10 Reasons You Should Keep a Five-Year Diary – Noble Macmillan
The concept of a five-year diary is simple. The diary can be bought and started at any point during the year, and has five rows on each page to be filled on the same day of each year.
The primary purpose of a five-year diary, unlike a standard 1 year or academic diary, is that it combines the benefits of both a diary and a journal. It is something more personal than a standard diary with the sole use of arranging your weekly tasks and meetings, it a space to document and motivate your personal growth and other change in your life. As lovers of our own five-year diaries at Noble Macmillan, we have compiled a list of 10 reasons why you should keep a five-year diary in the hope that you may also reap their benefits.
1. Self-reflection
The ability to see at once the difference a year, 2, 3, 4 and then 5 years makes in your life on one page has a tremendous impact on your attitude do how you view and go about things in life.
It can even play a role in making major life decisions – motivate you to make changes in you or your surroundings that you may not have made without this perspective. For example, there are pros and cons of having a routine in your lifestyle, however a five-year diary sheds light where you may wish to add more spontaneity and not get too comfortable in not challenging yourself.
2. Organisation
Naturally, diaries of all sorts are a wonderful way to stay organised. They help you plan and visualise timelines for various occasions and tasks that must be attended or completed.
Moreover, the nature of the five-year diary means that it is an effective place for organising in both the short and the long-term.
3. Achieve your goals
The combination of the latter, i.e., self-reflection and organisation, culminates in the achievement of more goals than you would have without the reflection and organisation granted to you by the almighty five-year diary.
As previously mentioned, the self-reflection - seeing how far you have or have not come in a matter of years - provides the motivation to strive for more. Equally, being more organised increases the likelihood of being able to achieve such goals. For instance, you can use the diary to plot out any targets or obstacles to overcome and when you need to do so.
4. Stress relief
Keeping a five-year diary is not totally dissimilar to keeping a journal and therefore they share many of the same benefits. One of these benefits is the ability to reduce and ease stress levels.
Although this may not be the first reason many people would keep a diary for, it is certainly in my mind one of the most prevalent. Having space to collect thoughts or plan not only can stimulate a feeling of satisfaction but prevents you from internalising your thoughts and feelings and therefore becoming stressed.
Learn more about how to de-stress.
5. Boost your self confidence
The ability to see any progress you’ve made (no matter how big or small), the challenges and difficulties you’ve overcome and feel proud for doing so can have an incredible effect on your self-confidence.
Likewise, looking back at these times can provide a useful ‘how to’ of moving past any struggles you are encountering or have yet to encounter. This sort of self-sufficiency and immense personal growth gives you a sense of fulfilment that forces you to become aware and have confidence in just how great your own abilities are.
Learn how journaling can help with your mental health.
6. No skills required!
A further factor that demonstrates how a five-year diary draws on the best elements of both a journal and a diary/planner is that it encourages shorter entries more like a diary/planner does but with more personal details of your day like a journal.
Therefore, keeping one doesn’t require a great deal of time nor skill to keep up. In fact, I find the easiest and faster way to complete an entry if in doubt, is think ‘who, what, where, weather and food’ – the key aspects of every day!
7. For the memories
At the basis of all the above, is that it is keeping a record of your life. Writing down the contents of your days means that you will remember all sorts of details – both small and big – that you may have otherwise forgotten.
Not only is this simply a lovely way of revisiting the past, but it can genuinely improve your natural memory for the future.
8. Creates a time capsule
Aside from recording your own life, it can be a special and unique way to record solely a specific event in your life and how it progresses.
Such events can be adventures ranging from moving abroad, buying a new house, to perhaps having your first baby. In such circumstances it creates an invaluable keepsake and something that you may even wish to share or pass on to others to enjoy too.
9. Spark creativity
Knowing that your diary is a safe space for only you to see means that you can write freely and be honest.
Therefore, it enables you to let your thoughts and your imagination run wild – sparking all sorts of creativity, prompting new perspectives and ideas every day.
10. Traditional – no tech!
While we live in a world that is increasingly reliant on technology, scribbling your thoughts and plans down the traditional way each day is a great way to step back from all of that. There is nothing better than writing with a beautiful pen in a cherished notebook or journal.
As well as stopping you from looking at yet another screen, the act of writing itself is therapeutic and something we should strive to do more of. Additionally – a benefit bound to be appreciated by all the stationery lovers out there – a book looks great in your bedroom or on your desk, especially a Noble Macmillan leather five-year diary.
As you have read, there are multiple benefits to be reaped from keeping a five-year diary – and the sooner you get started the sooner you’ll get to feel them. Life can feel like it goes by very fast and we often have little time to reflect and enjoy it. Taking a few short moments each day with your diary can really make a difference.
Want to know how to write a travel diary? Check out our helpful guide!
