What is micro journaling and how is it different from regular journaling?

There are plenty of positives when it comes to journaling. It can help you reflect, raise your self-awareness, and calm you down to unload your thoughts onto paper (via Life Skills That Matter). This all sounds good in theory, but to be honest, journaling can also feel like just another task to add to our already overwhelming long to-do lists. Luckily, there are other journaling methods that take less time than curating the perfect bullet journal. If you are looking for a mental boost or a way to organize the mess of thoughts in your head, then micro journaling could be an effective addition to your day.

Writer Todd Brison noticed traditional journaling “never felt like progress” and was sick of writing down his feelings. So he made the switch to micro journaling instead. Brison claims micro journaling is the number one thing he does to improve focus throughout his day (via Todd Brison).

How to micro journal

There are no rules in how to keep a journal and the same goes for micro journaling. However, here are some suggestions to get you started. Brison says to start by always writing down the date. By writing down the date, you are proving you are alive and acknowledging you will never get a chance to relive this day. In addition, he suggests beginning by writing down a statement or making a list about a specific category. This is in addition to writing down one thing you’re grateful for. Brison believes this method of simplified journaling will offer the same benefits of standard journaling in a shorter amount of time.

The technology train appears to have heard about and cashed in on this new method of journaling as well. Writing down your thoughts, either in the traditional or the micro journaling format, can be done on your phone in place of paper. Lifehacker recommends using the Daylio app for micro journaling. The app simplifies micro journaling down to using an emoji as a description for your mood. Both the app and Brison have a shared belief that journaling doesn’t have to be a time consuming process. Brison believes it should take anywhere from three to ten minutes a day. So whether the more traditional journaling or micro journaling methods work best for you, we hope you’re enjoying the benefits!

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