Didn’t you buy the notebook? The model with the buttery soft cover and pages so crisp that you could almost see them sparkle. It’s there in your desk, sitting and inspiring you with stories, memories, and momentary exposures that are yet to be captured, but at the same time, you dare to start. What if your handwriting isn’t perfect? What if your ideas fall flat? What if you mess it up entirely?
Here’s the secret that most devoted journalers and crafters know: perfection isn’t the point. Creativity is. Play is. Joy is. Regardless of whether you are keeping your memories in a scrapbook, sharing your feelings in a journal, or merely putting stickers on paper for the pleasure of it, the magic of the creation is in the beginning of the process.
It is time to break that cover, make a mess, and feel the peace that comes with putting pen (and tape) to paper. Let’s get started.
What Is Journaling?
At its core, journaling is simply the act of capturing your internal world and placing it into the physical world. While many people think of "Dear Diary" entries from their teenage years, modern journaling has evolved into a massive, creative ecosystem. It is a container for your life. It can be a combination of inscribed lines, a patchwork of antique tickets and PET tape, a systematic planner, or a sketchpad of your regular beverage. It is a personal area where your feelings, dreams, and memories can be free from judgment.
Why Do People Journal?
Why do millions of people swear by this analog habit in a digital world? Simply maintaining a record? No! The central aspect is how journaling influences your feelings.
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To clear the mind and reduce stress: A journal serves as a dumpster for mental debris. Bringing worries from your mind to paper usually makes them seem easy.
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To process emotions and daily thoughts: Making a diary entry or a piece of artwork about a rough day helps separate the complex emotions, offering a fresh perspective on the issues.
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To capture memories and moments: Life goes by quickly. A journal is a good way to keep those things that you will forget if not for the journal; for instance, the ticket stub from a movie, the way the rain looked on Tuesday.
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To express creativity through art and writing: To the creative journaling community, the page is a canvas. It is a place with low stakes for making use of various colors, washi tapes, and composition.
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Improving focus, mindfulness, and self-awareness: One of the best methods to be fully present and to meditate is to write or decorate a page, thus slowing down to do it.
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Over time, you build a personal repository: In the future, these notebooks will be the physical records of your thoughts, likes, and personal growth.
7 Common Types of Journaling
It is always good to know what kind of "flavor" of journaling you want to do before you start. You may choose any number of them!
1. Daily journaling
This is the proven method for younger people. You just start by sitting down in the morning or at night and writing what happened. It is less prone to distractions and can be likened to a navigation compass. It doesn’t have to be a novel; even a few sentences summarizing the day’s highlight (or lowlight) counts as journaling for beginners.
2. Visual journaling
This is the place for all the magic to happen for crafters! The visual journaling ideas are less about words and more about the picture. It is a way to express your feelings through journaling stickers, photos, PET landscape tapes, sketches, and magazine cutouts. It is indeed a good means of self-expression for those who believe they lack writing skills.
3. Free-writing journaling
Another name for this is "Morning Pages" (a method of Julia Cameron), where one writes three pages of continuous thoughts first thing in the morning. No turning your mind off, no editing your work, just the direct output of your brain onto paper. It is an excellent practice to help you unblock your creativity.
4. Bullet journaling
A bullet journal (or BuJo) is a structured system created by Ryder Carroll. Its purpose is to use symbols, indices, and rapid logging to make it possible to track tasks, habits, and future plans. A bullet journal serves as both a planner and a diary.
5. Gratitude journaling
Writing a gratitude journal can be your first step toward improving your mental state. What you need to do is pretty easy—simply note down around three to five things each day you appreciate. As the days go by, you will realize that the positive shift in your thinking is becoming a habit.
6. Junk journaling
Junk journal concepts center on the feelings of texture and care for the environment. A junk journal is generally made from recycled materials such as tickets, cereal boxes, old envelopes, brochures, and scrap paper. It is disordered, wonderful, and full of traces of paper stuff where you can stick whatever you like.
7. Manifestation journaling
A manifestation journal is an instrument meant for the future. You write about your targets and dreams in the way that they have already been achieved (e.g., "I am so content now that I have set up my dream studio"). It is a combination of positive affirmations with goal setting.
