2022/12/07

Journaling in Evernote for Health and Happiness

You know Evernote can keep you more organized, but did you know that keeping a journal in Evernote can actually help you clear your mind and maintain better mental health?

Studies show that journaling can help you reduce anxiety and depression by giving you a safe space to express your thoughts—in fact, just the act of putting anxious or dark thoughts into words helps you put them aside so you dwell on them less often. Whether you’re putting down your thoughts and feelings, “post-gaming” the outcome of a project, or just letting your mind wander across the keys, writing as an act of reflection is a useful—and easy—way to maintain focus and keep your mind clear.

Think of keeping a journal like maintaining a car. When you’re driving, it’s important to keep an eye on your car’s fuel, oil, and temperature to make sure it has what it needs to get you to the laundromat or on that road trip you’ve been planning. A journal works a little like those gauges: You can use it to check in on your own mind from day to day, see how you’re holding up, and if you need some extra care to reach your destination. 

Here’s a few tips on how to do your best journaling with Evernote:

Use a journaling template

Starting a new habit, like journaling, is a lot easier when you don’t have to work from scratch. That’s why Evernote offers useful templates that lay out your first steps super clearly.

Take our Daily Mental Health Journal template, for instance. Created in a partnership with online therapy resource Talkspace, this template makes it easy to prioritize your mental health every day. It includes fields to write about how you’re feeling every day, to note that day’s weather (often a contributing factor to mood), and to recall what you’re grateful for—all techniques that therapists recommend to help manage depression and anxiety. We even offer a specific Gratitude Journal template to delve deeper into that process.

Shooting for certain life goals or achievements? Try templates like our Habit TrackerGoal Setting or Weekly Plan & Reflection. Or take this quiz to find the best journaling template for you and get a head-start on the path of personal (or professional) development.

Use tags to connect thoughts

Once you’ve journaled for a few months, you can start to make connections between entries and learn more about your mind. Do multiple entries say that Mondays make you anxious? Do you find yourself often grateful for a surprising person in your life?

Making these kinds of connections can help you learn how your mind works. And Evernote helps you connect these thoughts—literally—with tags. Adding tags like “mondays” or “gratitude” to past entries can give you a clearer idea of your own patterns and how to address them.

Take visual notes with the in-app camera

Sometimes a photo speaks to your progress in ways that words simply can’t. Use Evernote’s in-app camera to add images to your notes and keep visual reminders of your day alongside your thoughts and memories. Besides, who says journal entries have to only be written?

Get started today

We offer a wide variety of journaling templates for your personal lifework life, and beyond. If you’d like some help in finding the right one, take this handy quiz to find out which of our templates fit your unique workflow and goals.