The Importance of Keeping a Log

My CEO had our teams put together a "Look Book" with all the highlights of all our teams' achievements and milestones for 2022. It came out to be an amazing look back on SO much activity. We were able to present it to our Board of Directors and give them a quick look through the massive amount of achievements and motion our company has pushed through in just one year.

I started keeping a journal in earnest back in August of this year. Daily. I have a work journal that's separate. It's taken me a while to evolve these into what they need to be, but now I'm quite happy with what I'll be able to present in 2023 for myself and for my company, should the need arise. I log the flow of my day in my work journal and I go deeper on specific projects or meetings, when it makes sense. For instance, in my daily log, I might write "ELT Meeting," but I'll also have a detailed note of what happened in the meeting (unless I get distracted, because I'm an active participant, as well.)

My paper journal is such a mishmash. I talk about who I interacted with in the day, what's on my mind, whether my sleep and food were in good standing, and things of that nature. On the left page, I have little tick boxes to remind me to have 5 big glasses of tea or water (30 ounces each), and my morning cup of coffee. It reminds me to journal (though I never forget these days). It encourages me to set my bedtime such that I wake up at 5am, that I meditate, go to the gym, etc. That's the left side, the accountability side. The right side is whatever I want.

So I'm starting to look back on all the days and record one line per day into a log (like the Bullet Journal kids do). So far, that's been quite useful, as well.

Why? Why is it useful?

I'm working to train myself to spend as much time as possible on positive alignment, on the plus side of things, seeking out the experiences and situations that make me feel happy. Sometimes, it's nothing important. Other times, it's the key to my future success as well.

I don't have a printer, but sometimes I think I should have a photo printer right at my desk. (Don't buy me one, please.) Because sometimes, I want to put photos into my journal.

Like this one. It's me in my new purple beanie. Why? Because it makes me laugh.

But that's what I'm writing here in this post. It's much more like a journal entry, which was the point. I'm writing this letter to you to say, maybe YOU can keep a journal in the coming year and maybe it matters more than I originally thought, and maybe I apologize for picking on journalers. Maybe.

Chris...