QUICK ONE: PersonalOS > Journalling
A quick post on how I currently journal.
There's nothing quite like the feeling of opening up a crisp, new journal. The smell of fresh paper, the clean, empty pages, the promise of a blank slate... it's all so invigorating. I recently used up all the pages in my last journal, so I needed to start with a new one to track my thoughts and experiences for the month of June 2023, and beyond.
tl;dr
I’ve taken the opportunity to document my current journalling process, which is part of my PersonalOS
IMO there are some hidden gems in there:
Being methodical with my pens/colours
Taking a hybrid approach - I use both digital and paper tools
There’s a nifty mental model I’ve created and explain: Plan * (Execution/2) = Earned results
What’s this post about?
I thought I’d quickly document how I journal. I’ve fine-tuned a method that works for me after taking inspiration from the Bullet Journal method, watching other various YouTube videos that I can’t currently recall, and journalling like this for ~4 years. My point is, I’ve tried and reviewed things, and have landed on something that works for ME.
Journalling is such a personal experience, I suspect you have a personal approach to journalling, too.
What’s my journalling process?
Step 1: Choose your writing instruments
"The pen is mightier than the sword." - Edward Bulwer-Lytton
I’ve come to realise that a key reason why I love the experience of journalling is the feel of a good pen in my hand and how it writes. I’ve tried quite a few different writing instruments, and I’ve landed on the following set-up:
Primary pen - the main pen I use
LAMY vista Rollerball pen with black ink
this is my go-to at the moment
Fisher Space Pen with black ink
I use this when writing in bed… and I giggle when I think of Seinfeld as I do this (this episode)
Ideas pen - I like documenting and later seeing my ideas in green ink. It helps them standout, and triggers a feeling of accomplishment.
LAMY safari special edition Rollerball pen with green ink
Highlighters
Good old Stabilo Boss Highlighters
Yellow = health (mind/body)
Pink = love (family/friends/memories/moments)
Green = learnings / growth
Orange = work-related
Paper/diary (& loving the dots on the pages)
Moleskine Classic Soft Cover Notebook - Dot Grid - Extra Large - Black, (QP624)
I’ve been using Moleskin products on-and-off for over a decade now, so I just naturally gravitate to them.
Previously used (& disliked not having lines/dots for guidance)
The same as above, but without the dots
Step 2: Land on a process to follow
Journalling can be life-changing, if you let it. But, IMO, you need to have a Plan on how to journal that works with and for you.
Before I share my process, I thought I’d share a universal mental model I’ve created:
Plan * (Execution/2) = Earned results
This is inspired by Ray Dalio’s principle “Use the 5-Step Process to Get What You Want Out of Life”, which is fantastic.
A quick word of advice: take note of the multiplier (*) effect of a Plan on Execution, and the fact that Execution is worth 1/2 of a unit of Planing per my mental model above.
In other words:
Great Execution can make up for a bad Plan, but it’s much easier to start with a great Plan that will work for you and allow yourself to fall to good Execution from time-to-time.
And, don’t be afraid of refining or completely changing your Plan if you find you’re forcing it, or it’s not working for you.
My process
Start of new journal
Number each right-hand side page
Tip: I used to number both left and right, but found it a waste of time and not helpful for indexing)
Use the first two pages as an Index
Inspiration: Bullet Journal method
Start of month
Write the month’s name in a nice font
Print off the a calendar for the month, and stick it in your journal
Tip: I use my Google Calendar in month view, and unselect all calendars so it’s a blank calendar
Write in key events/anniversaries/birthdays etc
Why?: I find it helps cement in my mind what I have ahead of me each month
How: Refer back to my Google Calendar to pull out key information
Tip: Only write in key/important things
Using my Trello set-up:
1. Go to “Goals” board
2. Create at least three lists:
June 2023 - Me
June 2023 - Family & Friends
June 2023 - Other
3. Write in my goals for the month for each of these lists
Tip: SMART goals are a good idea, but don’t stress if they’re not. I find coming into this with curiosity, lightness and no pressure is a much healthier way for me to approach personal goals each month
4. Print it off, and stick it into your journal
5. Annotate around it over the course of the month
Using my Trello set-up:
1. Go to “Inbox” board
2. Review the list “On my radar”
3. Add/remove/amend any times
4. Print it off, and stick it into your journal
5. Annotate around it over the course of the month
Daily
Start of day:
Use the left-hand side page for:
elaborations / callouts (black ink)
learnings (green ink)
ideas (green ink)
Use the right-hand side page for the main journal entries
1. Write today’s date and day at the top, e.g. 31 MAY / WED
2. Write the time
3. Review your calendar (phone + start-of-month calendar in journal), Goals, and Things on my radar
4. Note any important events/anniversaries/birthdays with a hollow circle
Inspiration: Bullet Journal method
5. Go through your list of things to cover off:
Grateful
Feeling - Mind, Body
Thoughts
Inspiration
This is where I draw from external sources to get out of my own head
Daily Stoic
Tolstoy’s Calendar of Wisdom
Mojo Crowe
Carefully curated Twitter list
etc
6. Highlight anything meaningful
Yellow = health (mind/body)
Pink = love (family/friends/memories/moments)
Green = learnings / growth
Orange = work-related
7. Transfer any tasks/actions to your other digital task management processes
e.g. Trello
e.g. iOS Reminders
e.g. Google Calendar
During day:
Use the right-hand side page for the main journal entries
1. Write the time
2. Write :)
Note: My detailed meeting notes / learnings are created and stored electronically in Roam Research or iOS Notes, so I usually only summarise my feeling/thoughts relating to an event
3. Highlight anything meaningful
Yellow = health (mind/body)
Pink = love (family/friends/memories/moments)
Green = learnings / growth
Orange = work-related
4. Transfer any tasks/actions to your other digital task management processes
e.g. Trello
e.g. iOS Reminders
e.g. Google Calendar
And, there you have it. Thanks for reading 🤓
Where to next?
I’m finding I constantly tweak things around the edges, so I’m sure I’ll write a follow-up post on my updated process in the near future.