I began journaling in 2019. It isn’t that I like maintaining a journal, precisely. It is extra that I discover my mind works higher if I spend somewhat time dumping its contents onto paper each morning. This observe bought me by way of 2020, a particularly tough 12 months, and I’ve saved it up ever since.
My journal is not superior. I’ve bought a couple of sections really helpful by my therapist from across the time I began—there is a part I fill in each day with issues I am wanting ahead to, for instance. I take advantage of one other part to assume by way of what I will eat and different issues I am going to do this day. All of that is simple; I simply use a template that features headers for these issues.
However there is a bit of knowledge I like to assemble and embody. Every day’s climate, for instance. I’ve observed that I am usually in a foul temper on wet, grey days, so recording the climate together with my ideas offers me some useful context once I’m reviewing entries later. I additionally wish to know what time I wrote my entry, the place I used to be once I wrote it, and—if attainable—embody a quote of the day or one thing else to mirror on.
I may collect the entire above data myself manually, each morning. However I’ve discovered it is lots quicker to make use of Apple Shortcuts for the job. This utility, which comes preinstalled on each Mac, iPhone, and iPad, can robotically pull in every kind of knowledge and format it properly for my journal. I run a customized automation each morning. This is how I constructed it.
The Date, Climate, and Location
Apple by way of Justin Pot
Fireplace up Apple Shortcuts in your gadget of alternative and make a brand new shortcut. This software program is usually a little complicated, however don’t be concerned, I will discuss you thru every part. In the proper column you will note numerous completely different tiny automations you’ll be able to run. Drag as many of those as you need to the primary column, which is on the left. I wish to seek for what I am searching for, however for those who favor, you’ll be able to manually discover the choices to get a way of what Shortcuts can do.