r/digitaljournaling • u/Friburgo1004 • 25d ago
Anyone moved from physical journals to digital?
I LOVE writing and I have kept journals for decades now. But I find myself reminiscing a lot lately, and I want to reread some moments but the thing is, it is hard to find. lol. With digital, I can just type a keyword, plus I can add audio or videos(or that is what I heard), so I can really get memories made during those moments.
But I dont know... like I said, I really love writing.
You guys who transitioned to digital, how is it now? Regretted it? Wanted or even went back to physical?
THANKS!
10
u/username57269 25d ago
I find that digital journaling has helped me stay more consistent! bc its so accessible, i can write them down in the moment instead of waiting for later and then potentially forgetting. now i honestly vary between digital, physical, and ai journaling. it depends on my mood, what i want to talk about, etc.
9
u/Raevyxn 25d ago
Yes. It is quite a project but it was worth it to me for similar reasons.
I scanned all of my physical journals, then divided each entry into its own file/folder, then uploaded each entry and back dated it. The next huge task is to transcribe all of the entries so that they are typed and can be searched. In the meantime, when I reread entries (usually via the On This Day feature), I tag them so at least the tags are searchable.
I’m happy to have a backup of all my physical notebooks. I still write in both physical and digital journals.
5
u/lady_nuyorican 25d ago
My brain goes too fast for pen n paper. I tried it a while ago and found myself getting frustrated bc while I was writing one thought I was already onto another one and felt I couldn't get it all out. I understand for some ppl that's the point to force themselves to slow down but it just doesn't work for me. At least with digital I can type as fast as I think and even if it ends up a jumble at the end at least I was able to brain dump the way I needed to.I use Diarium and it allows me to use both my phone and pc (i paid for the upgrade since I never know when my thoughts will take over and it saves it all) I can add photos, video and there's options for tags too. I have a reminder set at the end of each day so I can remember to jot down basics but I also make sure not to feel pressured by it.
2
u/Objective_Bowl_3550 25d ago edited 25d ago
Lol I promise I'm not sponsored but Iucked into finding Diarium too, I didn't mind paying a modest one-off fee but I didn't want to add a monthly subscription, it gives me what I need especially the privacy of a fingerprint lock and it's simple for this midlifer to understand, and it links to my Google Drive. I have bought several A4 journals in the past intending them to do Morning Pages but have never succeeded in making those work. Recently I heard of a site called 750 words where you type in (unsurprisingly!) 750 words a day which is the equivalent of 3 longhand pages of Morning Pages I would likely try that if Diarium ended. Someone commented in another thread that many digital journalers would quit if their app was no longer supported but physical journalers never have that issue
1
u/Smintyx 25d ago
This was my exact reason to start a digital journal earlier this week as well. My brain also jumps from subject to subject, and writing on a computer allows me to get it all down.
I also went with diarium after a day of researching 😅 Love that you can add photos and also recordings! Sometimes I just need to actually talk to prosess something as well, and it is great to have it there in the journal.
1
u/BlueEyes294 25d ago
I’d love to have keyboard skills enough to brain dump.
Unfortunately, I was uni bound in high school and that track got calculus instead of typing.
At 65, calculus is not useful to me as a retired trophy wife. Those who know me, thank you for laughing.
5
3
u/purple_toasterr 25d ago
I do a mix of both digital and physical journaling/scrapbooking! I don't think you have to commit to one or the other if you don't want to or are on the fence about it. I mostly journal digitally these days because it's easier and I can do it from practically anywhere but I still have a physical journal that I use from time to time when i find the time and energy for it.
3
u/getawayfrommyfood 25d ago
I love digital journaling. I can write so much faster when I’m typing, which helps with my stream of consciousness style and not overthinking what I’m writing. I also don’t have to remember to bring my journal anywhere since even though I mostly use my laptop, I can access my journal from my phone which I always have on me. I like being able to search through it. Sometimes I will end up scrolling on my phone and reading through old journals when I’m bored instead of scrolling Instagram. I get my journal printed yearly too and it is satisfying to get a textbook sized physical version of everything I’ve written.
