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5 Types of Journaling that Can Change Your Life

Last updated on April 24th, 2022 • How to Journal

Have you ever begun a journaling practice only to stop a few days later?

Or maybe you even kept it up for weeks and months, but then got busy and abandoned it.

What if the reason you stopped is that you just didn’t have the right type of practice for where your life was at in that moment?  You could test drive another method.   Here are 5 different types of journaling  practices that can change your life and help you get back in the habit so you can reap the benefits:  

Need fast and simple? Try Minimalist Journaling.

This is by far the leanest version of journaling.  Simply purchase a small journal (5.5 x 3.5 or 4 x 2.4) and keep it by your bedside.  At the end of each day, write down the most important thought of the day.  One thought per page keeping it to a single sentence. The rationale for only writing one thought per page is that all the white space keeps the journal feeling simple. And while initially boiling your whole day into a sentence may not feel simple, once you get in the rhythm, it becomes a powerful practice for capturing and recalling your most important thoughts.  

Journaling creates a record, so that we can actually go back and see the forward motion in our lives. #journaling
Journaling creates a record, so that we can actually go back and see the forward motion in our lives. #journaling

Want to get better at getting things done? Try Bullet Journaling.

Bullet Journaling is a system for rapid logging developed by digital product designer, Ryder Carroll. The method brings your schedule, to do lists and aspirational goals into a single place that your mind can trust.  Plus, in our mostly digital lives, there can be power in an analog system. While it takes a bit to learn the concept, once you have the hang of it, the system is fast and effective. Want to learn more? Check out: http://bulletjournal.com/.  

“Journal writing gives us insights into who we are, who we were, and who we can become.” - @sandramarinella

Need to unload a cluttered mind? Try Morning Pages.

Artist, Julia Cameron, has a practice of unloading the mind first thing every morning that has become wildly popular with creatives. In her book, The Artists Way, Cameron writes: “In order to retrieve your creativity, you need to find it. I ask you to do this by an apparently pointless process I call the morning pages…the morning pages are three pages of longhand writing, strictly stream-of-consciousness.” The thing about morning pages is that they are neither intended to be writing nor art.  Instead, it is a kinesthetic exercise that helps your brain clear itself so that you can be more focused for the rest of the day.  

Want to become more positive? Try a Gratitude Journal.

Many people having impact in the world credit a gratitude journal as being key to their success. Oprah Winfrey—who kept a gratitude journal for a decade without fail—says, “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” Taking time each day to list a certain number of things we are grateful for changes our interior landscape and actually retrains what our brain focuses on. Some use a handwritten journal for the practice, but you can also go digital with an app like DayOne or Gratitude 365.

Don’t enjoy writing? Try a Photo Journal.

Photo journaling is the simple practice of taking daily photos and logging them somewhere that you can see them sequentially. The key to making photos a journaling practice is that you capture something specific so that you can see changes over time. Simple living blogger, Tammy Stroebel, has a practice of capturing her morning view each day.  Noah Kalina takes a photo of himself each day. Others participate in a photo a day challenge. No matter what you decide to capture each day, Instagram, Tumblr, and the Day One apps are great platforms to post a daily photo.  Or, if you prefer analog, simply keep the images on your device and have a photobook printed at the end of the year.  

5 Types of Journaling That Can Change Your Life

Why journal at all?

In our distracted world, journaling is a consistent pause-button that prompts us to get off of autopilot. It provides a window of reflection each day to keep us connected to the deeper things. Best of all, journaling creates a record, so that we can actually go back and see the forward motion in our lives.


Want tips on how to journal? Get the free ebook on How to Journalwith 28 ways to journal and hundreds of resources so you can find the method that is right for you.

About Cathy Hutchison

Cathy Hutchison helps people get more joy, meaning, and freedom in a world of demands through the practice of visual journaling.

