Ask HN: Do you keep a journal? And Why?
17 comments
Pinning this thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13492501
Personal journal aside, I love the benefits of keeping a technical journal. Every day, I have these sections:
This is interesting because it helps me introspect about the work I'm doing, whether I should be doing it that way, whether I keep running into similar issues, whether I can fix things systematically, gauge happiness and stress levels, etc.
I've returned to this many times and often found it to be super helpful - the information that goes in here is hard-won details, and those are also the kind that are very easy to forget. It also sometimes helps with the "why had I done this this way" questions.
Perhaps I do need a personal version of this too.
Today I worked on:
Today I figured out / debugged:
Problems / Thoughts:
Other:
This is interesting because it helps me introspect about the work I'm doing, whether I should be doing it that way, whether I keep running into similar issues, whether I can fix things systematically, gauge happiness and stress levels, etc.
I've returned to this many times and often found it to be super helpful - the information that goes in here is hard-won details, and those are also the kind that are very easy to forget. It also sometimes helps with the "why had I done this this way" questions.
Perhaps I do need a personal version of this too.
I had a really bad day a few weeks back and in my 'rage' I quickly created a dead simple, self-hosted blogging platform in PHP for myself to keep a journal. But by the time I'd finished it, I'd calmed down and didn't see a point in writing to it. Which is in part due to the fact that I'm incredibly bad at making new habits, so while I've tried a few times in the past to journal, I just don't actually do it. My parents actually have quite a few (embarassing) journals I wrote when I was a kid. They're all scattered around my childhood because I never stuck with it.
My grandfather on the other hand, has kept a journal every day going back decades. In fact, as a gift to my parents when I turned 18, he shared with them the journal entry from the day I was born. He's now working on turning his journal into a self-published book for his children, grandkids, and great-grandkids.
That, and my increasingly shitty memory of small details, makes me want to get into journaling.
My grandfather on the other hand, has kept a journal every day going back decades. In fact, as a gift to my parents when I turned 18, he shared with them the journal entry from the day I was born. He's now working on turning his journal into a self-published book for his children, grandkids, and great-grandkids.
That, and my increasingly shitty memory of small details, makes me want to get into journaling.
Yes, I keep a journal for a few key reasons.
One, because without writing them down, my thoughts seem to take on actual weight in my head. Putting them into my journal seems to remove the weight while helping me to sort through things, sort of like talking to myself in real time.
Two, because it helps me to stay practiced with Vim. I started just one single file called journal.md, separated by markdown headers/dates and keep it in a folder that gets backed up instantly (though I'm thinking of moving it to Dropbox so that it also gets versioned in addition to immediate backups).
Three, because it keeps me writing. As someone who is continually writing short stories, it's important to keep the words flowing out of my head, even if I'm not writing about something that happened to someone else, real or imagined.
One, because without writing them down, my thoughts seem to take on actual weight in my head. Putting them into my journal seems to remove the weight while helping me to sort through things, sort of like talking to myself in real time.
Two, because it helps me to stay practiced with Vim. I started just one single file called journal.md, separated by markdown headers/dates and keep it in a folder that gets backed up instantly (though I'm thinking of moving it to Dropbox so that it also gets versioned in addition to immediate backups).
Three, because it keeps me writing. As someone who is continually writing short stories, it's important to keep the words flowing out of my head, even if I'm not writing about something that happened to someone else, real or imagined.
Yes. Alms or every day since 2002. I don't really trust memories, especially as I get older. My journal not only helps me vent, and work through my thoughts, but it's a record I can look back on someday when my memory really begins to fade.
I don't keep a journal per se, but I use Evernote to write down ideas and save links to interesting articles and websites.
I do this for two reasons: - These notes may come in useful in my hobby projects, or at work. I have also been able to help my colleagues with information. - I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the number of open tabs in my browser. Saving links allows me to close the tab, knowing that if I ever need information on that topic again, I have some notes somewhere.
Evernote is not the perfect tool for this. Years ago I used Wiki On A Stick for this purpose because it allowed me to cross reference ideas and notes.
I do this for two reasons: - These notes may come in useful in my hobby projects, or at work. I have also been able to help my colleagues with information. - I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the number of open tabs in my browser. Saving links allows me to close the tab, knowing that if I ever need information on that topic again, I have some notes somewhere.
Evernote is not the perfect tool for this. Years ago I used Wiki On A Stick for this purpose because it allowed me to cross reference ideas and notes.