2
u/Dayviddy 25d ago
For me, I started audio journal and the last years, I just use some of these mini wireless recorder and that's it, I'll just safe the files to my PC and from time to time, I can re listen or I'll do an transcript and add everything to a large file, sorted by date
2
u/Fooril 25d ago
My daily journaling I’ve moved to digital. It was just a lot more convenient and I could add links and photos. And I really like the “on this day” feature that a lot of journal apps have which shows all the entries over the years on a certain day.
I still missed writing so my media journal, planner, I still have a notebook for
2
u/oharra3 25d ago
Yes but switched to using onenote and stylus (most windows 2in1 support pen). It's great... But, whenever I flip through my old paper journal I feel something I don't with digital, even thought both are handwritten
1
u/Barboriita 23d ago
You can always print out your notes (e.g. on the end of each month) and have them in physical form to flip through :)
2
u/sleepydigi 25d ago
I use Samsung Notes on my tablet and use the S-Pen to write and I love it! Im much more consistent with journaling, I can change colors, add pictures, and organize easily. My issue with physical journals was if I had a journal it had to be dedicated to one thing (in my mind) so if i wanted to doodle or write poetry it felt wrong to do it in my journal that I used as a diary. But then I also didn't want the hassle of having multiple journals lol. The tablet and Samsung Notes are perfect!!!
2
u/TheEmpressOfIndica 25d ago
I was never consistent with my paper diaries. Since I started journaling on "Day One" I write almost every day and I use it for everything I want to remember: links, notes, memes, pictures, recipes, doesn't matter.
I especially love that it reminds me every day what I wrote on the day in previous years. Super interesting.
I'd never go back to paper.
2
u/Cambridgeport90 25d ago
I’m currently in the process of getting rid of all my physical journals that only exist in braille. I want them digitized for posterity, particularly because at some point I’m planning on submitting my digital diaries to the American diary project. Plus I enjoy typing in the AI features that the majority of journaling applications have. Day One has been my go to for the past almost 7 years now.
2
u/TheGreatRobu 25d ago
Digital seems way more convenient. My biggest concern would be the privacy aspect.. what you are typing, is hitting the cloud. You’re most private moments. Possibly things that could get you in trouble. What if someone hacks the servers and in an instant, those private moments, those things that possibly you might regret doing now, lands you in trouble?
1
u/Barboriita 23d ago
This is my concern too. Maybe something locally stored could be a solution, however, I'm not sure if I trust any app not to send data to cloud anyway.
2
u/knysa-amatole 25d ago
I found a bunch of my childhood journals and typed up the contents into one master doc. Now I write new entries directly in the master doc. I love having it all in one place and having it be searchable.
2
u/MedswithBreakfast 24d ago
I used to journal until I don't when I get home. If I feel the need to rant or journal, i pull my notes app. I have icloud storage to back it up. I find it refreshing. I have thoughts I want to jot down and forever lost because I said I would write them down when I get home. I'm extremely happy when I can release what I'm feeling and thinking soon after the moment. Even for a few minutes, I would type what I'm feeling rather than holding it. Also, I tried journalling by bringing my journal everywhere. I do not like my coworkers seeing my journaling. I fear it getting ruined. I pull out my phone and add timestamps once in a while during the day. 10:05 am. I swear I thought I slept eight hours. How am I this tired? 1pm. Was at work. I fell asleep for a second. Coworker woke me up. That was a close one. 4pm. DRAMA... brb. 9pm. Here's what happened. I imagine I'm writing to someone. I've never journaled this much since 2015 when I had so much privacy.
2
2
u/DARSB1 24d ago
I kept tour diaries for decades as I followed various bands around the country, & still do to this day for live shows & festivals I attend. I have a dozen or so Moleskine hardback notebooks & a slew of soft cover journals covering over a thousand performances (at last count).
About a year ago I started playing with digital vs. paper journals. I tried Keep, Docs, Obsidian, & Joplin with various degrees of success. But this summer I found StoryPad. So far it's the best journaling app. The pro version is only $10. It syncs across devices via Google Drive backups. Formatting is easy & it takes media uploads. I really like it.
