12 Fun & Creative Things You’ll Love To Write About In Your Journal!
Last Updated on 01/02/2023 by Nicky
12 Creative Things To Write In Your Journal
Writing in a journal is a great way to express yourself and keep your crazy thoughts organized. It can help you feel more in control, be less stressed, and improve your mental health.
Some people (raises hand) also find it helpful when they are dealing with difficult emotions or thinking about big life changes.
However, many people struggle to know what to write about in their journals. To help you out, I’ll be sharing some ideas of things to write in your journal.
Journaling is a popular form of expressing creativity but they also are used by many people in meditation and self-care.
Keeping a journal notebook allows you to connect to yourself and look back on your memories, and to create new ones along the way. A journal can be used as so much more than a traditional diary as well.
Your journal is unique to you and can even be a big mix of things that bring you joy, help you get to know yourself, and allow you to see how far you have come.
So if you’re in search of some journaling ideas for your new creative endeavor then you’ve come to the write right place (yes that was cheesy but I couldn’t resist!).
Let’s start writing!
Oh yeah, and this post contains affiliate links to great products that will help you in your health journey. I will get a commission if you decide to buy from these links but I’m only recommending products that I feel confident about.
Want to read 12 Creative Journaling Ideas later? Save it to one of your journaling Pinterest boards!
– Benefits of Creating A Journaling Habit
There are a lot of benefits to developing a journaling habit, and some are more immediate than others. Here are some examples of how journaling can benefit your daily life:
– You might feel less anxious or stressed after writing in your journal.
– Writing prompts help you to have a better understanding of yourself and what is going on in your life.
– Journal prompts help you to get in touch with the past by remembering important moments from the past, and they can help you avoid repeating mistakes that you made in the past.
– Writing in your daily journal can help you think about things before they happen so that when something happens, you’re prepared for it (a preemptive strike of sorts).
Want to read 12 Things To Write In Your Journal later? Save it to one of your journaling Pinterest boards!
12 Creative Things To Write In Your Journal
1. How someone made you feel
Does anyone else sometimes have trouble figuring out what is bothering them?
Or maybe someone said something hurtful to you but you don’t know why it was painful?
These things happen to me all the time.
Journaling and expressing my feelings through writing usually helps me understand what’s really going on.
And even when it doesn’t give me complete clarity, it at least takes the thoughts out of my head so I don’t have to carry them around anymore.
2. Keep track of your progress toward a goal
Setting and achieving your goals is a huge part of personal development. I love being able to set goals and see progress happening right in front of my eyes.
Uber motivating.
Your journal is a great place to track the progress of your goals over time.
From fitness goals to learning a new language or writing that novel you have always dreamed of, tracking your progress can be very motivating in all aspects of life.
Just create a new journal entry each time you want to make an update about the goal you’ve set.
3. Have fun with bullet journaling
Making the most of your journal can be as simple as using a bullet journal for planning or tracking the goals that enrich your life.
There are plenty of creative ways to use it, from being prepped each night before bed by creating a schedule or using habit trackers to check and see how many hours you’ve spent working on specific projects.
Stickers, coloring, and writing in your journals will make them into personalized works of art! They help create beautiful bullet journal spreads!
I may be slightly addicted to fine-tip pens and markers because of my love for journaling.
These are my favorite pens:
4. Start keeping lists
Lists are an amazing thing that can help you think, plan, and appreciate your life in new and amazing ways.
One creative way to use your journal is to keep a bunch of lists as I talk about in this post.
From your bucket list to a list of your favorite books, you can use this idea to really get to know yourself on a deeper level than you ever imagined before.
Here are a few simple list ideas:
- Places I want to go
- My favorite books
- Songs that speak to me
- People that have left a mark on my life
- Things I am proud of myself for
5. Create a dream journal
Dream journals are an immensely helpful tool for achieving greater clarity and creativity.
A dream journal allows you to preserve important storytelling details that often escape, while the story is still fresh from our subconscious minds.
Record your dreams right after waking up, as these vivid memories will escape quickly at any time during the day when we’re immersed in busyness; writing down things like emotions can be very telling about your state of mind.
6. Write letters to loved ones
When we are long gone, our journals will be left behind.
A heartfelt way to make use of your journal is to write letters to your loved ones that will be found when you are no longer here with them.
