Maintaining a diary is generally a very good habit. Moreover, one can always check facts looking back, remember events, find an outlet and effectively document one’s life this way. Also, some people even name their diaries and address them like an imaginary friend.

A personal journal is a private possession. In other words, this diary usually is just for you and it’s not for public reading, so one can write liberally. But for the readers, diary entry generally written differently.

How to Write a Diary

A Diary is a journal organized by date where you express your thoughts, feelings, opinions, and plans. So, be as candid as you can. Because this journal is your safe place. If you don’t know where to start, then start by writing about your day, about yourself, and so on.

There are few points to keep in mind to write a diary:

Always mention the date:

Pick a corner and keep it for mentioning the dates of your diary entry. You may not write every day. Some people are also specific about time and place as well. Again, it’s about personal preferences. Since one usually keeps a diary for a long period of time, it’s wiser to think out a general format for your diary entries and stick to it. You may iterate and change a few things depending on how you feel like, no one’s watching it. I personally choose the top left for mentioning the date.

Choose a subject:

Just like a chapter, usually, there’s a reason why you reached out to make a diary entry. For example, sometimes it’s what happened that day or sometimes it is to write about something you want to do in the future or maybe to just mark an event that triggered a strong emotion in you like happiness, anger, excitement, etc. But whatever it is that you picked your journal for, your diary entry will have a topic that way.

Voice:

Now, we always address our entries in the first person. If you want, you can give it a name. Usually, people address their diary entries as – “Dear Diary”

Be honest, it’s you who are talking to:

The key thing about a diary entry is that it is always kept truthful, natural and free-flowing. So, trust your thought train and don’t stop or mince words for the fear of being watched or judged. As it is your space to let out all your feelings, so don’t hold back.

Make it a habit:

Well, this one, I personally think, you only have to remind yourself as you begin to write. Eventually, it sort of becomes this friend you reach out to automatically. Most of the times you will find it very therapeutic to maintain a diary. It’s wonderful how when you let out all the emotions, sometimes the endings get quite conclusive and lead in a positive direction. Like you already knew the answer to your questions yourself. You just had to get all the foggy clouds of emotions out of your way to see it.