This is absolutely excellent advice, Ash, re: the keeping of a daily journal. There are cognitive studies that show that people remember information, and learn concepts, more efficiently when they are making notes using pen and paper. -Typing on a laptop or phone screen is just not the same. And I really appreciated your practical advice in terms of organizing one's thoughts. -What could be more important than keeping track of what one has learned in a day, of what has made one happy and unhappy, of what mistakes were made, of what one feels gratitude for, and of what was the best part of the day? As an educator, I've always advocated for lifelong learning, both for my students and for myself, and it's refreshing to see someone outside my career background share this belief.
Definitly John, I experimented with bringing a laptop to college in year 3 and taking my notes on word... when it came to recall nothing stuck, yet in previous years despite bad hand writing when i looked back over written notes I could sometimes recall the class and what the lecturer had said more clearly
This is one small, yet strong thing that men do not do any longer: writting! It is a need for men. We, men, tend not show our affections and feelings. Thus, a journal or a diary might be what many men need to be mentally fit and stay strong feelingwise. Best regards to every one.
I've often wanted to write a journal but like you say it can be difficult at first to know where to start. Your advice in this video has opened a path for me so thank you.
In December 2023, I discovered your advice to hand write. The subject was about the ten things you can’t live without. I was surprised when you spoke about notebooks. Then I get started my own journey in journaling since January 2024. It was so far from my habits but now I like it so much ! Thank you for your sharing
This video is just one very good example why I am a continuing patron of yours. I started journaling about 2 years ago, and although it is not the most consistent activity, I do enjoy it, and find it helpful mentally. The journal guides you recommend are excellent thought starters. Thanks Ash.
Ten minutes last thing at night is way for me to get my thoughts straight. My mother journaled for at least twenty five years, when she passed away I thought, do I read them? Honestly I didn't I burned them! It was her thoughts and emotions and it felt too private. I do regret it in away but I made that decision at that time. Good advice Ash.
Very good advice, I’ve started journaling (just on the Apple app) which really helps with mental health. Not thought of handwriting. It’s all very incoherent I feel, but it’s certainly beneficial to note down my thoughts
Thanks again Ash for a terrific video. I started Journaling almost two years ago after watching one of your great videos. I must say i am now totally addicted to it. It has certainly improved my life quality. May i contribute two tips that work for me ? The first is that at the top of each page i put a mark out of ten for my mood for the day. This gives me a quick reference when i re read my entry. I too struggle sometimes with the old 'black dog' and scoring my mood does seem to help. My second tip is that every day i read that days entry from last year. It proves interesting, plus i now see if i have managed to improve elements of my life. I am looking forward to October when i will be able to read TWO entries per day. Thanks again Ash. Keep up the good work sir.
I love that idea of setting a score at the beginning of the day and then revisiting the score at the end of the day to see if it has changed (a concept used in meetings of Talk Club). I will certainly incorporate that into my own journaling process - thank you sir!
Hi Ash - new subscriber here. I have just taken my first step in to journaling thanks to your insightful video. I look forward to viewing more. You are a good man and an inspiration.
I am commenting before even watching this because I've been waiting for a video like this, Ash! I've been meaning to suggest it, but you beat me to the punch! Well done!
Those journal covers look great Ash, I especially like that they founded by a veteran. I use an interesting ink called Neptune Blue by Diamine exclusive to a company called Pen Venture. The owner of Pen Venture Emy, is such a good guy. I enjoy the personality of this ink I mentioned, which has an interesting touch of a red sheen to it.
ah yes, I've been doing a diary / journal daily since May 2010 after a breakup of a relationship - tho, i do it in word documents (each one covers a month) and i document just about everything i do, I've also typed up thousands of pages of my life story too..! i do prefer typing as it's quicker and i can do it as i go along, and it's very easy to search for past events etc... i don't however read them as much as i should, but often look at my past photos and it's handy to cross reference both so i can see what i typed up on any given day when i look at the photos too.. :)
Thanks so much for sharing these great tips on keeping journaling simple! We love how you’ve made it easy for anyone to start and stick with the habit 😍 And a big thank you for featuring our Field Journal-it’s awesome to hear that it’s enhancing your journaling experience. Thank you!
