34 Different Types Of Journals – Find The Best Journaling Style For You
As someone who has been journaling for years, I can attest to the powerful way that simply putting pen to paper can have on your life!
Journaling has so many advantages!
Journaling has helped me work through tough times, it’s helped me clarify my thoughts and feelings and it’s helped me learn more about myself each day.
But the best part is that because there are so many different types of journaling you are sure to find something that suits you! From spiritual journaling to journaling for career development there is a type of journaling that can help you express yourself in a way that feels authentic to you.
In this article, we are going to take a look at over 35 types of journaling and hopefully, by the end of it, you will find the type of journaling that is perfect for you!
And, once you’ve found a journaling style that suits you, check out our article on how you can get started with your journal writing even if you are a complete beginner.
Let’s get started!
Personal Journaling
Personal journaling is a type of journaling where you write about your personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This is the type of journaling that most people think about when they discover journaling for the first time.
Personal journaling allows you to freely express yourself without judgment or criticism. Personal journaling can help you process difficult emotions, gain insight into your thoughts and behavior, and set goals for yourself. It is a great way to identify patterns or themes in your life that might be holding you back.
Gratitude Journaling
Gratitude Journaling is another incredibly popular type of journaling! In this type of journaling you focus on things that you’re grateful for. It’s a wonderful way to build a positive mindset and appreciate the blessings in your life no matter how big or small.
By focusing on what you have, rather than what you lack, you start to shift your perspective which in turn helps you to improve your relationships, reduce stress and anxiety, and develop a greater sense of appreciation for the world around you.
Get started with our giant list of over 300 Gratitude Journaling Prompts!
Art Journaling
As the name suggests, art journaling is a type of journaling where you can express yourself creatively through art, doodling, painting, the use of color, and other visual imagery. It’s a way to tap into your creative ideas and explore your thoughts and feelings in a visual way.
The best part is that you don’t have to be a skilled artist to create an art journal – it’s all about having fun and experimenting!
For example, you might try creating a collage of images that represent your hopes and dreams or you might draw a picture of a place you love or a person who inspires you. Or, you can get really creative and create an abstract piece of art that represents your emotions and feelings.
As with all journaling, there are no rules so just have fun!
Color Journaling
Similar to Art Journaling, Color Journaling is a form of journaling that uses color more than words to express thoughts and emotions. It is a fun and creative way to explore moods and experiences using color to convey how you feel which creates a visual representation of your inner world.
There are many different ways to approach color journaling. Some people create a dedicated color journal while others incorporate their color journaling into their normal everyday journals. Use colored pens, markers, pencils, and even paint to add color to your journal entries, doodles, background, or artwork to express yourself.
Color journaling is a great way to add some creativity and self-expression to your journaling practice, and can be a fun and engaging way to document your thoughts and experiences.
Shadow Work Journaling
Shadow work journaling is a style of journaling where you explore your darker thoughts, feelings, emotions, and experiences. It is a safe place to confront your fears, embrace your imperfections, and face your insecurities. It is a way to explore your darkest thoughts, your deepest fears, and your hidden desires. It allows you to face your shadows and embrace your true self.
Learn more about Shadow Work Journaling with these articles:
* Shadow Work 101
* What Is The Shadow Self (With Examples)
* What Is Shadow Work
* 150 Shadow Work Journal Prompts For Healing & Growth
* Shadow Self Quotes
Reflective Journaling
Reflective journaling is a journaling style where you take a step back and examine your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Similar to Shadow Work Journaling, it is a way to process difficult emotions and identify patterns and themes in your life that you would like to change. It is also a great way to develop a greater sense of self-awareness and self-acceptance.
For example, you might want to explore and reflect on a difficult experience and what you have learned from it. You could write about a difficult conversation you had and how it made you feel. You could think about your reactions and how you could have possibly handled the situation better.
Travel Journaling
Traveling journalling is a journaling method where you capture your experiences and memories while traveling the world. It is a way to document your adventures and reflect on the places you visited and the people you have met. By using a traveling journal you can create a diary of the sights, sounds, and flavors of your travels!
Travel journaling can also help you stay present and mindful during your travels helping you to create lasting memories. It’s a great way to document where you’ve been and reflect on what you have learned along the way
Don’t forget to stick all your tickets, postcards, etc into your journal!
Food Journaling
Food journaling is a type of journaling where you focus on your relationship with food. It’s a way to explore your eating habits, cravings, and emotions related to food. A food journal helps you to keep track of what you eat each day and reflect on how what you eat affects your body and mind.
Food journaling can help you create a healthier relationship with food by helping you identify patterns and triggers. It’s a great way to track your progress, set goals, and celebrate successes when you want to build better eating habits.
A food journal is also a great place to keep track of your favorite recipes!
