Journaling is a fantastic thing to do when travelling. The purpose of a travel journal is to document your adventures, preserve memories, and provide a snapshot of your travel experience.
It can be as unique as you are, and there are plenty of things to include. Ready my article on easy ideas to include in your travel journal to find out more. Are you not even sure where to begin with all of this? I cover that too in a beginner’s guide to a unique travel journal. By being mindful of what to include you can create a meaningful and enjoyable journal that reflects the essence of your journey.
This short and sweet article will take you through what not to include in your travel memoirs.
What not to include in your travel journal:
1. Sensitive information
Some important information, like phone numbers, may be necessary in your journal. But avoid writing information like credit card details, passport numbers, etc. This could be disastrous if your journal is stolen or lost and someone else gets their hands on it. So before you write it down, ask yourself if you’re okay with that information potentially being seen by someone else.
2. Too much negativity
If you didn’t like something, that’s fine. But avoid having a very pessimistic journal. And nothing offensive. It’s important to express your feelings honestly, but remember to also be respectful of people and cultures. Instead of being offensive, use it as an opportunity to think about differences between people.
Embrace diversity. It’s usually why a lot of people start travelling in the first place, right? You don’t want to read your journal again in a few things and inwardly sigh at all the moaning in it. If something went wrong in your day, laugh about it! Turn it into something funny and make it into a nicer memory.
Don’t write down excessive personal complaints. Try to find the positive aspects of your experiences, lessons learned, and the interesting aspects. This will make your journal much more enjoyable to read back on in the future.
3. Confidential or classified information
If you do come across anything like this in your travels, keeping a record of it might bring legal implications. That wouldn’t be something you want to experience, especially in a foreign country. So it’s best to stay away from this kind of stuff. Keep your journal personal to you. If you have to ask yourself whether you should be including sensitive information, err on the side of caution. Just don’t do it!
4. Mundane details
This is boring. Make your travel journal fun! No one – yourself included – would want to hear a story about every time you went to the bathroom… or that you ate porridge for breakfast every morning. Although, if you did visit an incredibly unique bathroom on top of a mountain or something – that would be worth talking about! Do you see what I mean? Writing can be a fine line sometimes.
With practice, it will get clearer and you’ll find it easier. You will also learn how to look at the different sides of things and unique angles.
5. Negative thoughts about yourself
Again, you need to be honest but don’t compare yourself to others when travelling. It’s your journey, so make the most of it your way. I like to keep two separate journals – one travel journal, to highlight my experiences and thoughts on my travels; and one standard notebook to write down my thoughts and feelings about everything else as part of a mental health regime. I’m a journal person… I can’t help it!
6. Procrastinating or delaying entries
This one isn’t technically about what not to include in your travel journal… But it is a bad habit. Memories fade quickly, especially if you’re super busy whilst travelling. Get those experiences into your travel journal as quickly as possible. This also gives you time to reflect whilst you’re writing, instead of jumping from one day to the next with no reflection.
The longer you leave it, the harder it will be to pick up your pen and start writing. Especially when you think about the months of travel that you have to write about… That can be overwhelming. And take hours. So you’ll leave it off for longer, and well, you get the picture.
There’s not a lot of rules when it comes to travel journaling. As you can see, the “don’ts” isn’t a long list. It’s more like guidelines. When you find what’s right for you, it will work splendidly. Figure out what to include and what not to include, and make it unique. As you go through your travels, your writing style will develop as you do, leaving you excited to write every day.
Happy journaling!
