The beginning of a new year is a perfect time to start a new daily project, especially one that involves both a calendar and a journal. Over the holidays I spent some quality time with 366 index cards and a Sharpie pen to create this perpetual calendar micro-journal.
My perpetual calendar micro-journal was directly inspired by a very similar project I saw on Design*Sponge more than a year ago. At the top of each index card, I wrote the month and day, and then each day I write one line about something I did or thought that day. A year from now, it will be fun to look back and remember what I was thinking and doing a year earlier. By the time the cards are filled up, I will have recorded a decade of memories.
It’s tempting to wish I had significant things to write each day, but for now I’m really enjoying jotting down simple notes about everyday activities. It’s helping me to notice the small things, and I’m intrigued by the opportunity to record moments that would otherwise slip away and be forgotten.
While I certainly can’t capture much depth or detail, right now this micro-journal is a good format for me. It only takes a moment to jot down a memory before I crawl into bed each night.
What about you? Do you keep a daily journal or diary? Is it handwritten? Electronic? Do you leave it on your nightstand, or keep it under lock and key? I’d love to know.
Jan 10, 2012 @ 22:17:13
Ohmygosh… I made the Design Sponge one for a friend’s recent wedding (except mine was not vintage as much as awesome).
We think alike, Rachel. We really do.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 15:21:01
Jealous of your Jan. 9 entry! Any chance your old one is just sitting around somewhere?
Jan 11, 2012 @ 20:54:11
RachelW: I wish you had a blog so I could keep up with all of your creative projects. I miss living near you!
Katie: It IS just sitting around… but you wouldn’t want it. Over the past 6 weeks, it developed a bad habit of completely shutting down without any warning at the most inopportune times. When it started happening multiple times a day — and sometimes 4-5 times in quick succession before I gave up — I decided it was time to replace it!
Jan 12, 2012 @ 11:46:10
Sounds frustrating! Hope your new one is perfect.
Jan 12, 2012 @ 16:51:34
My mom made me one of these last year for Christmas, and it’s the first time in my life I’ve ever been able to consistently keep up with a journal… well, that is, for some reason I skipped a few weeks in November. Oh well!
Jan 13, 2012 @ 19:18:04
What a great idea! I used to keep a consistent journal but it’s really gone to the wayside. I need to start again… maybe like this?
Jan 15, 2012 @ 15:07:37
JayEssJay: I think it’s the brevity that makes it so easy to keep up with!
Caitlin: Go for it!
Jan 27, 2012 @ 11:52:27
Rachel, I just stumbled on your blog today & loved this post! I just started one of these journals this month too. It was a gift from a friend, and on every page of this book there’s a Jane Austen quote to start the day off right.
I’ve already had to “catch up” a couple times, good luck on yours too!
Jan 27, 2012 @ 12:35:18
Suzanne: Thanks for stopping by! I’m glad you’re enjoying your journal. So far I have found it really easy to keep up with mine, especially since I keep it on my nightstand. Each night I can just jot down a few words to remember the day. It’s surprisingly fun!