In 2025, I used my Manta Supernote, and I didn’t journal in it daily. I always have lulls in my year with less daily journaling, but the lull was bigger this time. I don’t know if it was having an electronic journal or if there was something about the year.

But, I’m willing to try it again. Here are my observations on what was worse about a digital journal:

1. I have a page for each day and more pages for planning and retros, so the journal is over 400 pages. It’s hard to navigate that (compared to a physical book).
2. I used a PDF, not the native Supernote format, which makes it impossible to change the structure of the journal. Supernote supports page management and internal linking for its native format.
3. The Supernote is nice looking, but not as nice looking as my paper journals.
4. I journal in Black and Red, which isn’t possible on a Supernote.

So, this time

1. I am going to use the internal Supernote format for the journal. I think you can make custom template pages, which I will look into.
2. I will need to use internal linking liberally to make the journal easier to navigate.
3. I will use highlighting more to take the place of the red pen, which is mostly to draw attention to something.
4. I need to find triggers and sources of motivation to get me to journal more regularly.

Why even do this? Tomorrow, I’ll write about How Digital Journaling is Better Than Paper.