Feel free to digress if one idea leads to another. If you are writing on an assigned topic, you can explain the digression as a transition back to the topic. Journal writing is one tool to help you articulate or clarify your thoughts. This practice, defined by one group of writing experts as writing to learn, may help you identify ideas, attitudes, and concerns that do not take shape through thinking alone. After completing an assigned entry, reread the question or prompt to which you are supposed to respond.
Observation is remarkably different from argument.
In any journal, leave standard margins within which your instructor can respond to your ideas.