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Keeping a diary - is it old fashioned?
Comments
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I have always written with a pen on paper, it's my way of 'getting things out of my system'. I had diaries (daily writings of what happened/how I felt) spanning years until I destroyed them all quite recently. I decided I wouldn't want certain others to read it as it may upset them and that isn't right when they are dealing with a loss already.
I felt quite bereft after burning them all, but I do believe I did the right thing. The diaries were for me, to write down exactly how I felt, not for others to see.
I can not 'think' on to a computer screen, I have to write the old fashioned way, then, as the world dictates now, copy it on to a screen (which takes me more hours than I care to think about. Much longer than it took me to research and write my dissertation!).'I'm sinking in the quicksand of my thought
And I ain't got the power anymore'0 -
I'm an advocate of written record too. I wonder if electronic phone records would 'stand up' given the ability to edit any note taken etc. Anyway, it's not relevant to me as pen and paper, or an email trail, is my way and always will be.
Paper records arent absolutely infallible.
I know I've done various secretarial work (paid and unpaid) over the years and that has included taking minutes of meetings. So every single organisation/person I ever took minutes for accepted them - as they knew I'd make sure I wrote everything that might be relevant down and kept them nice and clear.
Except one employer and I would write up my minutes of meetings and hand them to him (as he'd requested) each time just for approval. But every single time he'd change them from what had actually happened to what he wished had happened:cool: I didnt take it personally - as I know I'm an accurate minute-taker from other things I did. But it was annoying...
EDIT; Yep...email trails are a good idea as well. Only this afternoon I've had a phone conversation with a firm that tried to deny they'd made the agreement they had made with me - and I promptly decided "This particular person doesnt know their job" and referred them back to my email trail - where it has already been agreed by others in the firm.0 -
I decided I wouldn't want certain others to read it as it may upset them and that isn't right when they are dealing with a loss already.If your dog thinks you're the best, don't seek a second opinion.;)0
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I have always written with a pen on paper, it's my way of 'getting things out of my system'. I had diaries (daily writings of what happened/how I felt) spanning years until I destroyed them all quite recently. I decided I wouldn't want certain others to read it as it may upset them and that isn't right when they are dealing with a loss already.
I felt quite bereft after burning them all, but I do believe I did the right thing. The diaries were for me, to write down exactly how I felt, not for others to see.
I can not 'think' on to a computer screen, I have to write the old fashioned way, then, as the world dictates now, copy it on to a screen (which takes me more hours than I care to think about. Much longer than it took me to research and write my dissertation!).
I still regret destroying my past journals. Do you keep a journal now and destroy them afterwards or do you keep them now?0 -
Thamoneyistooshorttomention wrote: »No - not daily.
It'll be more at those times where "something inspires me" to use your language. Whether it be "a perfectly standard opinion for my area that I cant express where I live now" or any further "inexplicable" things that happen to me. Maybe my thoughts on new places I've gone to/eaten at/etc - what I saw or ate and what I thought of it.
Generally a bit of a "catch all" - but not yer "mundane everyday - ate this at home/did that social activity/etc". Also not for "paperwork" type stuff - as I have an A4 page-a-day diary that I write in details of dealings with firms/officialdom/etc - in order to keep track of what should be happening/what is actually happening and what I need to do to get that gap bridged. So today's entries in the "House & Body upkeep" A4 diary consisted of:
- sorted fuel tariff for next year
- chased up Internet provider re the email I was promised I'd have Monday from them and result of that
- arranging with main pension provider to change my monthly "payday" and notes about chasing up on that if need be
"Body" notes also go in there - must get round to changing "butcher hygienist - with a very convenient memory that suits themself (trans = they lie)" to "normal hygienist - with good reputation" for instance.
That sounds good, you do keep your A4 diary for years afterwards too or do you destroy them?0 -
Tha
That sounds good, you do keep your A4 diary for years afterwards too or do you destroy them?
I started this sort of diary (in addition to my personal carry-round engagement diary) when I moved here a few years ago - and was faced with a house to renovate.
I moved nearer the end of one year and rather regret I didnt keep the first years one - but wasnt quite aware of "whats what" to the extent I'm gradually getting more and more aware of:cool::(:cool:. I should have kept a list of "tradespeople not to use again" and what they've done wrong on my house - but hadnt realised just how many of them there'd be. That would be quite a list by now - those that didnt turn up when they said they would (this area is notorious for that), painters that don't do the prepping in advance, a plasterer that cant plaster, etc, etc.
So I've been keeping the ones since 2014 onwards - so that I can look back and say I said/they said (often with the exact words used) for what is mainly work on the house back till then. I think it would be as well for me to keep those particular diaries from here on in until I no longer require diaries iyswim.
Must write a list of "body things" to improve - be they health things or looks things in the front of my house/body diary and, hopefully, will tick them off as they get resolved.
