In this article, I'll share 9 creative ways to use your journal. Are you looking for a new way to keep track of your day-to-day life? Do you want something that is more creative than a simple notebook or journal? Whether it's making a timeline, using the pages as scrapbook paper, or even turning them into artwork, there are plenty of creative ways to make your journal work for you!
Journals are a popular form of expressing creativity but they also are used by many people in meditation and self-care. Keeping a journal allows you to connect to yourself and look back on your memories. A journal can be used as so much more than a traditional diary as well. Your journal is unique to you. u even be a big mix of things that bring you joy, help you get to know yourself, and allow you to see how far you have come.
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9 Creative Ways to Use Your Journal
1. Faith Journaling
Faith journaling is a great way to record what you are learning as you grow in your faith. In a faith journal, you can keep track of your daily Bible readings, and journal your feelings about what you read. You can also keep prayer lists, praise reports, and so much more. Do you have a favorite hymn or song? Journal the lyrics and have them at your fingertips when you need to read the encouraging words. Create a prayer journal and enrich your prayer life.
2. Track Your Goals
When it comes to reaching new goals nothing helps quite as much as seeing progress happen right in front of your eyes. Your journal is a great place to track the progress of your goals over time. From fitness goals to learning a new language or writing that novel, you have always dreamed of, tracking your progress can be very motivating in all aspects of life.
3. Bullet Journals
Bullet Journals are such fun, and bullet journaling can make the most of your journal. It can be as simple as using it for planning or tracking the goals that enrich your life. There are plenty of creative ways to Bullet Journal. Create schedules, and chore lists, keep track of finances, and track how many hours you've been working on a project. Using stickers, coloring, and writing in your journals will make them into personalized works of art! I may be slightly addicted to fine-tip pens and markers because of my love for journaling.
4. Start Keeping Lists
Lists are an amazing thing that can help you think, plan, and appreciate your life in new and amazing ways. One helpful way to use your journal is to keep a bunch of lists. From your bucket list to a list of your favorite books, you can use this idea to really get to know yourself on a deeper level than you ever imagined before. If you don't want to start this on your own Listography is a great book that will prompt you on your list-making.
5. Create a Dream Journal
In the Bible, Joseph was able to interpret dreams. God gave Joseph the knowledge to understand dreams and in doing so it spared Joseph's life.
6. Write Letters to Loved Ones
When we are long gone, our journals will be left behind. A heartfelt way to make use of your journal is to write letters to your loved ones that will be found when you are no longer here with them. This can be one big journal for everyone to pass around or you could work on smaller journals for each person to hold close to them one day. This is the perfect place to write your hopes, your dreams, and the things they have done that make you proud of them.
If you have children and you create a journal for each child, you can record their accomplishments in school, sports, or anything they participate in. It would be a special keepsake for them to have one day. You don't have to save those journals for after you've passed away, give them to them at their high school graduation. Let it be a keepsake of their childhood as they grow into adults.
7. Save Favorite Recipes
What better place than your journal to look back on your favorite recipes and the memories connected to them? The best place to store your favorite recipes is in a journal. Jot down memorable cooking experiences and have the handwritten recipes for years to come. Each time you make one of the recipes you will be able to look back and see the great memories you have connected to the recipe.
8. Gratitude Journal
Writing down what you are thankful for is a wonderful way to change your mindset on a rough day. When you are having a hard time finding joy on a particular day, look back at your gratitude journal to see all the things you have to be thankful for. Make this a daily habit to truly change your life. If you aren’t sure what to write about, try these gratitude prompts.
9. Doodles
Did you doodle on your homework as a kid? I still doodle on everything! This can be a creative way to relax and calm stress. Use your journal as a place to mindlessly doodle to help you relax on a rough day. If you are more serious about art you can still put this trick into play by using your journal as a safe place to create things that hold personal meaning to you.
You can turn your doodles into a whole art book if you want! The possibilities with journaling truly are endless and I love seeing what everyone comes up with when they tap into their creativity. Even if you don’t feel like you’re the best at drawing, a journal is a perfect spot to practice all of your skills. You could even practice lettering, calligraphy, etc. So fun!
How Will You Use Your Journal?
These are my 9 creative ways to use your journal. You can record an interesting quote, keep track of books you've read, or just make a scrapbook. You'll find that keeping a journal is great fun and it has lots of benefits. I’d love to hear more ideas! Leave a comment below letting us know the most creative ways you use your journals. Who knows, you may inspire someone! 🙂