What's the best time to journal with an AI app?
By Siri Bandagiriye · Whenever the feeling is there. Evenings work well for setting the day down before sleep; mornings for naming what's ahead. A few honest minutes are enough.
Whenever the feeling is there. Many people find the evening works best, to set the day down before sleep. Others prefer the morning, to name what's ahead.
A few minutes is enough. Consistency matters less than honesty.
One true sentence beats a page of what you think you should write.
What the research says
Evidence on journaling timing is limited, but one sleep-lab study of 57 young adults found writing a specific to-do list for 5 minutes at bedtime helped them fall asleep faster.1
Regular, short sessions may matter more than the time of day: in one trial, people who journaled online for 15 minutes on 3 days a week had less anxiety after a month than with usual care.2
Written by Siri Bandagiriye
I've been a Buddhist monk and mindfulness teacher for 30 years, and for six years a chaplain with Correctional Service Canada, sitting with people in crisis. I built Saati in Halifax as a companion for the ordinary hard days. If you'd like to see what it's like, it's free to try.