A Digital Journal To Match Your Style

The Concept of a Digital Toolbox – Part 10

What’s the best method for journaling: paper or digital?

How I wish I knew that answer for you.  I’d like to think, if there is one thing that I’m good at and love, it’s journaling.  I’m in the expert category (for sure) when it comes to this. However, I’m not going to discuss the art of journaling here, but the tools for journaling, more specifically digital tools.  Before we get there, let me define the three types of journaling methods. I know what you’re thinking…there are methods (a process) for journaling? Sure there is and you’ll understand as you continue reading.

1. Physical journaling.  Still the most popular method of journaling, using a physical journal is the one you’re most familiar.  They come in all shapes and sizes. I personally use 2 types of physical journals both from Levenger.com: a leather Circa journal  which allows for pages to be removed and inserted, and a paper journal which can be inserted into a leather cover so that the cover is reused with each new journal insert.
2. Digital journaling.  A digital journal is one that you access via a device (i.e. smartphone, tablet, and/or PC).  It provides a few benefits that the paper journal can’t offer like going with you everywhere you go, being able to search it’s content, sharing it’s content, and more.
3. Hybrid journaling.  This is more of a method than it is an individual journal.  It’s the one I use. How it works is by combining the physical with the digital.  When I take notes or journal in my physical journal, I scan it into my digital journal: it’s designed to make this process easy and simple.  For example, on Sundays for church service I like to use my physical journal and when I get home I add those notes to my digital journal so that those notes are with me and it serves as a method of backup.  On the other hand, I use my digital journal everyday for daily journaling which consists of almost anything including documenting the important experiences of my life. The hybrid journal which consists of the digital combined with the physical serves as a way to store things outside of my mind; it’s a digital brain repository.

Since we’ve covered my three journaling methods, let’s discuss the digital solutions that have made it all come together.

• Notebook Apps.  I first started using a digital solution called “Notebooks” App.  It works practically on any device and it has a feature which uses “Dropbox” for backup.  While I still use this app because it has literally thousands of my earlier entries, it is no longer my primary digital journal.  However, I still love this powerful tool.
• Evernote.  When I was introduced to Evernote, it changed my world.  You just have to try it out for yourself, I don’t have enough time to give you all the features and benefits, but here are a few over and above ways it changed how I journal:
  • I’m able to create reusable note templates.
  • It syncs and integrates with Google’s productivity suite of tools.
  • I use it to create agendas.
  • I’m able to use it to store lists for shopping, travels, packing, and (my favorite) my trekking/hiking trail locations.  
  • I’m able to scan documents so that I can have them with me always, items such as auto tags, insurance documents, birth certificates, and even marriage licenses or anything you can scan for that matter.
    Enough on Evernote, it’s a tool and a very powerful one.
• Day One.  Day One is Pamela’s choice of journaling apps.  It brings journaling into full color and beauty.  Because her style of journaling differs greatly from mine, she uses it to take account of events and activities to go back to enjoy and remember.  It’s an app that allows you to capture the moments you didn’t know, you didn’t want to forget.

Today is Friday!
I know we covered quite a bit.  The key is if you’re a journaler or desire to be, define the method of journaling that you need for your style and then locate a tool that will provide you the functions and features that you need.  Thanks for reading “A Digital Journal To Match Your Style.” Share it with your friends.

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