While it can be difficult to find the time to make journaling a habit, the benefits are worth the effort. I have tried for years to get into a journaling habit. I own so so many journals – cheaper cute ones, expensive leather ones, and everything in between – and yet, it wasn’t sticking. Seeing blank pages made it difficult for me to even know where I wanted to begin.
So what changed and made me do it on a more regular basis? Well, as a planner enthusiast, I have also tried to keep up with doing planner stuff on a regular basis. I’ve been able to do this off and on, but once I combined journaling and planning? It lasted! I got my first Hobonici with a gift card and that was in the Weeks size. After that I chose to try the HON in A6, and then the Cousin.
Sometimes, the simplest moments hold the deepest wisdom. Let your thoughts settle, and clarity will find you.
Do you need something this expensive to journal? Absolutely not! What made me like it is that I can list my work schedule in the front, track my hobbies or health, and journal in the back. I also enjoy adding stickers on the pages. I’ve experimented with how I’ve used it. I do some minor journaling in the Cousin, track mental health in the Weeks, and journal in the HON.
That said, for 2026, I want to only use two journals/planners. I’m trying a Wonderland 222 for the first time, and sticking with a Hobonici Weeks for gratitude, health, and fitness. I also want to use a plain Hobonici for journaling. However, I may also have broken the fear of the blank first pages of a journal.
So how does journaling help? For me, it helps me get through an emotionally tough job, through dealing with chronic illness, and lets some of the numerous thoughts out of my head. I’ve noticed that I have been more in touch with my emotions, and I am not afraid of anyone reading it, so that helps me to put more personal things in it – this helps get those concerns or worries off of my chest.
You can begin your journaling habit several ways:
- find a prompt list
- ask yourself the same question daily to see how the answer changes
- free-write and let whatever you end up writing be the entry
- make the page fun or cute – you can draw, use washi tape, stickers, whatever makes you happy to do the habit
- document what you did that day or how it made you feel
- set up a cozy space that makes you want to journal – include a candle if you’d like, and settle in
Journaling for stress relief – let those heavy thoughts out
Even if you don’t get into a regular habit of journaling, just doing it sporadically when you have a lot of thoughts or emotions to work through can be a huge relief. Just getting the thoughts out of your system can be like a weight being lifted off of your shoulders. Sometimes, the simplest moments hold the deepest wisdom. Let your thoughts settle, and clarity will find you.
If the journal has some heavy topics in it, one very symbolic way to rid yourself of them is to use a cheap journal, let it all out, and (safely) burn it when you finish it.
There are so many ways to journal, and experimenting can be so fun and a great way to exercise your creativity.
Do you have a specific way you like to journal? Do you have any other creative habits that relieve stress for you? Let me know!
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