As an entrepreneur grinding through the chaos of 2024—a truly bizarre time to be alive for most of my generation—I realized I had misplaced a part of myself in the relentless hustle of work life. My wake-up call came, oddly enough, through a gift and a YouTube binge.
When I started my doctorate program, my mother gifted me a fountain pen engraved with "Dr. Jessie Virga." Yes, a bit premature, but that pen lit a fire under me to live up to the name scripted elegantly on its side. Inevitably, this led me down the rabbit hole of fountain pen YouTube videos (i.e., how tf do I refill this thing), where time has a way of slipping through your fingers.
An hour into my digital descent, I stumbled upon Parker Settecase and his channel, Park Notes. I can't say if it was his philosopher's mustache or the epic Jiu Jitsu t-shirt that caught my eye, but something about his approach to mind-management hooked me. Here was the scholar in me—buried under entrepreneurial ambitions—screaming for a revival. Turns out, a simple notebook video was all it took to show me why I felt off-kilter.
The exact Park Notes video I watched during this revelation of mine.
I dove headfirst into Park Notes and emerged hours later, inspired to buy a stash of notebooks, pens, fountain pen inks, and highlighters to reawaken my scholarly side. Here's what I've started to compile in my newfound collection of journals:
Field Notes pocket notebook: My catch-all (borrowing Parker’s term here),
Cool Shit People Have Said or Wrote: A compendium of memorable quotes,
Brain Book: A deep dive into neuroscience aiming to master my field,
Diary: Still pending a cool name (suggestions welcome - vote here),
Tatooine Tales: Musings on life’s big questions—like the mind-body conundrum and the existence of the divine.
This newfound organization of my thoughts has led me to read more, reduce my screen time, and genuinely enjoy life a bit more. It's funny how sometimes, all it takes to find yourself is a pen and a philosopher with a penchant for Jiu Jitsu and journaling.
The Science Behind Journaling: More Than Just Pen to Paper
While my journey into journaling started with a fountain pen and a YouTube discovery, it turns out there's solid scientific backing for the benefits of writing things down. Research in psychology and neuroscience has shown that journaling can significantly impact mental health and cognitive functioning.
Enhanced Memory and Comprehension: A study from the University of Texas at Austin suggests that writing things down doesn't just help you remember facts; it also improves your ability to comprehend and process information. When you write, you engage with the content more deeply, encoding the information more effectively into your memory.
Stress Reduction: According to a report published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, expressive writing—journaling about your thoughts and feelings—can lead to significant reductions in mental distress and physical symptoms related to stress. This type of writing helps individuals process emotions and stressors, leading to better emotional health.
Boosting Problem-Solving Abilities: Researchers at the University of Chicago have found that writing about one's problems and brainstorming potential solutions can enhance problem-solving capabilities in stressful situations. This is particularly effective in breaking the cycle of rumination, where one obsesses over the same problems without resolution.
Improved Sleep, More Positive Mindset: A study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being found that participants who wrote in a gratitude journal before bed fell asleep faster and slept better. Regularly focusing on and writing down positive events can shift focus from stressors and worries to positive aspects of life, enhancing overall well-being.
Long-term Emotional Resilience: Journaling can act as a form of self-therapy, as noted by psychologists who observe that regular journaling strengthens emotional functions. It provides a safe, confidential, and judgment-free environment to gain clarity on your thoughts and feelings, which builds resilience over time.
By integrating these research-backed practices into my daily routine, I've not only revitalized my love for learning but also fortified my mental health and well-being. It seems that my pen, guided by insights from both historical philosophers and contemporary scientists, is indeed mightier than the sword—or at least as mighty as a therapy session!
What should I name my diary?
Thoughts I Shouldn't Tweet
Memos from My Sanity
Echoes of the Mind
The Quiet Pages
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