What to Write in Your Diary When You’re Out of Ideas
Creative Journaling Ideas
“Write in your diary every day” is a phrase many of us have heard repeatedly. It often sounds cliché — until you actually start doing it.
Although diaries have been part of my life since a young age, it wasn’t until 2020 that I committed to writing daily. I am quietly proud to say that I not only upheld this resolution but also continued for the next year.
In 2020 and 2021, I wrote daily, and then somewhat sporadically in 2022. Those years, challenging due to the pandemic and personal upheavals, taught me a lot. Through it all, maintaining a diary provided unexpected clarity and comfort in ways I am only now beginning to fully understand.
Initially, I didn’t follow a specific pattern; instead, I jotted down the daily happening — what happened, how it made me feel, and other mundane details. Despite this casual approach, I reaped some remarkable benefits:
- I still recall specific dates and exactly what happened, thanks to my diary entries. Sometimes, when I flip through those pages, I’m transported back to those moments
- Being the overthinker that I am, writing helped me detach from intense emotional attachments to certain days or events
“One advantage of keeping a diary is that you become aware with reassuring clarity of the changes which you constantly suffer.”
- Franz Kafka
- I started enjoying writing, and the habit led me to write numerous poems and quotes, which I still revisit with fondness
- This habit also helped me have a more productive lifestyle; knowing I’d write about my day motivated me to proactively pursue activities like reading, exercising, and studying
- Of course, the COVID lockdowns were a time when many of us felt isolated, and bombarded with grim news. Writing in my diary during this period helped me navigate those tough times, giving me a deeper understanding and a stronger relationship with myself
- At the back of my diary, I kept a calendar where I diligently marked the days I exercised. Looking back at that calendar now, it’s truly gratifying to see how I maintained that healthy habit consistently
While I’m here sharing the advantages of daily writing and the personal benefits I’ve experienced if asked whether the practice was a complete success, I’d have to say no. Reflecting on the past two years since I stopped, I realize that while my daily entries made ordinary days feel special, I could have enhanced the experience by pondering more about what to write.
“It’s not easy keeping a diary. You have to be pretty committed.”
- Karl Pilkington
I’ve also been fortunate that many of my friends are avid diary writers. In the past, when we gathered to discuss our diaries, our conversations were filled with genuine smiles and nods of understanding — it’s the resonance of shared emotions that really enriched these moments. Through such discussions, I’ve gleaned insights on how I might have approached my diary writing differently to make it even more rewarding. These include:
~ Messages to My Future Self: My sibling has embraced this practice, and it’s heartwarming to see her joy when she reads her messages from the past. I regret not doing this myself; such notes could have helped me appreciate the importance of my present and inspire ongoing motivation.
~ Moments of Joy: On January 1, 2022, my mother gave me a flower while wishing me a happy New Year with enigmatic excitement. I wrote about that day and kept the dried flower in my diary. That page, and that flower, bring me a smile every time I see them. (It’s also the title of a poem that I wrote during that time). Capturing such moments in writing preserves the small yet significant joys of life.
~ Observations from Daily Life: How often have you found yourself laughing simply because others around you were laughing, even though you didn’t get the joke? Observing strangers and imagining their stories can add a fascinating layer to your diary entries. It connects us to the larger human story, a realization of our shared experiences (beautifully encapsulated by the word of the blog ‘sonder’ — the realization that each passerby has a life as vivid and complex as our own.) Writing about these observations can enhance our sense of connection and creativity.
~ Soundtrack of Your Life: Certain songs can act like time machines, transporting us back to specific moments. For me, Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” isn’t just a song; it’s a portal to my school days, echoing with laughter and the boundless dreams of young age. Taking time to jot down the memories associated with specific songs can enrich your diary, making it a delightful journey back in time whenever you read it.
“Memory… is the diary that we all carry about with us.”
- Oscar Wilde
~ Gratitude Entries: Simple things like being grateful for clean water can shift perspectives. Writing down these thoughts can turn a bad day around and remind us of what truly matters. This practice also encourages you to consistently find and appreciate the silver linings, which ultimately helps to build a more genuine and positive outlook.
~ Something to have Fun: It’s a fun personal activity — I read my zodiac’s monthly forecast and then forget about it. At the end of the month, it’s intriguing to look back and see how many predictions came to pass. I would enjoy the idea of adding a quirky twist to my diary by jotting these down and then reading which predictions hit the mark and which missed by a mile. Perhaps you might find joy in a similar, light-hearted addition to your diary entries.
That’s it. This is where we draw the curtain. It’s been two years since I dove back into the practice, and honestly, there are days I regret not keeping it up because life has been brimming with experiences that would make for rich entries. I even bought a brand new notebook on January 1st, 2023, but it’s still nestled among my other books, all its pages blank. If I had kept at it, I might have filled two of those by now. But here’s the takeaway: writing daily really does help — it’s therapeutic, it’s reflective, and it’s downright fun, especially if you experiment and make it a gift for your future self.
Whether you’re an avid journaler or a complete novice, I hope these insights inspire you to pick up a pen and start writing. There’s a whole world within you just waiting to be documented.
