Writing

The Difference Between a Diary and a Journal

30-Day Challenge — Finding Your Journaling Style — Day 11

The Difference Between a Diary and a Journal

In this series, we’re talking about the practice of journaling. Many people confuse that process with the act of keeping a diary. While a journal and a diary are similar in a number of ways and they have some overlap, the two are distinctly different concepts. Lots of people use the words interchangeably, but it’s important to understand the ways in which they differ so that you can take your journaling practice in a proactive direction that helps to accomplish your goals. Let’s take a look at the difference between a diary and a journal.

What is a Diary?

A diary tends to be a book or tool in which you write down important events or keep track of things. It’s a method that is useful for noting actions or events, rather than exploring your feelings around such things. A diary lets you note progress or changes over time. You can write about your feelings in a diary, but usually the point of doing so is to keep track of the ways in which they change over time or what influences them. People often use a diary to keep track of things such as food intake, weight change, moods…