With the rush of our busy, modern lives, we often neglect ourselves and forget to leave time for ourselves to record what is going on in our lives and our thoughts and feelings. Yet there are so many benefits of keeping a diary. One of our many struggles is how to keep up a daily diary with all the other life stresses often is the first thing to get neglected.
Be Realistic
First of all, don’t dread writing your diary. Look forward to it. Think about all the positives it brings you and how you appreciate yourself in the future for writing.
Beginning a diary, you tend to be incredibly optimistic expecting to write an entire page per night. It will never happen. Best to find a diary with that gives small amount of space to write per day but not too small that you will end up feeling frustrated at not writing enough!
Elton John wins the award for the best diary entry ever (quoted in today’s Observer).
“Woke up, watched Grandstand. Wrote Candle in the Wind. Went to London, bought Rolls-Royce. Ringo Starr came for dinner”.
— Stig Abell (@StigAbell) May 26, 2019
Obviously there’s always going to be times when you forget to write, you’re too tired or just can’t be bothered. That’s fine. But just try to make a habit of catching up with the day before so you don’t feel too overwhelmed keeping it up.
Self-Reflection
See how your writings, thoughts and feelings develop over time. Scrap those bad habits
Write how you want. Don’t put pressure. Enjoy and let out how you’re feeling. Solve problems
350 years ago today, #OTD 1669, #SamuelPepys made his last entry in his diary:
"And so I betake myself to that course, which is almost as much as to see myself go into my grave, for which, and all the discomforts that will accompany my being blind, the good God prepare me!" pic.twitter.com/lvq9acBfif— The London Library (@TheLondonLib) May 31, 2019
Release Stress
Keeping a diary is a great release for stress or frustrations. Able to monitor emotions or mental health problems you may be facing by helping you to see your progress by reflecting on your improvements – become more self-reflective
Memories
Abel to look back on your week/month/year and recalling events in your life that you may have misplaced otherwise. Able to reflect upon past situations
