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How to Keep a Diary (and Actually Keep It)
Most diaries are abandoned within weeks. Seven small, practical rules for keeping a diary every day, and for not giving up in February.
· 7 min readRead the guide →
Blog
On keeping a diary.
Practical, honest writing about the habit: how to start, how to keep going, writing by hand, keeping it private, and choosing a diary app for iPad and Mac.
More to read
Guide
Choosing a Diary App for iPad with Apple Pencil: 8 Things to Check
Thinking of keeping your diary on an iPad? What actually matters in a handwriting diary app, from ink and paper to privacy, export and price.
· 8 min readComparison
The Best Diary Apps for iPad in 2026, Honestly Compared
Apple Journal, Day One, Goodnotes and Virtual Diary compared: handwriting, privacy, accounts and price, and which diary app on iPad suits which writer.
· 6 min readComparison
Virtual Diary vs Apple Journal: Which Diary App Should You Use?
Apple Journal is free and built in; Virtual Diary is a paper-like diary with Apple Pencil handwriting and no account. An honest comparison for iPad and Mac.
· 5 min readPrivacy
What “Private” Should Mean in a Journal App
Every journaling app says it is private. Here is a plain-English checklist for what that word should actually mean for something as personal as a diary.
· 6 min readWriting
Handwriting or Typing: Which Is Better for a Diary?
Should you journal by hand or on a keyboard? What the research suggests about writing by hand, and how to get the best of both.
· 6 min readGuide
What Is Virtual Diary & How It Works
A guide to Virtual Diary for iPad and Mac: one ruled page a day, Apple Pencil handwriting, a Face ID lock, your own iCloud, and one price for life.
· 5 min readComparison
Virtual Diary vs Day One: Which Journal App Is Right for You?
An honest comparison of Virtual Diary and Day One: philosophy, privacy, handwriting, features and price, and who each journal app is built for.
· 6 min readMental Health
How 10 Minutes of Daily Journaling Can Help Your Mental Health
What the research says about expressive writing, putting feelings into words, and writing before bed, and how to build a diary habit that lasts.
· 7 min read