There is a lot of noise around how to get started with journaling so I wanted to give my thoughts.
Don’t put yourself into a firm box with journaling. Explore what works for you, and what you find easiest, and you’ll often get more joy from doing journaling.
I recently started doing video journals. I got the idea from sci-fi movies where they do “captains logs” and have take the idea of recording my own videos of me ‘talking to earth.’ I found it helps me connect with myself better if I imagine that I’m connecting with more people.
I found it takes the pressure off my writing and is a really quick way to get my thoughts off my chest and a less-than-coherent but truly natural way! I am trying to get something done every day, and when I can’t film a video I find I have much more energy to do a quick written or voice note journal.
It’s really opened my eyes to the ways journaling can be fun as well as healing.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
as you get older, you start realizing that you are not always right and there’s a lot of things you could have handled better and many situations where you could have been kinder and all you can really do is forgive yourself and let your mistakes make you a better person.
It’s been a rough start to the year but I’m taking time to enjoy the little things in life, a new coat, a dog walk and this fun little stone buried in a car park border.
Thinking of getting myself a little digital camera, trying to enjoy the analogue experience this year.
i think it’s actually heartwarming that we as humans like to cheer on our planet for completing something it’s done 4.54 billion+ times. so true you neat little space rock.
these last few years have brutally hard on a personal level and unspeakably cruel to so many people i love and billions more. but our little space rock continues to spin.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
It’s weird to say goodbye to a notebook but my little Moleskin Cahier has been with me through one of the most emotional years of my life. This little book got me into journaling and exploring the kind of person I wanted to be, and is a true time capsule of my 2025, and it shows in the difference between the old and new.
Going into 2026, I won’t be using my next Cahier in the same way. This year it has been my commonplace, general notes, sketchbook and to do list. In 2026 it will be my quick notes and to dos as I have my Travelers Notebook for everything else.
why go to the grocery store or to a restaurant when you can just get food delivered why go to the mall when you can get same day shipping on amazon why go to the library when you have kindle why make art when there’s ai why go to the cinema when you can stay at home and watch netflix. we are in a loneliness epidemic btw
Journal Ecosystem Tour | Journals I'm taking into 2026
I'm pretty new to the whole journaling ecosystem thing but I am desperately trying to organise myself so I figured I'd share what I'm carrying into 2026, what I use and why.
Catch all/ Daily Carry | Traveler's Notebook
Daily planner - undated weekly planner insert
Commonplace book - dotted insert
Note book - plain insert
This is basically everything I need on a daily basis. I don’t like digital calendars and I’m trying to get better at organising my thought (hence the commonplace and work book).
Private Journal/Brain Dump | Paperchase Stone paper notebook
This is where all my thoughts go that no one else is allowed to see. I am not good at daily journaling but I am trying to be better, so currently this is used only when I feel I need to get somethign off my chest. It has a few bits of creative writing but is mostly a messy place to put my thoughts.
Reading Journal | Unknown
My parents bought me this book back from Italy as I love leatherbound books. I have a little template I draw onto each page for me to fill in. I don't read too much (I am a mood reader) so those yearly ones never worked for me, this ongoing record is much more my style.
Cosplay Journal | Filofax refillable notebook
Just a place where I jot down notes on all my cosplays, old and ongoing, and somewhere I can keep measurements, track costs and store swatches for future reference.
Random Notes and lists | Moleskin Cahier
For times I don't have my TN on me, I always have this tucked in my back pocket ready for me to make a note or store any important bits of paper. This was the start of me getting into different journals and has been so useful to have on me at all times. This year I used it as a catch all but next year I I'll keep it just for quick notes for when I don't have my TN.
Adventure Journal | Lucas and Ruth DIY Journal Kit
I don't travel but love the idea of a travel journal so this is my version. I am essentially romanticising my mundanity but I create pages based on family hoidays, theatre trips or even picnics with friends. Also I made the book myself which is kinda cool!
Bilbo Baggins Cosplay Workbook | V&A William Morris notebook
I am working on a long term cosplay project of Bilbo Baggin's from The Hobbit movies so this book has all of my notes, real time workings out, calculations etc. I keep my patchwork pattern pieces from his dressing gown in there too. I intend to compete with this costume so having this will help me make my build book.
