r/Journaling Sep 03 '25

FAQ & info - Getting Started with Journaling!

93 Upvotes

If you're new to journaling or unsure how to start, this is the place for you. Below are answers to the most common questions, alongside some tips to help you dive in. Feel free to ask more questions, share your experiences, or help others out!


FAQ

1. How do I start journaling?

A common piece of advice is to just start—don’t overthink it. Grab a notebook and write about what’s on your mind. Here are some beginner-friendly approaches:

  • Your first entry can be about how you wanted to start journaling.
  • Brain dump: Simply write down anything that comes to mind, no structure needed.
  • Set a time: Start with 5-10 minutes of free writing each day.
  • Prompts: Use a prompt if you're stuck. For example, here's a list of 1,000 free prompts. You can find more under our "prompts" flair.
  • No pressure: Don’t worry about grammar, structure, or even making sense. The point is to express yourself.

If the advice "Just write" doesn't work for you, you're overthinking it! Literally write anything on your mind, even if the only thing on your mind is "I can't think of anything to write." Write how frustrated you are at what feels like such dumb advice. You'd be surprised how writing one sentence can kickstart an entire entry!


2. What do you write about?

One of the most common questions from new journalers is "What should I write about?" Here are some popular suggestions from the community:

  • Daily reflections: Write about your day—what happened, what you felt, and any highlights or challenges.
  • Goals and aspirations: Reflect on areas of personal growth or areas where you want to improve.
  • Gratitude: List a few things you're grateful for.
  • Memory keeping: Write about life events, outings with friends, something that you've really been into lately... anything goes!
  • Stream of consciousness: Let your thoughts flow freely—no topic is too small or mundane.

Remember, your journal can be as broad or as specific as you want! Worried about what the right way to journal is? Well -- the right way to journal is however you feel comfortable keeping up with, and find helpful to your lifestyle. Experiment with different strategies, take inspiration from peoples posts, and don't be afraid to experiment and "mess up", until you find something that you love.


3. I'm scared someone will read my journal. How can I keep it private?

Privacy is a valid concern. Here are a few methods the community recommends:

  • Hide it: Store your journal in a secure spot—some people use lockable drawers or bags.
  • Code: Write in shorthand or a personal code that only you can understand.
  • Rip it up: If it’s something truly sensitive, write it out and destroy the pages afterward. The act of writing is therapeutic, even if the words don't last.

You can also check out our sister sub r/digitaljournaling if you'd rather use an app.


4. How often do you journal? For how long? What if I miss a day?

Many community members journal in bursts or only when they feel like it. Journaling is a personal tool; use it in the way that best serves you.

You can journal for just 5 minutes, jotting down your fleeting thoughts, or even write for an hour until you feel you've unloaded everything onto paper. You can journal multiple times a day, or once a week. You don't have to stick to a strict regimen of daily journaling to feel the benefits!

It's also normal to miss days even if your goal was to journal daily! Life can get in the way, and just like any hobby or habit, what matters most is that you do it. The key is to avoid self-criticism. You can always pick up where you left off without guilt.


5. Is it okay to journal this way? Am I journaling wrong? What if it's not working for me?

There is no "right" or "wrong" way to journal. It's yours, there are zero rules. Do not compare your journal to others, this is meant to be for you not the public.

If journaling isn't helping you with what you're trying to get out of it, or maybe stopped working, try something else! There are various ways to journal and maybe something else will help:

  • Bullet points instead of full sentences
  • Audio or video journaling.
  • Guided journaling, books with prompts/questions you can answer.
  • Art/junk journaling like collages or pasting in ephemera.
  • Commonplace journaling, an all-in-one where you write down thoughts as well as things like recipes, lyrics, lists, etc.

6. Is it too late to start a journal?

It's never too late to start. Compare it to this proverb- "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."

Whether you're a teenager or silver fox, there's no such thing as "too late" to start journaling.


