Lately, I’ve found myself wrestling with the feeling that time is moving faster than I can keep track of. Add to that a disquieting sense that days, months and even years seem to blur together. There’s no halting time — countless anecdotes and pop culture references attest to this (not to mention science). But I’ve been in search of a way to be more present in my daily life, so that rapid-fire time passing slows even a little bit.

I’ve found a solution in a product, and practice, that I’m convinced is one of the best purchases (and decisions) I’ve made in awhile: A five year journal. Each daily page is divided into five short sections for you to fill in on that date for the next five years. When you reach that date again the following year, you revisit the day’s previous entries — and see what you were up to that day, rediscovering forgotten moments and reflecting on how your life has changed since.

When I was looking for the right five-year journal to invest in for myself, I explored a multitude of options. I was struck by the reviews I read: People wrote that their five-year journal helped them stay sane amidst difficult life changes, and served as a respite; that it helped them recognize their growth year-to-year; and that it actually helped time slow down.

I’ve absolutely found that to be the case for myself: Writing just a few lines a day has helped me appreciate the small moments in my life, helped set each day apart from the last and encouraged me to reflect more intentionally, but in a low-pressure way.

I ended up choosing this clothbound, pinstriped five year journal with a minimalist yet nostalgic design that fits my casual style. (I don’t think I could’ve gone wrong with any version, however; reviewers raved about every five-year journal I checked out, and frankly, I’ve never seen a product type maintain such high reviews across different designs and brands.)

Available in blue and gray (I snagged the gray but in five years plan to nab the blue), it blends in easily with my other notebooks and books, giving me peace of mind that it won’t attract snooping. It’s small and sturdy, perfect for throwing in a bag on the go or for traveling with, plus has pages in the back for recording books you read and places you travel. Its built-in red ribboned bookmark is a nice touch, too (one that I’ve ended up appreciating more than I expected).

The real fun, according to reviewers, begins after the first year, when you get to read your old passages: “Once you hit year two, it’s extremely rewarding,” writes a reviewer named Meagan. “You can see 5 [years] of your life, daily and compare from year to year.”

I’ve also found that it’s easier for me to keep up with this journal than with regular journals, since there’s only space for me to write about two or three sentences. “The fact that it only has 5 or 6 lines a day takes a lot of pressure off,” agrees one reviewer. If I still have more to say after those few sentences, I can keep writing in a regular notebook. I sometimes wish there were more lines available, but that’s the point of the five-year journal: You only get so much space, so you choose how to use it.

As one reviewer writes, I “only wish I had begun writing in these diaries much earlier.” And I can’t wait to gift them to friends: It’s “my go-to gift item for any occasion,” writes a reviewer named Bree Mae. “Everyone is always intrigued and excited to try it out.”

We’ve found some other great options for you to peruse, including a three year style, other five year designs and versions for parents to write a bit about their children every day. Read on for more.

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