If anyone wants to see any journal tours, let me know!
a messy notebook (I like the Leuchturm bullet ones)
a pen
a beverage for emotional support (or several <3)
how to get started
grab your notebook, and sit down in a quiet moment with enough time so you won't stress even more. The point of a brain dump is to unload all your thoughts, everything that is stressing you is put to paper. not aesthetically, no cutesy Pinterest vibes; we need it plain, unromanticised, and personal.
some prompts to get you going
do I have any deadlines coming up?
have I been making time for myself and my hobbies?
what projects, tasks, appointments, and/ or plans are currently stressing me out?
am I procrastinating anything?
am I properly looking after myself? (mental/physical health, skincare, hobbies, school/work, etc etc)
am I currently working through any challenges, and if yes how is that going so far?
how are my friends/relationships doing?
is there an area in my life that I should prioritise right now?
do I feel confident and comfortable at the moment?
Review and reflect
take some time and go over your writing; you can underline or highlight the points that you find most important. make this whole "brain dump" thing a routine; sometimes it takes a bit of writing until you actually get comfortable with putting your emotions onto paper (it sounds easier than it is..), but the more often you do this, the more comfortable you will get!! <3
As always, please feel free to share your own suggestions and tips in the comments! <3
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
for all those empty journals you may have and don’t know what to do with.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ COMMONPLACE JOURNAL — a journal that travels with you wherever you go. it typically contains quotes, writings, research, thoughts, ideas, etc. this journal can help you spark your creativity, record important thoughts, and declutter your mind.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ MEDIA JOURNAL — a journal where you can keep track of and record your thoughts on media such as movies, shows, books, etc. this is great for delving more into media analysis and understanding what you consume.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ “BEST DAY EVER” JOURNAL — a journal used for writing down things that happen through your daily life that could make it the best day ever. this helps to shift your mindset and make you more receptive to positivity and gratitude.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ SHADOW WORK JOURNAL — a journal meant for answering shadow work and reflection prompts. shadow work is said to have many benefits for healing, growth, and self-acceptance.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ “ALL ABOUT ME” JOURNAL — a journal dedicated to you. you can keep track of everything and anything about yourself such as your likes and dislikes, fears and aspirations, things people may not know about you, etc. you can also take a variety of personality tests such as the mtbi and enneagram and record your results here. this can strengthen your sense of identity and grow self-love and acceptance.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ RESEARCH JOURNAL — a journal for you to delve further into anything that piques your curiosity. you can take notes, answer questions, and even write essays on whatever topic you’d like. this builds your knowledge and helps you explore new topics.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ GRATITUDE JOURNAL — a journal where you reflect on three to five things you’re grateful for every day. this helps you become more present and thankful for the things in your daily life and focus more on the positives.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ DAILY JOURNAL — otherwise known as a diary. you can use a daily journal to record and reflect on your day-to-day life and important memories. having journals from the years to look back on can be very nostalgic and eye-opening.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ “JUNK” JOURNAL — a journal that helps you create artistic pieces using everyday items such as receipts, stickers, labels, and other finds. it can help boost creativity and allows you to make art of keepsakes and memories.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL — a journal for you to record your thoughts and experiences with mental health. it can also be used to vent and write out your feelings unabashedly. this can help regulate your emotions, understand patterns and triggers, and is great to have if you have a therapist you can share it with.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ EVERYTHING JOURNAL — similar to a commonplace journal, this is a journal that can be used as a collection of anything and everything. some examples are recipes, lists, quotes, thoughts, research, etc. if you tend to save a lot of posts on social media, you can also go through those posts and write down anything that inspired you to save them. this can help keep you organized and clear your mind.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ BOOK JOURNAL — a media journal but specifically for books. this journal can help you keep track of the books you have read as well as your ratings and reviews. you can also keep track of the genres, amount of pages, and authors you read. additionally, you can partake in reading challenges such as the alphabet challenge, where you read a books with titles that start with every letter of the alphabet. this adds a creative touch to reading and helps you better understand the books you read.
★ˎˊ˗ “ME IN DIFFERENT UNIVERSES” JOURNAL — this journal focuses more on creative writing. after watching a new movie or show or reading a new book, you can use this journal to write about what you’d be like in its universe. this can help strengthen your imagination and writing as well as better grasp the media you consume.
★ˎˊ˗ DREAM JOURNAL — a journal where you record as much detail of your dreams as you can. this is said to help grow your awareness in your dreams.
★ˎˊ˗ MANIFESTATION JOURNAL — a journal to record all of your manifestations. this helps you to align your mindset with your desires.
★ˎˊ˗ VOCABULARY JOURNAL — a journal where you can keep track of new words you come across in daily life or from media and their definitions. this allows you to grow your vocabulary.
