What Type of Journaling is Best for You?
- Emily M
- Feb 16, 2023
- 5 min read
Hey there lovelies! I know starting a new hobby can be daunting. When you hear the word 'journaling', what comes to mind? Before diving into this new world of creativity, I would have thought it meant keeping a diary. Now, that can be the case, but what it means is truly up to you. To begin, let's go over the three types of journaling we will be discussing!
Bullet Journaling | Creative Journaling | Mental Health Journaling |
As we discuss each one, think about which one sounds most appealing and beneficial to you. You can choose one type, or combine multiple to create the journaling experience that works best for you! It's about self-expression. It's about having a space for yourself to get whatever you're feeling onto paper, whether it's with words or pictures. Let's get started!
Bullet Journaling
This branch of journaling has to do with organization, planning, and tracking. It generally starts with a key or a legend. This includes various symbols that will be used throughout your journal, and what they mean. If you're stuck wondering what you might include here, don't be afraid to find inspiration online! I find myself browsing Pinterest for inspiration time and time again. A legend from my original journal is shown above.
Your bullet journal will consist of daily, weekly, and monthly planners that you can design yourself! It's easier to stay organized when your planner looks neat and is full of pretty colors, or whatever aesthetic you decide to give it. This is also where you will often use symbols you included in your journal's legend. If you're uneasy about designing your own planner pages, that's ok too. Fear not, there is an alternative. There are many online stationery shops that sell weekly and monthly planner stickers. All you have to do is stick them in your journal in whatever way you want! You're still being creative, but it's an easier stepping stone before you branch out into making your own. And if you prefer the way the planner stickers work? That's great too! Below is an example of what that may look like. The stickers I used came from one of my favorite stationary sites, Hubman and Chubgirl.
Bullet journals can also consist of lists, which can include:
To-do lists
Bucket lists
Travel lists
Skills you want to learn
Things/people you're grateful for
Books to read
Movies to see
Favorite songs
Birthday lists
Important Addresses/Phone Numbers
Self Care lists
Things that make you happy
The highlight of your day
I hope you enjoyed my list of lists. Remember, these are just examples to kickstart your creativity!
The final main component of bullet journals is the trackers. These are used to help organize your goals and how close you are to achieving them. It's helpful to have a physical representation of how close you are to your goal. This can help motivate you to achieve your goals and remind you of them in your busy life. Examples of these include:
Savings/spending trackers
Classes to take
Period tracker
Vehicle maintenance tracker
Water intake tracker
Weight tracker
Daily mood tracker
Exercise tracker
Habit tracker
Creative Journaling
This form of journaling is all about being you. Ever feel like you just need to express yourself, whether your emotions are positive or negative? Sometimes words just don't cut it. Trust me, I get it. Let loose. Buy stickers that make you happy. Find a color palette (or multiple!) that feels like you. If you don't know what feels most expressive to you yet, play around with it. For example, I have two aesthetics. One is a soft pastel aesthetic that I mainly use. I absolutely love cute colors and patterns. My other favorite aesthetic? It's the complete opposite. Think gothic and dark. There may be a huge dichotomy between the two but that's the beauty of journaling! It's ok if you don't even want to have an aesthetic, especially at first. The first half of my journal is incoherent when it comes to color and vibe.
In creative journaling, what you're making is called a spread. This refers to a page or couple of pages that you design and organize the way you want it. For example, I often make spreads about YouTubers, video games, characters, or shows I enjoy. Sometimes I write about the topic while other times I only use colors and pictures.
Really, there aren't any rules. Do what you're comfortable with, but don't be afraid to take risks! When I began journaling, I would compare my spreads to ones I found on the internet. It's ok to use those for inspiration, but don't compare! I realize that's way easier said than done, but remember you're creating what's in your journal for you, not anyone else.
Mental Health Journaling
This form of journaling is most like your traditional 'Dear Diary' type of writing. But not quite! I would argue that any type of journaling is beneficial to mental health since it fosters creativity, organization, and motivation. However, this type of journaling isn't centered around creativity. Rather, it's about introspection. You might've heard someone tell you before that writing down your feelings helps because it helps you sort out your emotions and ideas in a healthy way. That's very true! But that idea might be daunting. You might wonder how on earth you'd know where to begin. And how can you write down your feelings if you don't understand them? These are all great questions. For some people, it comes easier, but if writing about your feelings feels difficult, I've got you! There are many ways to narrow down your thoughts and cultivate introspection, which includes:
Gratitude - Write down five things you're grateful for every day and you'll find yourself appreciating the little things in life more!
Shadow Work - A quick google search will find you endless prompts for deep introspection to understand yourself better, which is what shadow work essentially is! For more information on shadow work, I recommend this YouTube video. This is a great tool for those struggling with mental health or simply don't know what to journal about.
Daily Affirmations - Every day, write an affirmation for the day. What's worrying or bothering you? What feels uncertain about the day? Reassure yourself by writing it down. It will help you believe it more, easing any anxiety you may feel. Again, if you're struggling to come up with these, Pinterest is a great place to browse.
Write whatever comes to mind! Often, if you just start writing, you'll discover things about yourself you didn't realize before.
Journaling is what you make of it. You can have multiple journals for different types of journaling or one where you combine multiple types! The first type I tried was bullet journaling. Slowly, however, I realized that I didn't have a need for many of the things I was putting in my journal. I began diving into the creative aspect of it more. I began experimenting with washi tape, stickers, and all sorts of markers, pens, and highlighters. The world of stationery was far more massive and intriguing than I had ever imagined. Currently, I do a mix of all three types of journaling. I have my creative journal, filled with spreads, mental health reminders, quotes, and whatever I want to add! I also have a second journal for mental health journaling, where I focus on gratitude and affirmations. So get out there and try something new! DM or email me with any questions or article requests, and I'll see you next time!
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