I started journaling when I was 13, after we moved to another country. It was a way to give form to a lot of conflicting thoughts, both about the move, and about my parents' divorce.

In much later years, it has really been a version of this:

I journal to get all the stuff in my head, out.

In computer terms, the journal is a bit like an external drive where I can store stuff and get it to where it's not cluttering current stuff I'm working on. And sometimes my journal serves as a repository of ideas I can come back to later... when I have more time.

Of course, some of it is just adult ADHD management!