How to Start Journaling and Make It a Habit
The most challenging part is the thought that you have to be "good" at it. You don't. You just need to be constant. Writing a journal works the same way as a muscle; the more you practice it, the easier it gets. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Choose the right journal
Choose a notebook or paper design that looks and feels easy to use, and is not intimidating at all. For instance, buy a spiral notebook if your first choice, a leather-bound book, is very expensive for you, and on the other hand, it looks like it is too "precious" for you to break. If you are an aesthetic lover, you can splash the cash on a MooBoom journal made of high-quality paper that withstands ink and glue.
Step 2: Pick a style that fits You
Does long paragraph writing make you feel bored? Start with a bullet journal or art journaling for newbies. Is it your passion to narrate stories? Then, opt for a traditional lined diary. Writing alone, visual, or combined—there is no such thing as a wrong choice in this.
Step 3: Start small
Do not look for a masterpiece. A single word, a single sticker, or simply a single memory is sufficient. Even if you have just five minutes left, you can still use them to put one beautiful PET tape on a page and write down the date.
Step 4: Use prompts when stuck
Looking at a blank page leads to "writer's block." For novice writers, journaling prompts serve as the master key. Sitting, "What made me smile today?" or "What color am I fond of the most at this moment and why?" are some insightful inquiries to begin with.
Step 5: Create a journaling routine
These can include journaling either on the same schedule or in the same location. For instance, you might write your entries every day while having your morning coffee. Moreover, you should do this professional exercise right before you go to sleep, as you wind down.
Best Tips to Help Start and Improve Your Journaling
Look, we have all been there. You buy the journal, you write in it for three days, and then it gets buried under a pile of mail. If you want to actually keep this up, you have to stop treating it like homework.
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Stop saving the "Good Notebook": Use the nice journal now. Using a cheap notebook for writing will make you consider your thoughts the same way; good-quality paper will inspire you to write more.
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The "Two-Minute" trick: Make a promise to yourself to write only for 120 seconds. This deceives your brain to initiate it, and most of the time, you will dislike stopping until the pen grazes the paper.
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Accepting the "Ugly": The "zero defects" mindset is a barrier to creativity. Allow your pages to have scratch-outs, uneven stickers, and coffee marks; it indicates that you are already using it.
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Don't just write: Draw, create art, use stickers, and don’t ONLY focus on writing down words. Sometimes words fail us. Tape in a receipt, slap down a mood sticker, or draw a jagged line. And visuals often capture a vibe better than sentences. For example, a collage of a sunset made with MooBoom landscape tapes can convey a sense of peace better than a paragraph describing it.
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Link it to your coffee: Don't "find" time, but rather, take it away. You must position your journal next to your daily morning coffee or on your nightstand for it to be integrated into your regular flow of things.
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Interview yourself: Staring at a blank page is the worst. Treat your journal like a friend asking you questions. "Why did that make me angry?" "What am I looking forward to?" Just answer one question like that to break the block.
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Go analog: Put the phone away. The tactile feel of paper and peeling stickers heals your brain in a way a screen never will.
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Flip back: Reviewing old entries is the best motivation. You’ll realize how much you’ve grown and how many "crises" you’ve already survived.
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Take your journal with you: Keep your journal with you throughout the day If your journal is buried in a drawer, you won't use it. Keep it in your bag or on your nightstand.
Supplies for Journaling That Make Everything Fun
While you technically only need a pen and paper, let’s be honest: the supplies are half the fun! High-quality, aesthetic supplies can elevate the experience from a chore to a delightful, creative ritual.
Here are the essentials to get you started, featuring some favorites from MooBoom:
1. Journals and Notebooks
You need a solid foundation. Whether you prefer grid, dot, or blank paper, the quality matters. You want paper that won't bleed through when you use markers or stamps.
Recommended: Journal, Planners & Notebook
2. Journaling Stickers
Stickers are the instant gratification of journaling. They add color and personality in seconds. From florals and plants to whimsical characters, sticker journaling is a great way to fill space beautifully.
