I’ve been making an attempt to take care of a daily journaling behavior for some time. I’ve used every thing from Google Docs and Obsidian to a devoted journaling app on my cellphone.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t matter what I attempted, my self-reflection follow at all times fizzled out. I’d write for a couple of days, then cease, as a result of rereading my previous ideas felt like wading by way of an unorganized mess.
That modified after I began testing NotebookLM, and sooner or later, out of curiosity, I dropped in a couple of private reflections. And surprisingly, it labored higher than any journaling app I’d tried.
How I arrange NotebookLM for journaling
Amassing my scattered notes
Establishing NotebookLM for journaling was surprisingly simple as a result of I constructed it round my writing course of.
I didn’t create a brand new system or change my note-taking habits. I nonetheless jot down fast ideas in Google Hold after I’m on the go, and infrequently open Obsidian after I wish to write one thing longer or extra structured.
On the finish of the week, I accumulate all these entries right into a single Google Docs doc and add it to NotebookLM.
Every time I added a brand new observe, I’d ask it to summarize what I’d written and spotlight the primary themes or recurring concepts.
Generally I’d immediate it with questions like, “What was I targeted on this week?” or “What’s one thing I appear to be battling recently?”
NotebookLM responded with brief, considerate summaries. They weren’t therapy-level insights, however sufficient to identify patterns I might need missed.
When I discovered a abstract that resonated, I’d click on Save to notice (it’s above the chat field) so it stayed pinned contained in the pocket book.
Over time, these saved notes turned a operating overview of my weeks, which confirmed the place my consideration, temper, or objectives shifted.
To rename a saved observe in Studio, click on it and overwrite the title.
Journaling turned enjoyable once more
Enjoying round with prompts
NotebookLM shortly turned a playful companion for reflection. A technique I used it was by asking unconventional questions.
As an alternative of sticking to the same old “summarize my week” immediate, I might ask issues like, “If my week had been a film, what style wouldn’t it be?” or “Which small win ought to I have fun that I didn’t discover?”
The solutions typically revealed patterns or moods I hadn’t consciously acknowledged, making the journaling really feel like a dialog.
Lastly, I used it to spark concepts for the upcoming week.
By asking questions like, “Primarily based on my October Week 2 notes, what’s one enjoyable problem to attempt subsequent week?”, NotebookLM recommended tiny, actionable experiments like making an attempt a brand new café, writing a brief poem, or cooking a brand new recipe.
These playful prompts turned routine journaling into one thing unexpectedly enjoyable and interesting.
Connecting the dots with Thoughts Maps
Visualizing my ideas
I additionally experimented with Thoughts Maps. NotebookLM would set up my entries into structured sections, grouping themes, recurring concepts, and associated ideas.
Seeing my week this fashion was surprisingly satisfying. It highlighted patterns I hadn’t observed earlier than.
For example, how my vitality spiked after morning walks, or how calls with associates typically coincided with higher moods later within the day.
Issues that felt disconnected in my uncooked notes lastly had context, all in a neat and readable hierarchy.
Listening to my week with Audio Overview
My journal as a podcast
One of the unexpectedly entertaining methods I used NotebookLM was by imagining my week as a dialog between two folks.
After importing my notes, I used the Audio Overview characteristic for a abstract in podcast type.
Listening to it felt surprisingly immersive. It was like two associates casually dissecting my week, laughing at my small victories and nodding at recurring quirks.
As an alternative of watching a display screen, I may stroll round, prepare dinner, or sip espresso whereas listening to my routine mentioned like a lighthearted podcast episode.
Privateness points and limits
Setting boundaries
Utilizing NotebookLM for one thing this private comes with hesitation. I used to be cautious at first. These are, in any case, non-public ideas.
The great factor is that NotebookLM explicitly processes and causes solely throughout the paperwork you present. It doesn’t hook up with exterior sources except you add them.
Nonetheless, I’m cautious about what I add. I skip delicate private particulars or monetary info.
There are limitations, too. NotebookLM typically oversimplifies emotional nuance, summarizing advanced emotions as “stress” or “fatigue.”
It can also’t perceive context exterior what I’ve uploaded, so if I reference an occasion however by no means clarify it intimately, it received’t magically know what I imply.
Journaling bought enjoyable (and insightful) with NotebookLM
Utilizing NotebookLM as a journaling software for a month taught me that it doesn’t need to be a chore.
By importing notes from Hold, Obsidian, and Google Docs, I created an area the place I may mirror on my ideas and moods.
From playful prompts and Thoughts Maps to listening to audio summaries of my week, it made self-reflection interactive, insightful, and typically downright entertaining.
On the identical time, I realized to respect its limits. Not every thing belongs in an AI-powered journal, and retaining uploads concise helped me preserve privateness.
If you happen to’ve struggled with journaling apps that really feel both too mechanical or too sentimental, NotebookLM would possibly hit the candy spot.