I always like writing something down as opposed to typing it into my phone. It is also nice to leave a record of your thoughts and feelings and activities for your future family to read and get to know who you were. I wish I had some writings of my father and grandparents. Cheers Ron
Being former law enforcement, note taking has been part of my life for yrs. I've always had a decent ballpoint pen and "proper" note pad, even in my private life. Recently I have stepped up my note taking and started actually journaling the last few months. My daily note pad I've made a leather cover for and still carry a Zebra F-701 or X-701 depending how I feel. But for journaling I have taken the leap to a fountain pen. Started with a cheaper disposable and have now ordered Lamy All-Star special edition. Definitely not high end but from researching it looks like a good starting point. My journal at the moment is a cheaper book but the paper seems to handle the fountain pen. No bleed through and very little feathering I believe it's called. I contribute some of that to the cheap fountain pen. Among the other points you made, I like how you said to end on a positive note in the journal. I will have to focus on doing that!! Thank you for the video. God bless!!
A Lamy is a perfect fountain pen for journaling and I use one most days at some point (I love the Lamy broad nib). Try a Leuchtturn notebook (A5 ruled) nd you will never look back!
@@TheChapsGuide thank you for your response, I'll be looking that notebook up and ordering one shortly. I also forgot to mention my 11yr old daughter that has down syndrome, she has seen me with the notepad and journal and has asked me to help her with one. We now have a journal for her and write in it together for the time being. It is a great bonding experience and I believe it is helping her with processing her thoughts and all. Plus I hope one day she'll be able to look back, read it and enjoy the memories.
This gentleman is a former British Army RSM (Regimental Sargent Major). He's articulating what I've been doing, and have advised my clients to do, over a 30 year period. I hadn't realized that this activity was deeply an aspect of my culture, and had got transferred to me, in diverse ways, from both lines of the gene pool lottery. It HAD to be armed forces, too, 'cuz Daddy was Royal Navy from 1938 through 1947. Well, Rule Britannia!
I have heard about journalling years... Always felt it sounded like work, i never saw a concrete example of how to do it or what the benefit was, this video was bloody brilliant! I love the concrete examples and visuals of your own diary.
I've been journaling the past 30 years, and after one of your videos in early 2023, I began using hard back for formal journals. Each day I write in 2 journals, one is a logging of physical data such as sleep, weight, exercise taken for the day, morning resting heart rate, the weather for the day and how it effected my outdoor exercise, and notes on any ailments I may have. The second journal is all essay. I write about what I read that day and what I assimilated, what music pieces I worked on playing viola (and how well or poor my technique was), and any other issues that dominated my consciousness during the day. These journals are stored in my library and I frequently reference them for consistency of thought when I need to make decisions. As I age, I find the physical activity of actually putting pen to paper helps me cognitively, and maintains motor skills that can get lost by typing on computer all of the time.
Ash, have you tried the Remarkable2 e-ink tablet? I recently bought one to start journaling and note taking. It's expensive but it is passcode protected and very thin and portable. It has great battery life and you are able to import PDFs as well. Thanks for the video as always. Your Rolex Submariner video was great too. I got mine in June of 2020 right before the new model was released. My grail watch and one that I wanted since I was a teenager. It took me 30 years to buy one LOL. It's a great watch that is timeless (no pun intended).
Dear Ash, Dear Everyone, my success journal (as I call it) is led for six years now. Almost no exceptions. I do only write things which I consider as a daily success. I want to train my mind to see the good things, which helps fighting the Black Dog. It is not a diary and I would never record any negative experiences here. Although I love my iPad and Pencil, I prefer a fountain pen and paper book. In spite of being a digitally inclined person, it is somehow a different thing to write with a fountain pen. Citing a famous movie, sometimes the old ways are the best. 😎 At least for a certain purpose. As for your suggestions: Perhaps I will add a second journal to contain humour, learnings and thoughts. It definitely makes sense. Best, Tim
One should take the time to record ones life. It will mean something in 20 years, believe me, and it need not be daily, even a monthly record of life will make for interesting reading and introspection in a few decades when one reflects on what was and could have been. A Journal is an essential tool for this insight. While I don't keep a written journal, I log my life - on Excel !
This is absolutely excellent advice, Ash, re: the keeping of a daily journal.
There are cognitive studies that show that people remember information, and learn concepts, more efficiently when they are making notes using pen and paper. -Typing on a laptop or phone screen is just not the same.
And I really appreciated your practical advice in terms of organizing one's thoughts. -What could be more important than keeping track of what one has learned in a day, of what has made one happy and unhappy, of what mistakes were made, of what one feels gratitude for, and of what was the best part of the day?
As an educator, I've always advocated for lifelong learning, both for my students and for myself, and it's refreshing to see someone outside my career background share this belief.
