Abstract

Journaling is an intimate process used for mindfulness, self-awareness, and daily tracking in mental and physical health. While there is a variety of methods for journaling, this project explores text-based stream of consciousness journaling using guided prompts translated into a digital tracking experience. The goal of a stream of consciousness journal is to help the author develop conclusions about themselves through the process of freewriting–allowing any thought or feeling to be jotted down without judgement. Because of its freeflowing nature, going back to review journal entries may not be as valuable compared to when it is being written. Reinterpreting this written data through a customized data visualization mobile application experience utilizing text analysis and AI recognition software may help young adults (such as college students) find meaningful connections between overlooked topics that were not originally found. This can be useful in finding trends and patterns over an extensive period of time, which is difficult to pinpoint when manually reviewing written entries. In recent studies, journaling for students has been useful in developing their critical thinking skills, building confidence, and improving gratitude. This project strives to encourage young adults to become more in tune with themselves through the habit of journaling for self-care and relaxation from their busy lives.