Keeping a daily log

I saw the word documentarian the other day and it really struck me as interesting. In the context where I read the word I understood it to be someone who documents things. If that’s the definition we’re going with then I think that fits me. I write every day, but it’s not creative writing. It’s documenting. I keep a daily log where I write a few sentences about what I did the day before. Where i went, who I talked to, what I read or watched on tv. What we made for dinner. Simple things. Mundane you might even say. I’ve been doing this for years. Eight years, I think, off and on in different formats. I haven’t always been able to keep it up as a daily practice, but for the past few years, I’ve been pretty consistent. Here’s are some things that I’ve found to help me with the practice of writing a daily log.

• Use a dated planner so I can see what days need to be filled in. This helps me to “not break the chain”.
• Keep my daily log out where I can see it. It helps with my “out of sight, out of mind” mentality. I keep my logbook on the side table in my book nook where I read each morning.
• Build it into your daily habit. My morning routine is to grab coffee, take my vitamins, sit in my book nook to write in my daily log and my journal, read and also do a few other things to finish up my morning routine. This admittedly takes me a few hours to do each morning and sometimes on the weekend I skip a few parts but I know that the morning routine sets my brain up for success each day.
• Use a planner that I love. I use an Erin Condren horizontal yearly planner with a custom cover. The paper is really nice and I love just touching and looking at it. Maybe that sounds weird but nice stationery is kinda my thing and I get excited to crack it open each day.
• Keep it simple and give yourself grace. As a recovering perfectionist, this is kind of my daily mantra. Don’t make it too hard. It’s ok to miss a day, just go back and write it in. Write something. Anything.

I write with the expectation that no one will ever see or care about what’s in my log. This helps me stay out of the perfectionist mindset too but mainly helps me just write for myself with no expectations.

I think it’s just part of who I am now. I’m a documentarian.