In our previous blog, “What is Journaling and What are the Benefits of Journaling?“, we discussed the deep impact journaling has on our emotional well-being, mental clarity, and overall personal growth.
We discussed how humans pivoted from basic verbal communication to written form. This was a significant evolution that enabled us to document and explore complex thoughts and ideas.
Journaling, which is an expressive form of writing, stands out from other types of writing because it enables us to capture our innermost thoughts and feelings in a personal and reflective manner.
Journaling starts with just a few scribbles on paper – what was once a way to record significant moments has now become a tool to help thoughts escape our minds. It’s almost like magic, except it’s grounded in actual science.
Psychologists across the globe highly recommend journaling because of the remarkable processes our brains go through when we write. When we’re stressed, sad, or depressed, our brains tend to ruminate, chewing on the same thoughts again and again.
Journaling allows us to write those thoughts down, which almost feels like having a conversation with someone else. Our brains respond as if we are truly speaking to another person, helping us to process and move past our thoughts. This process enables our brains to shift focus to more productive things.
The beauty of journaling is that it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, it’s highly flexible. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. Whether you write in full sentences or bullet points, the key is simply to write.
If you’re new to this concept, you might have heard about journaling at a high level but might not fully understand the practice. You may have seen different people writing in different ways and noticed that there are so many types of journaling, which can seem overwhelming.
Our goal with this blog series is to provide you with an in-depth understanding of journaling. The first blog introduced the concept and its benefits in detail. In this second blog, we will explore the different types of journaling and explain the purpose and method of each one.
By the end, you’ll be able to decide which type, or types of journaling best suits your needs. Our goal is to simplify journaling and help you find the approach that works for you.
Come along and see which type of journaling speaks to you, or if you’re already practicing it, see if there’s a new type that you can add to your routine.
Table of Contents
How Many Types of Journaling Are There?
Journaling is a very personal practice that comes in many forms and types. Each type has its own purpose and preference. The diversity in journaling styles means that there is no single, one-size-fits-all approach.
Different types of journaling cater to different needs, whether it’s for self-reflection, organization, creativity, or emotional well-being. Some people may find comfort in reflective journaling, where they can pour out their thoughts and feelings, while others might prefer the structured nature of bullet journaling to keep their lives organized.
There are as many types of journaling as there are people who journal. The key is to find the style that works best for you.
12 Types of Journaling for Well-being and Personal Growth
While the different types of journaling are not confined to the list below, here are 10 distinct styles that you can use to document and detail your memories, feelings, and thoughts.
Each type has its unique benefits and approaches, so you can choose the one that best suits your personal goals and lifestyle.
1. Personal or Diary Journaling
Personal or diary journaling is the most common form of journaling where you freely express yourself in your journal about your daily experiences, thoughts, emotions, and reflections. It is similar to the “dear diary” experience of your childhood days.
This type of journaling is much more private than other types of journals because the things you write about are generally your innermost emotions and reactions to certain events or circumstances.
Like most of the other forms of journaling, there are no defined rules or set format you need to follow. Just write however you want and whenever you want. This type of journaling serves as a valuable record of your life, you can revisit old pages to see how you’ve evolved over the years.
There are so many benefits of this form of journaling, it provides a private and personal space for emotional release, promotes self-awareness and personal growth, improves problem-solving skills, stimulates creativity, and improves writing skills.
All you need is a journal with blank pages. It can be a simple notebook or a more elaborately designed diary, whatever you prefer. The key is to have a dedicated space where you can freely write your thoughts without any restrictions.
Some people prefer journals with lined pages to keep their writing organized, while others might go for blank pages so they can be more creative, such as doodling or sketching. Choose a journal that feels right for you and encourages you to write regularly.
2. Gratitude Journaling
If you’ve read our blogs on gratitude, you might understand how powerful this practice is and why each one of us should be grateful for everything we have in our lives, both big and small.
Gratitude shifts our focus from what we don’t have to what we have, and this change in perspective has a unique ability to improve our overall happiness and emotional well-being. When we consistently focus on the positive aspects of our lives, we basically train our brains to see and appreciate things more easily.
This positive outlook towards life makes us feel joyful and satisfied and also reduces negative emotions such as envy, resentment, and frustration.
Practicing gratitude has so many benefits like improving our emotional, mental, and even physical health, better relationships, and much more which we’ve discussed in this blog. If you want to learn about what is gratitude, why is it important, and how can you practice gratitude every day, we invite you to read these blogs further.
The type of journaling that allows you to practice gratitude by recording things you are thankful for is called gratitude journaling. Unlike other forms of journaling that require you to write everything in detail, gratitude journaling is much more straightforward and to the point.
