I began active journaling early in my retirement after reading about Morning Pages from Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way. That book is her original one on the topic, which I find the best for learning about her creativity tools like Morning Pages. She has other books in the same space, and I’ve read both the one related to the work place (it was on my TBR pile when I retired!) and the one on retirement (to see if anything different there). I did keep a journal for years, jotting down my thoughts, but only a few times a year. I tried on the concept of daily Morning Pages and have been doing my morning journaling ever since, rarely missing a day.
I realized journaling has become one of my quirks. (List making is another.) At the moment, I have 5 different active journals!
- My Morning Journal. While I do not follow the Morning Pages concept completely, I do write in my morning journal almost every day, with my morning coffee. Morning Pages is “the practice of writing three pages of longhand, stream-of-consciousness thoughts first thing in the morning. This unedited and uninhibited writing serves as a form of brain drain, allowing individuals to unclog their minds and overcome mental blocks to creativity.” Mine is rarely three pages! It is done pen on paper, is stream-of-consciousness, and almost always includes a what am I thankful for from yesterday and what am I looking forward to today. I often capture dream snippets, note ideas for blogs (this one was there), or download my fears and anxieties. It’s my self-sounding-board.
- Bullet Journal. Again, I do not follow the guidelines for bullet journals exactly. In fact, I follow them hardly at all, except it contains lots of bulleted things. It is a small journal that I keep information like my list of casual friends to invite to various activities, my monthly I-Did-it List, and my seasonal possibilities list. I use it to jot down a great restaurant, place to visit, or article link I read or heard about. I also keep a to-do list here (make flu shot appointment on the list at the moment). I look at this journal about 2-3 times a week to see if I’m doing the things I’ve noted need to be done. I guess I should call this my List Journal not my Bullet Journal!
- Gardening Journal. This journal is devoted to my gardening hobby and came about more organically. At first it was a list of what needed to be done on the outdoor property when we moved in. I started noting the names of plants when I learned them and my ideas for improving the look of our yard. I now write in it regularly, capturing what’s happening with my plants. I note when and from where I acquire a plant, what its botanical name is, and then often its life cycle in my yard. (That’s my polite way of saying when it died.) I capture notes on what I’m learning about plants. This summer I did a lot of research into local plants (multiple Master Gardener on-line seminars and articles!) and my notes are all in this journal. I’ve also got sketches in there of new planting beds – two were put in last year, 2 others going in this fall. For perspective, we now have over 100 species of plants/trees on our property and I know the botanical names of almost every one. I also now have a list of which plants are salt-water spray and/or salt-water storm-surge tolerant. Unfortunately, some of the current 100 plant species in the yard are not, hence the when things die notification in my journal.
- Reading Notes Journal. This journal is a combination of notes from reading articles, blogs, or books, listening to podcasts, or taking courses on self-development. It is also the place I take notes on any other topics I explore, except gardening. My learning style is note taking. My notes are often then summarized or synthesized into what some refer to as a White Paper. And sometimes that is then turned into a blog post… like the one I recently did on friendship (link here) as well as many others through the years.
- ZenTangle Notebook. This is my newest journal. I was recently introduced to this craft, which I think of as “doodling on steroids”. I was gifted my first sketch journal and have been dabbling in the craft since. Of course, I once again do not follow the rules completely. But the picture in the header is a recent page from that journal. A very different journal for me – no words!
On trips (though few and far between these days), I will do a travel journal. I also tried, unsuccessfully, to keep a dream journal.
So, I am a journaler (which apparently is not a real word). And a list maker. And a dabbler in crafts. I feel the need for another crafting based journal rising up, something to capture all my craft dabbling.
Do you journal? Keep lists? What’s one of your quirks?
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Morning pages. I enjoyed doing that first thing in the morning about 8 years ago. Need to get into some kind of morning routine again. I have doodling journals, too, that are basically pristine white doodle-less pages. Need to break them out. Thank you for inspiring me.
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Leslie, It’s a good time to think about restarting journaling as you’re physically laid up. You can journal and doodle on the couch!
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I used to journal all the time, but now I’m more of an empty journal collector. I really do want to return to pen and paper journaling, though. I hadn’t heard of morning pages journaling. That seems like a great way to start. Thanks for sharing!
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I started the morning journaling with my coffee a number of years ago, and found I really liked it. Some days it’s just a half page, other days it’s 3+ pages! it’s kind of meditative, and definitely a way to download my (over) thinking!
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Quirky? I think not. Journaling can be so therapeutic, a way of getting things out. It can be kept for posterity, crumpled & discarded, burned – it serves in so many ways. I’m drawn to words – books, songs, dictionaries, games like Scrabble & Scattegories, word search & wordle. I still write letters & notes to family & friends. List making keeps my pantry at the ready, seldom running out of anything. It also contributes to a purposeful lifestyle with planning & execution. It also provides some personal accountability. Yes, I like journaling & list making.
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You make me wonder if journaling and list making go hand-in-hand? I too am a lover of words. It’s what made me start my blog – the need to share words! I also take notes in my reading on non-fiction topics, and then summarize my notes. It’s daily crossword puzzles for me though, not wordle or word search. I’m not a letter writer – interesting. The pantry list was one I have not done in a while… another commenter pointed out that list as well. Its going to be making a new list in the next couple of days I am sure!