I'm getting steadily more organised all round bit by bit. Things like my bank statements folder now has a page in on which I detail off income and bills, plus how much I have left for me after that. I shall be updating that as the figures change that are payable for monthly direct debits. I've still got a List of things I require money for before I'm "financially straight" and re-do it as I manage to knock things off the list by getting them at last.0 -
I still regret destroying my past journals. Do you keep a journal now and destroy them afterwards or do you keep them now?
I don't regret it as my written records wouldn't make for 'gentle/happy' reading for the one who would eventually have access to read them.
I know they would cause more pain and upset, which is absolutely the last thing I would want.
I still write, I find it cathartic, but I tend to destroy what I've written soon after (just in case).'I'm sinking in the quicksand of my thought
And I ain't got the power anymore'0 -
Redlady..... wrote: »I started a bullet journal 8 months ago now. I'm retired,kids left home, so couldn't at first think how relevant it could be to me. But......since understanding the concept of it I find it invaluable. It's all about the Index really, so instead of allowing a few pages for appointments, then a few pages for to do lists etc.... you use each page as it comes and number it. So for instance, I do a to do list for week beginning....number the page and enter it in the index on the first page, the next page could be appointments, number page and enter it in the index and so on, making everything easy to refer to, just find the page number.
Not sure I've explained it very well but for me it works as I don't need separate books or bits of paper. Everything goes in the bullet journal......personal info, appointments, to do lists, tech info like internet password....make and number of laptop....ink info......all on the tech page and so easy to refer to.
I started mine in April.
One of the most useful things I've found is noting phone calls I've made (to bank, utility companies etc) so I can refer back to see when I rang, who I've spoken to and what they said.
I've also made a few lists eg places I'd like to visit, books I'd like to read, films I'd like to see but missed at th cinema. It feels like an achievement to tick them off, although I'm adding more than I'm completing!
I've also got a page to document all the small overpayments I'm making to my mortgage - it's encouraging to see how they are all adding up
Basically though, you can completely personalize it and make it relevant to your life. But by making bullet point notes it takes away the pressure of feeling anything you document has to be in beautifully written and grammatically correct prose.2.22kWp Solar PV system installed Oct 2010, Fronius IG20 Inverter, south facing (-5 deg), 30 degree pitch, no shadingEverything will be alright in the end so, if it’s not yet alright, it means it’s not yet the endMFW #4 OPs: 2018 £866.89, 2019 £1322.33, 2020 £1337.07
2021 £1250.00, 2022 £1500.00, 2023 £1500, 2024 £13502025 target = £1200, YTD £9190
Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur0 -
jackieblack wrote: »I started mine in April.
One of the most useful things I've found is noting phone calls I've made (to bank, utility companies etc) so I can refer back to see when I rang, who I've spoken to and what they said.
I've also made a few lists eg places I'd like to visit, books I'd like to read, films I'd like to see but missed at th cinema. It feels like an achievement to tick them off, although I'm adding more than I'm completing!
I've also got a page to document all the small overpayments I'm making to my mortgage - it's encouraging to see how they are all adding up
Basically though, you can completely personalize it and make it relevant to your life. But by making bullet point notes it takes away the pressure of feeling anything you document has to be in beautifully written and grammatically correct prose.
Regarding the bullet journal, I am put off by starting one because I wonder how I will feel if one time I don't feel like drawing calendars etc. With the preprinted calendars you just write an appointment or a note and that's it so you can do it even if you're feel off it but when it comes to write out the whole calendar do you find that offputting at all/0 -
Regarding the bullet journal, I am put off by starting one because I wonder how I will feel if one time I don't feel like drawing calendars etc. With the preprinted calendars you just write an appointment or a note and that's it so you can do it even if you're feel off it but when it comes to write out the whole calendar do you find that offputting at all/
I don't write a whole calendar. I have one page at the start of a new month where I note any appointments for that month, then just write in days as I go through the month when I've got something to note down, I don't bother if there's nothing I need to note so can skip more days than I write some months.
One of the key things is that you start on the first page of whatever notebook you choose and use each page without leaving blank pages in between. If I decide to have a page, for example, for 'Christmas card list' or 'books I've bought but haven't got around to reading yet', you just write it on the next page. As long as you note the page number in your index page(s) you can always find the page you want and I use different coloured paper tape to edge those pages which makes them even easier to find2.22kWp Solar PV system installed Oct 2010, Fronius IG20 Inverter, south facing (-5 deg), 30 degree pitch, no shadingEverything will be alright in the end so, if it’s not yet alright, it means it’s not yet the endMFW #4 OPs: 2018 £866.89, 2019 £1322.33, 2020 £1337.07
2021 £1250.00, 2022 £1500.00, 2023 £1500, 2024 £13502025 target = £1200, YTD £9190
Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur0
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