Easy Journaling Ideas For Beginners To Get You Started Today

If you’re new to the idea of writing a journal, you might feel like you need a lesson on beginner journaling. In this post, we’ll discuss plenty of great journaling ideas for beginners and some journaling tips to get you started.

From the types of journals you can keep to endless journaling prompts you can use every day, the world of journal writing is vast. But don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

As a blogger and an overthinker, I love to write and record my ideas, plans, thoughts, and feelings. I especially find that using journal writing prompts is therapeutic and helps me to process my thoughts daily.

With a little practice, you can quickly go from being a beginner at journaling to knowing exactly what you’re doing and enjoying the benefits.

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What Is A Journal?

A personal journal is a place where you can be yourself without judgement… and it’s a great way to reflect on your life.

You can use a journal to write your thoughts and feelings on a daily or regular basis.

You can also use it as a place to track your goals, progress, and accomplishments.

Some people like to write in their journal every day, while others only write when they feel inspired. There is no right or wrong way to do it, so find what works best for you and stick with it.

What Kind Of Journal Can I Keep?

There are many different types of journals and it’s totally up to you how you choose to record memories, write your feelings and share all the things you want to.

Here are a few different types of journaling you may be interested in:

• Bullet Journal
• Art Journal
• Gratitude journal
• Dream journal
• Life journal
• Travel journal
• Food journal
• Prayer journal

The list could go on, but any one of these will get your started. Whatever kind of journal you choose to keep, you’ll most likely benefit as you start journaling and express yourself on the pages of your book.

Related: Best Journals for Writing: 6 Top Picks

What Is A Bullet Journal?

A bullet journal is a type of journal usually made with dot grid paper, like these beautiful Erin Condren softbound notebooks.

Originally, this type of journal used bullet points to help you organize your thoughts. Although layouts have gotten quite fancy over the years, you can absolutely keep things simple!

Bullet journaling is a great way to track goals, create to-do lists, and keep track of your daily tasks. You might also want to record personal goals, long-term goals, or even make a bucket list in your bullet journal.

A few bullet journal ideas might include:

• Start each day by writing your goals for the day
• Record what you’re grateful for
• Track your daily tasks and accomplishments
• Make these 20 lists
• Draw or sketch in your journal
• Write down your thoughts and feelings

There are no rules when it comes to a bullet journal, so do whatever works best for you… and you can fill your journal with stickers or decorate it with cute washi tape to personalize it.

What Is An Art Journal?

If you’re looking for a more creative way to journal, an art journal may be for you.

Art journals are perfect for those who want to explore their creative side and can be used to document your thoughts, feelings, and experiences while building artistic skills.

Related: 57 Art Journal Prompts – Joyful Art Journaling

What Is A Gratitude Journal?

A gratitude journal is a great way to document the things you’re grateful for in your life. It helps you focus on the positive aspects of your life and can help you appreciate all the good things you have.

For example, you might want to write down five things you’re grateful for each day. This gratitude list could be anything from your family and friends to your health or a new job.

Try these 22 gratitude journaling prompts to get started.

What Is A Dream Journal?

A dream journal is a place where you can write down your dreams and track any patterns you may notice. This can be a great way to reflect on your subconscious mind and what’s going on in your life.

To get started, simply write down your dreams as soon as you wake up in the morning. You can also keep a pen and paper by your bed so you can write about your dreams.

What Is A Life Journal?

A life journal is a perfect way to document your thoughts, feelings, experiences, and milestones along with the things you worry about or struggle with.

A life journal can help you to track your progress, reflect on your life, and find solutions to problems you may be facing. It can help with personal development and support growth and improvement.

What Is A Travel Journal?

If you love to travel, a travel journal is a great way to plan and document your trips. It gives you a place to keep your bucket list of travel goals and hold any research you do in preparation for your adventures.

You can write down your thoughts and feelings on each destination, keep track of the people you meet, and even draw or sketch pictures of the different places you visit.

What Is A Food Journal?

A food journal is a great way to track your eating habits and see if there are any patterns or unhealthy eating habits you may want to address.

You can also use a food journal to document recipes, track your weight and BMI, investigate potential allergy issues, or even just write about the foods you love.