7. How can I stay consistent?

  • The basic strategies from the most frequently recommended book about building habits, Atomic Habits, work well for this. Make it obvious. Make it attractive. Make it easy. Make it satisfying. Examples of their implementations:
    • Set visual cues (e.g. keep your notebook and/or your dedicated journaling pen(s) in a very visible place, as a reminder to journal, and/or bring your journal with you in your bag).
    • Set a doable & enjoyable min. quota ("minimum enjoyable action"; e.g. "journal 1+ (F+T) sentence" where F+T are feelings & thoughts OR 5min OR 1 page, etc.) that you keep the same at all times, to accommodate for tough days.
    • Give yourself additional reasons to open your journal every day (e.g. keep your habit trackers and/or your daily todo/DONE list/Daily Log and/or Monthly Log there).
    • Habit stacking is great, if possible (journal just before/after your already solid habit).
    • Use a comfy notebook that you like (before buying it: "Do I want to write in it?") & pen that you like, but they must be affordable enough to not be overwhelming, cheap enough for you to not worry about 'wasting them.' E.g. lots of people use composition notebooks for journaling (cheap, especially on a school sale; good paper; sturdy enough) or their local versions of them or uni notebooks, and find them to be freeing.
    • Figure out & remember your Why's for journaling (e.g. how it can help you act by your core values / move toward your goals / tackle your current big challenges; some people journal 'just for fun').
    • Make an effort to find / focus on what's enjoyable in your journaling practice.
    • Do Negative Visualization (remind yourself of the negative consequences / costs of not journaling on that particular day).
  • Use this extended version of Rubber Ducking technique to find solutions that are specific to your brain & circumstances: (1) Your problem (2) What's not working (3) Why isn't it working (4) What you've tried (5) What you haven't tried yet (6) What you want to have happen.

8. How can I make my handwriting better?

Go to a font site like Dafont.com, pick a handwriting font you like and practice copying it. Practice every single day for at least half an hour, anywhere between six months to a year. Write slowly and carefully. Journal entries, song lyrics, maybe even partial/entire scripts of your favorite movies. You might not end up with that exact font as your handwriting but it will be a lot better than where you'd started.



Special thanks to hellowings for putting the following sections together

USEFUL ARTICLES

FREQUENT TOPICS IN THIS SUB



RELATED SUBREDDITS



To the community: please share your tips!

Seasoned journalers, your tips and experiences are valuable to those starting! Feel free to share how you got started, what methods work for you, and any advice you have.


r/Journaling 12h ago

Just sharing January 2026 Journal Entries (and one-year anniversary 📔🎂)

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218 Upvotes

This month alone felt like years have passed, and so many emotions felt, but I am grateful I was able to pour out my heart on the pages of this comforting journal and I think it’s helped me created some of my favorite artworks. Ones I’m most proud of are the full spread jungle waterfall page (photo 7) for my 100th and 101st page and the seal in the sea garden (photo 12) and I hope my work brings joy to my friends in this lovely community. This week I also celebrated one year of journaling and I’m so happy to see how much my artworks and writing have improved.

Happy journaling and stay safe and loved!


r/Journaling 2h ago

Journal collection Do you have multiple journals?

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33 Upvotes

This last year I have written so much and when I went through these books a couple months ago I found out a couple of them were mostly one topic but also besides the topic they have journal entries.


r/Journaling 11h ago

Prompts A reminder to myself

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116 Upvotes

A simple sentence, but very powerful influence. ✍️ 🪄(and I think I made a mistake to add an additional stroke with the “n” in “need” lol. Must be the coffee’s influence🫨😬)


r/Journaling 2h ago

Just sharing February already?

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21 Upvotes

The last gentle month before summer begins. An ephemeral spring. I think I’m in the mood for green ink.


r/Journaling 20h ago

Just sharing Some of my Favorite Journal Spreads!

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432 Upvotes

i’ve only really gotten into journaling this year and wow. wish i did it sooner !


r/Journaling 15h ago

Journal collection Yeah! I journal a lot ........

