Do You Need a Journal, Diary, Planner or Calendar?
The great thing about journals, diaries, planners, and calendars is that they each serve a different purpose but can be used in similar ways.
If you are trying to decide which one you need, there are a few things to consider. Depending on what your needs are, one may work better than the other. There may also be some scenarios where more than one choice will work best.
This post may contain affiliate links meaning I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Read my disclosure policy here.
Do I Need A Journal?
Many people think of a journal as a diary but the two are really meant for different things. With both, you can reflect on your day and write about personal stories and events that have taken place.
A journal though, is typically longer and even more detailed than a diary. Journals are a way for you to expand on different things, dig deep with your feelings, and can be used to help you grow.
One of the biggest differences between the two is that diaries are dated and are made to write in every single day. A journal on the other hand, does not have to be done daily, which allows you to write when you please.
Journaling can help with anxiety, depression, stress, and mood from Positive Psychology.
It helps you have a relationship with your mind and gives you insight into your thought processes.
Do I Need A Diary?
A diary is like a journal but different in many ways. Writing in a diary is meant to be short and sweet and is something you do daily. A diary is something that is personal, so you are writing more about your personal views, opinions, and thoughts.
Typically, diaries have a page for each day and the pages are dated or have a space for you to write the date. This allows you to organize your entries and write about your experiences or events that have taken place that day.
Diaries are kind of like looking back at your day and writing about it. It is a great way to reflect on your day and you can even keep it so that you can look back at it as you get older.
If you had a diary when you were younger, you most likely talked about how your school day went, people you had a crush on, or how you felt about certain things that may have happened or were going to happen.
Should I Get A Planner?
A planner is meant for you to keep track of events and plan things for the near future. Planners do give you the option to write just a few small notes, but you do not really have much room at all to write.
Depending on the style of planner you get, you can easily keep track of appointments and events by a weekly or daily schedule.
Planners are typically used for keeping track of events and appointments that have specific times and dates. They are great for those who keep busy active lifestyles and have multiple appoints each week that they need to plan around.
Recommended Planner and Accessories
As you know I’m a huge fan of the Happy Planner, while it comes with calendar and weekly spreads, I’m able to customize to my needs with its disc systems so that I can easily print out printables I need and insert them where I want.
If you need planner printables, you can go to the Resource Library to grab them and if you’re not in there, you can get access here.
Classic Lined Vertical Happy Planner – Yay Seasons – 12 MonthsThe Happy Planner – Stay Wild Moon Child Theme – January 2021 to December 2021 – Dashboard Layout – Weekly & Monthly Disc-Bound Pages – Scrapbook – Big SizeClassic Vertical Happy Planner – Linear Florals – 12 MonthsThe Happy Planner Sticker Value Pack – Scrapbooking Supplies – Minimalist Theme – Multi-Color – Great for Projects, Scrapbooks & Albums – 30 Sheets, 785 Stickers TotalThe Happy Planner Value Pack Sticker Sheets – Scrapbooking Supplies – Farmhouse Theme – Multicolor – Great for Journals, Scrapbooks & Albums – 601 StickersiBayam Journal Planner Pens Colored Pens Fine Point Markers Fine Tip Drawing Pens Porous Fineliner Pen for Bullet Journaling Writing Note Taking Calendar Coloring Art Office School Supplies, 18 Colors
Do I Need a Calendar?
Like a planner, a calendar is a way to stay organized and will help with time management. Calendars give you a monthly view, instead of a daily or weekly view, so that you can see your schedule for a month at a time.
You don’t have a ton of space to write in a calendar. It is meant to be more of an overview of your appointments throughout the month. It is also a great way to keep track of appointments that you have in the future.
Do You Need a Journal, Diary, Planner or Calendar?
So now that you have had a little bit of a run down on what each are used for, you should be able to narrow down which one you will need. You will also be able to see if having more than one would be beneficial to you.
If you are wanting to write about your feelings and how you feel about certain things that have taken place, a diary is a great way to do so. If you are interested in not only writing about your feelings but also expanding on those into more details, a journal would be your best bet.
As far as planners and calendars go, if you need something that will allow you to keep track of many different appointments throughout the week, a planner will work for that. A calendar is a great way to keep track of daily appointments and will give you a way to glance over your monthly schedule.
More Journaling ideas
The Ultimate List of Quotes to Add to Your Journal or Planner