Bullet Journaling
Bullet journaling is a journaling style where you use things like bullet points and graphs to organize and track your thoughts, tasks, and experiences. It is a flexible and creative way to journal which uses symbols, colors, and layouts to make your journal entries visually appealing and easy to read.
Bullet journaling can help you stay organized, prioritize your tasks, and reflect on your experiences all while being creative and having fun!
Learn more about bullet journaling here!
Stream of Consciousness Journaling
Stream of Consciousness journaling is a journaling method where you write down your thoughts and feelings without stopping and editing. I sometimes like to call this “Brain Dumping”. It’s a way to tap into your inner thoughts and emotions by letting your words flow freely onto the page.
Stream of Consciousness journalling can help you tap into your intuition, release pent-up emotions, and get valuable insights into your thoughts and feelings. It’s a great way to explore your inner world!
Field Or Nature Journaling
Nature journaling allows you to focus on the natural world around you. It’s a way to connect with nature while observing and appreciating the world around you. Whether you are in a forest, park, or even just your own backyard, you can use your nature journal to bring you closer to the beauty and wonder of nature.
A nature journal also gives you a place where you can record the wildlife or birds you’ve spotted as well as the flowers and vegetation you’ve come across. You can collect leaves, feathers, flowers, etc., and paste them into your journal.
Nature journaling can help you connect with nature by heightening your awareness about what is happening in the natural world around you – from the tiniest ants to the clouds in the sky, there is nothing like a nature journal to give you a sense of peace and tranquility.
Project Journaling
Project journaling is a type of journaling that focuses on a specific project or goal in your life. It is a way to track your progress and reflect on your experiences.
A project journal can be used to brainstorm ideas, set goals, and track your progress. It also helps you to stay focused, motivated, and accountable. It’s also a great way to break down a large project into smaller, manageable tasks all while tracking your progress along the way.
Fitness Journaling
If you want to focus on your physical fitness and wellness then a fitness journal is the type of journal that you need!
A fitness journal allows you to track your workouts, reflect on your progress, and set goals for yourself. It helps you track what exercise you have done, what weights you have lifted as well as how you’ve felt while working out. It helps you to pay attention to your body and celebrate your successes.
Fitness journalling can help you stay motivated, monitor your progress, and reach your fitness goals.
Poetry Journaling
Poetry journalling is a type of journaling where you use poetry to express your thoughts and feelings. It is a way to explore your creativity in a unique and meaningful way all while connecting with your inner world. Feeling bad? Write a poem that captures your feelings and thoughts.
Poetry journaling helps you to tap into your creativity, process your emotions, and develop a greater sense of self-awareness.
Productivity Journaling
A productivity journal is a type of journal that helps you manage your time and prioritize tasks.
Start your day by writing down what you would like to accomplish in your productivity journal and then check each item off one by one. It is a great way to help you stay organized and focused! Plus there’s nothing quite like ticking off finished tasks!
Budget & Finance Journaling
Financial journaling allows you to track your spending and save money so that you can reach your financial goals. It is a place where you can record your income, expenses, and savings. It also allows you to reflect on your financial habits, both good and bad.
You can use your finance journal to review your budget and make adjustments as needed which helps you take control of your finances.
Idea Journaling
An ideas journal is a type of journal that helps you record your creative ideas and turn them into action! It is a place to brainstorm, sketch, take notes, and explore your thoughts and ideas. It is a place where you can explore how you will use your ideas to create a more meaningful and happy life.
Letter Journaling
Letter journaling is a journaling style where you write letters to yourself, your loved ones, and people that you have challenging relationships with.
It’s a way to explore and reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a safe way. Some people find it a lot easier to journal by using the letter writing format.
But letter journaling doesn’t stop there, why not try to write a letter to your future self? Stick it in an envelope, paste it into your journal, and then open it in a year’s time. What better way to see the progress you’ve made in your life!
Spiritual Journaling
Keeping a spiritual journal allows you to explore your spiritual beliefs and experiences. It is a place where you can connect with God and reflect on your spiritual journey. You can record your struggles and seek guidance from God.
This type of notebook allows you to write down your mediations, prayers, and reflections on your path toward a more fulfilling spiritual, and peaceful life.
Get started with spiritual journaling using our Spiritual Journaling Prompts!
Prayer Journaling
Prayer journaling is similar to spiritual journaling but it is more focused on specifically combining prayer with writing which is an incredibly power tool for spiritual growth and your relationship with God. It is a way to record your prayers while seeking guidance and wisdom.
A prayer journal is also a great place to record your favorite bible verses, reflect on your blessings, and celebrate answered prayers, no matter how big or small!
Manifestation Journaling
A manifestation journal is used to help you focus your thoughts and attention on a specific outcome.
