You may have heard of reading a journal but are wondering what all the fuss is about, or if you should start a journal of your own. If you’re still on the fence about whether keeping a reading journal is really worth it, here are seven of the best benefits of keeping a reading journal so you can decide if it’s worth it for you!

A woman surrounded by plants, sitting on a balcony and writing a diary.

Benefits of keeping a reading journal:
There are many benefits to keeping a reading journal. Here are some things you should consider:

1. Helps you keep track of what you read and when
   A reading journal can help you remember the titles and details of books you’ve read in the past. No matter how good you think your memory is, there will be at least one occasion when you can’t remember something and end up looking for a book from vague descriptions. However, if you keep a regular journal of the books you read, you’ll have your own little library index of the books you’ve read and what you think of them, so you don’t have to try and find that one again that you cannot remember!
2. Increases information retention
   Taking notes while reading will help you remember and internalize what you are reading more than just reading and reading on. A reading journal is an excellent place to record what you’re reading, which will help increase the information you retain and remember after you finish reading.
3. Improves reading comprehension
   Keeping a reading journal helps you slow down and really think about what you’re reading so you can write it down in your journal. This gives you more time to process the text and understand its meaning. This will improve your reading comprehension skills, and you may find that you can understand the text more deeply by writing it in your journal.
4. Tracks progress toward your reading goals
   A reading journal is the best place to track your progress towards your reading goals. By keeping a reading journal, you’ll gain tangible evidence of the progress you’re making toward your reading goals. A reading journal is also the perfect place to record all your reading victories (no matter how small!) so you can celebrate your progress.
5. Helps you process your thoughts and feelings about the material
   Keeping a reading journal can help you record your thoughts and feelings about a book, especially one that makes you feel all the emotions. Being able to record your thoughts and feelings can help you process what you read, and sometimes even help you discover how you really feel.
6. A way to practice your writing skills
   Reading a diary helps improve your writing skills. Writing mini (or long!) reports on what you read can give you plenty of small writing projects and opportunities to practice and improve your writing skills. At first, it might feel clumsy or weird to write some comments about something you read, or process your thoughts and feelings in this medium, but after a while, it starts to become second nature.
7. Improves your future reading skills
   Keeping a reading journal can provide you with a wealth of data that you can use in the future about the types of books you like to read and what you think about specific books. This gives you the chance to see your likes, dislikes, and more that can help you decide what to read next. In addition, you can discover how your reading tastes have changed and evolved over time.
8. Can house your TBR list, favorite quotes and more
   Reading journals are a great idea because they serve as a central place to gather everything related to your reading life. Whether you want to track reading-related metrics or thoughts, a reading journal provides an easy-to-access place to keep track of everything. So if you haven’t started your own reading journal, start now!