Journal Like You Mean It
I think I religiously started journaling when I was 15. I did it off and on before then, but now? I have to write down my thoughts and tape my memories somewhere.
Anne Frank once said that “paper is more patient than man.” That pretty much sums up how I feel about writing and why I do it. For me, writing is as instinctive as breathing. I cannot imagine my life without it. And when I write my feelings/thoughts down, I have the security of knowing that I can breathe. Other times? I’m simply writing down dreams or scrapbooking my fun adventures. Here are some different ways you can journal, if you’re new to it, and if you aren’t, some ideas on how to change it up. Not every journal has to start off like dear diary (unless you want it to!):
Dream Journal: write down what you dream about! Including your daydreams. Where have you wandered off to? Does this place or dream hold significance? Can you learn from this? Are you pulling from real life?
List it Out: If you love listing things out as a way of organizing your thoughts or likes or planning your day, you will love this. You can list out anything— top ten career choices, places to travel next, spots for your next lunch date, books to pick up next— ANYTHING!!!
Stress Management: have a journal set aside for a stream of consciousnesses stress writing/ranting. The equivalent of screaming out into a void, but instead writing it down and not holding anything back.
Habit Tracker/Routine Maker: plan out your day, keep track of habits you want to start implementing or get rid of and map out a routine that gets you out of bed in the morning or helps you unwind for the night.
Gratitude Journal: every day, just write down one thing that you are grateful for- anything at all from a really good cup of tea to spending quality time with friends.
Travel Journal: this could be helpful to deal with travel anxiety or cultural shock but carry a journal around with you at a new place to help cope and remember new sights, ideas, and challenges.
Reader’s Journal: if you’re an avid reader like me, you might enjoy keeping track of all the books you read and how you feel about them!
Compendiums: be geeky about a subject you love and create your own little encyclopedia or field book.
Journaling Essentials
my favorite journal brands:
denik (my all-time fav)
Paper Source (easier to find journals in-store)
Design Works Ink (easy to find them at Target!)
If you ever find yourself in China- the Let Ideas Fly journal brand is amazing!
Also, try and make your own! Here is a step-by-step guide.
cover photos belong to me