New to journaling or looking to rekindle the habit? In this post, I share practical guidance on how to journal with 10+ creative ways to journal designed to meet you where you are. Whether you’re just starting out or need fresh inspiration, these tips will make journaling feel simple, flexible, and doable.
I’m an intermittent journaler. I love the practice, but I haven’t always taken the time to write what I used to think was a real journal. This frustrated me because I wanted to be the kind of person who journaled every day, consistently. I knew the joys of this. I knew the benefits. But sometimes I just set aside my notebooks and sighed. Too hard. No time.
What I realized is that I was putting journaling in a box. And once I learned that journaling can take many forms, I was encouraged to practice again. I love being able to choose from a variety of practices, depending on the day, the week, the season. Sometimes it’s long-form, more often it’s short-form, sometimes it’s doodling.
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What does journaling mean to you?
When you hear the word journal, what comes to mind? Maybe you remember writing in a locked diary during middle school and hiding it in your sock drawer so your big brother would never find it and tease you.
Or is it a simple daily log where you recount your day? Today, the traffic was horrible on my way to work and I was late.
Perhaps you’ve studied snippets in high school English of the lengthy Diary of Samuel Pepys, who wrote daily from 1660 to 1669 and pulls back the curtain on a privileged life in 17th century England. So home to supper and to bed. Or maybe you are familiar with the historical journals of great people like Anne Frank or Leonardo DaVinci? DaVinci’s journals are a fascinating blend of words and sketches. Did you know that he wrote in his journals backwards, a.k.a. “Italian Mirror Writing.”
Or do you think journaling is a tedious and laborious task, only for writers or people who have big lives with big ideas to untangle. Does even the thought of writing make you cringe? Why, oh, why, would you want to journal? It’s freshman English all over again!
Ah, prepare to dust off some of your misconceptions and begin an adventure.
Why journal?
First, you need to know why you (or someone else) might return to or begin a journal practice.
Here are some suggestions so you can consider your why. (And starting to journal because “everyone is doing it” is not a good reason.)
To think clearly.
My own experience has taught me this. If I’m wrestling with a decision or wondering how to untangle my thoughts, writing helps. I think it’s partly because when I write it down, I have to name it. And naming it – whatever it might be – is the beginning. Think of it like a conversation with yourself. (Or with God. See Journal Idea # 5.)
To remember.
This is my favorite why. When I look back on old journals, the ones where I woke up before my little kids to scribble a little something as part of my morning devotions and prayers, I return to those days. I can see the kitchen table with its plastic tablecloth; I can feel our golden retriever brush against me, nuzzling me with his wet nose. I remember being a young mother whose thoughts circled around meal-planning and spelling lists and new teachers and prayers for the future of these little ones.
(If you want to remember the details like important dates and addresses, too, I recommend creating a life timeline or timeline journaling.)
To de-stress.
It helps. Because writing things down helps me to think clearly, I usually end up less stressed about whatever I’m stressing about. I see the reality on paper and remember that this too shall pass. (Now if writing makes you cringe, consider one of the short-form journal options. These work to de-stress you too.)
To create.
Yes, even if you don’t think of yourself as a creative person, perhaps your journaling can help you stretch your innate creativity.
“So God created mankind in his own image” Genesis 1:27 ESV. Our God is a creative God. All we need to do is look outside to see this. He created us to create.
Now, this creativity will express itself in all kinds of ways – singing, planting a garden, painting, building a bookshelf, planning a barbecue. For many, the creativity may come with pen and paper. Your journal can be a place to doodle, sketch, write a poem, play with lettering, explore.
To tell your story.
If my descendents ever read my journals, if the paper hasn’t disintegrated or my great-grandchildren haven’t tossed them into a bonfire, they will get a peek into my life. Consider this. Wouldn’t you love to have a written record of your great-great grandmother’s thoughts?
A quick side note: Journaling regularly also makes writing just a little bit easier. So whether you need to write a quick email, a thoughtful Christmas letter, a loving note for Mother’s Day, or a book, journaling regularly will help your words flow.
Obstacles to Journaling
- Perfectionism. If we are writing it down/drawing it, then it must be good, worthwhile, perfect. Nope. None of us is perfect. How can we expect that anything we produce will be perfect?
