What is journaling?

You may have come across the word journaling several times and wondered: what does it actually mean?

That is one of the questions I get quite often, and it actually makes a lot of sense. Firstly, journaling is a word we have borrowed from English. The Danish version quickly becomes either a bit clunky or imprecise, for example “at føre journal”, “skrive dagbog” or “journalføring”.

And that's exactly why journaling can mean many things, depending on who you ask.

Short answer: Journaling is writing your thoughts down. It can be anything from a diary and lists to reflections and creative pages with drawings and stickers.

What does journaling mean?

Journaling is basically just writing. Unlike a classic diary, where you typically write about your day, journaling is much freer.

You can use it to:

• thoughts
• feelings
• goals
• ideas
• planning

There is no single right way to do it, and that is pretty much the whole point. And for some people, that can also be the problem, because they lack the proper framework. But you can create the framework yourself. 

Different types of journals

Journaling isn't just one thing. There are many different ways to do it, and this is often where it becomes easier to find your own style.

Here are some of the most popular types:

• a diary where you write about your day and your experiences
• Reading journal, where you write about the books you read
• Travel journal where you collect memories from travels
• BulletJournal, where you combine planning and journaling
• Junk journal, where you work creatively with paper, images and materials (also called art journaling)

You don't need to choose one. Many combine several types in the same notebook. 

What is the difference between journaling and diary?

A diary is a form of journaling. The difference is that a diary is often chronological and is about your day. And typically there is no creative element to it either. Whereas journaling is flexible and thus covers a lot more than the classic diary.

You can, for example, find it good to have days when you write a diary, and other days when you make lists, brainstorm or just write a bit freely.

You can read more here:

• What is the difference between a diary and a journal?

How to get started with journaling

It doesn't have to be difficult, even though it can well feel like it.

Start simple:

• Find a notebook
• Find a pen
• Write for 5 minutes

It doesn't need to be fancy or well thought out. The most important thing is just that you write something and get started.

If you want a more specific guide, you can read this blog post: How to start a diary

What can you write in a journal?

This is where many get stuck. What should you actually write down? There are no rules. So you choose completely for yourself what is right for your journal. 

You can write:

• What's on your mind?
• how are you doing
• what matters.

And if you're still in doubt, I've collected a lot of ideas here:

• Whatdoes one have to write in a journal

Why use journaling?

Journaling can help you to:

• take control of your thoughts
• create an overview
• get to know yourself better.

But honestly it doesn't need to be that deep.

Sometimes it's just about getting things out of your head and onto paper.

Which notebook to use for journaling

You don't need anything special.

Begin with:

• a notebook you want to use
• a pen that feels nice to write with.

See our selection of Notebooks and journals.

If you are in doubt about what to choose, you can also read our guide to, which notebook is best for a diary.

Frequently Asked Questions