A private diary is an important way to process emotions, reflect on life experiences, and preserve memories. Diaries allow us to pour our innermost thoughts, dreams, fears, and secrets onto paper without judgment or criticism. They provide a safe space for self-expression and exploration. However, the deeply personal nature of diaries also makes them sensitive. If your private diary falls into the wrong hands, it could lead to embarrassment, damaged relationships, or even identity theft if financial or medical details are revealed.
Use a lock on your physical diary
A simple lock and key prevent snooping eyes from accessing your paper diary. Choose a quality lock that cannot be easily picked or broken to keep the key on you at all times. If you prefer a combination lock pick a unique code that is hard to crack. Avoid using obvious dates or numbers.
Password protects your digital diary
If you keep an electronic diary on your computer, tablet, or phone, always password-protect it. Use a strong password at least 12 characters long, with upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid obvious passwords based on names, birthdays, or dictionary words. Enable two-factor authentication if available. Also, beware of saving diaries to cloud storage – make sure the storage service uses end-to-end encryption.
Use a secret hiding spot
Hiding your diary cleverly adds an extra layer of private notebook security. Options for secret stashes include a hollowed-out book, a lockbox hidden under your mattress, or a locked drawer. Just your hiding place is not obvious or easily discovered by prying eyes. Avoid keeping your diary in your underwear drawer or other obvious location.
Encrypt your files
Encrypt your diary files using encryption software or apps. Encryption scrambles your data so someone with the right decryption key accesses it. It essentially turns your diary content into unreadable gibberish for anyone else. VeraCrypt and Cryptomator are good free encryption tools.
Regularly back up your diary
To avoid losing your precious memories if your diary is damaged, lost, or stolen, be sure to regularly back it up. For physical diaries, photocopy pages occasionally. For digital diaries, back up files to an external hard drive and cloud storage. Just make sure your cloud backup is also encrypted.
Carefully dispose of diary pages
When disposing of old diary pages, don’t just toss them out with the regular garbage, where anyone could retrieve them. Use a secure delete tool like Eraser to completely wipe discarded digital files. Overwriting data makes it unrecoverable.
Avoid oversharing diary details
Be highly selective about whom you share diary details with. The more people who know sensitive information from your diary, the more likely it is to spread. Never reveal your hiding place. If reading excerpts to others, omit very personal details that could be misused.
Use a pseudonym
Writing under a pseudonym provides an extra layer of anonymity if your diary falls into the wrong hands. Just make sure you do not include any other details that could identify you, like places, dates, names of friends and family members, etc.
Limit access to devices
Take steps to limit access to the devices where you store your diary. Use device passwords, fingerprint scanners, or facial recognition to lock your phone and computer. Never leave your diary open and unattended. Restrict house your electronics to avoid snooping.