Definitly John, I experimented with bringing a laptop to college in year 3 and taking my notes on word... when it came to recall nothing stuck, yet in previous years despite bad hand writing when i looked back over written notes I could sometimes recall the class and what the lecturer had said more clearly
This is one small, yet strong thing that men do not do any longer: writting! It is a need for men. We, men, tend not show our affections and feelings. Thus, a journal or a diary might be what many men need to be mentally fit and stay strong feelingwise. Best regards to every one.
I've often wanted to write a journal but like you say it can be difficult at first to know where to start. Your advice in this video has opened a path for me so thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Another helpful video. Please don’t get me into fountain pens. I already have a watch addiction 🤣
In December 2023, I discovered your advice to hand write. The subject was about the ten things you can’t live without. I was surprised when you spoke about notebooks. Then I get started my own journey in journaling since January 2024.
It was so far from my habits but now I like it so much !
Thank you for your sharing
This video is just one very good example why I am a continuing patron of yours. I started journaling about 2 years ago, and although it is not the most consistent activity, I do enjoy it, and find it helpful mentally. The journal guides you recommend are excellent thought starters. Thanks Ash.
Thank you Ash. For me personally, this was the most beneficial of all your videos.
Pleased to hear that
Ten minutes last thing at night is way for me to get my thoughts straight.
My mother journaled for at least twenty five years, when she passed away I thought, do I read them? Honestly I didn't I burned them! It was her thoughts and emotions and it felt too private. I do regret it in away but I made that decision at that time.
Good advice Ash.
Excellent subject Ash well said!
Very good advice, I’ve started journaling (just on the Apple app) which really helps with mental health. Not thought of handwriting. It’s all very incoherent I feel, but it’s certainly beneficial to note down my thoughts
Hold yourself accountable! Beautiful dissertation on this indispensable quality!
Thanks again Ash for a terrific video.
I started Journaling almost two years ago after watching one of your great videos.
I must say i am now totally addicted to it. It has certainly improved my life quality.
May i contribute two tips that work for me ?
The first is that at the top of each page i put a mark out of ten for my mood for the day. This gives me a quick reference when i re read my entry.
I too struggle sometimes with the old 'black dog' and scoring my mood does seem to help.
My second tip is that every day i read that days entry from last year. It proves interesting, plus i now see if i have managed to improve elements of my life.
I am looking forward to October when i will be able to read TWO entries per day.
Thanks again Ash.
Keep up the good work sir.
I love that idea of setting a score at the beginning of the day and then revisiting the score at the end of the day to see if it has changed (a concept used in meetings of Talk Club). I will certainly incorporate that into my own journaling process - thank you sir!
Thank you sir .
I learned a lot from the video ❤
I love that.
Hi Ash - new subscriber here. I have just taken my first step in to journaling thanks to your insightful video. I look forward to viewing more. You are a good man and an inspiration.
Good luck with your journalling experience. And thank you for the kind words.
I am commenting before even watching this because I've been waiting for a video like this, Ash! I've been meaning to suggest it, but you beat me to the punch! Well done!
Hope you like it!
Those journal covers look great Ash, I especially like that they founded by a veteran.
I use an interesting ink called Neptune Blue by Diamine exclusive to a company called Pen Venture. The owner of Pen Venture Emy, is such a good guy. I enjoy the personality of this ink I mentioned, which has an interesting touch of a red sheen to it.
Wise words, sir.
ah yes, I've been doing a diary / journal daily since May 2010 after a breakup of a relationship - tho, i do it in word documents (each one covers a month) and i document just about everything i do, I've also typed up thousands of pages of my life story too..!
i do prefer typing as it's quicker and i can do it as i go along, and it's very easy to search for past events etc... i don't however read them as much as i should, but often look at my past photos and it's handy to cross reference both so i can see what i typed up on any given day when i look at the photos too.. :)
Thanks so much for sharing these great tips on keeping journaling simple! We love how you’ve made it easy for anyone to start and stick with the habit 😍 And a big thank you for featuring our Field Journal-it’s awesome to hear that it’s enhancing your journaling experience. Thank you!
The one I've been waiting for! Many thanks :)
Hope you like it!
I always like writing something down as opposed to typing it into my phone. It is also nice to leave a record of your thoughts and feelings and activities for your future family to read and get to know who you were. I wish I had some writings of my father and grandparents. Cheers Ron
Being former law enforcement, note taking has been part of my life for yrs. I've always had a decent ballpoint pen and "proper" note pad, even in my private life.
