28 Creative Ways to Journal

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Journaling can be a great way to improve self-awareness, manage emotions, and track progress toward personal goals. It’s also a meaningful way to record and preserve important information that could be forgotten.

If you have wanted to start writing in a journal or diary but have never done it before, you may be facing “analysis paralysis”. That’s when you analyze the problem or find additional problems to the original problems until you are unable to make a decision because you feel overwhelmed.

Have no fear! We’re going to talk this out and give you some real journal options to start with. Here are some different creative approaches to consider:

Creative Approaches to Journal Writing

Stream of consciousness writing: This involves writing down whatever comes to mind without worrying about grammar or punctuation. It can be a great way to get started with journaling, as it allows the writer to express their thoughts and feelings freely.
Gratitude journaling: This involves writing down things that the writer is grateful for each day. It can help promote a positive mindset and increase feelings of happiness and contentment. I’ve reviewed some excellent gratitude journals here.
Prompt-based journaling: This involves using prompts to inspire writing on a specific topic or theme. There are many journals available with pre-made prompts, or the writer can create their own.
Art journaling: This involves combining writing with art, such as drawing, painting, or collage. It can be a great way to express emotions and thoughts in a creative way.
Dream journaling: This involves writing down dreams and interpreting their meaning. It can be a great way to gain insights into the subconscious mind.
Bullet journaling: This involves creating a system of bullet points to track tasks, goals, and habits. It can help the writer stay organized and focused.
Nature journaling: This involves writing about nature and the environment. It can include observations, sketches, and reflections on the natural world. It can be a great way to connect with nature, improve observation skills, and gain insight into one’s relationship with the environment.
Music journaling: This involves writing about music, including favorite songs, lyrics, and musical experiences. It can be a great way to reflect on emotions, memories, and personal growth through the lens of music.
Mind mapping journaling: This involves creating mind maps, which are visual diagrams that capture ideas, thoughts, and connections. It can be a great way to organize thoughts, brainstorm ideas, and explore connections between different topics.
Collage journaling: This involves creating collages using magazine clippings, photographs, and other materials. It can be a great way to express creativity, explore different themes and emotions, and create a visual record of personal growth.
Dreamboard journaling: This involves creating a vision board using images, words, and other visual elements that represent the writer’s goals, aspirations, and desires. It can be a great way to clarify goals, visualize success, and stay motivated.
Recipe journaling: This involves writing down recipes and food-related memories. It can be a great way to explore personal tastes, document cultural traditions, and create a personal cookbook.
Letter journaling: This involves writing letters to oneself or to others. It can be a great way to express emotions, communicate thoughts, and gain perspective on different situations.
Fitness journaling: This involves tracking fitness goals, progress, and experiences. It can include workout routines, nutrition plans, and personal reflections on physical activity. It can be a great way to stay motivated, track progress, and gain insight into one’s relationship with the body.
Poetry journaling: This involves writing poetry and exploring different poetic forms and techniques. It can be a great way to express emotions, experiment with language, and develop a unique voice.
Character journaling: This involves writing from the perspective of a fictional character. It can be a great way to explore different personalities, develop empathy, and gain insights into human behavior.
Memory journaling: This involves writing down personal memories, stories, and experiences. It can be a great way to reflect on past events, document personal history, and gain insights into one’s life.
Travelogue journaling: This involves writing about travel experiences, including observations, impressions, and cultural insights. It can be a great way to explore different cultures, reflect on personal growth, and create a lasting record of travel experiences.
Meditation journaling: This involves writing down thoughts and insights gained during meditation or mindfulness practices. It can be a great way to deepen meditation practice, gain insight into the mind, and cultivate self-awareness.
Social justice journaling: This involves writing about social justice issues, including personal experiences, activism, and reflections on injustice. It can be a great way to explore personal values, develop critical thinking skills, and engage with important social issues.
Art journaling: This involves incorporating art and drawing into one’s journaling practice. It can be a great way to express creativity, explore emotions, and visually document personal growth.
Dream journaling: This involves writing down dreams and exploring their meanings and symbolism. It can be a great way to gain insight into the subconscious mind, explore personal fears and desires, and develop intuition.
Reading journaling: This involves writing down thoughts and reflections on books one has read. It can be a great way to deepen understanding of literature, explore personal beliefs and values, and connect with other readers.
Budget journaling: This involves tracking personal finances and writing down reflections on money and spending habits. It can be a great way to develop financial literacy, set financial goals, and cultivate a healthy relationship with money.
Career journaling: This involves writing down thoughts and reflections on one’s career, including job satisfaction, professional goals, and challenges faced. It can be a great way to gain insight into one’s professional aspirations, track progress, and develop a sense of purpose.
Photography journaling: This involves incorporating photography into one’s journaling practice, including capturing images of personal experiences, places, and people. It can be a great way to visually document personal growth and explore different perspectives.
Self-care journaling: This involves writing down reflections on self-care practices, including activities that promote mental and physical well-being. It can be a great way to prioritize self-care, develop healthy habits, and cultivate self-compassion.
Philosophy journaling: This involves writing down thoughts and reflections on philosophical concepts and questions. It can be a great way to explore personal beliefs, develop critical thinking skills, and deepen understanding of philosophical concepts.

Send Me Feedback

If you’re already one or more of these styles, tell me about it in the comments below, or hit me up on Twitter.

If you try on of these approaches after reading this page, I really want to hear about it! Make sure to let me know which approach you try and what you think of it.

Journal Writing FAQ

What style of journal writing should I try first?

Ask yourself some simple questions to help yourself decide which approach to take first. When you imagine yourself journaling, what does it look like? Are you trying to preserve memories? Are you studying important material and/or piecing complex ideas together? Are you unburdening yourself of all the mental clutter? Are you preparing characters for a book or screenplay? Are you taking notes that could inform your next project or purchase? Ask yourself these questions and see what other questions come to mind immediately after. And hey, you could always write down your Q&A at the front of your first journal!

What do you do with stream of conscious writing after it’s written?

Some people really enjoy stream of conscious writing because it declutters the mind and allows space for more structured thoughts to flow afterward. Others prefer this method because it makes an excellent first step in developing a daily writing habit. Some professional writers begin their daily routine with stream of conscious and continue with more structured writing as the cobwebs clear.

Should I keep different journals for different types of writing?

If you feel compelled to write in 1-3 different writi consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

How much time should I spend writing in my journal each day?

However long or short it takes to communicate something important to you. Whether that’s one sentence or fifteen pages. If you want to make journaling a priority, the important thing is showing up every day and writing SOMETHING.

How can you overcome writer’s block?

Overcome writer’s block by writing something that doesn’t come from your own mind first. Read a chapter or even a page in a book and write a couple quotes from that section. Then analyze those quotes and write your own responses to them. Books and quotes found online are excellent prompts for writing.