A surf journal or surf log could start like a story of your life. From that year on, you would jot down at the beginning of each entry where you surfed, the conditions. Then you would proceed to, in about a paragraph or so, discuss the surf session you had. Anything mentionable, memorable or lack thereof, if you feel its not enough. You can begin including everyday into this log, even the days that you didn’t get out in the water. As you know surf changes every day: winds, size, water temperature, current, tides, there’s a lot of things you can write about.
5 Helpful Tips to Create a Surf Journal or Log
Write the first entry.
The most important step of starting a journal is actually setting down the first entry. The notebook, the decoration, and the security are all just ways of making the journal feel like a safe space for you to write. Think about the sort of journal that you keep. Then, write what’s on your mind.
Write about what happened today. Include where you went, what you did, and who you spoke to.
Write about what you felt today. Pour your joys, your frustrations, and your goals into the journal. Use the act of writing as a way to explore your feelings.
Keep a learning log. Write about what you learned today. Use the journal as a way to explore and connect your thoughts. Turn your experiences into art. Use the journal to write stories or poetry, to make sketches, and to plan out projects. Feel free to mix this in with your other entries.
Date your entry.
If you are going to keep a regular journal, then it’s good to establish some way of tracking when you wrote what. Write the full date, or whatever you’ll need to jog your memory: June 2/4/2018 or July 4, 2018. For a slightly more involved record, write the time of day (morning, afternoon, night), your mood, and/or your location. Log the date at the top of the page or the top of each entry.
Get into the flow of writing.
Try not to think too critically about what you’re setting down. Let go of your doubts, and write your truth. The beauty of a journal is that you can tell the story that you don’t usually people: the deep thoughts and feelings that lie behind your day-to-day decisions. Take the opportunity to explore yourself.
Imagine that you are talking to someone. Whether you are talking to a close friend or pouring your thoughts into a journal: you are putting them out into the world, and thus making them real. It can be hard to really get a grasp on what you’re thinking until you make your thoughts real.
Use journaling as a healing tool. If there is something haunting you or bothering you, try to write about that thing and understand why exactly it has stuck on your mind.
Think before you write.
If you’re having trouble finding your flow, try taking a few minutes to quietly reflect on what you’re feeling. The act of writing can help you tease out these feelings. However, it can be hard to write until you have a clear idea of where to begin.
Time yourself.
Try setting aside a discrete amount of time to write in your journal. Set a timer for 5 to 15 minutes, and then let yourself go. The “deadline” of the ticking clock may help motivate you to get writing. Don’t worry about making it perfect! Simply write down everything that’s on your mind.
If the timer goes off and you haven’t finished journaling, then feel free to keep going. The point of the timer is not to limit you, but rather to spur you.
This can be a great way to fit your journaling practice into the busy flow of everyday life. If you have trouble finding the time to write in your journal, then you may need to schedule it in.
Mostly the best part of keeping a surf journal is the ability to go back and see what was happening in your surf life during a certain period of time. See who you used to surf with, what your favorite spots were and how all that has changed over the years. If you are feeling down all you have to do is pick up one of your old surf logs and read a few entries and it always puts a smile on your face. It even gets you pumped to surf.
By Daniela Guajardo