Writing a Diary in English

Perhaps you have memories of pouring your heart out as a teenager and keeping it locked in a book with a little padlock. Perhaps your present diary is an electronic one on your phone, filled with meetings and appointments and possibilities for errors of double-booking or things that you are not particularly looking forward to. There is another kind of diary you can write.

Keeping a diary to record one or two really positive moments each day is a very powerful way to improve your English and shine a light on what is working in your private or professional life. This acknowledgement not only feels good but has the positive outcome of increasing what is working by simply putting your attention on it. Everyone has at least one success a day, however many challenges are popping up. A success could be a moment of realization or appreciation or a task well done, a target reached, a compliment received. 

So I suggest you buy a beautiful book and a pen that is smooth and a pleasure to write with and place it by your bed. At the end of each day, write a few lines about what was good in your day. Here are some ideas.

Something I achieved..
Something I improved on..
Something I really enjoyed…
Something useful that I realized…
Something I received from someone…
Something I gave to someone…
Something I saw that was beautiful…
A pleasant surprise…

Something I am grateful for…

The most positive thing about today…

Choose one or more of the above and write one or two sentences. If you write too much it will become a chore and you won’t keep it up. At the end of a month, read back everything that you have written, in a quiet place with your favourite drink.

This exercise will help your English because it will link the language with what is positive in your life. What we put our attention on grows!!