A big fan of journaling and self-reflection, Dressel keeps three journals, two of which he's maintained for nearly a decade. "I've been keeping practice logs since high school for statistical stuff and technique stuff," Dressel said in an interview with FINA Aquatics World Magazine. He explained that the practice log includes daily entries that go into explicit detail of every swim practice (what strokes he swam, short or long course, pace times, etc.), as well as how he felt during practice. Dressel also keeps a nightly journal, where he chronicles his day from start to finish. "It's for any anxious thoughts I've had, what I did that day, who I did it with, if I had a good time," he said. "No one gets to read the journal except me."
Dressel has one rule about his journals: "When I close the pages, the problems – good or bad – are over, I learn from it, and move on," he said. The last journal is filled with inspirational quotes Dressel has heard or read from books, movies, and billboards. Like the practice log, he's been jotting down notes in this book since high school, too.