To start gratitude journaling, you can set aside a few minutes each day to write about the things you’re grateful for that day. These things can be as simple as a warm cup of tea or coffee on a rainy day, or as big as becoming a parent. You can either go for a journal with blank pages or one that has prompts.
There is no fixed time to write a gratitude journal, some people find that writing in the morning sets a positive tone for the day while others prefer ending the day with a grateful note. You choose what time works best for you but do it regularly.
Make sure you’re focusing on specific details rather than general statements. For example, instead of writing “I’m grateful for my family,” you can write, “I’m grateful for the wonderful conversation I had with my sister today.” This specificity enriches that experience and makes you appreciate it even more.
3. Reflective Journaling
Reflective journaling is a powerful form of personal writing that is about deeply contemplating your thoughts, experiences, and learnings. This type of journaling goes deeper than just recording daily events, it requires you to analyze and evaluate your actions and their outcomes.
Reflective journaling is a very valuable tool for processing your emotions and understanding your day-to-day behaviors. It is a very powerful tool for self-awareness and self-improvement because it helps you understand why certain things happened and what can you do to improve in the future.
This process of self-examination helps you to learn from your mistakes, celebrate your successes, and develop a clearer understanding of yourself and your goals.
This type of journaling is very common in the professional and educational world. Students can use it to connect theoretical concepts with practical experience. For example, nursing students can write about their real-world clinical experiences to understand how what they learned in theory applies to real-world situations.
Similarly, teachers can use reflective journals to write about their teaching methods and experiences and identify the areas of improvement. Corporate employees like us can journal about our work practices to improve job performance and personal development.
The main benefit of this type of journaling is it improves your critical thinking skills because when you reflect on your experiences, you question, analyze, and synthesize information that helps you develop a deeper understanding of complex issues and improves your problem-solving skills.
This type of journaling might be overwhelming at first if you’re new, so you can use a journal that has prompts to help you. Otherwise, you can go for a journal with blank pages. Both physical and digital journals will work.
When you write in your reflective journal, focus on specific experiences and reflect on what you learned from them. Start by describing the experience in detail. Write about what happened, how you felt, and what you thought at the time.
Then, analyze the experience by asking yourself questions such as: What went well? What didn’t go well? Why did things happen the way they did? What could I have done differently?
Finally, conclude by reflecting on what you learned from the experience and how you can apply this knowledge in the future.
Through consistent practice, reflective journaling will help you to become a more thoughtful, self-aware, and resilient person who is capable of achieving greater success in all areas of your life.
4. Hobby Journaling
Hobby journaling is an enjoyable and rewarding way to document and deepen your involvement with your passions. Whether you’re interested in art, photography, music, gardening, knitting, or any other hobby, hobby journaling lets you document what you love to do.
This type of journaling is a unique and enjoyable form of personal writing because it is about recording your experiences and progress toward your hobbies.
Hobbies give us a break from our hectic and stressful daily routines and work. They are an outlet for creativity and doing the activities we love has a very positive impact on our mental and physical health. They are a source of relaxation.
One of the key aspects of hobby journaling is that it helps in tracking progress and growth. By regularly documenting your experiences and achievements, you can see how far you’ve come. For example, if you love gardening, you can record the plants you’ve grown, the challenges you’ve faced, and the successes you’ve had.
Hobby journaling also provides a space for reflection. It encourages you to think about what you enjoy most about your hobbies and why they are important to you.
For example, if you love knitting, writing about the satisfaction you feel after completing a project or the therapeutic nature of the activity can enrich your overall experience. This reflection can also show patterns or give insights you might not have noticed otherwise.
Hobby journaling is also a wonderful way to preserve memories. The journal becomes a keepsake filled with the moments and milestones of your hobby. It captures the joy of completed projects, the lessons learned from mistakes, and the excitement of new discoveries.
You can re-live these fond memories by looking back through your journal
To start hobby journaling, choose a journal that fits the nature of your hobby. It could be a simple notebook, a sketchbook, or a digital journal, depending on your preference.
Find a format that allows you to comfortably document your experiences and reflections. Start by writing about your current projects, your goals, and what you love about your hobby. Include photos, sketches, or any other relevant things to make your journal visually attractive.
5. Health and Wellness Journaling
This is a very useful tool for taking control of your health and well-being. Health and wellness journaling is about tracking different parameters that affect your overall health like sleep, mood, diet, exercise, supplements, vitamins, and medications. By doing this, you learn things and spot patterns that you might otherwise miss.
