How to Start a Journaling Practice You’ll Love
Do you have a regular journaling practice? And by regular, it doesn’t have to be daily.
I don’t write in my journal every day, but I love my journals. I work out of at least 2 journals at a time, as they each hold a separate purpose. I think of my journals as sacred spaces where I meet myself on the pages.
My clients often ask me how I made journaling a habit I enjoy. To be honest, it’s a necessity for me. As someone who has a very active mind, I need a place to hear myself and process what’s coming up for me.
But I do also have ways that I’ve made journaling enjoyable, so I’ll be sharing both practical and creative ideas to inspire you in your journaling practice. Notice which ones you feel drawn to, so you can journal your way.
10 Different Types of Journaling
Before I share the many types of journaling, pause and consider what you want journaling to do for you. Do you want it to be a diary that documents what happened that day? Or do you want it to help you process emotions or take action on your goals? Your purpose for journaling will help you choose what type of journal to start.
For me, I started writing in a diary when I was like 10 years old! Now my journals are a place to process emotions, express myself creatively, dream and manifest what I desire, and hold the wisdom that I receive. Since I combine several types of journaling, I use more than one journal. (You can read more about the benefits of journaling here.)
Now, let’s explore the many types of journaling:
Therapy Journal: If you are working with a therapist or counselor, designating a journal for therapy can help you decide what to focus on in therapy. You can also use your journal to process anything that comes up between and within therapy sessions. This is a great way to remember what you are working on. (Get pre-therapy journal prompt ideas here.)
Manifesting Journal: To me, manifesting is being in relationship to our dreams and goals. And it’s so much more than sending what we desire positive energy. We need to take and learn from aligned action. If this is important to you, you can explore and track this in your journal.
Mind Dump Journal: Literally write down everything that is on your mind as a way to get it out of your mind and onto paper. When you feel complete, I recommend asking a guided prompt, like “What support do I need today?” or “What would make me feel more satisfied by the end of the day?”
Wisdom Journal: You can record the wisdom you receive in your journal. This can include quotes from songs, people, or even what your inner wisdom whispers to you. And if you are into tarot or oracle cards, you can glue a photocopy of your card into your journal with the wisdom that speaks to you.
Creative Writing Journal: If you love to write poems and stories, you may want to keep them in a separate journal from where you process & dream. You could also keep ideas for future creative projects in this type of journal.
Mindfulness Journal: You can use your journal to practice coming back to the present moment. For those who find meditation challenging, it can help to write down what you notice externally through your senses or what you notice internally in that moment. For example, you could write down one word for what you feel in your body, mind, and emotions.
Gratitude Journal: Pause to notice what you are grateful for. Also, recognize and write down what’s going well and celebrate the progress you are making.
Dream Journal: If you are fascinated with your dreams, you can keep a dream journal by your bed. Record what you remember in the morning and work with a dream symbol dictionary after you wake.
Spiritual Practice Journal: Depending on your spiritual practice, you could use your journal to write out your prayers. Or to work with your astrological signs, moon, and seasonal cycles.
Art Journal: You also don’t need to just write in your journal. Depending on the type of paper you use, you could also paint, draw, and do mixed media. You can explore new techniques or work with emotions and life themes through your art journal. (Learn more about art and mixed media journaling with one of my art teachers, Effy Wild.)
Creative Journaling Ideas
You could have a different journal for every type of journaling you want to do. Or you can also combine different types of journaling in one place. My everyday journal serves several purposes.
My Everyday Journal
I made this journal from a composition notebook with mixed media. And I use it for multiple purposes: manifesting with the moon & seasons, recording wisdom & learning, making decisions, and processing emotions. I both write and glue things in it!
My Art Journal
I started this mixed media art journal in the fall of 2023. I used it to learn new techniques, unlearn perfectionism, and explore emotions and life themes. (For more inspiration, check out Effy Wild’s Book of Days course.)
Are you feeling inspired? I hope so! If not, I have a few more ideas to share with you.
Using Daily Journal Prompts
Some of you will love the freedom to write down whatever your heart desires. While others of you will need a little more structure to get into the process. So if you are unsure what to write about, it can help to use journal prompts.
Here are a few journal prompts you can use daily:
Write down what you notice in your body, mind, and emotions. (mindfulness)
What kind words do you need to hear from yourself today? (self-compassion)
What generous action do you need to give yourself today? (self-care)
What would you love to focus on today? (joyful satisfaction)
What have you done (or not done) that you are proud of today?
Journaling Tips for Developing a Practice You Love
Above all else, make your journaling practice something that is just for you. And do it your way, being flexible to try new things. While also having compassion for yourself if it doesn’t look or feel like you think it should.
I personally love to put headphones on and listen to instrumental music when I’m journaling. So combining journaling with something else I enjoy like tea or music, makes it more enjoyable. While other times, I grab my journal to process what’s going on in my relationships or within me. In these times, it’s less about enjoyment and more about finding clarity on my next steps.
If you start feeling overwhelmed by whatever you are feeling or thinking as you write, try switching to journal prompts that invite self-care and self-compassion (see my prompt suggestions above). And if you are working with a therapist and feel stuck in your journal, bring your journal with you to therapy for further exploration.
I hope these ideas and tips help you consider whether journaling is a practice you want to use in order to enhance creativity, self-care, or mental health. If you do decide to start (or change) what you use journaling for, I’d love to hear about it!
Which of these types of journals do you want to start using?
Marci Payne, MA, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor, Kansas City, Missouri
If you are looking for more guided journal prompts to help you come home to yourself, each of my courses includes journal inquiries. Visit my course page for more information on how journaling can aid self-care and healthy boundaries.