The difference between a journal and diary can vary depending on who you ask. The phrase “keeping a diary”, may bring up images of teenage girls with their dear diary entries, like Anne Frank, (who kept a diary during the early 1940’s). Or high school teenagers capturing their daily feelings of school and family life.
The term journal may relate to the more used term of a journalist or journalism, which is associated with reporting global news of current affairs and events or celebrity gossip.
The following is an interpretation of their differences
Diary
A diary, generally refers to a book that is neatly divided into balanced sections to allow a very brief summary of each day’s plans and events. Very short and concise to capture them in almost bullet point format. No room for more details to expand on, what happened, who else was there and all the juicy extras that create a more sensory picture in the mind for reflection.
This type of diary serves its purpose and works well if this is what you are looking for. Great for keeping all your appointments in order and checking to see where you have to be and when, at a glance. Usually fairly easy to use for referencing back to if needed.
Journal
A journal tends to consist of more detail. The word journaling is becoming more popular with the genre of personal development and self-help categories increasing.
A collection of information whether from many contributors or from one person.
Personal Journal
A personal journal used for the purpose of personal development and self-growth can be hugely gratifying. It can be used for exploring perceptions of past events, capturing day to day reflections and also for designing your dream life and working out what you can do on a day to day basis to make this a reality. This is where journaling can come into its own when used to support you on your journey of life.
Business Journal
A business journal can also be used in the same way. Exploring the details, putting them down on paper out of your head and figuring out what’s doable and if you want to do it. Seeking out other options and ideas that breeze into your mind and playing with these on paper without any judgement only to discover more brilliant ways that you can actualize off the page.
Also a great place to safely review previous actions, events and results to assist in the decisions on the next actions.
Safe place for the mind to play
I suppose, your journal can be a place that gives you permission to play and find out more without any preconceptions. If you are willing to venture and contemplate the uncertainty and outright bizarre ideas that may surface, journaling is like writing down your daydreams and seeing where else it can take you.
For Tracking
A journal is a great place for keeping a track of something. Some people keep a fitness journal. Using this to track their daily exercise regime. How many push-ups, time spent at the gym, glasses of water per day or even what and how much protein or carbohydrates consumed daily.
Tracking is usually done for something you want to measure either for improvement or to look for specific patterns of behaviour that you may wish to adjust or change.
As you can see, with these definitions of a journal vs diary, there is a big difference. Others may have a different opinion. Therefore, it is probably an individual choice of what a diary is and what a journal is. Here I have given you my version from the best of my experience and knowledge.
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