ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.

It's been a rough year for me. So much so that I found myself needing to do something I thought that I'd never do… journal.

Journaling for someone who writes for a living is like an auto mechanic working on their own car: they know they need to, but the idea of doing it, after a long day of working on other people's cars, isn't exactly their idea of fun.

Also: 9 essential Mac apps everyone should be using in 2026 - and why I vouch for them