In a digital era where we’re constantly bombarded with information, it’s more important than ever to make time to introspect and process our thoughts and experiences. Journaling offers an outlet for this introspection, and for Nigel Keats, a Digital Forensics and eDiscovery specialist based in Melbourne, Australia, it has become an indispensable part of his daily routine.
In this interview, we dive deep into Nigel’s journaling journey, discussing his routines, the lessons he’s gleaned over the years, and his advice for others seeking to cultivate a regular journaling practice.
How long have you been keeping a journal?
6 years.
What makes journaling important to you?
I started journaling when I was going through a difficult stage in my life and I found it to be therapeutic as when my anxieties and experiences were documented, I felt like I no longer needed to ruminate over them.
I’ve always wanted to keep a journal but have had concerns about privacy and convenience so the idea of having an easy to use app that is accessible from the mobile device I carry with me all day and allows me to protect with a PIN made it a no brainer.
What do you usually journal about?
I journal about anything that is on my mind during the day. This could be socially awkward interactions, funny moments that played out, mistakes I made, opinions on topics that arose, strange dreams that I had, or photos of my dogs being cute.
“I started when I was going through a rough period in my life and I found writing down my thoughts and emotions helps me to stop ruminating on them. I’ve kept it up ever since then and found even more uses for journaling with Day One from tagging my last haircut day to storing photo memories I can reflect on in the years to come.”
When do you journal each day?
I usually journal about my day on the train home from work while listening to music or a podcast. On days I’m not working or working from home, I journal in bed at the end of the day. The daily reminder feature is useful for reminding me too.
If something standout happens, I may journal throughout the day while it is fresh on my mind.
What tips or advice would you give others who want to build a journaling habit?
On days you have little to journal about, go for a walk and snap a photo of the sky or your pets and upload that as an entry. You could also check out the daily prompts for fun ideas to write your thoughts on.
What have you learned from keeping a journal?
Self reflection is a great way to process your good and bad experiences, learn from your mistakes, improve mindfulness, and take the pressure off your constantly whirling mind.
What is your favorite thing about the Day One app?
I wish I discovered the ‘On This Day’ widget sooner as it promotes reminiscing and looking back at my entries from past years.
How has Day One helped you journal more consistently?
It may be the eDiscovery within me but I’ve found myself using the Tag feature a lot for keeping track of things like appointments, birthdays, events, and special occasions.
I try not to use Day One as a calendar app but if I find myself wondering when my last haircut was or when I last went to the cinema, it is super easy to run a search for the tag and find the entry.
I love being organised so this is another dimension of journaling that appeals to me.
What else you would like to share about journaling?
Journal like nobody is reading.
Start Your Journaling Streak
with Day One
The Day One journaling app makes it easy to build and maintain a daily journaling habit. Daily reminders, daily writing prompts, and journaling streaks are designed to help keep you motivated and consistently journaling.
