The Five Year Journal
by Doreene Clement 

Reviewed by Marian Brown

If you are looking for a great holiday gift for a friend, family member, or yourself, consider  The 5 Year Journal (5YJ).  This is a hardcover book (about the size of a school textbook) which allows you to enter brief journal entries every day for five years.  It is a unique format and includes pages for monthly summaries, quarterly summaries and  year-end summaries.  What first intrigued me was the ability to keep a journal for five years all in one place. The thought of being able to quickly reference “where” I was emotionally or spiritually or goal-wise a year ago, two years ago, etc seems like it would be a great tool. How often do we think back to a situation and time has changed our perspective and we have lost touch with the initial and often raw feelings of that moment? To quickly look back and remember where we were then and where we are now is a great tool. We can measure our growth – emotionally, spiritually or even financial – in relationship to our own perspective.

It is by looking back that we can often move forward even more quickly. We can see our strengths and evaluate our weaknesses.

For those actively involved in self-improvement and who are goal-orientated, to me, this is a perfect tool. Set you monthly goal, yearly goal and record how you feel or are achieving your goal each day. Then, look back in a year, easily at a glance, and see how you have changed (or not changed) over the course of year.
 

In addition to this easy referencing, the clean and simple layout is user-friendly and not as intimidating as some more complex journaling workbooks or even a blank page in a notebook.  For many of us, me included, the commitment to writing 2 or 3 pages a day in a journal, although highly beneficial, sometimes is not possible and causes more stress than release! With the 5YJ you just need to write 3 simple lines.  If these lines spur more thoughts, there are blank pages in the back or you can combine this with a blank journal.  One day, I just took the key sentences of my journal and copy them into the 5YJ. This will keep a record of the key thoughts of that day and in a year, I can reflect back to where I was without reading all the emotional details (or ramblings.) 

This is also an excellent format for those working on Gratitude Journaling, daily accomplishments or even detailing steps of working toward a long-term goal. It is available in two attractive covers and would make an excellent gift for a woman or man.  I can also see this as a great gift for a high school or college student.

And, as a bonus in this holiday season, a portion of all sales goes to support Habitat for Humanity Penninsula.

 For ordering information, Click Here.