A few days ago, I hit 1,000 journal entries on Day One, the MacOS and iOS journaling app that I’ve been using every day since June 21st, 2015.
I only started journaling on a whim, thanks – actually – to Starbucks, which used to offer inexpensive apps – typically $3.99 or less* – for free to their users, and at some point in early-2015, they offered Day One for free. I’m not sure exactly what Starbucks’s motivation was — maybe to incentivize folks to journal about their coffee? If so, it worked, as I have a well-populated section of my journal devoted to transcendent coffee experiences (#coffeebliss).
At any rate, I’ve been using Day One for nearly three years – one entry per day, every day, for 1,000 days – to write down everything personal thoughts and story ideas, recipes and travel logs and lists of “who I met at such-and-such a tech conference.” It includes the important (the births of both my kids) and the almost-as-important (an excellent seven-mile run in 14-degree weather) – and the slightly-less-important (recipes for coleslaw), and everything that ranges from mundane to wonderful to mayonnaise-based.
It’s a fantastic way to clarify my thinking, articulate concerns, record memories, and even track my kids’ developments.
Day One is just simple, beautiful, and easy to use. The price of the app has gone up to $35/year for subscription, but I’d still say it’s well-worth it. I love that it geo-tags locations, such that I can look at a map of the world, or of the country, and see the various places I’ve been, and the things I’ve written when I’ve been in a given location.
As with any app that requires effort — I’m looking at you, Duolingo — I find myself occasionally getting stressed about keeping it updated, but it’s ultimately worth spending the minute or two to jot down whatever’s in my head. You’d be surprised how delightful a small memory can be a year or two later. Pass the coleslaw.
*This was back before The Great Shift to Subscription Models of 2016
Silicon Spatula 