When you’re always rushing to do, do, do, it can be tough to find the time to reflect on and learn from your experiences. In the moment, your brain records what takes place, but it determines what’s important for long-term retention later, during periods of quiet reflection. You can help that retention by keeping a journal. Start each entry with the primary outcome — the headline that best captures what happened. Then list the reasons for that outcome. You may need to ask yourself “Why?” several times, peeling back layer after layer, to determine what caused the outcome. Next, write about the emotions that influenced your decision making. Can you determine why certain feelings flared up at certain times? The final step is to identify what you can learn from the experience and what you can do differently next time. When you finish a project, don’t just jump straight into the next one. Use your journal to slow down and consider how you can make better decisions in the future.
Adapted from "The More Senior Your Job Title, the More You Need to Keep a Journal," by Dan Ciampa
