Do you have a favorite tip or trick for journaling -- either what you write, or how you write it?  Here is my latest favorite thing to do.  When I answer polls on message boards and Facebook, or when I answer certain types of questions, I copy and paste my answer into a Word document that I then file on my computer.  So years from now, when I get around to scrapping these things, I will be able to remember what this point in my life was like, whether it's my Top 5 Cereals on Facebook or my favorite things about going running early in the morning.

Who wants to go next? 

Those are both good ideas! I have something I do once in a while. I don't blog, but I do occasionally send my group of friends an update and pictures. Usually, this is of a special recent event or funny thing that happened. It's how I share little bits of my life with my chix. :o)

So I email myself a copy and put it in a file, which I later go back to and copy to a disk.

Other than that, my go-to regular thing is to take one of EK's awesome photo pens (not a shameless plug...they truly are my most-used pens other than the Millennium markers) and quickly jot down dates on the backs of my newly-developed photos before filing them. My memories come rushing back and I write down quickly how I want to scrap them (like, if there are 4 pictures to one event I want to scrap together, I will write "1 of 4" "2 of 4" and so on, so I know later on I have all the right shots for my original vision). I also jot down thoughts/emotions/impressions to help me with fleshing out the journaling later!

Hugs

Corrine

I love that idea, Carla.   (making the lists, saving on PC)  

I have a spiral notebook that I'll write ideas or memories down in so I'll remember them later.   I prefer layouts that aren't necessarily "event" but capture a memory.   I am trying to document those sweet little moments that I think I'll remember later, but know I won't.   So jotting them down right away in a notebook or even tucking them away with the photos for later journaling really helps me.

Carla ~ What a great idea about the facebook quizzes, etc... I definitely feel an All About Me page coming on!

I abandoned the efforts due to a lack of time, but for a little over a year I blogged about my family, added pictures and videos, etc.  Now I post a lot of that stuff to facebook instead.  I plan to (in that mythical 'someday' that never seemes to arrive!) go back and use those details to put together my journaling in the future.

I also save emails, texts, anything that could spark a future journaling spree.

Those are some great ideas. I have a really poor memory so should really put some sort of notebook system in place myself.

I see that lots of people struggle with journaling, so my top tip would be not to stress about it. Not to think that for the journaling to be meaningful it has to be paragraphs of detail. Sometimes succint wording can be just as, if not more, effective than a page of waffle.

I love all these suggestions for journaling. They're just great.

One of my favorites is mind-mapping. You draw a circle in the center of a sheet of paper. Add wagon wheels or spokes coming out from the center.

Now in that center circle put the subject you wish to cover or a phrase relating to that subject. For example, you might write "Halloween Memories" in the circle. Next, as fast as possible, write on the spokes with whatever words come to mind. So you might (using that theme of "Halloween Memories" write: "candy, costumes, rainy weather, spooky shadows from trees, white sheet ghosts in trees, masks that don't fit!, flashlights, pillowcases full of candy, hiding Snickers bars, knocking on doors, dogs barking..."

The list could go on and on. What's amazing is how when you are free of linear thinking, you conjure up more ideas. The mind map can be tucked away for later use. So, if you don't have time to scrapbook a page about your Halloween Memories right now, the memories will wait for you. This is a great way to use a smidgeon of time--you can fill out a mindmap while you're in carpool, at the doctor's office, where-ever!