Tips For An Effective Journal

This was from another sheet that I was given at Church. It has some really useful tips for Journals that are in books or folders. I probably wont use these myself but placing it here might give someone else some new ideas.

• Paper - use acid-free
• Ink - use a good quality black ball-point pen and paper. Never use messy felt tip pens, coloured pens, or pencils because over time they will become blurred, smudge or even fade.
• Pages - number them. Paper clips, staples, & pins can rust so they may stain the pages. Overtime, most tapes and glues become brittle and no longer hold. As a result laminating should not be used for the purposes of journaling. Newspaper clippings cause journal pages to turn yellow.
• Table of Contents - reserve a couple of pages in the front of the journal to record the page number of important happenings.
• Frequency - Write something every day or at least once a week, and write for at least 15 minutes. It takes that much time to develop an idea.
• Time of Day - Set aside a specific time to write (and stick to it as much as possible).
• Place to write - Consider writing in a certain place, one that when you sit there, you think of writing in your journal, or carry your journal with you and write down thoughts and ideas as they come (or take loose sheets of paper with you on trips that can be added to your journal later).
• Spend time with your Journal - Read past entries to check on your writing style and content. Rereading revives memories and may suggest something else for you to record (always a good idea).
• Reminiscing - writing about an event that you witnessed today may remind you of something that happened in the past. Write it down while it is still on your mind.
• How do you feel? - Make sure that you don't have just a record of events. Record your thoughts, feelings and insights. Looking back later, your journal becomes a book of encouragement and record of lessons learned.
• Be creative and have fun - If you are artistic, include drawings and sketches. You might want to include a funny joke or story that you heard.
• Details, details, details - we forget so much. Take the extra time to include details. Later, when you read your entries, even a few details will bring the whole event back in your mind.
• Be yourself - Write in your own style, in your own words, the way you talk.