What do you write in diaries

Evidence has indicated that keeping a diary can make you happier. Whilst it seems like a trivial task, diary keeping has shown to reduce depressive thoughts and behaviours by providing the writer with increased control. This useful intervention has also been seen to have long-lasting effects on mental health.

We have discussed the scientific benefits of keeping a diary. Just as Benjamin Franklin did, by writing down your targets, reflecting on how well they went or consciously trying to improve them for the next day, you give yourself the best chance of success. We have lots more information on how to improve metacognition available, including free resources and blogs.

Here are a just a few of them: 1. Most Popular Blogs. Eight Ways to Develop Metacognitive Skills. What to Think About Before an Exam. Learn about our range of workshops for teachers, students, parents, athletes and businesses download. Write a traditional letter but on the pages of your diary, so you don't have to send it to a recipient and can look back over it in years to come. Why not try a doodle a day? Take 5 minutes or half an hour and doodle on your journal pages. It could be abstract or an image of something that brightened your day, for example a donut you ate or a friend you saw.

Making your diary visual or even mixing images and writing will mean you're less likely to get stuck in a rut. Although doodling doesn't give you a detailed account of the day to look back on it does allow you to express your creativity and relax after a busy day, which is what a diary should do as you pour out your thoughts and feelings on the day before you head to bed. Use your phone and take a picture of something everyday.

Apps such as A Second A Day have revolutionised how we share our lives. No longer is a diary a private object as you can record or take a photo everyday in order to make a montage of clips that evoke happy memories.

This format allows your diary to become interactive, you can share it with your friends and family. Just taking a minute out of your day means it is quicker than writing a traditional diary, creating a simple way to look back on your fondest memories from the year. Find out more about the project here. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Sample Diary Entries. Tips and Warnings.

Related Articles. Article Summary. Sample Travel Diary. Part 1. Write about the events of your day. Think about everything that happened that day and record any highlights or feelings that stand out to you. Even if you had a pretty standard day, you might be surprised by deeper thoughts and feelings that come up as you write down details about your day.

Feel free to veer off into any topic you want as you're writing about the day's events. For example, you could write about the English exam you took at school that day. Are you feeling good about the exam? Do you wish you had studied more? Are you nervous to receive your grade? Contemplate your goals for the future and how to achieve them. Make a list of your short-term and long-term goals.

Then, go through each item on the list and write in detail about your plan to accomplish the goal. Breaking each goal up into smaller tasks that you can work on can make your goals feel less overwhelming. Long-term goals would be stuff like choosing and applying to colleges or saving up money to buy a car. Jot down your current feelings or mood. Don't worry about providing any context for your emotions, just focus on accurately describing what they are.

You can then use those feelings and thoughts as prompts for creating detailed diary entries. Work on one thought or emotion at a time and explore it as fully as you can. For example, if you're feeling sad, you can write a diary entry about why you feel that way and any events that may have contributed.

You can add a line from the lyrics of a song you are often listening to in your entry to preserve the current mood. Write down inspirational quotes and what they mean to you. Inspirational quotes can come from anywhere—a famous person, your favorite book or movie, or even a friend or a family member. Any quote you find inspiring is a great starting point.

Record the quote in your diary and note where it came from. Then, explain what it means to you in your own words. Write a diary entry about what this means to you and what things you need to get started on to achieve certain goals. Explore your favorite subjects or hobbies in-depth. Make a list of topics that you love or your favorite hobbies. You might love movies, sports, food, travel, art, or fashion. The subjects can be anything you want, as long as they interest and inspire you.

Then, choose one item from the list and create a diary entry about it. If you love painting, you could write about your favorite painters, the painting styles that speak to you the most, recent paintings you've made, and ideas for future paintings.

Part 2. Write the date in the corner or on the first line. You may not write in your diary every day, so dating your entries can help you keep track of when things happened. Since you'll be writing in your diary over a long period of time, dates will also help you stay organized and provide context when you look back on your entries in the future. Begin each entry with a topic in mind.

Most people reach for their diary when they have something they want to get down on paper or think about. This could be anything—something that happened that day, a dream you had, future plans, an event, an idea, or strong emotion or mood you're feeling. But having something in mind when you start the entry can help kickstart the writing process.

Open with "Dear Diary" if you want to. This is a completely personal choice, so go with what works best and feels right for you. At first, addressing the "Diary" can feel almost like reaching out to a friend rather than simply writing or talking to yourself.

You may find this helpful if you're new to journaling. Write in the first person by using "I" statements. Diaries are very personal items, and they typically work best when you speak in the first person. In your diary, you are free to make everything about you! Many people find this aspect extremely cathartic, especially when it comes to exploring personal thoughts, emotions, and reactions.

I've practiced a lot and I feel ready, but I'm so nervous I can hardly eat. Be honest in your entries. Many people find diary writing cathartic because they can let go of inhibitions on the page and truly be themselves. Feel free to record your emotions, both positive and negative, in their entirety in your diary.

Remember that no one will ever see what you've written, so you can write honestly about anything. This is for your eyes only. For example, you might write, "I feel jealous of Shaun's new car. I'm happy for him, but it seems really unfair that his parents bought him a brand new car.

I'm working every day after school just to save up for a used car. Physical diaries with locks and password-protected digital diaries are two of the most popular ways to control privacy. Many people have epiphanies about themselves and their relationships through honest diary writing. Be open to learning about yourself as you write.