10 Great Things to Write About in Your Journal

One of the things I get asked about the most is what type of things I write about in my journals. This post will guide you through ten ideas for how you can fill those empty notebooks and really get the most out of your journaling routine.

1. Recording the Day to Day

Not every day is going to be full of exciting adventures, but over time you can create a really lovely record of the normal ups and downs of your daily life.

In the evening I spend 5 to 10 minutes reflecting on my day and making a few notes in my journal. At the weekend I tend to write a quick summary of my week, along with adding any extra decorative elements or photographs.

I find it really rewarding, to look back through my entries and be reminded of the little moments that I might otherwise have forgotten. I use a Travelers Company Perpetual Diary insert for this type of journaling.

2. Thoughts and Feelings

Some days are great and some days aren't. Having a place to unload my feelings, process the difficult moments and celebrate the great days does me the world of good. I use this journal to get creative and let my feelings flow.

I start with the creative elements, which helps me to relax and release my emotions through colour and art. I then add my journal writing, which varies in length, to get my thoughts onto paper. For this type of journaling I use a dotted Flexbook.

3. Word for the Year

One thing I love to do is set a word for the year, which is a gentle intention relating to one main area that I would like to focus on. This year I am working towards a better sense of "balance" which covers many areas of my life. Each month in my Patreon Journaling Club I am sharing a video with some guided prompts, to help keep the word in mind and to review how things are going. For the decorative element, I used a pretty napkin.

4. Create a Plan

I love being organised! I like to stay on top of my tasks, organise projects and make sure I meet deadlines. This is where my Hobonichi planner comes into its own.

Every evening I write out my tasks for the following day, review my progress and make sure that I am staying on track. It's a lovely place to add some fun doodles too.

5. Dream up some Fun Activities

This year I decided to set out a list in my journal called "25 in 2025". I listed plenty of fun things that I would like to do this year. This includes a combination of mini adventures, craft projects that I would like to try out and any other small area that I would like to focus on. It's designed to be a gentle and fun list, rather than lots of work tasks.

6. Gratitude Journaling

Writing gratitude pages has been one of the most beneficial parts of my journaling routine. Every evening I write down at least one line about the things that I am grateful for. Not only is it a lovely topic to focus on, but I notice that I am far more quick to notice the good things around me during the day, rather than focus on the things that haven't gone so well.

7. Celebrate your Mini Successes

I started writing these pages when I realised how quick I was to criticise myself. I was forever comparing myself to others and feeling like I wasn't doing quite well enough.

I now make a conscious effort to offer myself a little praise every evening. I recognise the areas that I am doing well in and boost my own levels of self-esteem in the process. These pages have been a game changer and enabled me to treat myself with a far higher level of compassion. I'm typically not writing about the big things here, just daily mini accomplisments.

8. Travel Journal / Days Out

Any time you go traveling or have a special day out, it is well worth documenting in your journal. You can add photos, tickets and other memorabilia to remind you of where you went and the things you saw.

Even if you just pop out to a favourite cafe, it's worth keeping hold of the receipt or some packaging from your food to stick inside your journal. It really helps bring your pages to life. I love including photos in my journal rather than just leaving them lingering on my phone.

9. Document Changes in the Seasons

I'm really trying to focus on seasonal living this year, which for me means embracing both the great parts of each season, along with anything I find more challenging.

On my daily walks I have been taking time to notice the changes in nature and really appreciate the wonder of the natural world. In these pages I documented how pleased I was to see my first Snowdrop of the year back in the first week of January. I often take photos across the fields from the very same spot and then look at how the view changes over the months. It gives me a great sense of grounding and comfort.

10. Review How Things are Going

I find it really helpful to review my progress at the end of each month. On these pages I answered the following journal prompts: "what went well?", "areas to develop", "happiest moments" and "work/life balance."

It helps me to decide what is working for me and where I have gone slightly off track. This helps me to reset my intentions and learn from the experiences I have had before starting a new month.

Final Thoughts

I hope this post has helped inspire you to pick up your journal and start writing. There are so many things worth documenting and it's a hugely rewarding experience. It's a lovely way to calm your mind and take a little time for yourself in this ever-noisy world, Helen x

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that I earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

If you are interested in taking your journaling further, then I would love to welcome you to my online community on Patreon.

Each month I share a set of journal prompts, videos, tutorials and printables to give you plenty of fresh inspiration.

It's a really lovely group of people and you'll be sure of a warm welcome.