★ˎˊ˗ WRITING JOURNAL — a journal for any form of writing such as poems, short stories, and essays. this is perfect for those who enjoy writing or want to practice their writing skills.
★ˎˊ˗ MUSIC JOURNAL — for those who love music, this journal can be used to record the songs that you enjoy. you can also write about what you think the song or its lyrics mean or how it may relate to you. this is great for analyzing music and understanding yourself more through it.
★ˎˊ˗ COMPLIMENT JOURNAL — a journal for you to write down all of the meaningful compliments you receive. being able to look back on them over time and reread them may help to increase confidence.
Not to sound dramatic, but there is this balance of feelings that comes with a system change: (1) crippling failure (2) happiness and joy at making a house a home.
for all those empty journals you may have and don’t know what to do with.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ COMMONPLACE JOURNAL — a journal that travels with you wherever you go. it typically contains quotes, writings, research, thoughts, ideas, etc. this journal can help you spark your creativity, record important thoughts, and declutter your mind.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ MEDIA JOURNAL — a journal where you can keep track of and record your thoughts on media such as movies, shows, books, etc. this is great for delving more into media analysis and understanding what you consume.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ “BEST DAY EVER” JOURNAL — a journal used for writing down things that happen through your daily life that could make it the best day ever. this helps to shift your mindset and make you more receptive to positivity and gratitude.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ SHADOW WORK JOURNAL — a journal meant for answering shadow work and reflection prompts. shadow work is said to have many benefits for healing, growth, and self-acceptance.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ “ALL ABOUT ME” JOURNAL — a journal dedicated to you. you can keep track of everything and anything about yourself such as your likes and dislikes, fears and aspirations, things people may not know about you, etc. you can also take a variety of personality tests such as the mtbi and enneagram and record your results here. this can strengthen your sense of identity and grow self-love and acceptance.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ RESEARCH JOURNAL — a journal for you to delve further into anything that piques your curiosity. you can take notes, answer questions, and even write essays on whatever topic you’d like. this builds your knowledge and helps you explore new topics.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ GRATITUDE JOURNAL — a journal where you reflect on three to five things you’re grateful for every day. this helps you become more present and thankful for the things in your daily life and focus more on the positives.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ DAILY JOURNAL — otherwise known as a diary. you can use a daily journal to record and reflect on your day-to-day life and important memories. having journals from the years to look back on can be very nostalgic and eye-opening.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ “JUNK” JOURNAL — a journal that helps you create artistic pieces using everyday items such as receipts, stickers, labels, and other finds. it can help boost creativity and allows you to make art of keepsakes and memories.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL — a journal for you to record your thoughts and experiences with mental health. it can also be used to vent and write out your feelings unabashedly. this can help regulate your emotions, understand patterns and triggers, and is great to have if you have a therapist you can share it with.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ EVERYTHING JOURNAL — similar to a commonplace journal, this is a journal that can be used as a collection of anything and everything. some examples are recipes, lists, quotes, thoughts, research, etc. if you tend to save a lot of posts on social media, you can also go through those posts and write down anything that inspired you to save them. this can help keep you organized and clear your mind.
ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ BOOK JOURNAL — a media journal but specifically for books. this journal can help you keep track of the books you have read as well as your ratings and reviews. you can also keep track of the genres, amount of pages, and authors you read. additionally, you can partake in reading challenges such as the alphabet challenge, where you read a books with titles that start with every letter of the alphabet. this adds a creative touch to reading and helps you better understand the books you read.
★ˎˊ˗ “ME IN DIFFERENT UNIVERSES” JOURNAL — this journal focuses more on creative writing. after watching a new movie or show or reading a new book, you can use this journal to write about what you’d be like in its universe. this can help strengthen your imagination and writing as well as better grasp the media you consume.
★ˎˊ˗ DREAM JOURNAL — a journal where you record as much detail of your dreams as you can. this is said to help grow your awareness in your dreams.
★ˎˊ˗ MANIFESTATION JOURNAL — a journal to record all of your manifestations. this helps you to align your mindset with your desires.
★ˎˊ˗ VOCABULARY JOURNAL — a journal where you can keep track of new words you come across in daily life or from media and their definitions. this allows you to grow your vocabulary.
★ˎˊ˗ WRITING JOURNAL — a journal for any form of writing such as poems, short stories, and essays. this is perfect for those who enjoy writing or want to practice their writing skills.
