In 2013 working in the fashion industry our founder Beck Wadworth saw a gap in the market for a minimalist yet functional diary that could be the perfect company to each day. Something that housed all the elements of a day yet beautiful enough to be proud to take from meeting to meeting. She designed her first planner, found someone to print x300 diaries that sold out in just 3 weeks, from there, she never looked back. That’s the history of An Organised Life but what about the history of a diary itself?

Often referred to as an Almanac rather than a diary, some of the earliest ‘diaries’ were used to document the world around us; like the phases of the moon or weather patterns and to make spiritual interpretations of daily events. It was common to weave your own paper within the pages of an Almanac to make personal documents alongside the information in its pages. 

Diaries were seen as a private practice until the 18th century when it became quite popular and a respectful habit to keep account of your daily life. It is said that the first commercially available diary was invented in 1773 however during America’s Industrial Revolution in the 1880’s was when paper diaries became steadfast as life got busier and the corporate world was growing rapidly

There was no looking back at that point, and even with the introduction of digital planners and calendars the benefits of a diary have been the testament of why pen to paper diaries have stood the test of time.

Our favourite benefit of AOL diaries (besides being able to personalise with our monogramming service of course) is that they hold EVERYTHING you need for day to day. From goal setting, budgeting pages, favourite memory pages, a yearly planner, monthly calendars and daily pages for your to-do lists, appointments, reflections & more, and of course a back pocket for all your bits & bobs like receipts and business cards. 

Organise Your Time

A diary is the perfect place for your daily to-do list, with a written to-do list the satisfaction of crossing items off as you go gives you a sense of accomplishment while also reducing your stress.  And if you are using it for your personal life keep track of appointments, birthdays, travel, social events and more. Write to-do lists, wish lists, reminders or keep track of your daily gratitudes 

Self Reflection 

We've spoken before about journaling & the benefits of writing your daily gratitudes  before, a yearly diary is the perfect essential for doing this. There is nothing more satisfying than putting pen to paper every morning or evening to reflect & it's a great way to focus on your wellbeing.  At the end of the year make sure you find a safe place to put your diary so you can have it as a keepsake & reflect back on these moments in years to come. 

Achieve Goals 

A diary is also the perfect tool for planning & achieving your goals, research shows you are more likely to achieve a goal if it’s written down. A diary is a space to create your action plan, add weekly or monthly smaller stepping stone tasks onto the specific dates in your diary so that you create focus & stay on track. By tracking your goals in a diary you can monitor your progress as you reach each milestone. 

Good Habits 

From drinking more water, to exercising & everything in between. A habit takes time, dedication & a diary is the perfect product to keep you focused, keep track of your progress and set targets for yourself.

Shop our 2022 Yearly diaries HERE before they sell out!