How to Select and Use Digital Journals – Part One

As you will soon learn, there is a lot to learn about using digital journals. It’s not just a matter of sitting down and putting your thoughts down- although that’s a large part of it. But it’s the details of what journal to use, and how to do it which will make journaling worthwhile to you! So instead of summarizing too much, I’m going to write multiple articles on the subject.

How to Find the Best Digital Journal for You

​Digital journals are a great way to keep track of your thoughts, ideas, and plans. Not only that, like a good diary, journaling can help you deal with stress by helping you organize your life. But with so many options out there, it can be tough to know which one is right for you. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a digital journal:

• What type of journaling do you want to do? If you just want to write down your thoughts and ideas, a simple text editor like Evernote or Google Docs will suffice. But if you want to track your daily activities, track your finances, your meals, your fitness routine, and your schedule, you’ll need something a bit more robust like a daily planner with an assortment of trackers.
• How much detail do you want to include? Some people like to write down every last detail, while others prefer to just jot down the highlights. There’s no right or wrong answer here, it’s a matter of your preference.

Consider Your Journal Features

• Do you want to be able to access your journal from anywhere? If you plan on journaling while you’re on the go, make sure the digital journal you choose can be accessed from your phone, tablet, or laptop, and save it online in cloud storage. If you choose this option, you should avoid adding secure passwords, financial information, or things that you want to keep private.
• What features are you looking for? Some digital journals offer features like Landscape vs Portrait formatting, Sunday or Monday as the beginning of the week, various colors for the cover and in the journal itself, along with fun and popular additions like stickers. There are even various trackers for your finances, your health, reading lists, and more. Other journals are more basic, offering only text editing capabilities. Decide which features are most important to you and look for a journal that offers them.

No matter what your needs are, there’s a digital journal out there that’s perfect for you. So take some time to browse the options and find the one that best fits your needs. You can find beautifully formatted Digital Journals in places like Etsy and other shops.

Choosing a Storage Location for Digital Journals

It’s important to have a good storage system for your journal files. After all, your journal is a reflection of your life and should be treated as such. Even when using digital journals, you’ll have physical papers that you may want to keep track of as well. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a storage location for your journal files.

Organizers and planners can be a great way to keep any physical journal files and materials together. If you choose this route, make sure to get one that is specifically designed for journaling. This will ensure that all of your journal files are in one place and easy to access.

If you prefer a more traditional approach, a simple filing cabinet can work well for storing your more physical journal files. Again, make sure to label everything clearly so that you can find what you need quickly and easily. You can file papers into one spot when you first receive them, and then sort them away properly once you’ve used them for your journal.

Where to Write in Your Digital Journals

A great practice is to create a dedicated space for your journaling habit. This way you can keep your physical materials, research, and the space to write in all in one area. This could be a shelf in your closet or a spot in your home office. Wherever you choose, make sure it is easily accessible so that you can journal regularly.

Of course, if you’re using a Digital Journal that means you’ll need much less storage space. But you still should consider things like whether to keep your journal in a locked tablet, or if you want to publish it to the cloud and share it with friends. If you intend to share, make sure not to add any passwords or financial information that can be used by a hacker!

No matter what storage option you choose, the important thing is that you are consistent with your journaling habit. That means setting aside time each day or week to go to your space and write in your journal. One way to do this is to create a daily or weekly schedule that includes time for journaling. This will help you to make journaling a priority and ensure that you are keeping up with your entries.

So, there you have it! A few things to consider when choosing a storage location for your journal files. No matter what option you choose, the important thing is to be consistent with your journaling habit. Soon it will become a pleasurable thing to do!

Look for the next article where I’ll get into the benefits of journaling and some tools you’ll find in the more complex journals. Enjoy!