A few weeks ago I wrote a post titled, “A Morning Routine that Works – An App-Based Approach.” In that post, I described how I use apps on my iPad as a way to organize and automate my morning routine by moving from app to app. I have a custom home page that I use for my morning routine that includes only these apps.
I’ve found that for me it’s a remarkably effective method to get me to consistently do some of the things I intend to do every day. As a result, every day I check my task manager and calendar, review my reading highlights in Readwise, keep up with the blogs I subscribe to on my RSS reader, do Spanish lessons, and meditate.
Adding the Day One App Reminds (& Prompts) me to Journal Every Day
I tried several times to develop a consistent journaling practice in the past few years. Each time, I would start with good intentions, but I stopped after a few days due to forgetting or getting busy with other things.
Months ago I subscribed to the journaling app Day One with the idea that if it were costing me money to subscribe, then that might motivate me to constantly journal. That experiment, unfortunately, also lasted only a few days.
Since my approach of following my morning routine by using apps on my iPad has worked so effectively for me, I decided to add the Day One app to see if it would help me to develop a consistent journaling habit.
Why I Chose the Day One App
I don’t need a journaling app to practice journaling. I could use a pen and paper, or any app that allows text. I already have a number of apps I could use: Apple’s text editor, Ulysses, Drafts, Obsidian, and Pages to name a few.
However, I find it helpful for me to use a “best in class” app specifically designed to facilitate journaling. For me, that app is Day One.
Day One Provides Multiple Options for Entering Text and Media and Using Templates
First up, Day One is a very simple and beautiful app. Aesthetics matter to me, and I enjoy using Day One. It uses just enough color and space to be inviting and pleasant.
With Day One I can either type or dictate (Day One automatically transcribes to text) what I want to say. The app makes it easy to add photos or videos to my entries. It’s also possible to email entries to my journal. Although I use only one journal, it is possible to create and use many different journals.
Day One syncs via iCloud to all of my devices and includes full encryption capabilities if desired for privacy. It also offers a quick note feature on the Mac menu bar and with a keyboard shortcut.
It’s simple to prepare templates to prompt my thinking and writing each day. I prepared a “Morning Journal” template that I use every morning. In that template, I ask and answer three simple questions that I shamelessly stole from David Sparks in a recent MacSparky Labs Video:
- What is my priority today?
- What am I grateful for?
- What’s on my mind?
I find these three questions give me the prompting I need to write about my primary focus for the day (my priority), what I’m thankful for (my attitude), and what I’m thinking about (my self-talk).
Using Day One to Consistently Journal
I’m happy to report that since adding the app to my morning routine home page, I’ve now journaled 22 days in a row, sometimes more than once a day. That’s a major record for me, and I don’t expect the habit to end soon.
While it’s technically a part of my “morning” routine, I’m finding that consistently writing in the morning often results in me writing in the evening as well. I record how my day went, whether I completed my priority for the day, and other thoughts as I reflect upon the day.