This can be one big journal for everyone to pass around or you could work on smaller journals for each person to hold close to them one day.
This is the perfect place to write your hopes, your dreams, and the things they have done that make you proud of them.
Want to read 12 Things To Write In Your Journal later? Save it to one of your journaling Pinterest boards!
7. Write Scriptural affirmations
Positive scriptural affirmations are an amazing way to experience God’s love.
Filling a journal full of Christian and biblical affirmations that remind you that you are valuable and loved, can go a long way to helping give yourself a mental boost and fill more gratitude towards God.
One idea is to write about a situation that is bothering you and then write a biblical affirmation that can help you view that situation in a new light.
Maybe you’re having a hard time at work with your boss and you don’t know if you can go on for another day.
A biblical affirmation that you can say throughout the day is that you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. Write this affirmation in your journal and explain what’s going on at work.
Write down positive ways you can react when negative situations at work arise.
I’m not saying that this will make things at work better but it’s more about changing your attitude which is the only thing in the situation that you can control.
8. Save your favorite recipes.
Save a section of your journal for some of your favorite recipes. These might be new recipes or they may be cherished family recipes.
You can even write down some of the memories that go along with those recipes like that time someone put eggshells in the pound cake and didn’t tell anyone because, you know…maybe everyone wouldn’t notice (yes that actually happened)!
9. Grief Journal
When you lose someone you love whether that be through death, divorce, or the end of a relationship you may not know how to process all of the emotions swirling inside of you.
Starting a grief journal is a powerful way to work through those raw and tender emotions that I promise you will not go away if you ignore them.
You can find grief journal writing prompts online if you are struggling to know what to say.
Want to read 12 Things To Write In Your Journal later? Save it to one of your journaling Pinterest boards!
The Bloom & Grow Prayer Journal is Available In HAYC Store
10. Prayer Journal
Turn that notebook into a prayer journal!
I love going back and reading old prayers that I wrote months or years ago. I use both a digital prayer journal and a printable prayer journal like the one pictured above.
A prayer journal allows you to be able to go back and see how God answered your prayer without you even realizing it.
Now, you can thank Him for getting you through that time in your life! And speaking of gratitude… Or you can buy a prayer journal from Amazon like this prayer journal.
11. Work on your own gratitude journal.
Writing down what you are thankful for is a wonderful way to change your mindset on a rough day.
When you are having a hard time finding joy on a particular day, look back at your gratitude journal to see all the things you have to be thankful for.
Make this a daily habit to truly change your life.
12. Doodles
Did you doodle on your homework as a kid?
I used to all the time! Luckily this is not just for children. Adults can reclaim this childhood activity for their own.
It’s such a creative way to relax and calm stress. Use your journal as a place to mindlessly doodle to help you relax after a rough day at work.
Or if you want to go even further, you can create an art journal with doodles, drawings, and paintings of all types!
The possibilities with journaling truly are endless and I love seeing what everyone comes up with when they tap into their creativity.
Even if you don’t feel like you’re the best at drawing, a journal is a perfect spot to practice all of your skills. You could even practice lettering, calligraphy, etc (I LOVE practicing my handwriting).
All of these creative outlets are wonderful for improving your mental health! Check out this doodle journal here!
– What Creative Things Will You Write In Your Journal?
Record an interesting quote, keep track of books you’ve read, or just make a scrapbook. You’ll find that keeping a journal is great fun and it has lots of benefits.
I’d love to hear more ideas! Leave a comment below letting us know the most creative ways you use your journals. Who knows, you may inspire someone! 🙂
– Check out our free Renew Your Mind Journaling Bundle!
If you’re someone who struggles with your mental health, I have a free journaling bundle to help you express your worries and fears through writing.
Just enter your email address below and the link to the Renew Your Mind journaling bundle will be sent to your inbox!
More HAYC Posts About Journaling For Mental Health
25+ Beautiful Adult Coloring Pages Christian Women Can Use To Boost Their Mental Health
13 Most Powerful Bible Verses For The Girl Struggling With Anxiety Attacks
9 Creative Ways To Jazz Up Your Boring Journals & Boost Your Mental Health!
20+ Creative Lists To Write In A Journal When You’re Bored Or Anxious