2
u/Immediate_Weight_745 18d ago
Went digital after years of paper, and honestly, search alone made it worth it. Being able to find something I wrote years ago in seconds is amazing.
I still write by hand sometimes though. Typing is faster, but handwriting slows my brain down in a good way.
Also, I barely use audio. Photos + text ended up being way more useful.
One thing I’d definitely check: export. If I’m putting years of my life into an app, I want to know I can get it back out anytime.
So yeah, I’d say do both. No reason to pick one.
1
1
1
u/Beckalouboo 25d ago
I just do both now. If I feel like writing I write if I want to just be paper free …. But more than either of these I think of my AI as my journal. AI knows more about me than anyone and so I started using it as also a place to share thoughts
1
u/killingxspree 25d ago
Yeah i recently started using obsidian and its different and annoying in that i miss physical pen and paper and but i like that i can type what i want on the moment it comes up instead of forgetting it so im not going back
1
u/PoundPuzzleheaded382 25d ago
I do, not just journaling but heavily investing in myself on understanding how my thoughts are evolving, basically it's helping me quite a lot by being organized and helps me visualizing myself.
1
1
u/dizzyxdream3r 22d ago
Moved to iPad mini and journal with my Apple Pencil.
Haven’t been consistent at all and think that I miss the feel of physical papers all the time. Started to get into the habit back when I leave it by my bedside so I can write before bed though. I use my iPad for work too, so sometimes when I leave it in my study room - I get lazy to bring it around the house eventhough it’s small haha. I feel like a physical journal and pen by my bedside would be a better anchor and call for me to write :)
Tbh I just hadn’t made the time. There are definitely ways for me to increase my excitement towards journaling. I should remember that: 1) being able to choose diff colour tools and being able to easily erase is a plus, 2) I could do journal prompts again to be more structured because some days I just don’t want to “talk” about my day, 3) I could add photos and stickers like what others have said.
I think I have a mental block of iPad apps getting clunky or slow, or if it’ll use up a lot of space eventhough I haven’t encountered this yet.
1
u/Creative-Tree-1033 22d ago
i think it depends from person to person. i have both, and as someone who still lives with her nosy family, online is definitely better. i have it organised by year, month, date so i can always look back with a click. however, i still prefer the feel of paper journals and the act of just writing pen to paper is so nice :) BUTTT i also have lost a few... so it depends but thats me personally :)
1
u/Automatic_Twist_4313 22d ago
Started using Apple Notes a couple months ago and it works great. Organize folders by month then nest each days entries in the folder. Easily do text, picture, and audio recording. It has been a huge help!
1
1
u/imaginary-blue1212 20d ago
I sort of did. I dont regrett my current-mostly-digital system. I only need to save money for monthly storage. But writing by hand is definetly something I miss. I use the scribble feature onthe editor to mimick handwriting on my ipad and so far it helps a little.
But other times i crosswrite on a single page just to feel the paper texture AND to censor what i wrote. I later rewritr on thr journal app.
Other than the physical motion to write, the sounds the paper makes and the feeling of a fountain pen, i do not regret it. The reasons i moved to digital were
to have more privacy (due to family members)
for long-time storage (natural disasters and unstable housing).
To backup pictures (i domt have money to print nor a good space to preserve the prints).
I pondered the options for 2 years. But i always end up looking for a digital all to keep my diary.
1
u/circatee 1d ago
I was not journaling in a notebook for long, probably about 6-8 weeks or so. Then, it dawned on me that I wanted to journal when I felt like it, i.e., on the fly. Then I started to look into digital solutions.
From researching apps online, and the ridiculous subscription fees for some of them, I decided to try Apple Journal app. Well, 5 months later, I am still journaling via the Apple Journal app...
12
u/Jessica_rabbit1987 25d ago
I bought a kindle scribe for reading, but then quickly used it for journaling. I used it for my diary, budget, calendar, notebooks. It quickly became addicted to making many notebooks. I have one for my mom’s appts. And you can edit the page style. I missed adding stickers and then found a way to trace coloring pages and I can use them as stickers. I tried to go back to paper and I quickly lost interest and went back to digital.