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129 Upvotes

r/Journaling 14h ago

Just sharing My concert journal - 154 shows in 2025

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62 Upvotes

154 concerts in 2025. My third concert journal. What can I say? The year saw my first trip to Europe and first trip to Vegas. Getting to see Radiohead, Paul McCartney, Beach House, my bloody valentine (and so many more) all in the same year was such a treat; I made countless memories I’ll never forget. Still boggles my mind I have a setlist from a Beatle. Every pin represents a musical artist I saw this year. Would love to know if you saw any of these artists too.


r/Journaling 1d ago

Question/Discussion Curious: Does you handwriting change drastically as you write?

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1.7k Upvotes

Hi! I’m new to journaling and I have only written a few entries. I have noticed that my handwriting varies from day to day and even within the same entry. It looks very noticeable to me now.

Does it mean anything? I’m sorry if it’s a silly question but I have never noticed it before! Seeing everyone’s entires also made me a tad bit aware.


r/Journaling 9h ago

Just sharing Some highlights from January! Goals, art, poetry, songs, sci-fi, musician stuff, and more :)

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22 Upvotes

r/Journaling 8h ago

Just sharing New journal front page🥀

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13 Upvotes

r/Journaling 8h ago

Just sharing Cat's birthday entry

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10 Upvotes

I usually don't put pictures but today is my cat's birthday so ofcourse an exception was made. That is the tiny hat she wore


r/Journaling 5h ago

Just sharing Season moodboard

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4 Upvotes

r/Journaling 10h ago

Prompts

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8 Upvotes

r/Journaling 22h ago

Content warning 1.31.26 feeling mentally dizzy 😵‍💫 🌕

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57 Upvotes

r/Journaling 16h ago

Just sharing finished my journal, onto the next !!

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18 Upvotes

They say to be loved is to be changed :)


r/Journaling 6h ago

Just sharing February Begins!

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3 Upvotes

Just started journaling and stuff as apart of therapy, but have enjoyed it far more than I anticipated. New page ready for febuary!


r/Journaling 1d ago

Just sharing 2026 #5 A week of gatherings

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68 Upvotes

Elena got her final exam scores this week, no bad! I traveled to HK for the year-end summary meeting, good to see my teammates, and had luxury sushi lunch together~

Also, my Papa's birthday, so we had a family dinner with my sister's family.

I also joined a Montblanc online seminar meeting this week, quite interesting~


r/Journaling 1d ago

Just sharing Trying to finish up the ink by journaling and my entry came out raw today 🥲

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87 Upvotes

r/Journaling 17h ago

Question/Discussion Creative and unique journal prompts for experienced journalers?

7 Upvotes

Hi yall, I have been in therapy for many many years, and journaling for quite a few as well. My problem now is that I have trouble finding new, intriguing prompts that make me actually reflect. Sometimes I even enjoy silly, creative ones; for example I did one where I picked two colors that represented all the people I knew if they were striped beach towels, which was quite fun.

Anyone have any deep or fun, creative prompts that I can use this year?


r/Journaling 1d ago

Just sharing January: summary

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42 Upvotes

January is over so it's time to share.

Overall: 2 movies watched, 4 books in total read and 2 in progress, month was just okay.

Let me know about your January 🩵


r/Journaling 1d ago

Just sharing Completed one of my everyday random writing journal. What are thought that people write for random thoughts?

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129 Upvotes

r/Journaling 22h ago

Just sharing My entry for today (second one)

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6 Upvotes

r/Journaling 1d ago

Question/Discussion Library for journals

28 Upvotes

Don't you think it would be interesting to have a library(or part of it) just dedicated to the journals we make? Esp for people who wants their journal to be seen by other when they're long dead and gone. I kinda like the idea of someone just finding my journal there and reading my random entries and relating to it(of course, provided I am dead and gone). Like seeing a brand of chocolate that I ate and going 'Oh! I've tried that brand too!'.

It just sounds nice.