Journaling is a hot topic among self-help gurus, psychologists, and spiritualists. Everyone is swept away by its transformative powers. Journaling can deconstruct limiting beliefs and increase mental prowess. But while it may help in stress relief, emotional self-regulation, and goal-setting, everyone can’t carry a physical journal all the time. You might not have extra space to add it to your luggage, or it might just give you shoulder pain if you try to put it in your handbag. A good alternative, in this case, can be an online journal. Here in this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of journaling online vs paper. We will also share our top journaling websites and apps.
Benefits of Journaling Online vs Paper
So, are you ready to shift your safe space into the future? Welcome! Here are three ways this will prove to be a worthwhile decision:
Convenient
Digital journaling is way more convenient than regular journals. Here is how:
You no longer have to worry about carrying a physical journal everywhere. This is especially convenient when you’re a forgetful person who loses track of your belongings. Now you can be carefree without frantically looking for your diary and pen every time you leave your home.
Secondly, when tracking a specific event, regular journals require you to sift through every page. Most online journals have search and tag options. This makes looking for events easy. So, the next time you need to find something specific, you won’t have to go through stacks of journals and make a mess out of your room.
No Need to Store Physical Journals
Finding places to store physical journals can be a chore in itself. That is especially true when you have a ton of journals and are now scratching your head, bewildered at how there’s no inch of space left to fit your next leather-bound.
It’s okay. You don’t have to throw your old journals away. You can still stack the old ones in your room and switch to online journaling instead.
So, how digital journaling works is this: all you need is a device with an internet connection. If you’re reading this, chances are you already make the cut.
Most websites and apps will have a payable premium version, but that is merely optional. If you can afford the investment and find the layout appealing, go for it. But this is not compulsory, and you can continue journaling with the regular version if that is what you want.
Backup Option
You can back everything up through file storage systems such as Dropbox or Google Drive if you want to get one step ahead and secure everything. These will let you store, share, and sync files across various devices.
It’s easy to live a minimalist lifestyle now. Let your room stay clean and organized through the power of online journaling.
Can Be Password Protected
Everyone has to face the fear of the invasion of privacy. It does not matter if your journal resides in an inaccessible locker with keys that stay with you and you alone. The fear still lingers.
Because what if you accidentally drop them somewhere while commuting to work? Or what if they got stolen?
Is the possibility of a lawbreaker whose primary purpose revolves around going through your emotions ludicrous? Surely, there are people obsessed with crude interests everywhere. God, you can’t just let the possibility slide like that, can you?
Introducing the concept of journaling online, where everything is password protected. Regardless of whether you choose a reliable website or a high-quality app, you would be required to sign in through an email and password.
This means your journal entries will stay safe and accessible only to you unless you decide to share your password. You will never have to worry about protecting your journal from prying eyes again.
Disadvantages of Journaling Online vs Paper
While the benefits of journaling online vs paper may seem alluring, there are still certain things to be aware of.
We already know that one can not acquire the same sense of smelling the crisp pages of a new journal or holding a favorite pen. But there are other problems to be mindful of before expressing your thoughts and feelings on the internet.
Limited to Spots With Internet
That one is a no-brainer. You can not access your digital journal without a smooth and stable internet connection. So, while you may continue scribbling your emotions out in peace with a regular physical journal, digital journaling does not offer the same perk.
If you journal consistently, you’ll have to be mindful of when you charge your phone. In case you’re disciplined enough already, good for you. If not, it’s time you learn to do so.
Moreover, for travel journalists who enjoy writing about their escapades on the go, journaling online may be risky. For example, places such as US national parks have very spotty service.
The solution here is to either carry a regular journal with you or find a digital journal that also provides the option for offline use.
Privacy Concerns
Whether it’s your pictures on Instagram, TikToks meant only for your friends, or a message you casually sent someone. Uploading anything online has privacy risks.
The risk is there, and you cannot negate it entirely. Someone could hack the website or find the password of your account. Misuse of such personal information is not a foreign concept on the internet.
Thus, it is essential to go through privacy policies before making any website your emotional sanctuary. You can also read user-experience reviews to determine what people think about it.
Moreover, you may also find out what users think about the app’s overall layout, accessibility, features, and so much more!
