My hybrid journaling routine
This should've been a Reddit post in forums like r/digitalminimalism, r/journaling, r/digitaljournaling and r/applewatch as part of my app marketing efforts. Instead, I turned it into a blog post because it got banned everywhere. This is a launch day of my 2 Apple Watch apps and I couldn't be happier!
Hey, fellow writers!
I've been journaling every single day since the beginning of 2023. The difference of my life before and after my start is remarkable. Journaling is a driving force for meaningful and intentional changes in my life. For that very reason, I've decided to document my journey in the public and share my vision for living #freewithtech! It represents a Digital Lifestyle That Works For You and a way for living in the digital world so it supports the real one.
Today is a significant day for me and for that reason, I want to share with you how I approach journaling. However, I do it so that analog system is the central one, while minimal digital surface (my Apple Watch) supports it and provides more insights. This way, I am not bound to my digital devices while they give me insights when I need them. This approach has caused me to build 2 standalone apps for Apple Watch that complement each other.
So let's get to the point.
I have daily, weekly and monthly reflection routines as part of my analog journaling practice. As part of my routine, I am tracking 6 main habits every day for balanced living. This is part of my personal habit tracking framework that evolved from my lived experience. However, I've found out over time that it is very impractical to carry my journal with me at all times. Actually, it is not possible at all! So the solution is to introduce a smaller version of it for quick notes and sketches, right?
Not really!
I already have digital devices on me (Apple Watch), so why bother with that! That would be another unnecessary accessory. But here comes the concern for privacy. Having everything on paper introduces friction whenever I need to type something. I surely don't want to get rid of this as it brings intentionality and focus, while preserving privacy as I am the only one who can open and type into my notebook.
So this is where my apps come into play. Please meet analog journaling practice companion apps fwt. axis and fwt. joex designed specifically for Apple Watch for minimal tech surface. Ultimately, what they do is they allow me to leverage best of both worlds.
Analog journaling
- 100% privacy
- 100% focus
- 100% intentionality through writing with friction
Digital journaling
- Compute brings insights faster
- Less friction when I need to record something on the go
- Always there (even in bad weather)
All of this is part of a broader philosophy for living #freewithtech and has it's roots in a 3-step process that I've personally gone through in 2,5 years since I started journaling for the first time:
- Reset
- Reclaim
- Optimize
But what is the core message? I nearly forgot! Let me give you a TLDR
- Analog journaling is the most optimal system for intentional living as it gives the ultimate privacy & control which is something crucial for life's worth of thoughts.
- Digital world is there but far away from the paper. All apps are designed so they try to lock you into a digital ecosystem but that is something you don't want to do. This way you would lose the benefits of the analog world.
- https://fwt.wtf/axis-launch habit tracking framework that allows you to track habits whenever on the go through Apple Watch + Apple Health insights through Mindful Minutes and State of Mind as part of the evening reflection habit called Next (additional to Rise, Move, Frog, Play, Bond). This way, I get insights into my habit streaks at a glance, or wellness metrics via Apple Health on my iPhone.
- https://fwt.wtf/joex-launch minimalist capture tool that I would use for offloading. I would use this utility app whenever I have a thought on the go, or I open my paper journal to start writing so I can track my journaling time inside Apple Health without any friction. The core is that I don't lose a thing whenever I am away from paper journal.
I am wondering if this resonates with anybody here! If so, there is much more on the path from digital slavery to freedom and I invite you to join me on my https://freewith.tech journey.
Cheers,
Samuel