If you want to start journaling but you’re not sure what you need, here are my favourite items that I use to journal. Some of basics, while others are just for fun because journaling SHOULD be fun!
[ Disclosure : This post contains affiliate links ]
It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with journals.
I have a journal on my bedside table, one in my purse (you never know when inspiration will strike). I also have a Bullet Journal, then another journal for my calligraphy and creativity. And I have my Passion Planner to organize my weeks …which counts as a journal because I write a lot in it and make it look pretty (don’t judge me).
The benefits of journaling
There are many ways to journal. You can use journal prompts to inspire yourself, you can have the same morning and/or evening journal prompts, or you can do “brain dumps” where you can just put pen to paper and let whatever needs to come out flow onto the paper.
Whatever your choice is, journaling is a powerful tool that can help:
- Sort out your thoughts and emotions
- Organize your mind so you don’t feel overwhelmed
- Put your thoughts and emotions on paper so you can better understand and analyze them
- Keep track of your personal development journey
I love journaling for so many reasons, and I would really encourage to jump on the bandwagon.
If you want to learn more about the types of journaling, check out THIS blog post where I map out in more detail.
Now let’s get to the goodies. Here are my favourite items for journaling, organized by category. These are the same items I’ve used since I started journaling 3-4 years ago, so they are tried and tested.
PIN NOW, READ LATER!
FAVOURITE JOURNALS
1. Leuchtturm1917 dotted journal : Hands down my favourite journal. The paper is great quality, the binding and cover are sturdy, and the pages are dotted, which makes it easy to draw lines and do my calligraphy and to create pretty looking pages (which is crucial).
2. 5-minute journal : This is a *great* beginner’s journal if you need more guidance. And it literally takes you 5-minutes. There are a few short journal prompts in the morning, and a few for the evening. This is the journal that I started off with years ago.
3. Simple notebook : If you’re just getting started, then get a simple journal until you figure out your size and paper preference because yes, those things matter. The size matters because of how you’re able to write in the journal and how you can hold it. For example, the journal that I use in my morning and evening routine is a bit smaller which makes it easier to hold and write in while I’m sitting in bed.
FAVOURITE PENS
Before you scroll down to the next section, hear me out here.
Your pen makes a HUGE difference because the easier it is to write, the more likely you are to journal more often. Because yes, there are pens that are harder to write if you have to press harder to get ink out for example, or if it doesn’t glide easily.
And the reality is that if you’re trying to cultivate a habit, you have to give yourself the tools to make it the easier and most enjoyable possible.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to go crazy on the pens that you buy, but it does matter!
These are my favourites in terms of longevity, opacity, ease of use, and diversity of nibs. The Paper Mate Flair Pens are the ones that I use to write in colour, and the Micron Pens are the ones that I use to write in black, or to draw, doodle and do calligraphy. They are by far the BEST!
FAVOURITE STICKERS
Not a necessity but … what’s life without some fun, right?
I love some good stickers because it reminds me of my childhood when I had a sticker book and my Mom would give me an my sister sticker to add to it and I LOVED looking through my book.
I use stickers as little decoration pieces or inspirational quotes in my journal. Again, these are absolutely not necessary but definitely a fun and pretty addition to your journal to make it your own.
You can also find stickers to make your journal more organized with the arrows and dots and stuff. It depends on how you use your journal!
FAVOURITE ADD-ONS
If you want to go all out on your journaling, here are a few fun things to add to your arsenal:
1. Ruler : Especially if you want to start Bullet Journaling, a little ruler comes in handy to draw tables for your tracker, for example. I recommend getting a clear ruler because it will make it easier to see where you’re drawing the line!
2. Washi tape : Another one of my FAVOURITE things to use in my journal. It’s an easy and quick way to spruce up a page, add some colour and character to it.
3. Stencil : If you like symmetry and perfect lines, this is a great and inexpensive tool to create shapes and designs on your journal.
Get Started!
If you journal already, what are YOUR recommendations??
Otherwise, let me know when you get your journal and how you like the process!
And if you want to learn more about journaling, check these out:
- 3 easy journaling methods if you don’t know where to start
- 20 journal prompts to expand happiness in your life
- Plan with me : Bullet Journal Spread + How to set monthly goals
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[…] Journaling has become a big part of my personal development journey, and has been a particularly powerful part of my morning routine. […]