How to set up a schedule for the Apple Diary app and create the habit of writing

The iOS 17.2 update brings along a long-awaited novelty: the Apple Diary app. This application, initially announced in June 2023, offers an innovative and personal way to record thoughts and daily activities, integrating elements such as photos, music, exercises, and more. Additionally, it suggests topics to write about, thus facilitating the personal reflection process.

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How to set up our schedule in the Diary app

Starting and maintaining a journal regularly requires getting used to it. Recognizing this, Apple has incorporated a scheduling feature to help us stay consistent in our writing practice. How can we set up a journal schedule on our iPhone and turn writing into a habit? Follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Go to the Journal section.
3. Tap on Journal Schedule.
4. Turn on the Schedule.
5. Choose the time of day you want to receive the reminder.
6. Select the days of the week you want to receive it.

Setting a schedule to write in our journal is an excellent way to remind ourselves that we want to do it, taking a step toward creating a habit. Notifications work as a gentle yet effective nudge that helps us integrate writing into our daily lives. It’s less about the amount of time we can dedicate to it; with each passing day, we’ll get used to writing, even if it’s just a sentence, in our reflections.

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The Apple Diary app in iOS 17.2 provides a platform to record our thoughts and activities. Continuing its drive to address our health, including mental health, Apple has long been incorporating features into iOS. The mood tracking —for which we can also set reminders— is another piece that, along with the diary, prompts us to take a small pause and reflect on the day each day.