Journal Writing Systems - A List of Choices

There are many ways to organize and write a journal. Select the ideas that fit your style from the list below. Some people are more methodical, orderly and systematized. Others are more sporadic, colorful, spontaneous and graphical. Try different journaling systems and strategies to find the one that works best for you.

Journal Types

• If you like bound or coiled books, consider leaving the first 3 pages empty so you have space to create an index of contents. Number or date each page so you can find contents easily.
• For portability, carry recipe cards with you for journaling. You can use cards of different colors, give them titles and organize them at the end of the day. You can also get a display rack so you can organize and prioritize them. If you want to go even smaller, use blank business cards to capture key thoughts and use 3 ring business card holders to organize your writings.
• Keep your journal on your computer in a password-protected file. Or use internet based journals like Life Journal (http://www.lifejournal.com) which offer many features. Or just build a large word file. The more you can index, title, search, sort, color, rate and date your material, the easier it is to find, organize and integrate.

• Dump everything sequentially in one place. Again it is good to date and give a title or margin note to each journaling insight. You can also underline, circle or highlight important messages or words so they stick in your mind.
• If you are more organized, you can have a sectioned journal where you write about different things in each section (see below for sections).
• Life happens in cycles. So the more you can create a index to important journal writing notes, the easier it is to find material.

• Business - to do lists, action items, calendars, addresses, phone numbers, call reports, prospects, clients, sales, projects, ideas, financing, staffing, goals, planning, passwords, reference material.
• Personal - creativity, art, poems, dreams, goals, diary, health, travel, hobbies, dream calendar, creed or power page, accomplishments, tensions, lists, appreciations, meditations, questions to ask, daily reviews, daily questions, resources.
• Other ideas - book reviews, cheat sheets, daily tracking, lined or graph paper, blank paper. For more ideas see Journal Writing Topics and Journal Writing Prompts.