It's easy to think of journaling as a wellness trend that’s only really become popular in recent times. However, that’s far from the truth — documenting our daily thoughts and activities is far from a new concept, especially for men. Instead, journaling has been used for tracking progress and self-expression throughout history, particularly by sailors, who would document their journeys in logbooks.
What are Logbooks?
As early as the 1400s, logbooks were indispensably valuable as navigation tools, through dead reckoning: a method where they record the ship's speed, direction, and time traveled to estimate the ship's positioning at sea. Many seafaring explorers also meticulously documented their new land discoveries too, helping to create more accurate maps.
Sailors also used logbooks to manage cargo and provisions, along with any plunder they captured during their journey. They also recorded the state of the ship, along with the various promotions and casualties of the ship’s crew. Logbooks also acted as crucial legal documents, providing key evidence should any incidents or disputes occur at sea, like ship collisions and mutinies.
However, sailors often recorded more than dry, operational details…
Sailors often cataloged their personal observations and reflections in vivid detail, expressing emotions in a way that you might find surprising for a sea-hardened, rough-and-ready mariner that scraped out a tough existence several centuries ago. Often, they felt a deep sense of loneliness and helplessness:
“It was a dismal night, and I sat in the cabin feeling as lonely as ever a man felt in the world. My ship, though tight and strong, was but a small speck on the bosom of the great deep." Joshua Slocum - 1895
"It was a sad time to see so many sick and ill men about us, and we not able to help them.” Edward Barlow - 1895
Sometimes, however, they would express an overwhelming joy, relief, and gratitude:
"We were now nearly up with the islands, and were ready to say that our long voyage was drawing to a close. As we drew nearer, and could distinguish the trees, the cattle, and the houses, and then see the human beings running down to the beach, I could hardly believe that I was alive, and in my own country. My heart beat quick, and I could hardly trust myself to speak, for fear of giving way to my feelings." Richard Henry Dana Jr - 1835
There’s no doubt that the sailors of bygone times would have endured some of the most severe and traumatic hardships that a person can experience. And it’s clear from logbooks and other recovered documents that the act of journaling helped them to process emotions they felt in response to these events.
Nowadays, we don’t live the life of a 15th-19th century seaman. We don’t need to worry about scurvy or shipwrecks. However, it’s still common for many of us to feel lost in a sea of doubt and uncertainty, isolated, and desperate for storms to pass. So, maybe continuing the time-honored tradition of journaling with our Seek Self Wellness Journal could help us plot the course we wish to sail and navigate the challenges of modern life. It can help you to figure out your direction and goals, and give you the discipline and emotional resilience it takes to get there.
Sources
The National Archives - Royal Navy ships of exploration logs and journals 1757-1904
Royal Museums Greenwich - Journal of Edward Barlow, 1656-1703
Joshua Slocum - Sailing Alone Around the World
Richard H. Dana, Jr - Two Years Before the Mast