★ˎˊ˗ MUSIC JOURNAL — for those who love music, this journal can be used to record the songs that you enjoy. you can also write about what you think the song or its lyrics mean or how it may relate to you. this is great for analyzing music and understanding yourself more through it.
★ˎˊ˗ COMPLIMENT JOURNAL — a journal for you to write down all of the meaningful compliments you receive. being able to look back on them over time and reread them may help to increase confidence.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Keep a journal. One fundamental way to become a better writer is to practice daily writing in a journal. Setting a daily writing time can help you get into the consistent habit of writing and help you push through writer’s block. Freewriting can also turn into blogging and eventually lead to published pieces. The best way to confront the blank page is to keep writing with regularity.
Choose a setting. If you’re having trouble getting started on a piece of writing or want to practice with a writing exercise, choose a location and structure a story around it. Choose someplace with which you have familiarity or are able to thoroughly research.
Describe a real person. One way to get the creative juices flowing and practice writing character development is to freewrite about a real person. This could be anyone in your life: an ex-boyfriend, a former English teacher, or even your younger self. This is a great way to strengthen your powers of description.
Write a series of first sentences. A fun writing activity for your practice sessions is to seek out or create your own prompt sentences that you can use to start a piece of writing. Using a good creative writing prompt can be a fun writing activity that gets you out of your head and helps you put your thoughts onto the page.
Join a writing workshop. Seeking out writing courses can be a great way to meet fellow writers and get a step-by-step approach to the writing process from a teacher you trust. A writing instruction course or workshop is often a more informal group of writers who trade things they’ve written and give suggestions and feedback. A writing class often has a lesson plan with distinct writing lessons that will give you a chance to practice different writing techniques. Teachers of a writing class might give a writing assignment between classes in order to help you develop a specific skill.
Break down your favorite pieces of writing. One good way to develop your own style and learn about the writing process is to analyze a written work that you admire. Look for books or essays by a great writer whose style you would like to emulate and do an in-depth close reading. For instance, if you like Ernest Hemingway, take some time to read The Sun Also Rises while paying close attention to story structure, diction, and stylistic choices.
Write an outline without feeling the pressure to use it. A tip for first-time writers is to spend time outlining and pre-writing ideas without committing to turning them into fully-fledged written works. This practice exercise applies across genres, whether you’re writing a novel or starting out in essay writing.
Edit something you’ve set aside for a while. The best writers never speed through the editing and revising stage on a writing project. First drafts are meant to be revised and it’s important to put the time into editing your work in order to produce something worth reading. Dig up something you haven’t worked on in a while, and practice editing it. Note how your writing sensibilities have changed over time.
Experiment with different genres. Just because you have more experience or familiarity with a particular type of writing doesn’t mean you shouldn’t experiment in other genres. A great way to develop your own writing and gain practical know-how is to dabble in something out of your comfort zone. Fashion bloggers might try writing short stories and novelists might try their hand at business writing.
Brush up on the rules. Studying grammatical rules and stylistic guidelines can be a great way to spend your time during a writing practice session. Even if you feel that you know grammar inside and out, a little refresher will improve your writing and make you more confident.
a messy notebook (I like the Leuchturm bullet ones)
a pen
a beverage for emotional support (or several <3)
how to get started
grab your notebook, and sit down in a quiet moment with enough time so you won't stress even more. The point of a brain dump is to unload all your thoughts, everything that is stressing you is put to paper. not aesthetically, no cutesy Pinterest vibes; we need it plain, unromanticised, and personal.
some prompts to get you going
do I have any deadlines coming up?
have I been making time for myself and my hobbies?
what projects, tasks, appointments, and/ or plans are currently stressing me out?
am I procrastinating anything?
am I properly looking after myself? (mental/physical health, skincare, hobbies, school/work, etc etc)
am I currently working through any challenges, and if yes how is that going so far?
how are my friends/relationships doing?
is there an area in my life that I should prioritise right now?
do I feel confident and comfortable at the moment?
Review and reflect
take some time and go over your writing; you can underline or highlight the points that you find most important. make this whole "brain dump" thing a routine; sometimes it takes a bit of writing until you actually get comfortable with putting your emotions onto paper (it sounds easier than it is..), but the more often you do this, the more comfortable you will get!! <3
As always, please feel free to share your own suggestions and tips in the comments! <3
love ya ･:*₊‧✩
chloë | 28 @curiositescorner - Tumblr Blog | Tumlook
