Have you ever had this experience? Seeing other people's beautiful journals, you can't help but feel tempted. But when it's time to do it yourself, it feels like too much trouble—you need to buy notebooks, stickers, washi tape, and learn layout design. When you add it up, it's not just time-consuming, it's also quite expensive.
Don't worry, digital journaling might be the answer you're looking for.
What is Digital Journaling?
Simply put, it's moving traditional journals onto your phone and iPad. You don't need to stock up on stationery anymore—just tap your fingers to access various beautiful templates.
CanJournals is exactly such an app. It combines Notion's block-based editing with cute journaling styles. Staring at the screen and don't know where to start? No problem, just open a template and start writing directly.
Choose Digital Journaling?
Many friends around me have given up journaling, not because they don't want to record, but because it's too troublesome. They buy more and more notebooks, stickers pile up like mountains, but the actual content written is pitifully small.
The benefits of digital journaling are:
- Write anytime. While waiting for the bus, during lunch break, before bed—pull out your phone and jot down a few notes.
- No organizing needed. Templates have already arranged the layout for you, no need to struggle with how to make it look good.
- Don't worry about losing it. Data is stored in the cloud, so even if you change phones, it doesn't matter.
- Edit as you like. Wrote the wrong word? Just tap to change it, leaving no trace of corrections.
What Do You Need to Prepare Before Starting?
Actually, you only need two things: a phone or iPad, and a willingness to start.
After downloading the CanJournals app, you can spend five minutes browsing the built-in template center. See which style appeals to you, which structure you can use. Don't try to master all the features at once—just pick a template you like and start using it.
Step 1: Choose a Template You Like
When you open the app, you'll see the template library. There are different choices for different scenarios:
- Daily recording: Today's to-dos, daily review
- Diary type: Evening diary, mood tracking
- Planning type: Weekly plan, monthly plan, reading plan
As a beginner, I recommend starting with something simple. Try templates like "Today's To-Dos" or "Evening Diary" that don't have complex structures. Once you're used to them, you can switch to more complex ones.
Step 2: Start Writing
Once you've selected a template, you can start writing.
Don't worry about your writing style, don't worry about word count. Write whatever you want. What you ate today, how you're feeling, interesting things you saw—these are all great materials for your journal.
As you write more, you'll gradually discover your own recording habits. When that time comes, you can switch templates based on your needs, or even combine different modules yourself.
Step 3: Build a Habit
The hardest part of journaling isn't writing, it's persisting. Here are a few suggestions:
Write at a fixed time. Many people are used to writing diary entries before bed because at the end of the day, there's so much they want to say. Choose a time when you're relatively relaxed to form a conditioned reflex.
Don't pursue perfection. Journals are for yourself, not for others to see. It's okay if it's messy, it's okay if it's short—the key is to keep recording.
Review occasionally. After a month, look back at what you wrote before, and you'll discover many forgotten details. This feeling is quite interesting, like having a conversation with your past self.
Will Digital Journaling Replace Traditional Journals?
Honestly, no. Both methods have their own merits.
Paper journals are for people who enjoy hands-on work and the sense of ritual. Digital journals are for people who prefer convenience and recording anytime, anywhere.
If you're still hesitating, why not try digital journaling first. The trial cost is very low—if you discover you don't like it, you can always switch back.
Summary
Digital journaling makes recording simple. No fancy stationery needed, no complex techniques required. Choose a template you like, find a fixed time, and start writing a journal entry from today.
Life is so fast, having a place to slow down and write and draw is actually quite nice.
If you're interested, you can download CanJournals and give it a try. Starting journaling can begin today.