We live in a world where almost every aspect of what we do on a daily basis – from what we eat for breakfast to our commute to work or college to the bars and clubs we frequent at night – can be documented in intimate details thanks to social media.
However, one issue with the ease with which such data can be collected is that the amount of information you end up with is simply overwhelming. In the days before digital cameras, you would take a few rolls of film on holiday and then select only the best and most memorable ones to print and store in an album. Today, virtually every picture, regardless of whether it is good or bad, is stored somewhere.
If you want to document your life in a more discerning way that allows you to take stock every now and then and look back over your achievements, your highs and your lows, the following tips will give you some ideas of how to get started.
Film yourself
Many social media channels provide users with the ability to create short story clips featuring the events of their day, and one way of keeping tabs on your life is to collect such clips together and store them for your own personal viewing pleasure.
Although the value of such an exercise may initially seem limited, if you manage to continue for a few years, you’ll have a wonderful collection of short clips that document your journey through life, and that will bring you joy every time you sit down to watch them. Producing such clips in conjunction with someone else can also create deep bonds of friendship, but be sure to follow the rules of etiquette if you plan to include anyone else in your movies.
Choose your pictures with care
Although moving pictures have a magic of their own, there are many cases in which still images can be more powerful because you have the ability to look more closely and, for examples, examine the expressions on the faces of multiple individuals or see how individual elements in a picture add together to create the whole.
If you want to put together a series of snapshots or other static images and use this to document some part of your life experience, you can do so using free slideshow software that will turn your basic material into something slick and professional that your audience can truly enjoy.
Keep a journal
Writing down your thoughts and your feelings at the end of each day is not only a wonderful way of keeping a record of the events of your life as you experienced them, but it can also help you to better cope with the stresses and strains many of us face on a daily basis. Setting aside the time to write on a regular basis will also strengthen your self-discipline, improve your communication skills and even enhance your memory.
An alternative approach to writing a journal is to follow writing coach Julia Cameron’s suggestion of unlocking your creativity by free-writing for a short time each morning. It’s a great way to empty your mind and put yourself in a state in which your best ideas are ready to emerge.
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