Both of us have recently started health and wellness journaling a few weeks back and it is helping us keep track of the different things that might alleviate Pooja’s fibromyalgia pain.
We designed our own health and wellness journal keeping in mind the things we want to track regularly so we can identify patterns and reasons behind the increased fibromyalgia pain on certain days.
This type of journaling gives a complete picture of your health and well-being so you can take proactive steps to improve where you’re not doing enough. It’s more like a report card or a progress report of the different parameters required to live a healthy life.
To get started with health and wellness journaling, you can find a journal or tracker that has space to track all the relevant parameters. If you want, you can check our journal and trackers as well which we’ve carefully designed to keep track of the key areas.
Otherwise, you can use a traditional notebook and record all this information systematically. You can even take your wellness journal and tracker to your doctor appointments which will help them identify the areas for improvement.
Just make sure you’re honest and thorough in your entries. The more accurate and detailed your records, the more valuable the insights you will gain. Over time, you’ll build a rich database of information on your health which will help you make data-driven decisions and improve your health.
6. Stream-of-Consciousness Journaling or Morning Pages
Stream-of-consciousness journaling which is also known as Morning Pages is a popular practice for capturing the spontaneous flow of thoughts, emotions, and ideas. Made famous by Julia Cameron in her book “The Artist’s Way,” this type of journaling is about writing freely and continuously, usually first thing in the morning.
The purpose is to clear your mind and gain a deeper understanding of your subconscious.
The Morning Pages or stream-of-consciousness journaling is typically about writing three pages continuously as soon as you wake up before the distractions of the day begin. The idea is to let your thoughts flow onto the paper without self-censorship or editing.
You write whatever comes to mind, no matter how mundane, trivial, or chaotic it might seem. This free-form writing helps you bypass your inner critic and access a more authentic part of your consciousness.
There are so many benefits of this type of journaling. Firstly, it helps you declutter your mind because you dump whatever is there in your head on a blank canvas. It clears up mental space which helps in reducing anxiety and mental fog. It’s like a mental detox that sets a positive tone for the rest of the day.
Second, it is a very powerful tool for creativity. So many people believe that their best ideas have come through these morning sessions of writing. Because you are not focused on producing a polished piece of writing, you allow your creativity to flow unrestrained.
It also helps you understand yourself better and contributes to personal growth. By writing without judgment, you can explore and understand your inner thoughts and feelings more deeply. This process can help you identify patterns or habits that you might not be aware of.
Over time, you can identify areas of your life that need change or improvement.
Another benefit of this type of journaling is that it cultivates a sense of discipline and routine. Committing yourself to writing every morning instills a habit of self-reflection and introspection. It teaches you to make time for yourself and your mental well-being.
This consistent practice has a domino effect on other areas of your life, encouraging you to live a more disciplined and mindful life.
Unlike other forms of journaling that might require specific prompts or structured entries, stream-of-consciousness journaling is incredibly flexible. There are no rules about what you should write or how you should write it. The key is to let go of expectations and let the words flow naturally.
To start with stream-of-consciousness journaling or Morning Pages, all you need is a notebook and a pen. Choose a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed and set aside about 20 to 30 minutes each morning.
Start writing as soon as you wake up, before checking your phone or engaging in any other activities. Write continuously for three pages, without worrying about grammar, spelling, or coherence. Let your thoughts spill onto the paper as they come, no matter how disconnected or random they might seem.
As you develop this habit, you’ll see that your writing skills improve over time. Initially, you might only write about mundane thoughts and daily concerns but with time, deeper insights and profound reflections will start to emerge. Be patient with yourself and trust the process.
7. Visual Journaling
Visual journaling is a type of journaling that combines words with visual elements like drawings, paintings, collages, and photographs. It is similar to art journaling, which is a type of hobby journaling, but it is more related to daily life. Visual journaling is about expressing your thoughts, feelings, and experiences through art and illustrations.
Visual journaling allows you to access deeper layers of your subconscious mind because it taps into the creative and non-verbal parts of the brain. Because of this, you might gain a deeper understanding of your emotions that may not be possible through traditional written journaling.
Visual journaling is a very therapeutic process that helps reduce stress, process complex emotions, and develop a sense of calmness.
The other advantage of visual journaling is that it helps cultivate mindfulness because the process of drawing or sketching requires you to be focused and present in the moment. This is very helpful, particularly for people who struggle with anxiety and find it challenging to articulate their feelings through words.
Visual journaling is highly flexible and personal. There are no strict rules about what a visual journal should look like or how it should be structured.
