The Guide to Google Forms Journaling for Personal Growth (now with ai of course)

If you’re looking for a simple yet effective way to track your thoughts, actions, issues, and other important personal growth topics, Google Forms journaling might just be the perfect solution for you. As someone who has been journaling for years, I’ve tried countless methods and tools, but none have been as convenient and user-friendly as Google Forms when used in conjunction with your go-to note taking app.

Google Forms allows you to create a personalized daily journal template that you can access from anywhere, at any time. Whether you’re at home, at work, or on the go, you can quickly and easily log your entries using your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

And, as explained in the video below, it’s a slam dunk when used with AI tools…for review and insights. Having some of your data already in a Google Form means it’s 1 step away (or zero) from being in a spreadsheet which makes importing it for analysis super easy.

Not sure how this will all work? No problem, just check it all out below since I’ve gone step by step and explained how and why I’m doing it this way.

Where Does ai come in?

To get the most out of your entries, you should review them.

In the past this has been a manual process where I would review my answers quarterly and spot patterns. In fact, I still do that.

However, I’ve also tried prompting ChatGPT with a basic prompt like:

Here are a few journal entries from the past few months about things I've been avoiding and need to work on or deal with. Can you help me find patterns that can help me make a breakthrough? Be specific, use examples, and provide a summary of your suggestions at the end.

After that, I copy/paste in my entries for the time period.

And you know what? I got back some fantastic ideas and insights – give it shot even if you’re not using Google Forms.

That’s the reason I’m using Forms for my daily and weekly questions; it’s a huge time saver to have the spreadsheet instead of copying out of Roam and having to deal with a ton of formatting.

If you’re using other tools like Notion databases it would be much the same – lots of copying and pasting or clicking around to get what you want…which isn’t what you want to spend your time doing, right?

don’t skip the human part though…

With this upgrade to your review process, don’t forget that you should also scan through your responses and see what you notice. Any other patterns or ideas that you see?

We’re good at pattern recognition so don’t get rid of one of the most important parts – just use AI tools to help you make it easier and potentially less biased.

Why Google Forms is Perfect for Q&A Journaling

Google Forms is a free tool that’s part of the Google Suite, which means you can access it using your existing Google account. It’s incredibly easy to set up and customize, even if you have no prior experience with web forms or surveys.

One of the biggest advantages of using Google Forms for journaling is that it automatically saves your entries in a Google Sheet. This means you can easily view, analyze, and track your progress over time without having to manually transfer your entries from one platform to another.

Keep this in mind as we talk about the AI portion of this – having your data in an easy to access place without a ton of editing or copy/pasting is a HUGE time saver.

Customizable Templates

With Google Forms, you have complete control over the format and content of your journal. You can create a template that includes the specific questions or prompts that are most relevant to you, such as:

• What are you grateful for today?
• What was the highlight of your day?
• What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
• What did you learn or discover today?

You can also include different types of questions, such as multiple choice, checkboxes, or open-ended responses, depending on your preferences and goals.

How to Set Up Your Google Forms Journal

Setting up your Google Forms journal is a quick and easy process. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Go to Google Forms and click on the “Blank” template to create a new form.
2. Give your form a title, such as “Daily Journal” or “Personal Reflections.”
3. Add your desired questions or prompts, using the “+” button to add new fields as needed. You can choose from a variety of question types, such as short answer, paragraph, multiple choice, or checkboxes.
4. Customize the look and feel of your form by choosing a theme or adding your own background image.
5. Click on the “Responses” tab and select “Create spreadsheet” to automatically generate a Google Sheet that will store your journal entries.
6. Click on the “Send” button to generate a shareable link to your journal template. You can bookmark this link or schedule recurring email reminders with the link included. I have mine included in my daily notes for Roam Research template.
7. Set a reminder with the link included and start building that new habit.

Looking For Journaling Prompts?

Journaling prompts can be a great way to get started writing down your thoughts without having stare at a blinking cursor or empty page.

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FAQs about Google Forms Journaling

How do I create a journal in Google Forms?

To create a journal in Google Forms, simply create a new form and add the questions or prompts you want to include in your daily entries. You can customize the form to fit your specific needs and preferences, and even add images or branding to make it feel more personal.

Does Google have a journal feature?

While Google does not have a specific “journal” feature, you can easily use Google Forms to create a personalized daily journal. Google Forms allows you to create custom questions and prompts, and automatically saves your entries in a Google Sheet for easy tracking and analysis.

Can I use Google Docs for journaling?

Yes, you can use Google Docs for journaling as well. However, Google Forms offers a more structured and streamlined approach, with the ability to create specific questions and prompts and automatically store your entries in a spreadsheet.

How to do a journal entry on Google Docs?

To do a journal entry on Google Docs, simply create a new document and start writing. You can use headers, bullet points, or any other formatting tools to organize your thoughts and reflections. However, keep in mind that Google Docs does not have the same automatic data collection and analysis capabilities as Google Forms.