You Never Know How Temporary Some Online Journaling Sites Are
Believe it or not, just because a site or app exists does not mean it will stay there forever. It could be taken down. Or developers might just abandon it because it’s no longer profitable. This can be a hassle if you’ve been using it for a while, and suddenly all your data is gone.
Ideally, the site will inform you beforehand. But that is not the case every single time. Moreover, not only will you lose whatever you wrote and stored in the app, but there is also the potential for financial loss.
Your premium subscription will likely be wasted. Some sites offer refunds in certain cases, but this is highly unlikely. Thus, it’s better to stay away from shady apps and settle on whatever is chosen by professionals.
Now, how do you find such apps? Continue reading for our top picks!
What Is the Best Online Journal Site?
Now that we’ve weighed the pros and cons of journaling online vs paper, it’s time we find places where we can dump the various contents of our minds.
Here we will be going through our top 3 picks for online journal sites:
Dabble Me
If you’re someone that forgets daily journaling and needs reminders to establish consistency, Dabble Me has got you sorted. You’ll receive an email asking how your day went, which you can start replying to instantly. That will count as your journal entry for the day.
You can also upload a photo with your entry. Went to a new park or restaurant? Upload the picture with your journal entry.
This will save the time you spend describing various places or people. A picture is worth a thousand words, after all.
Journey
The Journey app is worth a look if you’re looking for a journal and a planner. You can upload different photos to showcase the events of the day. Moreover, you can also choose from a selection of 5 emojis that summarize your overall mood for the day.
If you’re a travel journalist, you can even track the places you’ve visited with a photo and caption describing how your journey went. It also allows you to record the foods you’ve eaten throughout the day. This can be helpful when tracking fitness goals.
Moreover, the premium version also offers prompts and guided programs to target specific areas. These include self-love, self-care, issues related to body image, etc.
Evernote
The app is advertised for note-taking, but it works just as well as an online journal. Do you enjoy experimenting with extra features? You’ll find many diverse options with Evernote.
Evernote is simple and accessible, making the user experience even more friendly than its competitors. Although, some users might be intimidated by the variety of choices available.
Evernote makes taking, organizing, syncing, and storing journal entries incredibly easy. The interface and layout are user-friendly. Even some of the complex features are easy to grasp.
What Is the Best Online Journal App?
Now, let’s say you prefer journaling online over paper, but an app would be the ideal format. Don’t worry. We’ve also curated a list of the best journaling apps.
Prompted Journal
(Available on Google Play and iOS)
Remember when we mentioned unstable internet connectivity as an issue while journaling online? The Prompted Journal app is here for the rescue.
This app is also usable offline. Your journal entry will sync as soon as your device is online again.
The app has a user-friendly interface that makes journaling easy and fun. Moreover, as the name suggests, you also get a variety of prompts to choose from.
Additionally, if you’re someone who does not like journaling online every day, you can also turn off prompt notifications. No need to feel overwhelmed or pressured into writing every day.
Reflection.app
(Available on Google Play and iOS)
With a 4.9 iOS rating, Reflection is worth a shot if you want to try journaling online.
It is a suitable option if you’re looking for an app that is easy to use. The user-friendly layout offers thought-provoking journal prompts, quotes, and monthly flashbacks. This means you can easily track your thought and behavioral patterns to see your progress.
Moreover, the simple and minimalist design means zero hassle when navigating. You can also sync your journal entries across multiple devices. So, the next time you want to access your journal through a different device, you can do so effortlessly with the Reflections app.
Happyfeed
(Available on Google Play and iOS)
Expressing gratitude reduces stress, increases happiness, and improves overall well-being. Happyfeed helps foster thankfulness through its creative design.
You can record things you’re happy about by typing away all your blessings. Got a new job recently that you are thankful for? Write it down!
Moreover, the layout is easy to use. Recommended if you want to transform your life through the power of mindful writing!
Check out the following YouTube video for more information about digital journaling:
Final Thoughts
Consistent expression of thoughts does not have to be a hassle because journaling online exists. It’s convenient and easily accessible, and you will not have to worry about carrying a diary and pen everywhere.
So, say no to that added weight in your luggage. Just type, store, organize and sync all your journal entries in the palm of your hand. Kudos to technology for making self-development so easy!
We hope our top picks for the best online journaling sites and apps make the practice enjoyable for you. Do not forget to be kind to yourself if the task seems difficult. You’ll get the hang of it soon enough.
