Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Are there any downsides to keeping a journal?

shesus · 01-27-2008, 09:33 AM

Journaling is as varied as the individual. They can take many forms.

There are only a couple of downsides I can see.
1) You obsess so much over journaling that you don't grow or enjoy life.
2) It takes time away from other things you may want to do.

I had the lock and key diaries when I was a younger. I don't even remember what I wrote in them except that I started each day with Dear Diary. I tried to throw them away a couple of times because they had things written in them that I didn't want to deal with anymore. My dad kept bringing them back in the house and laying them on my desk saying that I'd want them someday. They are probably boxed up in my parent's basement.

I stopped journaling while I was in college. I was too busy with work and school to keep a journal. The only things I have to document those days are letters from my ex-fiance during our 2 year long-distance relationship.

I started personal journaling again when I moved out on my own. My journals consisted of various sketches and letters or poems to various people in my life.

Now, I'm more directed and I'm back to lists and fictional scenarios. When I get stuck or feel that I need to get a thought out publicly in order to make it 'real' or think someone else may benefit, I use my public journal.

I've used a variety of notebooks. I have the bound lined books, the spiraled hard cover sketch books, the small sketch/journal books, and cheap spiral notebooks. I like a colored pens because I classify things using color codes at times. However, I really enjoy using a pencil. I love the way they write smoothly and I can easily doodle and shade a sketch while I ponder.

01-27-2008, 09:33 AM	#34 (permalink)
shesus Fancy Location: Chicago	Journaling is as varied as the individual. They can take many forms. There are only a couple of downsides I can see. 1) You obsess so much over journaling that you don't grow or enjoy life. 2) It takes time away from other things you may want to do. I had the lock and key diaries when I was a younger. I don't even remember what I wrote in them except that I started each day with Dear Diary. I tried to throw them away a couple of times because they had things written in them that I didn't want to deal with anymore. My dad kept bringing them back in the house and laying them on my desk saying that I'd want them someday. They are probably boxed up in my parent's basement. I stopped journaling while I was in college. I was too busy with work and school to keep a journal. The only things I have to document those days are letters from my ex-fiance during our 2 year long-distance relationship. I started personal journaling again when I moved out on my own. My journals consisted of various sketches and letters or poems to various people in my life. Now, I'm more directed and I'm back to lists and fictional scenarios. When I get stuck or feel that I need to get a thought out publicly in order to make it 'real' or think someone else may benefit, I use my public journal. I've used a variety of notebooks. I have the bound lined books, the spiraled hard cover sketch books, the small sketch/journal books, and cheap spiral notebooks. I like a colored pens because I classify things using color codes at times. However, I really enjoy using a pencil. I love the way they write smoothly and I can easily doodle and shade a sketch while I ponder. __________________ Whatever did happen to your soul? I heard you sold it Choose Heaven for the weather and Hell for the company Last edited by shesus; 01-27-2008 at 10:25 AM..