Journals work great for some people. Personally, I always hated them.

Notes for future projects are necessary, writing something every single day is a requirement, practice listening to the way people really speak is important, practice observing and describing the world is vital. But I always felt too self-conscious and unnatural about what I was doing when I kept a journal.

I am unusual in that among writers, though, I think. <shrug>

Just another point of view...

Kriston