After a client's death, Clover journals about them in one of her journals (regrets, confessions and advice). Journaling about them helps Clover to process their deaths and remember her clients.
Overall, journaling has been shown to have positive effects on one's mental health and stress as it offers a private space for processing feelings, expressing gratitude and daily reflections.
There are many different ways to journal. These books and eBooks give you different entry points so you can start journaling.
- Let It Out: A Journey Through Journaling by Katie Dalebout
- The Mind-Changing Habit of Journaling: The Path to Forgive Yourself for Not Knowing What You Didn't Know Before You Learned It: A Guided Journal for Self-exploration and Emotional Healing by Zoe McKey
- Dot Journaling: A Practical Guide: How to Start and Keep the Planner, To-do List and Diary That'll Actually Help You Get Your Life Together by Rachel Wilkerson Miller
- Creative Journal Writing: The Art and Heart of Reflection by Stephanie Dowrick
- Quiet Mind, Open Heart: Finding Inner Peace Through Reflection, Journaling and Meditation by Laura Wright
Not big on writing? No worries, try one of these creative journaling methods.
- 365 Days of Stitches: How to Create a Personal Embroidery Journal by Steph Arnold
- The Art Journal Workshop: Break Through, Explore and Make It Your Own by Traci Bunkers
- Creative Journaling: A Guide to Over 100 Ideas and Techniques for Amazing Dot Grid, Junk, Mixed Media, and Travel Pages by Renee Day
- Ideas & Inspirations for Art Journals & Sketchbooks by Suzanne McNeill
- Art Journaling magazine by Somerset Studio
Or make your own journal:
- Making Handmade Books: 100+ Bindings, Structures and Forms by Alisa J Golden
- Treasure Bookmaking: Crafting Handmade Sustainable Journals by Natasa Marinkovic
- Little Book of Book Making: Timeless Techniques and Fresh Ideas for Beautiful Handmade Books by Charlotte Rivers
- Eco Books: Inventive Projects from the Recycling Bin by Terry Taylor
- Check out a Comb binder from the Library of Things collection. This manual machine punches up to 20 sheets at a time and binds up to 300 sheets with a 1.5” comb. Perfect for binding together your own journal.
Your journal could become the starting point to writing your memoir. Try one of these books that can help you plan and write your memoir.
Journals can be electronic or on paper. Women's Health lists what they think are the 15 Best Journaling apps. iPhone users can also use the new Journal app (a feature of the iOS 17 update) to record their thoughts. For those who want to handwrite their journal, Wirecutter gives their advice for the Best Notebooks and Notepads and the Strategist weights in with their favorite notebooks. A good pen can make all the difference in your life and in your journal. The Strategist ranks their favorite pens based on their smoothness, smudging, bleed-through, feel and looks.
Already a writer? Our Writer's Ink program is a writers group for adult writers to share and discuss their work. The group meets the second Wednesday evening each month .