- No time. Yes, this is a challenge in various seasons of life. But once you see the suggestions, you’ll realize that this daily or weekly practice doesn’t need to take up a lot of time. And then I always consider what streaming show I really don’t need to watch!
- No ideas. If you’ve never tried a journaling practice, you may think you have nothing to write. Not true. You have a lifetime of thoughts and struggles and prayers and memories spinning in your head.
- Secrets. Maybe you think you dare not write down some of your deepest fears or saddest memories. Someone will read this. See this. Okay, I understand. Some journalers will write and then burn or shred their writing. That’s okay too. (See #4 on this post to learn about the Prayer of Lament, another way to freely journal what is on your heart without fear that someone will read it.)
Now that we’ve debunked your obstacles, it’s time to journal. (Did I miss an obstacle? DM me on Instagram and I’ll help you get past it!) Grab a notebook and your favorite pen, and let’s get started (favorite journaling tools and pens here!).
How to Journal: 10+ Creative Ways
These are just some of the ways you can journal. (Once you read this, you will see that the possibilities are endless!) And I am not suggesting you do all of these! Just consider one.
#1. Long-form journaling.
This is the traditional way to write in a journal, using words and mostly complete sentences. Sometimes paragraphs. You don’t need to be a stickler about grammar. I use lots of fragments and em-dashes in my journaling. You can use journal prompts to get your words flowing, but sometimes these are stream-of-consciousness entries where I don’t lift my pen from the paper. I just let it all flow. (See also #4. Morning Pages.)
#2. Bullet journal.
The whole bullet journal thing is wild. The name “bullet journal” became a thing in 2013 when one guy kickstarted this whole phenomenon which was a logical and simple way to plan your day/week/month/life.
When bullet journaling, you typically use a dotted grid notebook instead of a lined notebook. This practice includes lists, short phrases, arrows, dots, and boxes.
How do you “journal” this way? I’ve collected lists of all sorts of memories this way. Books I’ve read. Favorite vacations. Recurring dreams. Anything goes. And though these aren’t written in traditional long-form, they tell my story inside my planner/bullet journal.
If you’re interested in Bullet Journaling, get started here with the first bullet journaler, and then, head to Instagram or YouTube and search “bullet journal” to get even more ideas.
#3. Gratitude journal.
This is simply writing one or two or three things each day that you are thankful for. You can do this in a regular notebook, a dated planner, or a monthly calendar. Yes, this counts as a journal. A record. A daily practice that may help you count the blessings of each day. (Dive deeper into Gratitude Journaling here.)
“To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.” — Mary Oliver
#4. Morning pages.
Originally named by Julia Cameron in her book The Artist’s Way, morning pages are just like they sound. Pages you write first thing in the morning. Three pages, longhand, stream of consciousness style. This means you just write and write without lifting your pen until you fill three pages. If you can’t think of anything to write, you just write that you can’t think of anything to write. I know it sounds crazy. But it works after you practice it a bit. Somehow it clears the cobwebs and helps you make a way.
#5. Prayer or faith journal.
This is a journal where you write prayers or reflect on your Bible readings, answered prayers, sermons, devotions.
Bible Journaling: Some people do this in a Bible with wide margins. Or narrow margins and tip-in pages. No matter how you do it, this is called Bible Journaling, and I have a whole post about it. The possibilities are endless.
Devotional Journaling: You can also start a devotional journal. Devotional journaling is a simple and visual practice in which you use a pen or colored pencil to capture what you just read in your devotions. It’s not note-taking (although this would be a good way to retain what you just read, too) but simply writing a word or phrase that helps you remember what you read and learned. Sometimes I add a visual element too. A doodle.
Visual Prayer: Visual prayer is the practice of taking a pen or some colored pencils and a piece of paper and coloring as you pray either aloud or silently. Often, I do this in a sketchbook or journal with no lines. It’s easy, and yes, it counts as journaling, too.
Prayer of Lament: This practice gives you the freedom to write what is on your heart without fear that someone will read it. Start on a fresh piece of paper or an index card. Freewrite your heart-cry and write big. Fill the page. Then turn it 90 degrees. Do it again, writing over your words. Make it messy. Pray. Turn it again. When you are finished, no one will be able to read your words. For more about this practice and how to finish it beautifully, check out #8 on this post.