Some people like to fill their journals with detailed drawings and intricate designs, while others might prefer simple sketches, abstract shapes, or mixed-media collages. The focus is on personal expression and the creative process rather than producing a polished piece of art.
To start visual journaling, you would need the same basic supplies as drawing, painting, or sketching, and a blank journal or sketchbook.
Find a quiet, comfortable space where you can relax and let your creativity flow. Start by thinking about what you want to express, whether it’s a particular emotion, a memorable experience, or just your current state of mind. Then, just start creating with your intuition guiding you.
8. Travel journaling
This type of journaling is about documenting your travel experiences while exploring new places. A travel journal is a rich record of your travel experiences because it contains written entries along with visual elements like photos, sketches, tickets, maps, etc.
The main benefit of a travel journal is it allows you to capture the essence of each place you visit, from the sights and sounds to the feelings and reflections you experience along the way. It’s an excellent way to preserve memories that might otherwise fade over time.
By writing down your thoughts, observations, and feelings along with the photos and other visual elements, you create a personal narrative of that trip that brings it to life long after you return home.
To start a travel journal, you’ll need a durable notebook that can withstand the rigors of travel. Along with your journal, you’ll need a pen, some colored pencils or markers, and perhaps a small glue stick for attaching items. Or if you’re an iPad user, you can use a digital journal where you’ll only have to carry an Apple pencil.
Start each entry by noting the date and location. Describe your surroundings in detail. Talk about the atmosphere, architecture, and natural beauty. Talk about your interactions with locals, as these anecdotes add depth and personality to your journal.
Write about your experiences, the challenges you face, and the highlights of your trip. Don’t hesitate to express your emotions, as these raw, honest reflections will be the most poignant to revisit later.
You can make it more engaging or visually appealing by adding sketches or doodles. Even if you’re not an artist, just make simple drawings of landmarks, landscapes, or interesting details you notice. If you’re using a digital journal, paste the photographs you took through your phone or camera.
If you’re using a physical journal, print them out and glue them on those pages.
9. Food Journaling
There are two main reasons for food journaling.
The first is to document your eating habits like what you eat, when you eat, and how you feel before and after each meal or a particular type of food. The practice will help you identify the foods that make you feel energized and the ones that make you feel sluggish.
It will also help you identify your emotional eating habits, like how stress, boredom, or any other emotion affects your eating habits. With this information, you can make informed decisions about your diet and work towards creating healthier eating habits.
The second reason is to document new culinary experiences. You can write about the recipes you’ve tried, changes you’ve made while cooking that dish yourself, and your thoughts on the final product. You can add photographs alongside your notes to make it look attractive.
Starting a food journal is simple. You need a notebook or a digital journal designed for food logging. If the purpose behind starting a food journal is to document your eating habits, start by noting down everything you consume throughout the day. Include details such as portion sizes, ingredients, and the method of preparation.
It’s also helpful to record the time of each meal and any accompanying feelings or symptoms. For example, writing that a certain food gave you energy or caused discomfort can provide valuable insights into how your body reacts to different foods.
If you’re starting a food journal to document your culinary experiences, write about the original recipe along with the changes you made, and how it turned out to be. You can post photos and rate each meal.
10. Bullet Journaling
Bullet journaling is a highly customizable and flexible system designed to help you track the past, organize the present, and plan for the future. It was created by Ryder Carroll, a digital product designer, as a way to manage his attention deficit disorder (ADD).
At its core, a bullet journal consists of four primary modules: the Index, the Future Log, the Monthly Log, and the Daily Log. The Index serves as the table of contents for your journal, allowing you to quickly find specific entries. The Future Log is where you jot down events, tasks, and goals that are scheduled months in advance.
The Monthly Log includes a calendar and a task list for the current month, while the Daily Log contains your day-to-day tasks, events, and notes.
One important characteristic of bullet journaling is the use of bullet points to categorize entries. Tasks are marked with a simple dot (•), events with a circle (o), and notes with a dash (—).
Once a task is completed, the dot is turned into an “X.” If a task is migrated to another day, the dot becomes a right arrow (>). This system allows for quick and efficient tracking of tasks and events.
Bullet journaling is so appealing because of its flexibility. It is entirely blank which means you can create spreads and layouts that meet your specific needs.
The main benefit of bullet journaling is that it helps you stay organized by keeping everything you need to do like tasks, events, and notes in one place. This centralized system reduces your mental load and helps you stay focused by making it easier to keep track of everything you need to do.
Additionally, when you write down things with your hands, you’re more likely to remember and complete them.
