Why I Carry A Pocket Journal & Why You Should Too
I used to be a really disorganized person. Even now I'm still a little disorganized. I'm not talking about keeping my room clean or my possessions tidy, but rather, my thoughts.
Journaling every morning has kept my thoughts, tasks, and emotions pretty organized for the most part—but your day can go awry at the drop of a hat.
In my front left pant pocket, I carry a pocket journal wherever I go—a friends's apartment, dinner with my parents, or just walking around town. My pocket journal has been my little savior, in that it keeps me organized, responsible, and reflective on-the-go. There are a few reasons I use a pocket journal.
Write down my daily tasks. I always re-write my tasks for the day in my journal so that I can physically check-off everything I need to do. Whether it's a small task like picking up eggs from Trader Joe's, or a big job like finishing an 8-page paper comparing/contrasting the views of human nature from Voltaire, Rousseau, and St. Augustine, it keeps me accountable.
Write down looping thoughts. As a human, I'm prone to overthinking. When a thought looms over me, it's hard to concentrate on the task at hand. By catching myself early and writing down the thought, I can dissociate from it a little. It allows me to keep my mind clear and focused (as much as possible, I'm still human).
Write down something worth remembering. Sometimes a great idea for a blog post or business decision pops into my head out of nowhere. Instead of trying to remember it later that day when it has since slipped from my mind, I write it down for later. Or if I'm talking to a friend and they introduce me to a new idea, thought, or even a fun fact about them, I'll write it down. Later on in the day when I have time, I'll look into that idea or thought. Maybe I'll learn something new, who knows?
Reflect on the day as it's happening. If I do something stupid during th...ah who am I kidding? When I do something stupid during the day, I'll write it down and reflect on it—like if I say yes to getting coffee with a friend when I know I should be doing work. That way, I know not to derail my daily get-to-do’s in the future. On the flip side, if I do something I'm proud of, I also write it down—like if I turn down coffee with a friend and reschedule in order to finish my work. That way, I can reflect on it and seek opportunities to act that same way again.
Final Thoughts
Writing about my day as it goes is like writing a novella; I'm the protagonist who's just trying to make sense of himself and the world around him.
Write it all down in the moment. Document your thoughts, your actions, your observations, your tasks. You are your own protagonist, make sense of yourself to yourself.