You might also want to record your favorite recipes in a food journal. Yum — now that’s an idea!

What Is A Prayer Journal?

A prayer journal — or faith journal — can be used to document your prayers and keep track of your spiritual journey. It can be a great way to reflect on your faith and personal growth.

Related: Faith Journaling: Getting Started — Faith, Hope & Joy

No matter what type of journal you choose to keep, there are endless possibilities for what you can document in it. So, go ahead and get started — your journal will be waiting for you!

Beginner Journaling Prompts

Journaling is a road of self-discovery. It can be great for your mental health and has many benefits including helping you to develop creativity, feel happiness, relieve stress, and preserve memories.

If you’re just starting your journey as a journal writer, here are a few prompts to help get you started. These prompts will help you to establish a regular journaling habit and to explore different aspects of your life.

Having journal writing prompts at your fingertips can get the creative juices going, especially when you’re looking for ideas for your next journal entry.

Here are some journaling ideas for beginners you may enjoy!

Journaling Ideas

1. What inspired you today?

2. What goals did you accomplish today and how?

3. A highlight of your day.

4. Your thoughts on a current event or news story.

5. Three things you’re grateful for today.

6. What would have made today better?

7. A random act of kindness you performed or that was performed for you.

8. What did you learn today?

9. Something you’re looking forward to tomorrow or later this week.

10. A memory from your childhood.

11. What are some of your favorite things?

Journaling Prompts For Beginners

Here are a few more writing prompts you might want to look at if you’re struggling with what to write:

1. How did your day go? Start from when you woke up until you went to bed.

2. What are your thoughts on a current situation in your life?

3. What made you smile today?

4. What was the best part of your day? Why was it the best?

5. What are you struggling with at the moment?

6. What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

7. Write about a time in your life when you were proud of yourself.

8. Tell the story of an important event in your life.

9. Who is someone you admire? Why do you admire them?

10. What lessons have you learned in life so far?

11. What are some things you’re grateful for in your life?

12. What do you love about yourself?

13. Write a letter to your younger self.

14. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

15. What do you think happens after we die?

If you’re new to journaling, the above ideas should help you get started.

How To Make Time For Journaling

Perhaps you’ve been meaning to start a journaling practice for a while now. But with your busy schedule, somehow you just can’t seem to find enough time. Sound familiar? Don’t worry — you’re not alone.

Many people struggle to make time for journaling, but the good news is that you really don’t need that much time to be a successful journaler. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Set aside a specific time each day for journaling.

Whether it’s first thing in the morning or right before bed at the end of the day, pick a time that you can stick to on a daily basis. And don’t worry if you can’t journal every day — even just a few times a week will make a difference.

2. Keep it short.

If you’re just starting out, aim for 5-10 minutes of journaling per day. Once you get into the habit, you can gradually increase the amount of time you spend if you feel that you have more to say.

3. Don’t stare at a blank page.

Agonizing over a blank page defeats the positive effects of journaling and wastes your time, so you’ll want to get that pen moving ASAP! If you’re worried about what to write, there are plenty of journal prompts online (like the ones in this post) to help get you started.

With these tips in mind, give journaling a try — you might be surprised at how easily you can work it into your daily routine!

More Journaling Prompts And Inspiration

Creative Journaling Exercises, Prompts, and Ideas to Keep You Writing

Journal Prompts For Women: 20 Essential Questions

27 Powerful Quotes About Journaling That Will Inspire You to Write

32 Journal Prompts for Self-Discovery and Clarity {Free Printable}

Beginner Journaling Can Be Fun

Don’t be intimidated by journaling! It can be a fun and rewarding experience, regardless of your skill level.

The most important thing to remember is that you cannot possibly mess up any attempt at journaling. Your journal is 100% meant for YOU, and it doesn’t matter how it looks… only that you enjoy the process.

Choose your favorite from these journaling ideas for beginners and just try it! Once you get into the groove of it, you’ll likely find that journaling becomes a regular habit for you — and maybe even part of a regular self-care routine.

So grab yourself a journal and your favorite pens and get started today! You won’t regret it.

Love printable prompts? Sign up below to have 30 journal prompts for adults delivered right to your inbox as a free printable PDF file…

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