Feeling unproductive is everyone’s worst feeling, especially when you want to get things done. Many people have different ways to deal with unproductive days, but did you know that owning a diary can help you get productive?

Yes, the same diary you used to keep your secrets can be of use, but in this case, it is called a work journal.

A work journal is a structured, re-occurring way to document, reflect, and improve your decision-making at work. Unlike other journaling methods, the questions and prompts are geared towards your work experience versus personal life.

Gloria Mugabekazi, a personal assistant, says that journaling is a great method that most people tend to ignore, but it is a great way that helps a person at work.

"Writing down your thoughts or feelings is very different than talking about them, something you have written down will never be forgotten, and you will always be reminded of it whenever you open your journal, journaling for productivity is great, you just write down in your journal whenever you feel unproductive, you write about the goals you have, express how you are feeling at the moment and you set targets. By doing so, you relieve that stress and anxiety, that you are not being useful at the moment but you will be tomorrow,” she says.

She also adds that journaling for productivity boosts goal adherence, Mugabekazi says that when you write down your goals you most likely will want to achieve them because you are creating evidence that they exist.

Alexis Musabe, Program manager at a local agriculture firm, says that a work journal improves critical thinking and decision making.

"When journaling, you reflect on yourself and hence increase your way of thinking and decision making because you are forced to think through avenues you might not have otherwise considered, and it also guides you in exploring all available aspects of a specific problem,” he says.

Musabe adds that: "Sometimes a person may do that and still end the day without being productive, but you can’t come to work every day with a journal reminding you how your plan failed and still feel comfortable with being unproductive, eventually you will want to change something and start working on how to be more productive. Once you have been journaling for a while you analyse how you work and how to improve.”

A guide by Anthony Jay Robbins an American author, coach, speaker, and philanthropist, says that "Writing about your thoughts and feelings can even help you see the positive benefits of stressful events, rather than focusing on the negative. Journaling can also help you see how far you’ve come. When you have a setback or a bad day, look back in your journal to see all that you’ve accomplished.

If you struggle with negative self-talk or limiting beliefs, you’ll understand why journaling is important.”

How to create a work journal

According to Cultivated Culture, an online blog, to start a work journal, the first question you need to ask yourself is: "Do I want my journal to be digital or good old-fashioned pen-and-paper?” The question seems simple enough, but it’s actually a very important consideration.

To some, there’s a certain satisfaction that comes with writing on real paper (as opposed to typing on a computer). The tactile sensation of writing just feels better. Plus, it can be easier to sketch diagrams and simple images on the fly.

Christian Mugisha, an entrepreneur, having a digital work journal is more effective and easier to keep plus it makes it more fun.

"Paper is easily destroyed and lost, a digital journal can’t be misplaced, you can choose to use your phone or computer, and you can set a reminder for your journal, there are also so many templates on the internet that you can use. That way you will always be reminded of your journal and you can never lose it,” he advises.

He also adds that a work journal is maintained by writing in it every day and updating it.

How to journal for productivity

According to Wrike, an American project management application service provider, here are a few ways to journal for productivity:

Keep track of your goals in your journal

Writing down goals can have an incredible impact on your ability to accomplish them.

Use your productivity journal to make to-do lists

A journal is an excellent place for you to keep lists of more immediate tasks. Or maybe you’re planning to start a blog and have a list of things you need to do to get started.