simple, uses virtually zero willpower to maintain, and throws beauty out the door.

The only organization system I’m using is this: start at the front.

I go to a new page whenever I feel like it. I write the date when it’s relevant. I record names and sources when it’s a quote. Other than that, no rules.

I write notes to go in my phone notes app, and then transfer them to the paper one later. That way I’m not leaving all those ideas lying around for someone else to find and scoop me on.

Guess what happened? My will to journal woke from the dead. But this time, I’m doing it my way.

If the complicated, fancy method works for you, go for it. But be careful of making your round self fit into a square hole. Or your thin self fit into an extra-large sweater. Or making your tall self sleep on a short single mattress.

Be yourself, and that includes how you write (or don’t write) in a journal.

Photo by fotografierende on Unsplash