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cathy.hutchison

Cathy helps people banish overwhelm,
boost creativity 🎨
and reconnect with their ♥️
through visual journaling. 🖌
Get the free Quickstart guide 📗 here

CathyHutchison | VisualJournal
One of my favorite tools for visual journaling is One of my favorite tools for visual journaling is watercolor crayons. Here, I'm using #neocolorII by @carandache with an #aquabrush. To do this, you have to use a water resistant pen. I'm using a #pittartistpen by @fabercastellusa. #yourvisualjournal #artjournaling #journaling #watercolor
Playing with Posca markers in my pocket sized expe Playing with Posca markers in my pocket sized experimental journal. #yourvisualjournal #artjournaling #posca #arteveryday
Ten years ago, I started carrying a notebook with Ten years ago, I started carrying a notebook with me everywhere. I began taking notes, capturing insight, managing to-do lists, and working through ideas in a combination of words and doodles. 

This practice became a game changer for me. My notebook is my ally in living an intentional life. 

The sheer volume of information we process and decisions we make at a rapid pace is daunting. Getting things out of my head and in front of my eyes creates clarity. 

If this idea intrigues you, check out YourVisualJournal.com. It’s a passion project for me to share this practice with anyone who wants to try this out.

#journaling #yourvisualjournal #bujo #bulletjournal #dotgrid #leuchtturm1917 #notebook #sketchnotes
This year at BFF weekend we created #fairyhouse s This year at BFF weekend we created #fairyhouse s to leave at one of the trails in the hill country. We had so much fun creating then placing them
I was playing with ideas for my new course. #yourv I was playing with ideas for my new course. #yourvisualjournal #sketchnotes
The doodles on the edges of this page are inspired The doodles on the edges of this page are inspired by a mural in the Starbucks I was sitting in. The quote is from Benjamin P Hardy--and I love it that I made a mistake in the middle of it given the quote! ​​​​​​​​
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Creativity is risky business. It requires vulnerability and courage--with a high probability of mistakes and failures along the way. #yourvisualjournal #artjournal #artjournaling #watercolor #watercolorjournal #arteveryday #journaling #journallove
This was a great little book that shares the proce This was a great little book that shares the process of developing ideas. #yourvisualjournal #booksofinstagram #journaling #journal #sketchnotes
I got inspired by @oshupatterns through her @domes I got inspired by @oshupatterns through her @domestika course to play with #poscamarkers. It was so fun to use paint pens in this way. They dry fast and layer well. Super fun! #yourvisualjournal #journaling #artjournaling
When using watercolor crayons and an aquabrush it When using watercolor crayons and an aquabrush it helps to use a water resistant pen. I go through a lot of @fabercastellusa Pitt Artist Pens #journaling #yourvisualjournal #sketchnotediary #sketchnotes
I love my Mother's Day present! Thanks @bethutch ❤️#neocolor2 
There's something about a new set of crayons that is magical! (Plus if you see my most recent post, you can tell that I'm working with pieces parts big time!)
I'm re-reading @gregorymckeown 's Essentialism. I I'm re-reading @gregorymckeown 's Essentialism. I totally forgot about the chapter on our inner childq. So good. ​​​​​​​​
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#journal #journaling #journalingideas #visualjournaling #dailyjournal #journallove  #handwriting #penandpaper #journalcommunity #dotgrid #yourvisualjournal #artjournaling #artjournal #watercolorjournal
Today I misread my calendar and got to my meeting Today I misread my calendar and got to my meeting spot an hour early. The angels must have known how much I needed to just sit and journal. ♥️ What a gift of unstructured time ​​​​​​​​
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#journal #journaling #journalingideas #visualjournaling #dailyjournal #journallove  #handwriting #penandpaper #journalcommunity #dotgrid #yourvisualjournal #artjournaling #artjournal #watercolorjournal
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Disclosures

Some links on this site are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The author receives a  small (really small) commission if you happen to buy something.  Funds are used to support journaling supplies & four crazy sweet Aussies who bark for treats every time I come in the door. (To be fair, I have a pattern of giving in to them.) I write about all kinds of journaling, and if Bullet Journaling is your thing, I’m here to support you. But if you want to go deep, go to the original source–Ryder Carroll, who created the system, and started it all at bulletjournal.com. I use the method daily which is why I started writing about it here.
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