Journaling Resources and Tools
Here we put together all you need to get started (and keep going) with journaling!
By no means do you have to buy all of the tools or download the apps mentioned below, we just put them all out there so that whenever you feel stuck or demotivated to keep a journal, you can check out something new.
Throughout the years we bought or been gifted different notebooks, pens, stickers, books for journaling because our friends and family know how much we like it. So we just thought it’s a nice idea to list all the products and services we use and love so that you can also try them out if you want to.
P.S. some of the links are affiliated meaning that we got a small commission when you make a purchase at no extra cost to you. That being said, these are the products we have used and loved.
What books can I read to start journaling?
If you want to start journaling, just do it! Don’t overthink it, grab a pen and any piece of paper and write down your thoughts.
However, if you want to know more about different journaling techniques, learn how to organise your notebook and get some guidance, reading a book is a good place to start.
Our favourite books about journaling are ‘The Bullet Journal Method‘ by Ryder Carroll and ‘The Artist’s Way‘ by Julia Cameron.
If you like systems and organisation or looking for an easy tool that can help you stay on track of your tasks, Ryder Carroll, creator of the Bullet Journal or BuJo, will teach you how to do all of the above. You can also check out his website where you can get a course teaching you how to Bullet Journal or join the community where you can share your ideas about the practice and learn from others.
Bullet points and systems are not for everyone. If you want to pick up a journaling habit to unleash your creativity, then you should definitely check out Julia’s Cameron website. She’s a writer, a poet, songwriter, filmmaker and playwright who has introduced a technique called ‘Morning Pages’ that can help creative individuals find a source of inspiration by free writing 3 pages.
Adriana wanted to find out why Morning Pages are so powerful and decided to give them a go for a month! You can follow her journey by reading these articles:
We also wrote a bunch of articles about journaling that can help you get the best results from learning this technique using the findings from the research literature.
Notebooks for Journaling
First things first, our favourite notebooks for journaling – paperback, digital, reusable, suitable for left-handed people and many more! We have tried tons of them and are big believers in getting an item that serves multiple purposes.
Hard Copy Black Notebook with pen loop
Recommended by best-selling authors like Robin Sharma and Tony Robbins.
A4 notebook with blank pages
Ideal for someone who would like to start practising Morning Pages.
The Gratitude Journal
Your go-to for a daily practice of gratitude, affirmation and self-reflection by Intelligent Change.
Vintage Diary with Refillable Sheets
A perfect notebook to take on a trip and to do some sketching.
The Wellbeing Journal
A great journal for anyone who is tired of writing or doesn’t like being confronted by a blank page.
P.S. the journal was developed in partnership with Mind, the mental health charity in the UK, so all royalties from the sale of this book are donated to Mind.
Legend Planner
A perfect planner for a person on the go, it comes with nice stickers and a weekly, monthly and yearly view.
DIY Scrapbooking journal
A perfect simple book to combine scrapbooking with journaling to unleash your creativity.
Nature Journal
Although designed for little ones, it can be a great starting point for anyone who is learning to journal on their nature walks.
What if you want to use a reusable notebook?
What if you already have a stuck of notebooks and don’t want to get a new one every year, a good option would be getting a reusable notebook. That’s where Rocketbook comes in!
Rocketbook – it’s a reusable notebook where you can scan the pages that you need and then wipe everything off. All you need to do is to download a Rocketbook app and scan the pages you want to upload to popular cloud app like Google Drive, One Drive, Evernote etc.
Pens for Journaling
Non-Smudge Pen
No one likes this feeling when you write something down and the next second it gets smudged. With this pen, you can forget about this problem.
Left-handed pens
Making sure you’re comfortable when writing is all that matters so if you’re a leftie, this pen is for you.
SAKURA Gelly Roll Metallic Gel Pen
This set of pens is perfect for Bullet Journals – it’s smooth with a price stroke and won’t smear or bleed.
How to keep your journal safe?
We all know that one of the disadvantages of keeping a personal journal or a diary is that someone can read it. Get a notebook with a lock or a hidden safe.
Audio Journaling Apps
Here’s a list of apps to get you started with audio journaling:
Voice Memo app on Apple Devices or Audio Recorder on Android devices – can be a good start for an aspiring journaler.
Alternatively, you can use Google’s ‘Recorder’ app that is available on both Apple and Android.
- Journify – audio journal
Day One for Mac and iOS users
Diarium for Windows users
Penzu for secure journaling
Momento for social media power users
Grid Diary for templated journaling
Five-Minute Journal for journaling beginners
Dabble Me for journaling over email
Daylio for non-writers
If you have tried lots of journaling apps and can’t find the right one, then maybe try building your own! You can easily do it on Zapier, a tool that helps you automate repetitive tasks between two or more apps, by using their step-by-step guide.