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You definitely have discipline! Interesting about the dream one you didn’t end up pursuing. I completely understand because that sounds very challenging to me, mostly because I suspect you have to write everything down immediately before you forget. Difficult when you’re only partly awake! – Marty
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Marty – the dream one, that was it exactly! No coffee, eyes not even focused is when I recalled the dreams a bit, and by the time I got to eyes open and coffee in hand, poof! Ah well, in my morning journal if the snippets of a dream are still there, I jot them down. Not that I understand them that often. Some are clear… that one where it’s finals time and I haven’t gone to class or done the homework and I definitely didn’t therefore graduate with my degree. I would have thought by now in my 60’s that dream (nightmare?) would be over!
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I know, isn’t it amazing how the school ones never go away?
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I’ve tried journaling over the years but can’t seem to stick to it. There are other things I like to do more than journaling, I guess. I find my blog satisfies a lot of what I need to “get out”. But I am definitely a list maker. Some are in Excel spreadsheets and others are handwritten.
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I didn’t think about my excel spreadsheets when I started thinking about my list making! I’m thinking I need to make a list of all my lists.
Also, Leanne (below) correctly pointed out that a blog is actually an on-line journal. So you do journal, you’re just not “addicted” to it. I’ve actually been a bit surprised how I’ve stuck with the morning journaling but I found it’s kinda my meditation practice. And when I skip too many days, I get stressed.
Back to list making, what are some of yours? I mentioned below to Elle some of mine and she gave me an idea for one I need to do. Yes, love my lists!
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Oh boy. I have lists for: books I’ve read, Christmas card mail list, my card making supplies, cross stitch projects time log, landscaping plants and care (before we moved but I passed it on to our buyers), blog post ideas and what I’ve actually posted and when, charitable contributions (for planning and taxes). I also have daily to do lists which are in my planner. I am definitely a list maker and even get teased about my Excel spreadsheets!! Oh, I also have an Access database for my cross stitch supplies (floss, cloth, buttons, beads, patterns). I did that one in Access so I could show relationships between the different items. Guess that’s why I was called the data queen at work. But hey, sometimes others benefit from my lists!
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Oh my goodness! Love your list of lists!
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I’ve not journaled since HS when I caught Mom reading. I walked it directly to the burn barrel with matches in hand.
Lists: shopping (when I use up a pantry item), to-do (when I decide it must be done today/tomorrow), meals (so I use up items long before they spoil cuz I detest wasting $$$), packing list (so I don’t forget items needed for a particular weather location)
And on a crazy day, I’ll get something done, add it to the list and cross it off. Because I’m just that weird 😉
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Elle, Lists… yes, I do that too! And sorry, you are not the only one to add something only to check it off! So, nope not weird at all. You reminded me I have not done the use-up-pantry list in a while!
Just to share some more lists….My favorite recent list was my “tourist in own town list” which helped me really get to know this area after we moved. Some folks are amazed I know so much about the area in only 3 years. I’ve got a number of things still on that list to possible do. Of course, I have a restaurants to try list (my wannabe foodie self) and the books to buy list (a virtual TBR pile). And both my long term Possibilities List and each season, my seasonal possibilities. Working on my Fall 2024 list at the moment!
Whew, I’m thinking not only am I an addicted Journaler, I’m an addicted List Maker.
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What?! I’m not the only person with 5 different journals and always feel the need to have more? I started journaling in the morning after my workout, before my shower a couple of years ago to get stuff out of my head. I found myself finally in a good place and stopped. I like the idea of first thing stream of consciousness better because I have some crazy dreams! I have a journal of Spanish words for my Duolingo, one for trip planning/posts/random stuff, and one in my bag for any meeting that I might not have a file for! Heading back again to check out that book.
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Nancy, oh dear. Leanne (below) pointed out my blog is also a journal. And now, you’re reminding me of others. Yup, I have the one to take notes on at garden club meetings and another to take notes on for my other Board of Directors meeting where I’m currently secretary. Oh my, I’m up to 8. Is it an addiction? Do I need to say, ‘Hi,I’m Pat. I’m a journaler?” (No intention to minimize real addictions).
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😂. Sometimes I will even turn one around and backwards to avoid a new book but make it “separate” (in my mind only!).
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Hi Pat – I tried Morning Pages journalling a few years ago, but I found it became a bit like Ground Hog Day when I was writing the same stuff over and over (my life isn’t that exciting or dramatic to find much to write about). I do keep a life journal and have done so for many, many years – I like having somewhere to record my ups and downs as often or less often as I feel the need.
I’m wondering if my collaging books are a kind of creative journalling? I do love having my collages grouped together in a book format rather than loosely in a box or file. I think that blogging is my main form of journalling these days – it gives me a place for my thoughts and to work through my feelings in a different way to my day journal.
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“Collaging books”? I want to know about those!
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Nancy, Leanne has an example in her blog this week! Love that coincidence.
https://www.crestingthehill.com.au/2024/08/looking-back-at-wonderful-winter.html
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Thank you! I watched the video of the collage book which is gorgeous and plan to explore the links she provided in her comments!
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Leanne, I love your collaging books and they are definitely a creative journal! I recall once you mentioning a trend you noticed in the collages you were creating, which was reflective of your emotions at the time.
And you are also insightful that blogging is a form of journaling as well. I recall now, I’ve seen blogs called on-line journals in fact. So, I’ve got that journaling “notebook” as well. Yup, I’m a journaler (which is not a word!)
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