Know ThyselfGetting college students to journal about themselves

Reeta Banerjeereeta@stanford.edu

Many students are thinking

One way to answer that question is through

Journaling

Goal: get college students to journal for 10 minutes every night

What’s the sequence of baby-steps to getting to this goal?

Sign up for journaling reminders

Get email reminder: “Write down one thing you learned about yourself”

Open up computer and notepad application

Write down one insight about yourself

Reward yourself for following through

Repeat every day for 1 week

Write down X# of insights during Week X

Journal for 10 minutes every night

Test: Will people write down 1 thing they learned about themselves?

• Text students every night: “Remember to write your Daily Insight:”

¾ of the students write their DI when reminded.

Now for INSIGHTS about the

process

Must get beyond the roadblock of

“This seems cheesy”

There’s always something that seems more urgent

There’s always something that seems more urgent

Than stopping to reflect

Must set up an environment free of distractions

Must be remindeduntil it becomes second nature

Feedback, thoughts?

Would love to hear about it! reeta@stanford.edu