I’m not really certain if it’s my forgetful nature that compelled me to keep a notebook in the first place but what I do know is that one has to be within reach AT ALL TIMES! According to my estimate, I am using 3-4 small notepads in a year, tucked neatly inside my handbag when I go out and right in front of me when I’m working. For me, a “doodle notebook” keeps me insane and it’s almost close to being a necessity. Without it, I’m really lost as to what I should do next or where I should be at a certain minute. Even with the advent of technology, where notepads are built right inside the computer and can easily be accessed at any time, I still need my doodle pad. There’s just something about it that puts my otherwise chaotic life in some semblance of organization. My doodle notebook, which for this post should be called as a journal, acts as my personal secretary and sometimes a calming force when things get tough. While environmentalists may disapprove of my doodling habit as I know they go for saving these ideas and thoughts in a computer instead, I assure them I make use of every inch of my journal and nothing goes to waste, not even a single inch!
A journal is a written record of your daily activities, best done before retiring for the night. It includes your thoughts as well as the emotions you felt during the day. For me, it’s more than that. My small journal includes the activities I am supposed to do the next day, the day after that and even the next month. I consult it every morning to see what needs to be done first and be able to organize my day. I jot down reminders there and assess notes at the end of the day. In other words, my journal knows it all, if only someone, aside from me of course, can decipher it! So here are my top reasons why keeping a journal is beneficial:
·    It clarifies the mind. There is something about writing down your thoughts. It just puts everything in clearer perspective.
·    Simplifies life. The mind can only take so much. At some point during the day, it will just shut down and won’t absorb anything anymore. When this happens, life would seem so complicated even if it really is not.
·    It’s a form of meditation. When you keep a journal, you are encouraged to always seek within yourself and in the process, get to know yourself better.
·    It allows wider perception of things. As you assess your feelings alone, you are allowing yourself to see a situation from different angles therefore understanding it in a different way.
·    A work diary can help you be more efficient in handling a project or job while a food journal can keep you right in track and not fall into temptation.