Get Started Journaling: 10 Types of Journals
Ten Types of Journals You Can Create
Maybe you realize that getting your thoughts onto paper helps you feel less chaotic. Or maybe you are craving an outlet, a way to process the thoughts that live in your head and keep you up at night. Surely you realize that devoting a little time everyday to yourself, to things that make you happy and fulfilled, isn't selfish - it's self-care. No matter what your motivation, you have finally realized that you should be journaling. But how? When? What goes in your journal?
The good news is there is no wrong answer when you start a writing habit. Your journal is for you. It should work for you and ease anxiety, not cause more. So let's look at a few basics. What kind of journal do you want? There are many options, let's look at a few common types of journals.
1. Bullet Journals
This type of journal is useful for anyone who has lots of to-do lists, loves using a pen and paper, and who enjoys goal tracking. Your bullet journal should have a table of contents or index that you create as you add to the journal so you can find things. You’ll use symbols, colors, and lines to make your bullet journal. You should be able to understand at a glance what’s on the page. Bullet journals can be colorful and aesthetic, but they can just as easily be effective using one pen, no washi tape, and no drawings (but what fun is that)!
The main point of a bullet journal is function. I highly encourage you to check out information from the founder of the bullet journal method who explains the purpose and steps to get started. To get the most from your bullet journal, you will want to get in the habit of spending a few minutes each morning and a few minutes each evening to review your accomplishments and plan your daily tasks.
2. Vision Journals
If you are familiar with vision boards, then you will understand a vision journal. It's a journal that helps you identify your goals and the steps that are needed to reach those goals. You can use written words, add pictures from magazines, or even draw or doodle. You want to put thought into what you want from your life and what you want your life to look like in a month, a year, or even 10 years down the road. By starting with a clear picture of what your ideal life looks like, you can then identify the goals you need to set for yourself to obtain that desired life.
One approach is to set up your vision journal by setting one goal per page. Take the time to really think about the steps involved in reaching your goal and represent that plan visually however works for you. Periodically review your progress towards each goal and make sure you record the dates when you ultimately accomplish each goal.
3. Line a Day Journals
Basically this journal is what it’s called – you write down only one line a day. You will simply write in the journal a short line about what you did that day. It should be only a sentence or two at the most, and should not take up that much space in your journal. Some people like using a calendar for this, but a regular notebook will work just as well. Often times, these journals are kept for multiple years so that you can see your life changing throughout the years. These jourals can also be helpful to identify patterns you may not otherwise notice without keeping a daily note. For example, you may see that in spring each you, you feel anxious or you may see that early each week is when you make decisions more confidently than on the weekends.
4. Classic Journal
This is simply a diary, and you can write whatever you want in it every day. It can be long, short, or you can skip days if you want to. The classic journal is just like the diary that you maybe kept as a child. You write whatever you want in it daily. This is the easiest journal to start because there are no rules, you just write. But sometimes this can also present challenges when you feel you have nothing to write about. Consider using writing prompts if this happens to you.
5. Prayer Journal
This is a particular type of journal where you essentially write like your diary or journal is your higher power. Write God your prayers instead of saying them. Write them down so you remember them and can look back on them. A variation of a prayer journal is to use a journal to do bible study. Write down parts of the Bible that you want to learn more about or are having trouble understanding. Sometimes writing down your questions helps you process the information in new ways.
6. Dream Journal
Some people really like tracking their dreams because they believe that dreams provide signs for life. If you want to track your dreams, you have to train yourself to write in your dream journal every morning while you still remember the dream. If you intend on researching the meaning of your dreams, be sure that is a separate activity and that you still immediately write down what happens in your dreams when you wake. Don't assume you will recall the details as vividly later.
7. Food Journal
Write down everything you eat every day. Some people like to include the calorie contents and so forth. It can also help to write down why you eat, how you felt about eating, and try to process if there is an emotional element to your eating habits. This can be helpful for weight loss.
8. Travel Journal
A wonderful way to remember your travels is to keep a travel journal. Some people like making one for each trip. You can write your thoughts in your journal, but you can also attach tickets, pics, and memories. You can use your travel journal to plan your upcoming travel, making packing lists, record hotel reservation numbers, keep notes about local activities you want to check out, etc... A travel journal can serve as a planning journal and as a method of keeping memories.
9. Gratitude Journal
This is just what it sounds like. It’s a journal where you record each day what you’re thankful for and grateful for. You should focus only on positives. The belief is that the more you focus on the positives in your life, the easier it is for you to see positives. Gratitude journals have been helpful in aiding recovery from depression. Gratitude journals also encourage you to be less focused on yourself and more focused on those around you. You may find yourself staging opportunities to improve someone else's day, just to have more to write in your gratitude journal. Overall gratitude journals are a great way to shift your mindset to a more positive view.
10. Project Journal
This is a handy journal to keep, especially for anyone who regularly works on projects. Keeping a journal of each project you work on that records actions taken, results, and data, will help you improve every project. A project journal can help you plan and execute your project in a more thoughtful way. It serves as a place to plan and to make decisions. It’s also a great way to store your thoughts for the future in a more organized and useful manner.
So there you have ten different types of journals. As you have learned, there are many ways to use journalling to improve your life. If you are interested in expanding your writing habits, pick one type of journal and give it a try. Check out my other articles in this series as we explore journaling in depth!
