What do people do with their old diaries?

Asked by: Alfredo Padberg Sr.  |  Last update: July 22, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (4 votes)

What do people actually do with old journals? Some have a ritual where they re-read their past year's journal on New Year's Day, reflecting on the growth they experienced that year. Others never revisit journals, hiding them away on a high shelf, like an archaeological site waiting to be dug into.

What to do with finished diaries?

Many regularly reread their past journals. Some are stored on shelves or bookcases, and many are in boxes. One person wrote she plans to donate their journals to The Great Diary Project (UK). The most entertaining respondent keeps her completed journals inside old luggage and calls it her “baggage.”

What to do with abandoned journals?

a) You may index your journals year wise. Wrap it in a cloth and stash them away in a box. b) Take pages that has special and memorable events and make a scrap book. You may send those to your family whom you trust will treasure it. c) You can frame the writing with a picture of that day as a special memory.

Why do some people keep diaries?

People keep diaries or journals for various reasons, including: Self-Reflection: Writing helps individuals process their thoughts and emotions, leading to greater self-awareness and understanding. Emotional Outlet: Journaling can serve as a safe space to express feelings, reducing stress and anxiety.

What can I do with my diary?

Top 12 ideas for diaries
  • Your reflections on inspirational quotes. ...
  • Count your blessings. ...
  • Most important thing of the day. ...
  • Write your dreams down as soon as you wake up. ...
  • What's the top good news story of the day? ...
  • Learn a new word every day. ...
  • Write questions to an imaginary wise friend, then write the answers too.

Reading My Old Diaries… *I WAS NOT OKAY*

17 related questions found

Should I throw away old diaries?

Read through one old journal a week. If it's full of entries that will do you no good, or is a reminder of a sad or bad part of your life, toss it in the recycle bin or have a bonfire/journal burning party. Who wants all that negativity stored so closely? Do away with it forever.

How to dispose of old diaries?

I tear the covers off and shred them. I would just take the covers off and put the pages in the paper recycling. If there was anything confidential etc then shred them. Burning them in the chiminea is a good idea.

What do people do with their diaries?

We store them in closets, attics, and garages. We stack them on bookshelves, and, for the cautious among us, stash them in fire-proof safes. Some of us want to re-read them; others don't.

What percent of girls have diaries?

In fact, recent research has found that a whopping 83 percent of girls aged 16 to 19 -- more than eight in 10 female high school upperclassmen -- archive their lives in a private notebook.

Is it worth keeping a diary?

Writing things down in a journal improves memory retention. The act of physically recording information helps imprint it into your brain, making it easier to recall later on. Additionally, journaling exercises your cognitive skills, such as critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving.

What do people do with their old journals?

What do people actually do with old journals? Some have a ritual where they re-read their past year's journal on New Year's Day, reflecting on the growth they experienced that year. Others never revisit journals, hiding them away on a high shelf, like an archaeological site waiting to be dug into.

What do people do with junk journals?

Use a junk journal as a piece of art – This is another one of my favorite ways to use a junk journal. Ultimately, a junk journal is a piece of mixed media art and you can treat it the exact same way you do any other kind of art – hang it up, display it, or even sell it.

What to do with old notebooks?

Paper: The paper portion of most notebooks can be recycled with your regular mixed paper or office paper recycling, even after you've written on it. This can also be composted with your regular compost pile or in your worm bin as long as you've used vegetable-based or soy-based inks to write on the paper.

How do you declutter old diaries?

A GUIDE TO DECLUTTERING YOUR JOURNALS AND DIARIES
  1. Set a Clear Goal. ...
  2. Gather All Your Journals and Diaries. ...
  3. Create a Comfortable Sorting Space. ...
  4. Sort by Time Period. ...
  5. Decide on Criteria for Keeping or Letting Go. ...
  6. Read and Reflect. ...
  7. Reframe Your Thoughts. ...
  8. Be Aware of Your Mindset.

Do people still do diaries?

Benefits of Owning a Diary or Journal

Owning a diary is a more personal and intimate way to express thoughts, feelings and emotions. It is also calming to write on paper than on a digital screen. Furthermore, writing by hand can improve memory skills, reduce stress and even help with depression.

How do you use empty diaries?

10 ideas to help you fill an empty notebook
  1. Start a diary. One of the most famous uses for empty notebooks is for keeping a diary. ...
  2. Start taking notes. ...
  3. Plan your life. ...
  4. Start a travel journal. ...
  5. Record your dreams. ...
  6. Set life goals (daily ones count) ...
  7. Start a quote collection. ...
  8. Collect aha moments.

Where do girls hide diaries?

TG's Fave Secret Diary Hiding Places!
  • Hide it behind some old, dusty books in the bookcase. ...
  • Cover the diary with school book labels. ...
  • Put decorative cushions on your bed and hide it in one of the cushion cases. ...
  • Fill a shoe box with random knick knacks and put your diary at the bottom.

How do most people use their diaries?

Getting thoughts out on paper helps people stay organized, keeps goals on track, and pulls the day's worries into the open. Writing is proven to be therapeutic, and many therapists suggest keeping a diary for their patients who need extra help in communications.

Why do girls keep diaries?

Whether it's a place to vent or preserve special memories, many adults are keeping old-school paper diaries. One lifelong diary writer explores why so many so people are journaling well beyond their teenage years.

Are diaries good for mental health?

Journaling helps control your symptoms and improve your mood by: Helping you prioritize problems, fears, and concerns. Tracking any symptoms day-to-day so that you can recognize triggers and learn ways to better control them. Providing an opportunity for positive self-talk and identifying negative thoughts and ...

What kind of person keeps a diary?

Generally, people who feel too much and have no one to share their deepest emotions with keep a diary in order to let it out all on paper rather than choking on their own thoughts.

What to do with old medical journals?

NLM welcomes donations of print journal and index volumes that are missing from our collection. If you represent a medical library that is discarding serial collections, NLM encourages you to share your list of discards, so we may fill in any gaps. NLM will pay shipping for volumes we need.

Is it illegal to throw away books?

Yes, It's Okay to Throw Away a Book.

What to do with old family diaries?

7 Ideas for Preserving Old Diaries for Family History
  1. Organize. Fires, floods, illness, and other trials can damage or destroy your heritage in the blink of an eye. ...
  2. Preserve. ...
  3. Create a Finding Aid. ...
  4. Donate The Journal. ...
  5. Digitize the Diary. ...
  6. Transcribe the Handwriting. ...
  7. Share Digitized Journals.

What to do with diaries?

To use a diary, carry it with you and try to write for at least 10 minutes every day to get yourself in the habit. Start by writing the date at the top of your entry, then write down major life events, everyday details, your feelings, dreams, to-do lists, and anything else you'd like.