The Questions
I’ve noticed a regular onslaught of digital vs analog journaling questions. Like this:
- Is the Day One subscription worth it for journaling?
- Do you think Journey is a good journaling app for daily journaling?
- Journey or Day One do you recommend these for journaling?
- I found this journaling app, do you think I could stop using paper?
Maybe you’ve actually asked your self one of these questions.
I have an answer, and you are NOT going to like it! 😎
The Problem
Although these are “yes/no” questions they can not be answered so easily. This is a complex topic! Let me break it down.
Journaling vs. Tracking
Digital trackers are on every smart phone these days. Activity counters, calorie counters, step counters. And, there is mapping software to track how far, how long, and how often! As a software engineer, I get excited to see how cool these things can be. There is even a tracker on an Apple Watch that tells you to breath!!! 🤣 (it’s a meditation thing).
Longhand habit trackers (pen and paper) are all the rage in the bullet journal world too. These can be interesting too! I saw one in a circular shape that created an awesome mandala. I was inspired by looking at it’s detail!
Although recording your habits and activities digitally or in longhand is journaling. It is shy of what most peple would call “Journaling”. It’s mostly tracking, and few observations and thoughts are being written.
All this (so far) has been easy, let’s move on to digital writing and longhand writing (pen and paper).
Digital Journaling Apps vs. Longhand Journaling
First off, I’m a software engineer (I already said this). I have to say that the recent release of many digital journaling apps are excellent. I’ve seen many that give you prompts and help guide you along. Lots of templates and fresh ideas too. Really intriguing features that you may not get elsewhere.
My personal digital journaling applications is Microsoft OneNote. It is flexible and synchronizes with all my devices. It allows me to snip, clip, copy & paste all my research and ideas into sections and pages. The search is so powerful that it will find words inside of pictures! Take a picture of a paragraph in a book and the search will find words in it! Amazing research and collection technology indeed!
But here is the rub, research has shown that writing longhand forces your brain to slow down. Using a fine motor skill like writing makes your brain focus on what you are doing. While slowing it down deeper connections are made to what you are writing. It’s like ancient magic!
The research I read measured the performance of students that use a laptop to take notes and students that used pen and paper to take notes. The pen and paper group out performed the laptop group. I’ve seen similar research many times.
The Answers
Complex questions have complex answers! When I see people ask about the latest journaling app, my response has been “Yes, Both” not “Either, Or”.
I recommend using digital tracking, digital journaling, and pen and paper journaling! Yes, all three! They all serve a different purpose and can integrate with each other!
A balanced diet of goal tracking, research & collection, and expressive writing for the win!
Do you have any experiences with using all three?
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