To get started with bullet journaling, all you need is a blank notebook and a pen. Some people prefer dotted or grid notebooks, as they make it easier to create neat and structured layouts. As you become more comfortable with the system, you can experiment with different layouts and tools, such as colored pens, markers, and washi tape.
11. Project Journaling
Project journaling is a focused way to document the progress, challenges, and successes of a specific project. Similar to hobby journaling, where you dedicate a journal to your interests, project journaling revolves around a single project you’re working on, whether it’s personal or professional.
This type of journaling serves as a comprehensive record from start to finish, providing valuable insights and helping in better project management.
Project journaling is about tracking various aspects of a project, such as brainstorming sessions, planning stages, timelines, task lists, milestones, and reflections. This systematic documentation helps in maintaining clarity, staying organized, and ensuring that all critical points and components are addressed.
In the starting phase, a project journal can be used for brainstorming ideas, planning, outlining the project scope, identifying key stakeholders, and establishing specific timelines for different milestones.
As the project progresses, this journal can be used for tracking daily, weekly, and monthly activities. You can document tasks completed, challenges encountered, and solutions implemented.
One of the main benefits of project journaling is it keeps you on track while allowing you to reflect on your progress and make necessary adjustments.
The type of journal you need for project journaling depends on the nature of your project and your personal preferences. A traditional notebook or a planner with sections for different aspects of the project can be very effective.
12. Stages-of-life Journaling
Stages-of-life journaling is about documenting the different phases and milestones of your life. Journaling through significant periods of your life is particularly special because it provides a rich and detailed account of your experiences, emotions, and growth during these times.
Whether you are going through engagement, wedding, pregnancy, retirement, or any other major life transition, stages-of-life journaling helps you reflect on and appreciate the journey you are on.
This type of journaling is not just about recording events, it’s also about capturing the emotions and thoughts related to those events.
For example, during pregnancy, you might write about your hopes and fears for your child, the changes you are experiencing, and the support you receive from your partner and family.
Similarly, during retirement, you might reflect on your achievements, the challenges you overcame, and your plans for the future. Stages-of-life journaling gives a comprehensive view of your experiences during a particular stage in your life.
The journals used for stages-of-life journaling can vary depending on the stage you are documenting. For engagement, a journal with prompts about your relationship, wedding plans, and future dreams might be ideal. For pregnancy, a journal that allows you to track weekly changes, doctor visits, and baby preparations can be very helpful.
Which Type of Journaling Is Best for Me?
There is no single best type of journaling. The best type of journaling for you is the one that aligns with your interests, goals, and lifestyle.
For example, if you’re a nursing student, reflective journaling can be incredibly beneficial. It allows you to connect theoretical concepts with practical experiences, which helps you grow both academically and personally.
Similarly, if you love to travel, travel journaling might be the perfect fit. It enables you to document your journeys, capturing the essence of your adventures and creating lasting memories.
Personally, both of us have recently started using our Mindful Living Journal and Tracker, which we designed to suit our specific needs and lifestyles.
One of our main goals is to maintain a detailed record of our lifestyle, including sleep, exercise, and eating habits, to see how these factors impact Pooja’s fibromyalgia pain and our overall well-being. We use the daily tracker page to meticulously document these areas, along with the supplements and medicines we take regularly.
In addition to tracking health-related aspects, we also have a daily journal page that helps us organize and plan our day. This page allows us to offload our thoughts which makes it easier for us to approach the day with clarity and focus.
Ultimately, the best type of journaling is the one that you find most meaningful and sustainable. Whether you choose reflective journaling, travel journaling, or a customized journal like ours, the key is to find a method that supports your personal goals and improves your daily life.
Wrapping Up – 12 Different Types of Journaling
We’ve reached the end of the second blog in our Journaling series. The goal of this blog was to give you a thorough understanding of different types of journaling so you can choose the one that suits you best.
While there are countless other types of journaling, the purpose of this blog was to show that you can journal about almost anything and everything in life. The ultimate goal of journaling is to improve the quality of your life.
When thoughts remain in our heads, they can feel overwhelming and confusing. However, putting those thoughts on paper allows our brains to see them from a distance, making it easier to process them. Journaling is one of those rare practices that come with no negatives, which is why it is one of the best tools in the wellness industry today.
Yes, it will take some time out of your busy schedule to journal, but it will compensate for that time by helping you organize and plan your day more effectively.
This is just the second blog in our journaling series. Follow along as we continue to explore this practice in detail, its benefits, its different types, and how you can incorporate it into your daily life to reap its maximum benefits.
In case you missed it, we invite you to read our first blog on journaling, which was as an introduction to this practice. See you in the next one. Namaste!
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