The Journaling Paradox (or something like that)

Open up any browser on your computer and type the word “Journaling” and you’re going to get a plethora of different links. Links that tell you how to journal, the best type of journals to buy, the different methods of journaling and a host of others. Go to YouTube, type the same prompt and you’ll get the same type of videos all over your screen.

I know this because I just got done watching several videos on journaling. This was by accident too. I didn’t even type it in my YouTube search bar. They just showed up in the algorithm for me. I guess that’s because I have watched enough of these videos on the past. 

There is nothing wrong with reading these articles and finding out new things. New journals to buy. New methods to try out. If you’re not careful, though, this can become the same as the productivity paradox. What is the productivity paradox you ask. I have no idea. I just made up the name. To me, though, it’s when you spend so much time working on your productivity system, that you no longer become productive and stop getting stuff done. 

The same thing can happen with journaling, or anything for that matter. At some point you can become so busy tweaking your journaling system that you start to lose the benefits of actual journaling. Sometimes the best method is the one you’re already doing. Perhaps it’s not a new book or a new type of journaling. Perhaps it’s the one you’re doing right now. The one where you take a notebook and write. Or perhaps it’s using the journaling app on your phone.

There’s nothing wrong with trying new ideas. Nothing wrong with trying new methods. But don’t let those ideas or methods rob you of the benefits you get from journaling. Remember why you started. Remember the reason. That’s why you journal. That’s why you do it. Now do it. Stop looking for a greener pasture somewhere else. The greener pasture may be the notebook in your backpack you’re already using.