What Is Creative Journaling?
Creating a journal all about you and your story.
Creative Journaling + You
Creative journaling is a easy, accessible, low-pressure way to stay connected to your creativity—no matter your schedule, skill level, or energy. It’s all about jotting down a few thoughts, layering scraps on a page, or just experimenting with color. Your notebook is a home for your stories, your ideas, and your everyday magic.
This approach grew out of my own Daily Pages practice. Over the years, I realized not everyone thrives on a daily habit—and that’s okay. Creative journaling gives you the space to show up on your terms. You don’t need to do it every day. You don’t need to fill a whole page. You just need to start.
Here’s what makes a creative journaling practice so powerful:
Total flexibility: Write, collage, doodle, stamp, glue—however you like to tell your story. There’s no right or wrong way to create.
A creative space that fits your life: Whether you create every day, weekly, or whenever the mood strikes, this journal works around your schedule.
Small and simple is enough: Using a smaller notebook can make it easier to start and less intimidating to keep going.
Permission to play: This is your space. Forget the rules. Forget perfection. Just explore.
No right or wrong way: Your creativity makes the rules. There’s no need for perfection here—just room for you to experiment and express what matters most to you.
Creative journaling lets you tell your story in your own way. You can use colors, pretty papers, words, photos—legit anything that helps you express yourself. This journal is all about making your story meaningful to you, with no rules or restrictions.
The most important thing about this project is that it’s designed to flow with your life. You don’t have to follow a rigid schedule. Whether you create weekly, a few times a month, or whenever inspiration strikes, the journal fits into your rhythm. There’s no pressure, just room for creativity whenever you’re ready.
One of the most important things about my personal creative practice is using a smaller notebook. It’s going to be an essential part of getting started with your journal. It’s a smaller, more approachable space, which helps cut through the overwhelm of a giant blank page. It’s easy to start, and it won’t leave you feeling intimidated by *having* to fill the whole page.
More than anything, I want a creative journaling practice to help you reconnect with yourself. It’s a a place to play, reflect, and stay connected to your creativity on a regular basis.
Getting Prepared: Supplies
The beauty of this project is its simplicity. You can start with just a notebook and a pen—or dive in with a mix of art supplies. The goal is to make it easy to create a single page.
Notebook: Choose something that feels inviting. It can be a new journal, a repurposed notebook, or even one you make yourself.
Pen or Pencil: Your fav pen or pencil is all you need to start documenting.
Adhesive + Scissors: Great for adding texture or collage elements. Tape runners, glue sticks, or even washi tape all work beautifully. Use what you’ve got.
Ephemera + Memorabilia: Collect bits that hold meaning—receipts, ticket stubs, magazine cutouts, stickers, or photos.
Art Supplies: Bring in paints, stickers, pretty paper, markers, or anything else you love to use. Your notebook is a space to explore and play.
Getting Started: Step by Step
Pick a Notebook: Choose a notebook that feels approachable. Smaller sizes often feel less intimidating, but pick whatever inspires you.
Gather Supplies: Start with just a few basic tools or go all out with everything that excites you.
Begin Your First Page: Open to the first spread and put something down—a word, a color, a shape, or a piece of ephemera. The act of starting is what matters.
Find Your Rhythm: Create whenever it works for you. This journal is meant to flow with your life, whether that means creating weekly, monthly, or sporadically.
Why This Matters
Creative journaling is more than just a hobby—it’s a way to honor your voice, document your life, and build up a relationship with yourself on your own terms. It offers a flexible, supportive space to explore ideas, reflect on your experiences, and tell your story in whatever way feels right for you.
Your story is worth telling. Your creativity deserves a space to grow. You get to choose how it looks, how often it happens, and what it means to you.
Want to go deeper? While this isn’t a standalone course (yet!), everything I’ve shared about Daily Pages works beautifully for creative journaling too. Just swap out “daily” for “when you feel like it,” and you’ve got a treasure trove of tools to get started.
The best place to begin is with Daily Pages 101—a free mini-course designed to help you set up your journal and start making it your own.
This looks great! I’m late to the game as i was doing new grandbaby duty 🥰 but i’m ready to play 😊 thanks