[HN Gopher] Approaches to writing two-sentence journal entries
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       Approaches to writing two-sentence journal entries
        
       Author : fi-le
       Score  : 79 points
       Date   : 2026-02-17 21:11 UTC (4 days ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (alexanderbjoy.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (alexanderbjoy.com)
        
       | RhysU wrote:
       | The game, https://thousandyearoldvampire.com/, mentioned by the
       | companion piece, https://alexanderbjoy.com/two-sentence-journal/,
       | looks quite cool.
        
         | mock-possum wrote:
         | I've done four play throughs - two solo, two with a buddy - and
         | they have been very satisfying. Highly recommend it. You can
         | play a game with the pdf and a text file, or with a printout
         | and a notepad, pretty much anywhere.
        
       | lyaocean wrote:
       | A pattern that tends to stay sustainable: first sentence is
       | purely factual (what happened), second sentence is directional
       | (what to adjust tomorrow). Still short, but much easier to use
       | when you reread older notes.
        
       | jrecyclebin wrote:
       | Another approach to journal writing is basically the opposite:
       | rather than treating it like a task to fill with very rigid
       | requirements - find a notebook and pen that you'll enjoy spending
       | time with. An easy start is a Midori Ruled A5 (very simple, lay
       | flat notebook) and a Uniball Zento Signature (the most hyped pen
       | in the world right now) and treat them basically like little
       | friends you spend time with. Writing only two sentences is
       | denying yourself quality time writing and reflecting at a
       | leisurely pace if you really come to enjoy it.
       | 
       | I'd also think you're more likely to read back if writing time is
       | a fond memory.
        
         | throwaway290 wrote:
         | Journaling on paper causes loads of paper with private
         | information you either need to carry when you move or dispose
         | somehow securely. It's nice if you own your house and don't
         | move but if you do it's a pain
        
       | bgoated01 wrote:
       | I have been doing a one-line-a-day journal for the past two
       | years. If I ever feel like writing more I have a separate section
       | for that, but I only ever tell myself to write the one line. It's
       | the first time I have been able to consistently write in a
       | journal for a very long time before I started. My entries are not
       | nearly as "composed" as the examples here, though, just tiny
       | highlights of what happened during the day.
        
         | Lyngbakr wrote:
         | Is the point of journalling for you to have memories to look
         | back on or to help you process what happened during the day or
         | another reason? (I've never tried it so I'm trying to
         | understand the purpose.)
        
           | bgoated01 wrote:
           | Probably the biggest purpose for me is to have something to
           | look back on. The last time I consistently journaled before
           | this was during the time when I dated, got engaged to, and
           | married my wife. Granted, that was more than a line journal,
           | but it has been really nice for us to go back and read it
           | together all this time later. With the line journal it is
           | more of a prompt to help me remember that time period than a
           | detailed description. But also I guess there is an
           | autobiographical aspect to it that appeals to me--maybe
           | someday I'll use it to help write an actual autobiography.
           | And if not I also like to think of it as something to leave
           | for my kids or grandkids to read when I'm gone.
        
         | binaryturtle wrote:
         | I once made one photo out of my window every day for a year.
         | "Project 266 days", I called it. That year (2016) had a few
         | very foggy days, so all I was able to shot on those days was
         | white. :D
         | 
         | I guess writing a short journal everyday is a bit similar like
         | this. Just forcing yourself into a routine of some sort. Just
         | to get one thing surely checked off per day.
        
           | yjftsjthsd-h wrote:
           | > every day for a year. "Project 266 days", I called it
           | 
           | Okay, I have to ask an obvious question.
        
             | binaryturtle wrote:
             | Typo. Not using AI yet to write my comments, so things can
             | go wrong like this. :D
        
       | wiseowise wrote:
       | I've been using Leuchtturm1917 Some Lines a Day [0], and a
       | separate notebook for whenever I feel like writing more, with
       | great success. And a fountain pen, can't stress enough how
       | important this one was - writing process went from "meh, I'll do
       | it" to "fuck yeah, writing".
       | 
       | [0] https://www.leuchtturm1917.com/some-lines-a-day.html
        
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