Why Should You Journal?
Journaling works on two levels: emotional and cognitive. Writing down your thoughts forces you to slow down and actually process what’s going on in your head while also being a safe space to express yourself. You can doodle, paint, write a haiku about your cat; it’s all fair game. This dual process reduces stress, processes your thoughts and feelings, and gives you a sense of control over your life.
Journaling also helps you track your growth. Life moves fast, and it’s easy to forget how far you’ve come. Journaling lets you look back and see your progress – whether it’s overcoming a tough time, achieving a goal, or just taking care of your mental health. By writing things down, you’ll organise your thoughts without even realising. It’s a simple, affordable, and effective way to take time for yourself, engage in creativity, and make a bit more sense of this chaotic thing called life.
What Journaling Supplies Do I Need?
Half the fun of journaling is gathering all the pretty things to go with it! Whether you’re a minimalist or a full-on stationery hoarder, here’s a list of all the essentials (and some extra bits if you’re feeling fancy).
1. A Journal
You guessed it! If you want to start journaling, you’re gonna need a journal. But don’t just pick up any old notebook. This will be your sacred space, your creative haven, your emotional dumping ground. You’re going to be spending quite some time with your personal pocket-sized therapist, so choose one that speaks to you. Lined, dotted, blank, leather-bound - it’s your call.
To get started, have a look at our collection of journals.
2. A Pen
Life’s too short for scratchy pens that ran out of ink six months ago. Get yourself some pens that glide like butter so that the time you spend writing in your journal is a joyful experience.
You can write with gel pens, fineliners, or even a fountain pen if you’re feeling posh.
3. Washi Tape
Washi tape is the duct tape of the journaling world. You can use it for everything from decoration, sectioning off pages, or covering up mistakes (get a multipack - you’ll thank us later).
4. Stickers
For when words fail you. Whether it’s motivational quotes, cute animals, or random emojis, stickers are a joyful addition to your journaling.
5. Highlighters
Perfect for colour-coding your thoughts, goals, or special memories, we’ve got a range of highlighter pens from bright and colourful to dreamy pastels to choose from.
6. Coloured Pencils
Because black and white is boring. Add some flair to your pages with a rainbow of colouring pencils.
7. Craft Embellishments
Want to add a little more pizzazz? Craft embellishments are your friend. Try using stamps, stencils, gems, or any other kind of decoration you like. There are no rules for expressing yourself, so why not go wild.
8. Glue or Double-Sided Tape
Use glue and tape to stick in ticket stubs, photos, or random little things you pick up here and there. It’s a great way to keep memories all together and stop them getting lost in the junk drawer.
9. A Cup of Tea (or Wine)
Essential for the ~vibes~. Optional for the actual journaling process.
How to Start Journaling: A Beginner’s Guide
Now that you’ve got all your supplies, it’s time to start journaling (although you don’t need everything on our list to start – a notebook and a pen will do just fine!)
Remember, journaling is about expressing yourself, not perfection. So, grab your pen, get creative, and have fun with it.
1. Settle In
First things first, you need to take some time out to dedicate to journaling. It doesn’t have to be more than a few minutes, and it definitely doesn’t have to be every day. Start with once or twice a week and build from there. What’s important is setting aside time for you and your journal to really get to know each other.
Some things you can do to help you set the mood:
- - Light a candle.
- - Play some music. Lo-fi beats, calming classical, or even that country song that you’re obsessed with now.
- - Get cosy with blankets, pillows, and fluffy slippers. Comfort is key.
2. Start Small (Like, Really Small)
You don’t need to write an essay every time you journal. Start with one sentence. Literally. “Today, I ate a whole pizza and regretted nothing.” Boom. You’re journaling.
You also don’t need to think through everything you write down. Some entries might not even make sense when you look back at them. Sure, you’ll find nuggets of good insight or life lessons, but your life is most likely not a coming-of-age novel, so you don’t need to write in your journal like it is.
Try these ideas to start:
- - Don’t get too deep to begin with. Keep it simple and ease into building a journaling habit.
