Whatever you do in whatever industry/niche you’re in, keeping an idea journal is one thing you shouldn’t joke with.

If you’re a creative person like me, you must have gone through one of those numerous experiences when an idea/thought of something potentially great flashes through your memory. However, after a few minutes (say five), you try searching for it endlessly in your brain all without success.

I’ve learned over time in life that when an idea drops in your head, a million other people are probably having those thoughts at that particular moment so you’ll be doing yourself a huge disfavor if you don’t even get to working on the idea because you forgot it.




Why Should You Keep An Idea Journal?

Writers know very well that an idea journal is a cure to a writer’s block. Entrepreneurs know penning down an idea is as important as having the idea itself and even scientists know the great value that lies in keeping a record of the stream of ideas that come their way during every research period.

So whatever you do, keeping an idea journal is paramount.

What Should Your Idea Journal Contain?

Before anything else I think it’s important to clarify what an idea journal is. It isn’t a diary where you record your daily activities. It is a place where you pen down daily goals, successes, ideas, observations, pieces of inspiration and advice.

1. Depending on what you do, an idea journal can be filled with anything, from thoughts on how to improve your project, article or story ideas for a writer, inspirations for drawings or sketches for artists, possible lyrics for your next song as a musician and much more.

2. An idea journal affords you the chance to remember, review and develop whatever it is you’ve written in it so never take it for granted.

Your idea journal needs not to be perfect, the most important thing is that you never forget to pen down any important thing you’re meant to write in the idea journal.

3. It is a good place to find motivation. Since an idea journal is also a place you can list your goals, an idea journal helps you track your goals and progress, kill procrastination and start working on those goals you’ve probably abandoned or forgotten about.





Practical Tips For Keeping An Idea Journal

1. Do it daily. It allows you the opportunity to do a self-appraisal on lessons you’ve learned everyday over a period of time. For scientists, an idea journal acts as a lab note that you can use to record the progress you make in any of your projects, your milestones, and final achievements. It is a good way to avoid repeating particular mistakes in the near future.

2. Make sure your idea journal is organized and available when you need it. It helps you improve your ability to observe so there’s a need to keep everything in it organized.

An idea journal can help you develop yourself in the area of being observant because it’ll encourage you to want to ask questions and be curious. You’ll tend towards being innovative in your thinking and find creative solutions to problems you encounter.

3. For whatever project that you have started working on, you should make sure to include all your timelines and goals for easy follow-ups.

4. Never think an idea is not worth writing down, you’ll need it in the future. Don’t judge an idea immediately you have it, you never know how much inspiration will arise from just seeing the idea next time you come across it.

If you do not currently have an idea journal before now, now you know you have to create one as soon as you’re done reading this article and if you’re into the benefits already, the few tips outlined above if taken religiously will help you in keeping your idea journal more effectively.

Start today and do it well!

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