Heres why you should give it a try.
One of the main roles of a journal is as a tool for processing your thoughts.
Writing down how you feel can help you contextualize events in your life.
You dont even need to write an entry every day.
With digital journaling, you have even more options.
Your journal could be a selection of favorite photos or videos.
you’re able to record audio and insert it into your entries.
You dont have toreadyour entries, either, since the mere act of writing can be beneficial.
That said, theres no better place to keep personal records of your feelings or thoughts.
Note-taking apps and word processors can feel impersonal and are often ill-suited to recording an ongoing stream of consciousness.
If you struggle to remember things, a journal might be worth a shot.
And if youre convinced to start journaling already, give Apples Journal app a shot.
What Is Apples Journal App?
Journal is a free app thats bundled with the iPhone.
The app prioritizes minimalism, lacking many of the more advanced features found in paid journaling apps.
There are effectively two main views: your entries and the compose screen.
The Journal app is available to iPhone users as of the iOS 17.2 update.
If you dont see the app, try updating your iPhone under options > General > Software Update.
If your equipment isnt compatible with iOS 17, you wont be able to use Journal.
Why Bother Using the Journal App?
Journal is a free app, so you havent got much to lose by trying it out.
Similar apps likeDay OneandClearfullock certain features behind premium plans (though their basic functionality is also free).
Third-party journal apps are generally a lot more feature-rich, which isnt necessarily to everyones tastes.
Apples Journal app brings together many aspects of your life that you probably already track on your iPhone.
Journal is a bit like the default iPhone camera app.
Its designed to be as accessible as possible, at the cost of complexity.
You probably have your iPhone in your hand, pocket, or next to you 24 hours a day.
When you start using Journal, youll be asked if you want to switch on the feature.
This includes day trips, concerts, and dining out.
Photos that youve taken while recording a workout like a hike will be grouped.
If you listen to a podcast while working out, the two will be dropped into your journal together.
On top of this, youll also get Reflections which act as writing prompts.
Youve probably seen these before, and you might find them a little bit cliche.
One such example we spotted was Take a look around you and take a picture of something youve overlooked.
What do you notice about it?
Just remember that anyone who knows your passcode can access your journal, among other things.
As a private record of thoughts and life events, it works well.
At present, Journal is designed as a wholly private experience.
Journaling Suggestions is a neat feature, but it needs more time to marinate.
Theres a Suggestions API that developers can access, but during my testing, only Apple apps appeared.
In time, it would be good to be able to filter apps, too.
Id love to see more control over suggestions when adding them to new entries.
You cant swap out these images for others, and sometimes Journal suggests blurry or sub-optimal images.
Just like Apple Notes, getting your entries out of Journal is a challenge.
Theres no export option, and you might only copy text from the Edit Entry screen.
Apples Journal is a promising start, and its simple, no-frills approach makes it accessible.