- - Briefly describe your everyday life and go into detail about one aspect of it. Continue this for a few days, and then change your focus on something else. It might sound boring, but future you will love rereading it and being transported to what life was like for you when you wrote it.
- - Talk about some of your favourite things about your family and friends.
- - Write it like a letter - to yourself, to an ex, to someone you miss.
3. Use Prompts
Life can be messy. Sometimes, your brain is a swirling tornado of thoughts, emotions, and to-do lists. And if you’re not careful, it’ll all just sit there. Weighing you down.
But you don’t have to let it.
Using prompts to inspire your journaling can help to cut through the chaos. Prompts can be questions about anything, from broad topics to deeply personal introspections. The important thing is to be completely honest with yourself when you answer them. We tend to lie to ourselves as a self-defence mechanism, but this is not nearly as helpful as honestly addressing our issues. Sometimes, it's better to write out hard thoughts and feelings and then throw them away.
If you're stuck, try these:
- - List 15 things that put a smile on your face. Forget the big stuff. What are the tiny, stupid, ridiculous things that make your day?
- - What are the top 3 emotions you are feeling in this moment? Don’t overthink it. What’s bubbling under the surface? Name them and own them.
- - Try and find the thoughts behind these feelings. Your emotions aren’t random. What’s the story you’re telling yourself?
- How do you want to feel? Not how should you feel, how do you want to feel? Be selfish. Be honest.
- - What are you currently struggling with? No sugar-coating. What’s the thorn in your side? Pull it out. Write it down. Stare it in the face.
- - What does your dream life look like? Forget limits. Forget practicality. What does your wildest, most outrageous dream life look like?
- - Write down 3 things you are grateful for. Not the clichés. What tiny, specific things are you genuinely grateful for right now?
- - What made you last laugh? When was the last time you laughed so hard it gave you abs? Recall it. Relive it.
4. Try Different Journaling Techniques
Journaling doesn’t have to be all words. If you’re more of a visual person, channel your inner Banksy and try expressing yourself through drawings, stencils, doodles or whatever else helps. There is no best journaling method, just whatever works best for you.
If “Dear Diary” isn’t your jam, have a go at these different types of journaling:
- Scrapbooking: For the memory hoarders. Tickets, photos, random bits of paper – turn them into a visual story. Check out our range of scrapbook supplies to get started.
- Art Journal: For the creatives. Doodle, paint, collage – this is your playground.
- Food Journal: For the foodies and the fitness fanatics. Log what you eat, when you eat, and how you feel. It’s not about guilt – it’s about awareness. (And maybe fewer midnight snacks.)
- Gratitude Journal: The antidote to complaining. Start and end your day by listing what you’re grateful for. Big things, small things, every “thing” counts.
- Dream Journal: From the weird dreams you have at night to your vision for the future.
- Bullet Journal: Think to-do lists, goal tracking, and mindfulness all rolled into one. It’s productivity disguised as art.
- Morning Pages: A brain dump on paper. No thinking, no editing – just raw, unfiltered stream-of-consciousness. Perfect for when you feel like your brain has 47 tabs open.
5. Make It a Habit (But Don’t Stress)
Journaling is supposed to help you, not stress you out. So, if you miss a day (or a week, or a month), don’t sweat it. Life happens. You’re not getting tested on this.
Try to make it a habit, though. Even if it’s just 5 minutes before bed or your unfiltered stream of morning consciousness, over time, you’ll start to notice the benefits of having a clearer mind. Consistency is key, but so is forgiving yourself when you binge-watch Netflix instead.
Happy Journaling!
Now you’ve got the ultimate guide to journaling for beginners, all that’s left to do is get started! Whether you’re using it to vent about your boss, plan your dream life, or just stick pretty pictures in it, just remember that your journal doesn’t need to be perfect. In fact, it’s better if it’s not. Scribble, cross things out, spill your dinner on it; it’s all good. This is your space to be messy, unfiltered, and unapologetically you.
And if all else fails, just write “I tried” and call it a day.
Take a look at our art & crafts supplies to jazz up your journal. And if scrapbooking is more your speed, we’ve written a beginner’s guide to scrapbooking to get you started.
