How to Make a Digital Reading Journal

A reading journal is just a record of what you've read and what you thought about it. Nothing complicated. But keeping one changes your relationship with reading – you pay more attention, you remember more, and you can actually look back at what you learned.

What to track

Start with the basics:

• What you're reading (title, author)
• When you started and finished
• A few lines about what you thought

Some people add quotes they liked, ideas the book sparked, or a rating. But don't over-engineer it at the start – you can always add more later.

Digital vs. paper

Paper journals are nice but hard to search. Digital is more practical: you can search your notes, access them anywhere, and never lose them. Apps like OhDiary, Notion, or a simple notes app all work. Use what you'll actually stick with.

When to write

Some people jot notes while reading. Others write a summary when they finish. The "when" matters less than doing it at all. If you wait too long after finishing, you'll forget what you wanted to say.

The payoff

After a year of this, you'll have a record of everything you read. You'll be able to find that quote you remember vaguely, recall why you liked (or didn't like) a particular author, and see what themes keep recurring in what you choose. It's useful, and it makes you a more thoughtful reader.