Journaling is not one thing. It is a practice that has taken countless forms across cultures and centuries — from the meditative morning pages of a writer to the collaged scrapbook pages of a junk journaler. If you've ever tried journaling and felt it wasn't for you, chances are you simply hadn't found your form yet. Here's a guide to the many ways people journal, and how to discover which one fits your life.
1. Free Writing (Stream of Consciousness)
The most unstructured form of journaling, free writing asks only one thing of you: keep the pen moving. You write whatever comes to mind, without editing, without judgment, without stopping. Popularized by Julia Cameron's concept of "morning pages," this style is especially powerful for clearing mental clutter, unlocking creativity, and processing emotion. There are no rules — only the page and whatever needs to come out.
Best for: Writers, overthinkers, anyone feeling creatively blocked or emotionally overwhelmed.
2. Gratitude Journaling
A gratitude journal is exactly what it sounds like: a daily or weekly practice of writing down what you're thankful for. It sounds simple, but the research behind it is compelling. Regularly noting what is good in your life rewires attention toward the positive, reduces anxiety, and builds resilience over time. Many people keep their gratitude journal brief — three things, written each morning or evening.
Best for: Anyone looking to shift their mindset, reduce stress, or build a sustainable daily practice.
3. Bullet Journaling
Created by designer Ryder Carroll, bullet journaling (or BuJo) is a hybrid system that combines planning, task management, and reflection in a single notebook. It uses a simple notation system — bullets, dashes, and symbols — to log tasks, events, and notes. Over time it has evolved into a highly creative practice, with many journalers adding hand-lettering, illustrations, and elaborate layouts.
Best for: Planners, list-makers, and anyone who wants their journal to double as a productivity system.
4. Art Journaling
Art journaling blurs the line between journal and sketchbook. Pages might include watercolour washes, ink drawings, collage, stamping, or mixed media alongside written words — or no words at all. It is a deeply personal and expressive form that prioritizes feeling over technique. You don't need to be an artist to art journal; you only need to be willing to play.
Best for: Visual thinkers, artists, and anyone who finds words alone insufficient to express what they're feeling.
5. Junk Journaling
Junk journaling is one of the most joyful and tactile forms of the practice — and one of the fastest growing. At its heart, it's the art of repurposing "junk": old book pages, vintage ephemera, packaging, fabric scraps, postage stamps, tea bags, washi tape, and anything else that catches your eye. These materials are layered, stitched, glued, and folded into handmade journals or altered books that become deeply personal objects.
Junk journaling sits at the intersection of sustainability, nostalgia, and creativity. Every page is unique. Every material carries a history. The result is less a record of your thoughts and more a tactile autobiography — a beautiful, textured object that could not have been made by anyone else.
Best for: Crafters, collectors, vintage lovers, and anyone who finds meaning in making things by hand.
6. Travel Journaling
A travel journal captures the sensory richness of being somewhere new — the smell of a market, the texture of a cobblestone street, the exact quality of light on a particular afternoon. It might include ticket stubs, pressed flowers, hand-drawn maps, or postcards alongside written observations. Travel journals are among the most treasured keepsakes a person can create.
Best for: Travellers, adventurers, and anyone who wants to remember not just where they went, but how it felt.
7. Reflective or Therapeutic Journaling
This form of journaling is more intentional and inward-facing. It often involves responding to prompts, exploring a specific emotion or experience, or tracking patterns in mood and behaviour over time. Many therapists recommend it as a complement to therapy. It requires a willingness to be honest with yourself — and a journal that feels safe enough to hold that honesty.
Best for: Anyone working through a difficult period, in therapy, or committed to deep self-understanding.
The Journal You Choose Matters
Whatever form of journaling calls to you, the physical journal you write in shapes the experience. A junk journaler needs pages that can hold glue and layers. A bullet journaler wants dot-grid pages and a sturdy cover. A free writer wants something that opens flat and invites the hand to move.
Our handcrafted journals are designed for people who take their practice seriously — made with materials that age beautifully and pages that welcome whatever you bring to them.
- Leather Journal – Vintage — a classic choice for free writing, reflection, and travel journaling
- Leather Journal – Nautical Style — a distinctive companion for the adventurous journaler
- Vegan Leather Journal – Midori Style — a refillable format beloved by bullet journalers and junk journalers alike
- Tree of Life Journal – Rusty — rich in texture and character, perfect for art journaling
Find the form that fits. Then find the journal that holds it.
