30 Easy Journaling Ideas For Beginners (+ PDF Printable Journal Prompts!)
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How many times have you tried to start a personal journal but didn’t know how? Or you’ve started it, but it quickly became such a mundane task that you gave up? Once, twice, or more?
Be honest.
I’ve started journaling many times before, mostly because I’ve heard about benefits of it. I was always concerned about privacy though, so I kept giving up after a couple of days.
Journaling stayed on my mind for years to come, and I became very passionate about it. That’s why when I could finally start a personal journal without worrying about privacy, I was already knowledgeable about all the types of journaling and how to approach it without overwhelming myself.
Even if you aren’t new to it, starting a new personal journal is intimidating.
The good news is that you can struggle with writing a journal at first, but you’ll most definitely get better with time. Create a habit, incorporate it into your morning or evening routine, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You got this!
Navigate to where you want to go:
Why is it worth to start a journal? 3 amazing benefits journaling can offer.
Helps to achieve your goals
There are many different types of journals and journaling practices and some of them are very helpful in achieving your goals. Take a fitness journal as an example. It gives you the overview of your current situation, helps to create a fitness plan tailored to your needs, and tracks your progress. You can then look back at your previous entries and see how much progress you’ve made and what’s been working out best for you.
Reduces stress and anxiety
Journaling is great for mental health and helps to reduce anxiety and stress. When negative thoughts keep spiraling inside your head, it’s difficult to get a clear vision of the situation. That’s why we often think that our situation is much worse than it really is. Jotting down all your thoughts, limiting beliefs, and emotions can release negative thoughts bottled up inside of you. Journaling can also help you dig deeper and figure out what’s the root of the problem is or come up with a solution.
Improves writing skills
If you’ve been journaling before, you might’ve noticed that your first entries differ from the last one immensely. Practice makes perfect, and in this case, it most definitely improves your writing skills. When you express your thoughts and ideas, your communication skills might also become better. I’ve noticed that my English improved a lot once I started writing regularly.
Different types of personal journals
If you’re anything like me, then your first thought when someone mentions a journal is a typical, a bit cringey, “Dear diary” type of thing that you might remember from your childhood. Journaling is way more than that, and can be used to record your memories, feelings, deal with stressful situation, clear your mind… The list goes on and on. I have just two personal journals – gratitude journal I use twice a day, and one for all brain dumps, digging deeper into my thoughts or problems, and stuff like that.
Most common types of personal journals:
- five minute journal
- gratitude journal
- shadow work journal
- fitness journal
- food journal
- art journal
- reading journal
- travel journal
- pregnancy journal
That are only a few examples of types of personal journals. You can implement all kinds of journaling types into one journal or keep them separate. The choice is yours. The most important things is to remember that your journal is a non-judgement zone and you can do with it whatever you want. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
When is the best time for journaling?
The best time for journaling is when you’re not pressured for time and you can sit in peace without being constantly interrupted. I’ve noticed that my entries are more meaningful and help me figure things out when I can sit on my own in the evening and fully relax. Writing first things in the morning can give you a better start for the day, while journaling the last thing in the evening is good for recapping your day and clearing your mind. Everyone is different, hence why it’s so difficult to say what’s the best time for journaling is.
According to this Reddit poll, the best time for journaling for most people is in the evening.
Try to journal at different times of the day and see what works for you. I’ve been journaling twice a day for almost 4 months now, and what I noticed is that writing first thing in the morning is not possible at all. My first entry is anytime between 11am-12pm and that’s okay.
Journaling as the last thing of the day also isn’t working out usually, because it’s the last thing I’d like to do when I’m exhausted. I’ve been trying to find my perfect solution, but in the meantime, I try to stick up to my current journaling practice and keep doing it twice a day. I’m currently on the hunt for a simple guided journal that will be quick & easy to fill out in the morning and won’t make me feel irritated with its questions. It looks like I might create my own soon!
Is journaling right for you?
Yes! I believe everyone can benefit from journaling. It has many benefits that can improve more than just your mental health. It’s one of the best tools to deal with emotions and learn more about yourself. Writing can also improve your sleep, boost your immune system, and even help heal faster! If you’re not sure whether journaling is right for you or now, try it out yourself. Take a pen, a piece of paper, and sit somewhere fairly quiet. Do it for a week and see if it’s a right fit for yourself.
How to start journaling in 5 easy steps
- Choose a pen and notebook you’re going to write in.
- Choose a topic (or prompt) you’re going to write about.
- Write 3 things you’re grateful for.
- Start writing and don’t edit on the go.
- Review your entry and add additional thoughts if you want to.
30 easy journal writing prompts for beginners
It’s difficult to start journaling, so don’t put any pressure on yourself. Write as much or as little as you’d like and remember that writing shorter entries doesn’t mean they’re any less useful or informative. Give as exhaustive replies to prompts as you want, but remember to pay attention to your emotions and make a note of how you feel when journaling. Don’t forget to include any emotions you don’t recognize or have troubles naming them too.
30 easy journaling ideas for beginners:
- Best thing that happened to me today is…
- List 10 things you’re grateful for.
- What one kind thing for someone else can you do today and how can you make it happen?
- What does the perfect day look like to you?
- Right now, I feel…
- What are you excited about right now?
- What made you smile last week?
- If you knew it was impossible to fail, what would you try to do?
- What’s your goal and why? How do you want to achieve it?
- Last week I learned…
- What does your dream life look like?
- Is there anything bothering you right now? If so, what is it?
- What are the three small goals you want to achieve today?
- What calms you down when you’re feeling anxious?
- What are your goals for this week? This year?
- I love about myself that…
- Describe the closest people in your life and what you love about them.
- What’s your love language and what does love mean to you?
- My favorite place in the world is… because…
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Can you describe how your daily life will look like?
- What do you want to change about yourself?
- What does happiness mean to you?
- Brain dump some creative ideas or projects.
- Write about your happiest memories.
- Write a letter to your teenage self.
- Did something (or someone) empower you today?
- I am dreading…
- Name 5 things you are doing well currently.
- What are the five personality traits that you are most thankful for?
- Journaling makes me feel…
What journaling prompts do you like the most? Let me know in the comment section down below!
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