I stopped journaling in 2019
Yes, you’ve read that right. It’s about time for me to ditch the journal and do away with it.
The pen and paper have always been a part of me ever since I decided to add it into my everyday carry as a solution to record things down in case my memory fails me, which at this age is alarmingly high.
I’ve kept a bullet journal for three years now, save for this year. The journal has been most productive, especially for steering me back on track and kept me accountable.
“So why quit when everything seems to go so well?” You might ask.
I felt that journaling has come to a point where my productivity has reached its plateau. That is, I only used the journal for only three purposes which I shall elaborate later on.
I am exploring a new way to improve my productivity and experiment with a fluid style that doesn’t restrict my choices. The pen and paper method is great, however, it has started to show signs of obsolescence in an era of smartphones (At least for me, so don’t flame me #bujo fans).
The three key habits that have kept me motivated
Gratitude Log
There is a segment on the journal where I write down on three positive things that I am grateful for every day. Although I would not consider this as productivity, counting your blessings helps with keeping your morale high.
Most of the things are quite repetitive, and writing it down does not feel as useful as before. The main purpose is to have a grateful mindset, which I came to adopt in the early mornings before I even start the day.
Monthly Goals
I used to track my monthly goals, however, I realized that I did not use this segment as frequent as before. That’s because I’ve switched to Google Calendar. The sync function is a no brainer for me and the integrated Google ecosystem has been especially useful.
Habit tracking
This is the one that kept me going back to my journal. It is a mini table which I diligently record my time (e.g. reps for push-ups, 2.4km runs etc.). I am currently switching to HabitBull, a mobile app tracking device which is convenient for me to log my routines. Another point for going digital.
Score: Apps 2, Journal 0
Experimenting with truths
I realized that regardless of platform, be it digital or paper, one thing remains clear, that is the universal truth. It comes down to only one simple mantra which can spur me to be productive.
“Today might be my last. I will be better than yesterday before the clock struck 2359hrs”
That’s my mission statement, to learn from yesterday and live in the present.
The approach is two-fold.
The first sentence is to reframe life as a state with many realities and possibilities. Without this realization, I would not create a sense of urgency.
The second sentence calls to action. To always be a better version from yesterday. It could be possible that we may not live to see tomorrow, as the future is a mystery. The time 2359 hrs is a deadline to give duration to when I need to realize this.
Conclusion
Update: At this point of writing, it comes naturally that I no longer need to rely on the journal. I felt “lighter” without the need to commit on paper, as the habits are hardwired in me.
What are your productivity tips for 2019? Do let me know, cheers!