It is believed that a person’s thoughts and beliefs can shape their reality so by writing down these desires and goals a person can clarify their thoughts and focus their energy on achieving those outcomes.
By writing your dreams and desires down you can solidify them in your mind making them feel more real and achievable.
Many people use manifestation journals to visualize and feel the desired outcomes as if they have already happened thereby attracting those things into your life.
Get started with Manifestation Journal Prompts, Visualization Prompts, and Manifestation Affirmations.
Pray-Rain Journaling
A Pray Rain Journal is a very similar type of journaling method to manifestation journaling. I believe that the name “Pray Rain” comes from a story about Native American tribes who would pray for rain by giving thanks as if the rain had already fallen.
The idea behind Pray-Rain journaling is that you write a page a day focusing on what you want as if it has already happened and by the time you have reached the end of your journal you should have it or you will be very close to receiving it!
Minute Journaling
A minute journal is a type of journal where you commit to writing in your journal for just one minute each day. It’s a way to write about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in short, concise bursts.
For this type of journaling, it is helpful to set a timer for one minute and then write as fast as you can without stopping until the timer’s alarm goes off.
Morning Pages
Morning pages is a journaling style where you would set aside a specific amount of time each morning to write a set number of pages about anything you like.
It is a style of stream-of-consciousness journaling which helps you to clear your mind for the day ahead. This type of journaling helps you to prepare for your day with a positive attitude.
If you love the idea of journaling in the morning then give our Morning Journal Prompts a try!
Hobby Journaling
Hobby journaling helps you to focus your attention on a specific hobby or interest. It’s a place where you can explore your creativity and ideas while recording your progress at the same time.
Many people find this type of journaling helpful when they are starting with a new hobby, especially if they are in the research stage.
Health & Wellness Journaling
If you would like a journal where you can track your physical and mental health then a health and wellness journal might be for you!
It’s a place where you can record things like your workout routine, your eating habits, and how much water you drink while at the same time tracking your progress towards a healthier life.
A health and wellness journal is a great way to take care of your body and mind!
Dream Journaling
A dream journal is a great journaling method where you write your dreams down as soon as you wake up. You can then explore and reflect on their meanings and the symbolism found in them and how they are connected to your waking life.
Keeping a dream journal is a great way to unlock the secrets of your subconscious mind!
Meditation Journaling
Meditation journaling is a type of journaling where you record your thoughts and feelings during meditation. It’s a place where you can explore and reflect on your inner world as well as record your meditation experiences and insights. A meditation journal is a great way to connect with your inner self.
Video Journaling
Video journaling is a journaling style where you record video instead of writing. This is a great option for you if you don’t enjoy writing but would still like to keep track of your life. And of course, it is so easy with modern cell phones.
Using this method allows you to record a video message to yourself each day where you reflect on your day or share your thoughts and feelings just like traditional journaling.
While the video journaling method might not be for everyone, it certainly is a style that could work for the right person.
Garden Journaling
If you love gardening then keeping a gardening journal is a great idea! In your journal you can record plans that you have for your garden, what you would like to grow, and what you already have.
This works really well if you want to establish a veggie or herb garden and you want to track what works and what doesn’t.
Pocket Journaling
A pocket journal is a small journal that can fit in your pocket or handbag. it is a really convenient little journal that you can keep with you all the time where you can jot down notes and ideas on the go.
These handy little journals can also help you keep on top of things like grocery or to-do lists.
Junk Journaling
A junk journal is a type of journal where you collect and create unique collages of random items from your life such as tickets, recipes, newspaper clippings, etc. It’s a place where you can reflect on the seemingly random things in your life and what they mean to you.
Pregnancy Journaling
A pregnancy journal is a type of journal where you record your experiences during pregnancy. It’s a safe place where you can reflect on your emotions and document your baby’s development. It is a great way to record things like your baby’s kicks as well as the hopes and dreams you have for your child.
And this might just be one journal type that you want to give to your kids to read one day!
Reading Journal
A reading journal is a notebook where you record your thoughts and reflections on books that you have read. It is like having your very own book club without the club part!
If you have a love for reading then this is a great way to appreciate the books you read even more. It is also a place where you can keep track of what you have read and what you are planning to read in the future.
Group Journaling
Group journaling can be a really fun way for a group of people to contribute to a single journal. This is a great way to share experiences and record important life events such as weddings, birthdays, Christmases, and other important holidays.
A group journal is a great way to connect with important people in your life while at the same time creating timeless memories that will be cherished forever.
Conclusion
As you can see there are so many different types of journaling! And I’m sure that you can come up with more after seeing this list. You can use journaling to explore literally anything in your life regardless of what it is or you can use all these techniques in one journal! So why not give one of these journaling methods a try and see where it takes you? With consistent practice and an open mind, the possibilities are endless.
