The adoption of a daily journaling practice transformed my state of creative overwhelm and disorganization into one of clarity and purpose. I believe that structured reflection can lead to personal growth and improved well-being. This is my story of how I discovered and refined my daily journaling practice.

Why Change was Needed

The Birth of a Daily Practice

On September 27, 2020—my birthday—I made a decision that would change everything. I committed to beginning a daily journaling practice.

My goals with journaling were straightforward:

• I needed to find a better way to balance my career as an artist, my demanding day job, and being a good husband.
• My productivity was all over the place. Some weeks I would work long hours, feeling great and proud, while other weeks I couldn't get off my couch.
• I wanted to sort through my thoughts and figure out what I really wanted—to make a plan and go after it.

Why Day One?

During my undergrad in Italy, I began carrying a sketchbook everywhere. Seven years later, I had accumulated a pile of pocket notebooks. While convenient for quick sketches or notes, this system lacked organization. My scattered, often worn notebooks held dated entries and pictures, jostled daily in my back pocket. I loved having them, but they offered little sustained value beyond occasional nostalgia. My poor handwriting and desire to preserve pages for drawings made me hesitant to write extensively.

My poor handwriting and inability to organize notes on paper also deterred me from keeping a physical journal. While I enjoy the sensation of putting pen to paper, I get that satisfaction from my sketches and didn't feel like I was missing anything by not having a handwritten journal. For the type of reflection, thinking, and iteration I wanted to do, journaling on paper seemed much clunkier than what I could easily accomplish with a computer or note-taking app. Digital pages never run out, I never have to erase a thought, and I can simply copy and paste ideas elsewhere. Plus, grammar and spell-check are luxuries I don’t want to live without.

Eventually, my smartphone's notes app fell short. I'd make notes and attempt organization, but each time my phone broke, I lost everything. The app served well for brain dumps onto digital paper, making thoughts legible. However, I lacked a process for revisiting and reflecting on these notes. It was simple, yet limited.

I chose Day One for several compelling reasons:

1. Easy multimedia integration
   1. I could effortlessly upload photos, videos, and audio recordings.
   2. This feature allowed me to track reference material and inspiration for potential paintings.
   3. I could quickly scan and embed sketchbook drawings into journal entries, eliminating the need for margin scribbles.
2. Automatic metadata recording
   1. When embedding a photo, Day One extracts metadata from the image file, including precise location coordinates. This feature allowed me to map my travels—like a vacation in Portugal—or pinpoint where inspiration struck during a mountain hike. While I didn't initially see this information as incredibly useful, it was an intriguing detail that could potentially reveal insights about myself.
3. The ability to have journals printed
   1. This feature set Day One apart from other note-taking apps at the time. Having my journals automatically formatted and printed into an impressive-looking book was appealing. I have a deep appreciation for physical things, there's always a nagging worry that some unforeseen event might cut off access to digital archives, potentially losing everything. Having physical copies provides a sense of security.
4. No fuss
   1. Unlike many journaling apps that focus on building habits through notifications and gamification, I wanted to concentrate on substance. Day One offers daily writing prompts and challenges, but I didn't need them—I had things to say. Its bare-bones approach appealed to me. The straightforward user interface allowed me to quickly open the app and start writing or upload a photo. No fuss, just journaling.

The Journey Begins

With Day One as my chosen platform, I committed to daily entries.

My early entries utilized a series of templates to streamline the process of getting my ideas onto the page, followed by thoughtful questions to encourage elaboration. My first templates were "Ideas" and "Decisions."