Recently I have stepped up my note taking and started actually journaling the last few months. My daily note pad I've made a leather cover for and still carry a Zebra F-701 or X-701 depending how I feel.
But for journaling I have taken the leap to a fountain pen. Started with a cheaper disposable and have now ordered Lamy All-Star special edition. Definitely not high end but from researching it looks like a good starting point.
My journal at the moment is a cheaper book but the paper seems to handle the fountain pen. No bleed through and very little feathering I believe it's called. I contribute some of that to the cheap fountain pen.
Among the other points you made, I like how you said to end on a positive note in the journal. I will have to focus on doing that!!
Thank you for the video.
God bless!!
A Lamy is a perfect fountain pen for journaling and I use one most days at some point (I love the Lamy broad nib). Try a Leuchtturn notebook (A5 ruled) nd you will never look back!
@@TheChapsGuide thank you for your response, I'll be looking that notebook up and ordering one shortly.
I also forgot to mention my 11yr old daughter that has down syndrome, she has seen me with the notepad and journal and has asked me to help her with one. We now have a journal for her and write in it together for the time being.
It is a great bonding experience and I believe it is helping her with processing her thoughts and all. Plus I hope one day she'll be able to look back, read it and enjoy the memories.
Thanks for sharing this! Happy to see what you feel is important to document daily.
This gentleman is a former British Army RSM (Regimental Sargent Major). He's articulating what I've been doing, and have advised my clients to do, over a 30 year period. I hadn't realized that this activity was deeply an aspect of my culture, and had got transferred to me, in diverse ways, from both lines of the gene pool lottery. It HAD to be armed forces, too, 'cuz Daddy was Royal Navy from 1938 through 1947. Well, Rule Britannia!
I have heard about journalling years... Always felt it sounded like work, i never saw a concrete example of how to do it or what the benefit was, this video was bloody brilliant! I love the concrete examples and visuals of your own diary.
Give it a go - what have you got to lose!
I've been journaling the past 30 years, and after one of your videos in early 2023, I began using hard back for formal journals. Each day I write in 2 journals, one is a logging of physical data such as sleep, weight, exercise taken for the day, morning resting heart rate, the weather for the day and how it effected my outdoor exercise, and notes on any ailments I may have. The second journal is all essay. I write about what I read that day and what I assimilated, what music pieces I worked on playing viola (and how well or poor my technique was), and any other issues that dominated my consciousness during the day. These journals are stored in my library and I frequently reference them for consistency of thought when I need to make decisions. As I age, I find the physical activity of actually putting pen to paper helps me cognitively, and maintains motor skills that can get lost by typing on computer all of the time.
Thank you for sharing your own journaling experiences. I think the process of inflection and goal setting is hugely beneficial in any man's life.
Ash, have you tried the Remarkable2 e-ink tablet? I recently bought one to start journaling and note taking. It's expensive but it is passcode protected and very thin and portable. It has great battery life and you are able to import PDFs as well. Thanks for the video as always. Your Rolex Submariner video was great too. I got mine in June of 2020 right before the new model was released. My grail watch and one that I wanted since I was a teenager. It took me 30 years to buy one LOL. It's a great watch that is timeless (no pun intended).
First comment!! Great video!
Dear Ash, Dear Everyone, my success journal (as I call it) is led for six years now. Almost no exceptions. I do only write things which I consider as a daily success. I want to train my mind to see the good things, which helps fighting the Black Dog. It is not a diary and I would never record any negative experiences here. Although I love my iPad and Pencil, I prefer a fountain pen and paper book. In spite of being a digitally inclined person, it is somehow a different thing to write with a fountain pen. Citing a famous movie, sometimes the old ways are the best. 😎 At least for a certain purpose. As for your suggestions: Perhaps I will add a second journal to contain humour, learnings and thoughts. It definitely makes sense. Best, Tim
One should take the time to record ones life. It will mean something in 20 years, believe me, and it need not be daily, even a monthly record of life will make for interesting reading and introspection in a few decades when one reflects on what was and could have been. A Journal is an essential tool for this insight. While I don't keep a written journal, I log my life - on Excel !
Danke!
Thank you sir
Very useful
Hi, Ash. Great video. Around how many pages do you write a day?
Usually 1 or 2. I try to keep it succinct.
IOS18 you’ll be able to speak your journal. Not write by hand. So much easier
"Keep it simple"????? I was hoping for a better opening than that...
Howzabout "It was a dark and stormy night" ?