On a recent trip to Italy, I found myself swept away by so many new sights that I feel like I need a whole other vacation just to document it properly. Some days I would come back write in great detail. Some days there would be just one memory I hope to never forget.
One of the best parts about journaling is that there are no hard set rules. Unlike taking a photo, putting pen to paper makes you slow down, giving us the chance to catchup with moments in a different way. Whether you’re travelling near or far, here are 5 cues to help with putting pen to paper for your next adventure:
Carry a Smaller Journal - It’s no secret that travel = a lot of waiting. In airports, for buses, trains, for friends at restaurants. Last year I started carrying a smaller journal as a way to quickly jot down thoughts throughout the day. It’s great for those moments when a great idea or quote comes to mind that you don’t want to forget. Especially during travel when so much around you is new, it’s a refreshing alternative to looking at your phone. Plus there’s something special about collecting your unfiltered thoughts in one dedicated space.
Write in Bullet Point Form - If you’re not carving out a specific time to write in long form during your vacation, one way to do it is to pick the top 3 things that were special about your day. I tried this during the trip and felt it satisfied the need to document some of my favorite moments of the day, and often found that just 3 was not enough. It’s also a nice way to quickly reflect back intentionally on what made the day special.
Be Specific - When you’re travelling the world is unfamiliar and in this way, you are seeing and exposed to things you otherwise may not be used to. Write about the weather. The color of the buildings. The size of the streets, the location of that restaurant. It’s these unfamiliar details that can often help to bring a place back to life. I came across a book during this trip that was essentially someone’s travel diary on Florence. I loved the details he wrote about, the orientation of his apartment, the smell of the food, the lineups for the popular restaurants and the colors of the streets. It both encouraged me to explore those places and reminded me to document the same.
Describe How it Felt - It’s been said that the feeling of a moment can be so much stronger than the actual details of what happened. In Italy, I’ll remember how the unseasonably warm weather felt like a hug. How seeing Galileo’s early instruments reminded me of curiosity and the inventive human mind. I’ll remember my mom’s energy on the day we went to Vatican City, how she never dreamed of going and being there for her dream come true. I also wrote about how Rome made me feel appreciative for Vancouver. How it felt uncomfortable and disorganized in its busyness. Good or bad, writing it out is a non judgemental place to return to those thoughts.
Use Names - This is my favorite part of keeping a journal when travelling because it’s often the easiest to forget. Write down the name of restaurants, of streets and people you meet. It not only helps to share your story later, but brings back to life a learned familiarity with a place that is no longer new.
For some people, wanderlust comes naturally. For others, the mere idea of planning a trip conjures anxiety. I’m reminded after three days of exploring Italy that the reason travel is important is because it breaks the routine of the day to day. It exposes you to situations that are unfamiliar causing things like discomfort but also bringing things like surprise, wonder and a better understanding of yourself. What sort of things do you document when travelling?