Collections are the heart of organization in Dreavie. They help you bring order to your world of thoughts – but in a flexible, living way. Let's dive deep into everything you need to know about collections.
Opening the Collections Menu
On Mobile
The Swipe: In the journal overview (home screen), simply swipe from left to right. The collections menu slides elegantly into view.
The Button: Alternatively, tap the name of the currently selected collection at the top left (e.g. "All Entries").
On Desktop
Collections are permanently visible in the left sidebar. A click on a collection instantly switches the view.
Creating Your First Collection
The Path to a New Collection
In the collections menu, you'll find the plus symbol (+) at the top. A tap opens the creation window.
The Important Elements
The Name
The heart of your collection. Choose something that makes sense to you:
- Short and concise: "Work", "Dreams", "Ideas"
- Personal: "My Chaos", "Mind Cinema", "Heart Matters"
- Creative: "Thought Playground", "Soul Kitchen", "Future Music"
The Emoji Symbol
Visual anchors help your brain with quick association:
- 💭 for thoughts
- ❤️ for feelings
- 💡 for ideas
- 🌙 for dreams
- ✨ for special moments
The Color
Each collection gets its own color. You'll see this later:
- As a colored strip on each journal entry
- In the collections menu as an accent
- In collection selection in the editor
Why colors matter: After a short time, you'll unconsciously recognize: "Ah, lots of blue this week – I wrote a lot about work."
The Description (optional)
A little note to yourself. What belongs in this collection? Especially helpful when you have many collections.
Saving the Collection
Everything filled out? A tap on "Create" and your new collection is ready. It appears immediately in the collections menu and is available for new journals.
Using Collections Optimally
Understanding Default Collections
"All Entries"
The master collection that's always there. Here you'll find:
- All new journals you don't assign to a collection
- A complete overview of all your moments
- Cannot be deleted or edited
Assigning Journals to Collections
When creating: In the journal editor, tap the collection button above the title and choose the appropriate collection.
After the fact: Open an existing journal and change the collection just like when creating.
Multiple at once: Currently you need to move journals individually – use the time as a little reflection while going through them.
Editing Collections
Getting to the Edit Menu
On mobile:
- In the collections menu, tap the three dots (...) next to the collection
- The edit window opens
On desktop:
- Hover over a collection in the sidebar
- An edit icon appears on the right
- A click opens the edit window
What You Can Change
Everything! Name, emoji, color, description – adapt your collection to your current needs.
Example: Your "Work" collection becomes "Job Change 2024" with new symbol 🚀 and exciting color.
Deleting Collections
The Deletion Process
In the edit window, scroll all the way down. There waits the red "Delete" button.
⚠️ Important: When deleting a collection, all journals contained within are also permanently deleted!
Safe Deletion
Before deleting:
- Open the collection in the overview
- Check which journals are in it
- Move important journals to other collections
- Only then delete the collection
Tip: Instead of deleting, you can also "archive" collections – simply rename to "Archive: [Old Name]" and move to the end of the list.
Advanced Collection Strategies
Temporary Collections
Create collections for time-limited topics:
- "Vacation 2024" for travel planning and memories
- "Project X" for a specific endeavor
- "30-Day Challenge" for personal challenges
After completion, you can archive or delete these.
Nested Logic Through Naming
Use prefixes for pseudo-hierarchies:
- "Work: Projects"
- "Work: Meetings"
- "Work: Ideas"
This keeps related collections together in the list.
Emotional vs. Thematic Collections
Emotional collections:
- "Happy Moments" ✨
- "Frustration Outlet" 😤
- "Fears & Worries" 🌧️
Thematic collections:
- "Family" 👨👩👧👦
- "Health" 🏃♀️
- "Finances" 💰
Find your balance between both approaches.
Mastering the Collections Overview
Navigation Between Collections
Quick switch: In the collections menu, simply tap another collection – immediately you see only its journals.
Visual feedback: The active collection is highlighted so you always know where you are.
Understanding the Color Legend
In the journal overview, each entry has a colored strip on the left:
- The color indicates the collection
- At a glance you recognize the distribution
- Patterns become visible ("Only green entries this week?")
Tips for an Organized Journal
Less is More
Start with 3-5 collections. You can always add new ones, but too many collections can be overwhelming.
Regular Cleanup
Every few months:
- Check which collections you really use
- Merge similar collections
- Delete or archive unused collections
The 10-Second Rule
If you think longer than 10 seconds about which collection a journal belongs to, you have too many or too similar collections.
Experiment
Your collection structure can evolve. What works today might not fit in three months. Be flexible!
Inspiration for Your Collections
For beginners:
- Private 🔒
- Gratitude 🙏
- Daily Notes 📝
For creatives:
- Project Ideas 💡
- Inspiration 🎨
- Writing Exercises ✍️
For self-reflectors:
- Morning Routine ☀️
- Therapy Thoughts 🧠
- Personal Growth 🌱
For goal-oriented:
- Year Goals 🎯
- Progress 📈
- Lessons Learned 📚
The Next Level
Collections are more than just folders – they're a mirror of your thought world. Over time, you'll recognize patterns, understand priorities, and shape your life more consciously.
In the next article, we'll show you how to optimally use your journals in the overview and quickly find what you're looking for.