Hey!
Check pocket. (http://getpocket.com/) It has definitely helped me with the overwhelming feeling from the number of tabs open in the browser.
Doesn't really help with writing down ideas, though.
Check pocket. (http://getpocket.com/) It has definitely helped me with the overwhelming feeling from the number of tabs open in the browser.
Doesn't really help with writing down ideas, though.
I keep a daily work + personal note journal in Emacs using org-journal. All the files are synchronized using Dropbox between my machines.
The journal is a mix of a TODO list and a diary. I also have a tagging system for all the entries which allows convenient searches/stat building.
Benefits:
1. Allows to do primitive daily planning.
2. Having my daily plans/notes in searchable format allows to do all kinds of mass retrospectives (I know what movies I saw, music I enjoyed, things I did for both personal/job-related projects).
3. Being able to go back to a certain date and see what was done sometimes even helps to sort out various job-related issues.
The journal is a mix of a TODO list and a diary. I also have a tagging system for all the entries which allows convenient searches/stat building.
Benefits:
1. Allows to do primitive daily planning.
2. Having my daily plans/notes in searchable format allows to do all kinds of mass retrospectives (I know what movies I saw, music I enjoyed, things I did for both personal/job-related projects).
3. Being able to go back to a certain date and see what was done sometimes even helps to sort out various job-related issues.
I keep a log/todo list at work. They stretch back years. Its more bullet points than a journal.
I started after a manager kept claiming they had asked for something, or getting me to revert things they had asked for but claiming they never asked for that. Back then it was my word against theirs.
If I am asked to do something, the first thing I do is write it down and who its for.
My work is now free of other peoples bad memories and recollections. I am the go to person to settle disputes and provide reasoning for decision making.
I started after a manager kept claiming they had asked for something, or getting me to revert things they had asked for but claiming they never asked for that. Back then it was my word against theirs.
If I am asked to do something, the first thing I do is write it down and who its for.
My work is now free of other peoples bad memories and recollections. I am the go to person to settle disputes and provide reasoning for decision making.
I do. I find that I can think clearer when writing out my thoughts and have a habit of writing for 10 mins every morning.
It started out mainly as a way to manage my anxiety and feel more in control of my days (it has definitely helped). I find it really useful in managing my thoughts and reflecting on what happened the previous day.
In case you're interested, I use the Mac Notes app. I've set the order preference based on date created (the default is date edited) and tag each entry with #journal for easy searching.
It started out mainly as a way to manage my anxiety and feel more in control of my days (it has definitely helped). I find it really useful in managing my thoughts and reflecting on what happened the previous day.
In case you're interested, I use the Mac Notes app. I've set the order preference based on date created (the default is date edited) and tag each entry with #journal for easy searching.
Work or personal?
I don't have a personal journal, but I do have a workflow that involves gradually collecting TODO notes on whatever I'm working on - then when it's done archiving the whole slab of text at the top of another file. Low-effort and surprisingly useful.
I've worked with people (software developers from a scientific background) that keep "daybooks", which are extremely helpful if you want to file patents in first-to-invent jurisdictions.
I don't have a personal journal, but I do have a workflow that involves gradually collecting TODO notes on whatever I'm working on - then when it's done archiving the whole slab of text at the top of another file. Low-effort and surprisingly useful.
I've worked with people (software developers from a scientific background) that keep "daybooks", which are extremely helpful if you want to file patents in first-to-invent jurisdictions.
I don't keep a journal in the "today I kissed my boyfriend" sense. However I do keep a log of all my thoughts, and tasks related to the projects I work on. I started as a way to lay breadcrumbs to easily pick back up where I left off in case I was interrupted. However it's proven useful to be a good back reference.
I keep a dream diary, if that counts. I have fairly lucid, vivid dreams about societies and fantastical worlds. Writing them down allows me to examine for common themes and unconscious thinking. They often turn into great writing.
I've been using jrnl (http://jrnl.sh/) to write an entry each night. Love it because it's simple and out of my way
I wrote software for this that helps me. The main reason is that I felt I wasn't learning anymore after leaving grad school. This helped me keep learning. If anyone wants to try it leave me your contact info.
Yes, to write down my thoughts. Writing them down makes me think about the situation and resolve any feelings I may have.
I use a variation of bullet journaling for my work. I have to track a lot details, and I off-load them to paper.