How I Finally Started Keeping a Journal

Have you always wanted to keep a journal? Do you think it would be nice to revisit some memories? But do you always have good reasons for not starting and nothing happens?

If that’s the case, I might have a solution to make it easy and fun. Let me tell you a bit about my story.

My lifelong desire to keep a journal

I have always wanted to keep a journal. The idea of spending some time putting down my ideas, what I have been doing or thinking of, my feelings, has always appealed to me. I felt that it would help me process whatever I was going through. And I also liked the idea of being able to revisit it a few years later.

So, I started several journals over the years. As a teenager (before blogs even existed!), during holidays, and at different stages of my life. But every time, I was confronted with the same problem: a blank page.

The struggle: the blank page

I found it intimidating. I never felt I had enough to write about, and I struggled to turn my thoughts into a coherent piece of writing with a beginning, a middle, and an end.

My journaling attempts rarely lasted more than a few days, or a few weeks when I was especially determined.

Discovering junk journals

But one day I discovered junk journals. I wasn’t sure what they were but they looked pretty and fun. I was a bit cautious at first because I didn’t want to spend money for another failed attempt.

But then I realised that keeping a junk journal does not have to be expensive. A notebook, a few pieces of pretty paper, and whatever you have around the house is enough.

What a junk journal is

A junk journal allows you to write as little or as much as you want to, and it’s also a kind of paper craft.

A junk journal can be as simple as a notebook where you glue in things that are meaningful, beautiful, or remind you of a particular moment.

You can add photos, tickets, scraps of paper, pressed flowers, magazine cut-outs, or anything else that catches your eye. You can write a few words beside them, or several pages if inspiration strikes.

Why it changed everything for me

For me, it transformed journaling from something that felt difficult into something I genuinely enjoy. It became a creative activity rather than a writing exercise.

What’s next

In my next blog post, I’ll explain exactly what a junk journal is and share some ideas for getting started.

Have you ever tried keeping a journal? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.