A Very Ghetto Guide To Journaling

Dear Diary,

...Has been washed out and binned since 'The Diary of the Wimpy Kid'. As we get older, there is a struggle between trying to look 'mature and cool' yet, also wanting to care for our inner child. If you've taken anything away from my previous blog posts, is that I highly, strongly, recommend journaling. Let's call it 'collecting our thoughts'. Perhaps you would prefer 'keeping a record.' No? How about a Twitter, but for your brain? No? Well, tried.

Where to start journaling

First of all, I think anyone can journal. Being able to collect your thoughts, recall events, and to see growth is not only a good habit to invest in, but many, if not all, successful people have journals. Having all your thoughts and feelings swimming around in your head, in this kind of world and climate, will ultimately lead to destruction if you don't sort that ish out. So, get your self a notebook, or even your notes app. That's right, I said it. Your notes app. Since people regard their phone as their holy grail and life, let's put our mind in there too. One thing about the notes app (ios, & android, correct me if I'm wrong) is that you can create a lock on notes. Simply, go to a new note, press the 'share' button, or 'more' and select lock note. I suggest locking a blank version of the note before you spew your illiterate thoughts and words only to then accidentally share it with someone instead of locking it. I would also suggest not using touch id or face id as a way of locking and accessing the note. It's like a mini, advanced password journal - I mean, collector of thoughts.

How to journal (lite version)

I find it hard to sit there and write about every waking moment of my day, really. It's quite cringe-worthy and boring. If 'wyd, nm' was a person, it would be me. However, this is not about me, it's about you. I'm trying really hard not be self-conceited right now, but yes, all about you.

My plans for the day

Simply write down your plans for the day, but with more detail, than you would put in a planner i.e. using actually sentences. One of the first things you should do when you wake up in the morning. Now the hard part about this is that you would actually need your phone, which is a bad idea, but that's what makes this so ghetto. Write down your plans for the day, even if you don't think you'll get them done. For example. 'I need to check my emails, respond to important mail, and delete the junk/spam'. Or 'I need to start my assignment on X by making a layout of the structure and starting my introduction'. By planning your day first thing in the morning, you'll either realise you're going to have a shite day or an amazing one. That being said:

Things I'm looking forward to

Write down things you're going to be looking forward to, and if you can't find any, make em. Whether it be sleeping in, binging a show, a desert, your favourite meal, face-timing someone etc, make time for something worth your peace!

Now, I can't be asked to do all that at night, so the morning is great for me. If you can do it before bed, write down your plans for the next day, you overachiever. However, I am not equipped to do that out of laziness, albeit, not the most effective, but we move. I do what's best for me. Don't be over judging me, while you're wearing the same clothes you had on for the past week, you came here for help.

Baby steps is what it takes, getting into good habits will eventually lead you to more productivity and efficiency. Now...

What didn't happen?

The next morning, or night of the day you just had, you can evaluate how you performed. Did you complete your tasks? Did you get to experience that thing you were looking forward to? If not, ask yourself why. What happened, what stopped you from doing the things you said you'd do? THIS IS IMPORTANT.

One of the many things we do to ourselves is come up short on our promises. If you can't meet your own needs, how in the world do you expect others to? By looking at your performance and being honest, you eventually start to see trends and bad habits that need to go.

Over time, you will also be able to show what type of environments you work best in. Even your own habits that lead you to a good day. Being productive doesn't mean you have to stick to time schedule working tirelessly and sleepiness nights, but simply the execution of your tasks. doing one thing out of ten is an achievement. A very small 10% of achievement, but it counts. If you did one thing every day, by the end of the week you would have done 7 tasks. The more you complete things, the better you would feel about actually getting things done. soon, they wouldn't feel much like a burden, but things that will help you process during your borrowed time in this World.

What went well?

For the sake of your wellbeing, please find something. Anything! Small victories are still victories. E.g. completing a task you had set, drinking your 2L of water, getting up on time, exercising, replying to your marinating messages, reading, worship, prayer etc.

Keep going at it and, when you are ready, we can look at other ways to effectively journal. This is just the start for many who feel uncomfortable with the idea of journaling, or simply don't know where to start. It shouldn't be something to tear you down or find reasons to beat yourself up over, but a way to manage and fuel growth! Be unapologetic and honest with it!

Who gon check you boo?

Actually, you, but that's between you and your subconscious (and whoever guessed your '1234' password.