In my lifetime, I have been to many beautiful places and seen many wonderful things. Unfortunately, I don’t remember most of them. In the joy of discovery and travel, we make memories that will last a lifetime. But, will they really? When we return to normal life it’s easy to forget the special details. Exactly what was the name of that ancient castle in Germany? The waterfall in Jamaica? That cute café in the South of France with the steamy jasmine tea? Fortunately, for my frazzled memory, I discovered the joy of travel journaling. I now have a much better chance at remembering the special times. It may seem overwhelming at first, but trust me, travel journaling is worth the effort. Just follow these ten easy steps and your future self will thank you for the memories.
B E F O R E L E AV I N G 1 ) C A L E N DA R Start with a calendar/travel plan in front. I draw out a physical calendar with all of the days we will be traveling. You may be a list person. This will act as a guide for your trip and a table of contents later. 2 ) T R AV E L I N F O Include pages with important information for travel before you leave home or as you make your plans. List your lodging information (names, addresses, check in/out instructions, contact numbers). List your transportation arrangements (plane, train, bus tickets). And, finally, list activities that you have planned/want to plan. 3) RESEARCH Make a wish list of things you might like to see and do. Include maps of the areas you will visit. Hard copies of everything are good to have in case of limited wifi service. SSON OND DER ER ·· 45 45
W H I L E T R AV E L I N G 4) N OT E S As you go through your day, jot notes. I usually put a “highlights” page for each day and use this as my prompts for journaling later in the evening or on travel days. It fun to record how many steps you have taken or how many miles you have walked/traveled. 5) R E C O R D S In the evenings, early mornings, or on travel days, spend some time to write about your trip. See the list of writing prompts for help. Write details of your day - feelings, activities, flavors, weather, clothing choices (yours and others), culture/language challenges, etc.. You can be as specific or broad as you wish. It’s your journal. 6) E P H E M E R A Include special things in your journal such as ticket stubs, maps, pictures (can be cut from brochures), and receipts. I keep a small roll of washi tape and a pair of miniature scissors in my carry-on to be able to affix these along the way. 7) S P E C I A L E V E N TS Make a few special pages for remembering certain events. This includes pages like “Special People” for keeping a list of people that you meet while traveling and what makes them special, “Bucket List Items” for tracking the extra-memorable things from the trip, and “Lessons Learned” for figuring out ways to do things better next time.
HOME SWEE T HOME 8 ) E P I LO G U E Write a summary of your trip after you are home for a few days, and have had a chance to catch up on laundry. Travel changes you. It broadens your perceptions and feelings. By taking the time to ponder this and record your thoughts, you are better able to capture this elusive benefit of travel. 9) FINALIZE AND FILE Wrap up journaling for any loose days that may have been skipped. Tape in the latest and last of your memorabilia. Label your journal and place it in a place of prominence. 10 ) R E M I N I S C E N C E Leaf through your travel journal periodically. Remember the good times. Plan your next adventure.
