## Benefits of Daily Journaling - Journaling has been a daily practice for the past year, which has helped improve life and added numerous benefits, including using it as a tool for simple living, frugality, and reducing technology use [(00:00:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=14s). - The practice of journaling was initially inspired by the book "The Artist Way," which emphasizes getting in touch with one's inner artist and creative self through daily expression, including the "morning Pages" exercise of writing three pages every day [(00:00:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=42s). - Daily journaling forces individuals to think about their goals and assess whether their daily experiences align with those goals, helping to identify discrepancies and make necessary changes [(00:01:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=72s). - Journaling allows individuals to vent frustrations and find resolutions to problems by reflecting on them from a distance, often leading to solutions appearing over time [(00:02:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=127s). ## Tracking Personal Growth and Progress - The daily practice of journaling enables individuals to look back on previous entries and track personal growth, changes, and progress toward desired goals over time [(00:02:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=172s). - Writing in a daily journal allows individuals to reflect on their progress and growth over time, giving them credit for the work they've done to overcome past struggles and problems [(00:03:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=187s). - Conversely, journaling can also serve as a wake-up call, highlighting areas where progress has been lacking, such as not prioritizing goals like getting out of debt, and prompting individuals to find solutions [(00:03:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=220s). ## Journaling as a Focused and Therapeutic Activity - Journaling is an analog, single-task activity that allows individuals to focus on one thing, which is a rare and valuable experience in today's busy world [(00:04:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=243s). - The act of writing in a journal can be a therapeutic and relaxing ritual, allowing individuals to express themselves and let go of concerns [(00:04:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=285s). ## Improving Self-Expression - Daily journaling can help individuals become better at expressing themselves, as it allows them to reflect on their thoughts and opinions, and articulate themselves more clearly over time [(00:05:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=304s). ## Journal and Pen Choices - The type of journal or writing tool used is not important, as any piece of paper and writing instrument can be effective for journaling [(00:05:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=348s). - A journal can be any size, as long as it's something to write thoughts down on, and any piece of paper will do, but having a dedicated journal is helpful [(00:06:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=377s). - A Muji fountain pen is a recommended tool for journaling, as it's a simple and minimalist pen that can be refilled with ink using a universal converter [(00:06:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=382s). - The Muji fountain pen is made of aluminum, making it durable, and has a piston that allows for easy refilling of ink [(00:06:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=395s). - The pen has been used for a couple of years and has been great for journaling, despite having a couple of dents [(00:07:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=420s). ## Encouragement to Start Journaling - Writing in a journal as a daily practice can be beneficial, and it's a good idea to start doing it if not already doing so [(00:07:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo&t=432s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VsEUggvTRo?si=fokcpM1sFV8WAz5c)