Recommended: Aesthetic Stickers
3. PET Landscape Tapes
This is a game-changer for visual journaling ideas. PET tapes are transparent, durable tapes often featuring wide, continuous scenery. When you apply them to paper, they blend seamlessly, looking like a watercolor painting rather than a sticker. They are perfect for creating backgrounds.
Recommended: PET Landscape Tapes
4. Washi Tapes
Washi tape is Japanese rice paper tape. It is repositionable, comes in millions of patterns, and is perfect for bordering pages or taping down photos in a scrapbook journaling layout.
Recommended: Washi Tape Designs
5. Scrapbooking Papers
For those interested in junk journal ideas, you need varied textures. Scrapbook papers provide backgrounds, pockets, and layers to your pages.
Recommended: Material & Scrapbook Papers
6. Seasonal and Themed Collections
Sometimes you want your journal to match the season. Using autumn leaves in October or cherry blossoms in April keeps your journal in sync with the world around you.
Recommended: Autumn theme tapes
Where to Buy Journal Books, Papers, and Stickers?
If you are looking to build your journaling hoard, MooBoom is more than just a store; it is a creative hub designed for the visual journaler. While you can find basic pens anywhere, MooBoom specializes in the aesthetic items that make a page truly stand out—specifically focusing on scenery-style layouts and intricate designs.
Key benefits of shopping at MooBoom:
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Huge theme variety: Whether you are into "Dark Academia," "Cottagecore," or "Urban Cityscapes," there is a collection for you with over 1,000+ designs.
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Artist-designed exclusive collections: Our store features original artwork created by in-house independent artists—designs only available at MooBoom and not found in big-box or generic stationery stores..
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Vivid PET tapes that make realistic scenery: This is one of MooBoom’s specialties. Our high-quality PET tapes let you build immersive worlds, layered landscapes, and story-rich journal spreads.
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Consistent new arrivals: Our shop is constantly refreshed with new designs, themes, and collections. You can always find fresh inspiration for your next journal page.
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Affordable pricing: Beautiful design shouldn’t come with a high price tag. We keep prices accessible so you can create without limits.
FAQ
What should I write when I start journaling?
Let's begin with the fundamental things: the day, the hour, and one sentence about your present mood. In case of difficulties, represent the area around you. What is your hearing? What are you smelling?
How do beginners start journaling without pressure?
Use a "trash journal." Designate a cheap notebook specifically for ugly drawings, bad handwriting, and sticker tests. Once you give yourself permission to make trash, you’ll accidentally make art.
Is it okay to journal every day?
Yes! But it is also okay not to. Don't let the "daily" requirement become a guilt trip. Journal when you need it.
What are common journaling mistakes beginners make?
The biggest mistake is over-committing (e.g., "I will write 3 pages every day") and then quitting when they miss one day. Another mistake is comparing your beginning to someone else's middle.
How do I start the first page of a journal?
The first page fear is real! A great hack is to skip the first page and start on page two. Come back to the first page later when the book feels more "lived in" to write your name or a quote.
Can journaling be creative, not just writing?
The worst mistake is making too many commitments (e.g., "I will write 3 pages every day") and then giving up when they fail to keep one day. Another error is to evaluate your starting phase according to someone else's middle stage.
How do I use stickers in journaling?
Use them as borders, use them to highlight a date, or create a central scene and write around it. Washi tape journaling allows you to layer stickers over each other to create depth.
How do I stay consistent with journaling?
Keep your journal and pen somewhere you actually see every day. If your pen’s attached or always nearby, it’s harder to ignore, and you’re more likely to just open it and start writing.
Conclusion
One of the most compassionate actions you could do for your mental health is to form a journal. It is a complete escape from the uproar more complicated life has. Maybe you use it to dump out your scary thoughts. Maybe you just write a grocery list. Or heck, maybe you just zone out and arrange MooBoom stickers into a little forest scene because it feels calming. It all counts as therapy.
And please—ignore the 'rules.' There isn't a specific way to do this. There is just the way you like doing it. So, grab that notebook, peel that sticker, and make your mark.
