Everyone has their own habits when it comes to keeping a diary.
Some like the touch of pen and paper, feeling that keyboard typing is missing something. Some find pen and paper too troublesome, phone tapping completes a diary entry in no time.
There's no standard answer. Today let's talk about the characteristics of both methods to help you find your answer.
Benefits of Handwritten Diaries
The Writing Process Itself is Healing
I have a friend who, whenever in a bad mood, picks up a pen and writes. She says the feeling of fingers gripping the pen is grounding, and as she writes, her heart calms down.
This isn't mystical. Writing does have a noise-reducing effect. When typing, fingers dance across the keyboard, and the mind drifts along. When handwriting, characters must be struck slowly one by one, forcing you to slow down.
No Need to Worry About Electronic Device Distractions
Open computer to write diary, a WeChat message pops up. Open phone to write diary, a push notification bounces out. Handwriting doesn't have this problem—paper and pen don't pop notifications.
Many people are addicted to handwritten diaries precisely because of this "focus." Completely your own time, no distractions.
Stronger Privacy
Diaries are somewhat private. Handwritten notebook in drawer, at most might be seen by family. Electronic diaries are different—cloud sync, server storage, though big companies say data is secure, some people still feel uneasy.
Handwritten diaries don't have this worry. Notebook in hand, pure physical existence.
More Freedom in Layout
Handwritten diary layout can be wild. Stickers, washi tapes, colored pens, hand-drawing—go for it. People who can draw can even turn diaries into art.
Electronic diaries are limited by screen and software, no matter how free, there are limits.
Benefits of Electronic Diaries
Write Anytime, Anywhere
This is a big advantage of electronic diaries.
Pull out phone and write—waiting for bus, queuing, lying in bed before sleep. Fragmented time all utilized, can write much more content in a day.
Handwritten diaries aren't this convenient. You need to carry notebook, sometimes also need to carry a good pen. When lazy, you'll think "forget it, write when back."
Search Function is Too Powerful
After writing electronic diary for a year or two, want to find some content, type a keyword and it's there.
Handwritten diaries don't have this function. Need to remember which day written, then flip page by page. Some details, after time passes, forgotten—don't even know where to flip.
Don't Worry About Loss or Damage
Handwritten diary notebooks can be water-damaged, fire-damaged, torn by cats. Electronic diaries stored in cloud, backed up multiple times, basically no risk of loss.
Plus handwritten diaries once written, that's it—to change can only cross out. Electronic diaries can be modified anytime, also keep modification history.
Templates Make Diaries More Structured
Electronic diary apps generally have template functions. Open an "Evening Diary" template, today's events, mood index, tomorrow's plan—structure already built, just fill in.
Handwritten diaries need structure, you have to draw it yourself, often draw crooked.
Environmentally Friendly, Money Saving, Takes Less Space
One app can store infinite diary entries, one notebook filled then need new one. Electronic diary's economic cost and space occupation are much less than handwritten.
Which Suits You Better?
After all this, which to choose?
Choose handwritten diary if:
- You like pen and paper touch, need ritual sense
- Your diary is highly private, don't want any electronic risk
- You're good at drawing, want to make diary into art
- Your handwriting is good, want to show it
Choose electronic diary if:
- You're often out, want to record anytime anywhere
- You've written a long time, need convenient retrieval
- You don't like stockpiling stationery, unfinished notebooks give you anxiety
- You want templates to help organize content
My Choice
I use both.
Daily casual recording on phone, fragmented time pull out and tap a few hundred words. Weekends when free, find a quiet afternoon, use handwritten diary notebook to write something longer.
Electronic for recording facts, paper for recording feelings. Combined, this is a way I feel quite comfortable.
You can try and find your own combination. Key is keep recording, method is secondary.