#6. Memory journal.
So many ways to do this. I know some who use a pretty calendar and write one simple phrase for each day. To remember something simple or something special. There is also the popular one-line-a-day journals you can find. I gifted one of these to my son so he can capture memories of his children. You could also do this long-form in a regular notebook.
“There is, of course, always personal satisfaction of writing down one’s own experiences so they may be saved, caught and pinned under glass, hoarded against the winter of forgetfullness.” — Anne Morrow Lindbergh
#7. Doodle journal.
Okay, now I don’t have a separate doodle journal, but I doodle in my journals and planners and prayer pages all the time. Doodling is “to make spontaneous marks to help yourself think” (see this short Ted Talk to hear about the value of doodling), so yeah, this falls under journaling, too.
#8. Art journal.
This is a wonderful option if you are drawn to visual creation. Artists often use sketchbooks, for sure, but it’s beautiful to marry the sketches or mixed media with some words. Even if it’s just the location and the date. What about reflecting on what you just created? Why did you choose that particular subject? What’s in your heart as you create? Here’s a YouTuber who does this beautifully and teaches others how.
#9. Fill-in-the-blank journal.
Fill in the blank with any hobby: start a cooking journal. An exercise journal. Knitting. Quilting. Gardening. Reading. Movie-watching. Games. Puzzles. The possibilities are endless. Use it to track your progress, take notes on what you liked and disliked, and remember how you did what you did.
#10. Photo Memory Journaling
Take one of the hundreds of photos you have in boxes or on your phone and journal about the memory surrounding it.
- Start with one photo that sparks a memory of a particular moment.
- Let the memory come to you. Sit with it for a while—even a day or two. You could post the photo on your fridge or ask others in the photo about that time. Bring the memory back to life.
- Freewrite for five minutes on a scrap of paper—whatever comes to mind.
- Write one paragraph—your final draft to pair with the photo.
- Add it to your scrapbook or photobox along with the photograph.
I wrote more about preserving memories in this way—and by preserving your printed and digital photos in this post, Practical Ways to Preserve Family Memories for the Next Generation.
#11. Mixed journaling journal.
This is what I do. I journal in the pages of my planner, in a separate journal, and in a sketchbook. Sometimes I doodle, and sometimes I write stream-of-consciousness. I make lists and cross out things. Occasionally I’ll add a sticker, but mostly I just use colored pencils. The point is that there are no rules. I do what feels right for me that day or in that moment, and that’s how I journal consistently.
Endless Possibilities
Do you see a theme throughout this list? The possibilities are endless.
This list is not exhaustive. It’s just a start to get you thinking how you might journal. I hope this exploration into journaling has given you a new idea for your own creation, if you’ve longed to have some kind of journaling practice. It doesn’t need to be pages upon pages of words, if that’s not your thing.
Keep it simple so you can do one little thing each day. One. After all, the root of the word journal is the French word jour which means day. How lovely. Your practice can be something you turn to every day, even if it’s only for the three minutes it takes to jot down one gratitude, one word, one phrase, one doodle.
Christ-centered Practice
Even though only one of the listed practices above seems connected to our spiritual lives, I think all of these can be faith-filled practices which are wrapped in prayer. Years ago I read (and still revisit) How to Keep a Spiritual Journal by Ron Klug. He wrote this: “I consider the time spent writing in my journal as sabbath time–time of rest and solitude, a time to come apart to be with God and to reflect on the Word, to search for the will, and to record the insights I receive.”
I suppose making a list of the desserts you baked this past week or the movies you’ve seen may not seem to be a spiritual practice. But wait. It can be. It is. Because every breath we take, every bed we make, every word we write or conversation we have can be overflowing with the grace and peace that is ours in Christ Jesus.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23 ESV
Whatever you do.
Here’s how I do it. I begin my writing and journaling times with a simple prayer based on Psalm 19 as I invite the Lord to guide the work of my hands. Even if it’s just a list or a plan or a doodle. May it all be to His glory.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 ESV
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