Endings and beginnings

The past year has been interesting, to say the least. We have prepared for a major organisational restructure, I have started a new job, and my son became very ill during the second part of the year, requiring hospitalisation and tube feeding.

Next year is still full of hope. I am hopeful about what the restructure will bring, and the possibilities for improvement in my organisation. I am hopeful that my children will continue to grow and learn without any major impediment. I am hopeful that my research will get underway and that through that process create lasting change.

I have been disappointed over the past year with my lack of writing and journalling my professional experiences. That is why, in 2016, I am committing to write something every day of the year. 

Things are starting to get complicated before I even start, though…

Do I use ‘ye olde’ pen and paper, or a digital journal? If I use a digital journal, what application do I use? Can I use a template of standard questions to structure my daily entries and make my thinking easier? What would those questions be? Where would I keep them written down? Can I get an application to prompt me with my questions on a daily basis? Should I blog my daily musings? If I blog my journal will this undermine my research ethics?

So, because I am a nerd, and am more likely to have my tablet with me that a paper notebook, I am going to try and journal ‘digitally’. After some extensive web searching, I am going to trial the ‘Day One’ app for iOS at AUD7.99. I can set it to notify me as a reminder to write, although I cannot have each entry pre-filled with some prompt questions, but I will investigate this further. I might write the questions in my first journal entry, so that they can be accessed at a later date if needed. The app allows me to export as a text file or pdf, as well as publish individual articles to the web. This allows me to select which entries I share and which entries remain my private thoughts, meaning I am able to avoid research ethics dilemmas. 

First, the process I went through to make the decisions above was so logical and generally evidence-based I have surprised myself! I was initially worried about spending so much money on an app, then I realised that I would definitely be spending more on a notebook and pens if I went the ‘paper way’. Then I also remembered that my workplace social club had given me an itunes voucher for Christmas. Bonus! - I think I am beginning to see improvements in my decision making process and my practice. 

It is almost as if I am ready. That means I will have to commit and actually do the writing, but I am not feeling overwhelmed. I feel hopeful, in control, and excited by the possibilities of the year ahead (hopefully that doesn’t mean in a couple of days I am going to come down and everything will seem terrible).

Completely off topic: I bought my kids a cheap above ground swimming pool for Christmas, so hopefully we will have some outdoor fun over the summer rather than our usual minecraft LAN  parallel play.