The different forms of journaling––which one is for you?

There are many different types of journaling, and listed here are the four types of journaling that I do. Read to find out which one is best for you, and also how you can get into journaling!

Personal Journal (Not Affiliated)

What I like to call a "personal journal" is my main form of journaling. It's essentially a free-writing exercise. The goal is to use a notebook and pen and write about . . . well, anything!

You can write about your thoughts, your feelings, your goals, your expectations for the day, how your day went, and more. Without a particular structure, you're encouraged to just log whatever it is that's important to you in that moment. This is the best way to keep a time-capsule of your past self, as it's very fun to read old journals and go back in time to a past mindset.

You can go about writing in your personal journal with either set expectations, or no expectations at all. For example, currently I write in my personal journal whenever I feel like it (which is most days). However, to get into the habit of actually journaling, I made it a habit to write at least once in the mornings right after I woke up for a straight year. Then, I realized I enjoyed writing more at night to reflect upon my day. As you can see, personal journals have no real rules and the purpose is to just write. It's all about you and what you decide it will be.

As for the materials you should get, I recommend getting any preferred notebook and writing utensil. When I began this habit, I would use any paper and pen I could get my hands on. Now, I've since decided to upgrade my materials to leather journals and fine-ink pens to encourage myself to get my money's worth out of writing. My current journal is the Rainbow Roses Leather Journal from Barnes & Noble.

If you're a writer and you're looking into keeping an extensive log of your thoughts, I recommend you get into the practice of writing in a personal journal.

Guided Journal (Amazon Affiliate)

Guided journals have become extremely popular for those who are into wellness. Those who use guided journals usually have a purpose: whether it's to meditate, affirm, or establish specific goals. These journals can either be purchased with pre-made topics, or created by yourself with a journal template.

I highly recommend that you get a guided journal if you are more of a reader than a writer. These journals are filled with thought-provoking prompts and inspirational quotes to keep you motivated. You'll also never run out of ideas to write about! All you need to do is answer a prompt.

Another benefit to guided journals is that they can offer extreme mental health benefits. Guided journals, such as the one I've linked above, act as therapeutic outlets with a constructive perspective.

Burn After Writing in particular encourages users to self-reflect through incisive questions and thought experiments, helping you to learn new things while letting others go. The point of this journal is to also discover how honest you can be when no one is watching.

Bullet Journal (Amazon Affiliate)

Trending on YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, and Instagram, the most viral of any mentioned journal is the bullet journal. What is it and why is it so popular?

The idea of a bullet journal itself is a blend of a planner, a task list, a diary, and a creative outlet.

If you've ever seen those dotted journals sold on Amazon or in bookstores, that's typically what you would use to write with. The dotted format has advantages over lines when it comes to creativity, as the lack of obtrusiveness allows you to create and customize the journal however you'd like.

If you're into planning, routines, and can identify as a creative individual, then this is the perfect journal for you.

All you need is a pen and a dotted journal, and you're good to go!

The way you can start your journal is by creating the main sections: the index, the keys, a future log, the monthly logs, and the daily/weekly logs. By sectioning out the journal beforehand, you can slowly build up as you go along with actually filling it out according to the dates you have set.

Although there are different rules, systems and formats to follow, you don't necessarily have to stick to one in particular. You can use them for inspiration, but I highly recommend branching off and taking creativity in your own hands.

Below, I linked a useful guide to bullet journaling.

Online Journal (Not Affiliated)

Online journaling has become extremely popular in the last couple years due to the convenience of carrying around a phone. I got into online journaling through an app called Daylio, which is a free app that act as a micro-diary to track users' moods, activities, habits, goals, and food consumption.

On the Daylio app, users begin by choosing the mood they feel at the time followed by the activities they did that day. After completing these prompts, users are then encouraged to write about their day and even share photos. The entire experience is user-friendly and completely customizable.

The graphs are another plus. Any journal can track your mood, but Daylio's computerized system analyzes it for you in a visual way that makes it easy to read and understand.

If you're looking into finding a way to actually measure your mood patterns while also keeping track of your day-to-day thoughts, then this is the perfect app for you. You can conveniently whip out your micro-journal anywhere you are and track your mood with just the tips of your fingers––something that's difficult to achieve with just a traditional paper-and-pen journal.

Journaling Schedule Tips: When to journal and how often?

Once you determine which journaling type is best for you, whether it's one, two, or all of the different types, you want to set an expectation for yourself to actually write in that journal based on your individual goals.

Personally, I don't pressure myself to journal every single day. I do have to admit that I journal most days. I normally find time to fill out my personal journal at night before bed as a reflection of my day, or in the morning right after I wake up to set the daily expectations. I have a few guided journals and will fill those out occasionally as a creative outlet. I have never been much of a "bullet-journaler," but I do manage to fill out a daily calendar which is vaguely similar. As for Daylio, I log my emotions on it at least once a day and it takes no more than five minutes.

As you can see from my personal schedule, I'm very loose and unstructured about journaling. If you don't like to feel pressured, I recommend that you do the same thing.

If you are in need of a little more discipline, I do recommend setting a schedule for yourself to write in a journal. To set a schedule, first you must evaluate what your needs are: am I writing for mental health, to keep track of my thoughts/mood, or for other reasons? Next, determine what is the best time of day you can write: am I usually free during the mornings after I wake up, during my lunch break at work or school, or at night before bed? Finally, establish your goals: am I writing to become a better person, to set expectations, to reflect on my day, or for another reason?

Overall, you shouldn't feel pressured to journal and it should ultimately leave you feeling happy, more fulfilled, and at a deeper understanding. Not only is it a habit necessary for mental health, but it's also a great past-time and one of the best methods of psychoanalysis.

Give one of these methods a try and see which one(s) fits you the best!