Showing posts with label journaling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journaling. Show all posts

Tuesday, 31 December 2024

Reasons to start a journal in the New Year

With a fresh new year around the corner, it's the perfect time to start a regular journalling habit! I've written many times on this blog about how I love writing in my journals - I use a bullet style journal to plan my week and a blank journal which I fill with my thoughts, ephemera and simple sketches. I find that journalling is a great way to keep those superfluous thoughts from running around inside my head, and it's also a way of bringing a dose of creativity to my daily life.

Why start a journal in the New Year?

It's a great time to start a journal. When a new year begins it's natural to want to reflect on the year just gone and to plan the year ahead. Everyone else is doing the same thing so there is plenty of motivation, and after the excess of Christmas you are in the mood to clear some space both physically and mentally. 

What do you need to get started?

Recently I wrote an article on how to journal when you don't know where to start and it contains plenty of advice to help you get over any block you might have to starting. All you need is something to write on and something to write with, and you don't need any expensive supplies. You probably already have a blank notebook around that has been waiting for a purpose! 

When it comes to physically putting pen to paper, I always start a new journal a few pages in. Then I can come back and fill the first couple of pages at a later date, or else I fill them with stickers and ephemera as time goes on. 

Starting a journal in the new year
Photo credit Daria Shevtsova via Unsplash

What are the benefits of a regular journalling habit?

I find writing in my journal an enormous help to my wellbeing. When I have too many things running through my head, writing them down helps to clear my mind and organise my thoughts. It helps my anxiety to get things down on paper, and it's also really relaxing. 

Journalling helps me to work through and solve problems, for example a tricky decision that needs to be made. Often writing out a pros and cons list can help to find the answer that I'm looking for.  

In the new year I like to think about the things that I want to work on and achieve. For example changes that I want to make to my lifestyle, or things that I want to do. A journal can help to keep a record and track progress, or be a list of places to visit, recipes to make, activities to try. 

Recently on social media I've been seeing examples of dopamine menus. I don't like the name but I do like the concept - it's basically just a list of things that you enjoy doing. I had a similar list in my first bullet journal and I'm definitely going to create a new one for my next journal. 

Writing regularly can create a lovely record of things that you've done, especially when going through a life event that you will want to look back on. For example I've been journalling about the building of our house extension, both a factual account of what has been happening and also how I've been feeling about it at the time. 

Keeping a journal and pen handy is a great way to reduce screen time. You can fill a few minutes by jotting down some thoughts, or else settle down for a longer session away from the screen with a hot drink and a good view. 

Journalling is also a great way to improve creativity. I like to try out different layouts and styles, accessorise pages with stickers and washi tape, or try some simple sketches and start an illustrated journal

Finally...

One important thing that I want to mention is a reminder that your journal is personal to you. Don't feel the pressure to share it on social media - when you see beautiful journal pages online they have been created for that purpose and are designed to gather views and interaction. They can be great for inspiration, but can also make you feel inadequate and feel like stopping when you've barely begun.

Start with some cheap supplies so that you aren't intimidated by a beautiful journal that you don't want to ruin, and just take it from there!

Friday, 6 December 2024

Christmas themed bullet journal and journalling supplies

This post contains Amazon affiliate links

I regularly write in both my bullet journal and my everyday journal, and one of the things that makes it enjoyable for me is decorating and accessorising the pages to match the season. With Christmas well on the way, I thought I'd share some journalling supplies which are perfect for brightening up a journal now that the days are feeling gloomy!

Christmas journalling by the window
Photo credit Alisa Anton via Unsplash

I get through a lot of stickers in my journalling! I use them as accents in the corners of pages, to decorate a themed journal page, and sometimes as image journal prompts.

Sometimes I like to use a large Christmas sticker (affiliate link) for some emphasis, or else I also like to use smaller Christmas stickers (affiliate link) as tiny accents or to create a border around the page.


Christmas stickers for festive journalling

Another way that I like to decorate my pages is with washi tape. I have quite a collection now since I first bought washi tape back in 2013! I love this colourful Christmas washi tape (affiliate link), or else this simpler vintage Christmas themed washi tape (affiliate link).

Pile of Christmas themed washi tape

Finally another addition to Christmas journalling supplies is a set of Christmas paper punches (affiliate link). You can use them for either the punched pieces themselves or to add interest to the edge of a page by cutting away a line of outlines. You could also look for a larger paper punch like this paper punch Christmas tree (affiliate link) which could be used to decorate a festive journal page.

Christmas small festive paper punches

Try working on entries with some cheerful coloured gel pens (affiliate link) or some glittery highlighters (affiliate link) and bring some festive cheer to your journal pages this season!

Monday, 11 November 2024

How to journal when you don't know when to start

I've written diaries since I was a teenager. Writing a page before I went to sleep helped a lot with my teenage angst, even if now I can't bear to look back through those old entries! When I stopped regular diary writing I always made holiday scrapbooks to document my travels, and I made baby journals to record milestones. Recently I started writing again, and this time I call it journalling. Instead of a regular diary I write dated entries in a blank book, and I don't feel the pressure to write every day. 

Sometimes I write about what I've done that day, but most of the time I just write about what's on my mind. Maybe it's something that I've seen in news, a thought sparked by a book I'm reading, or just a stream of consciousness.

Many people want to start a journal but have no idea where to start, and so I thought I'd share a few tips in case you think that journalling might be for you!

What do you need

Social media would lead you to believe that you need a huge amount of journalling supplies. But all you need to get started is something to write with and something to write on. I like a pen which is comfortable to hold and writes smoothly, and paper which has a pleasant writing surface. It's best to start with cheap supplies, because then you don't have the pressure to do something worthwhile. A beautiful journal filled with handmade paper and bound in fine leather feels far too precious and so will probably end up never being filled!

I personally write in a journal with blank pages. I can write in straight lines, and I enjoy sticking things in alongside the occasional sketch. But you might prefer lined or gridded journals. 

How to start

The first page of a new journal can be terrifying! I always start a new journal by writing my name, phone number and e-mail address inside, in case we become separated. I turn over a few pages before I start writing properly and use the blank pages at the front to add stickers and ephemera as I work through the journal. 

The first page of a new journal
Photo credit Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash

Then just take the pen and start to write! If you are really stuck, then a good place to start might be an introduction to yourself - your name and other factual information, where you live, who you live with, what you do for work, what you do in your spare time, why you want to start a journal. You will probably find that once you make a start you'll find that you have plenty to write!

Some other ideas for daily entries - Write about what you've done that day. Make a list of things and people that you are grateful for. Write about goals that you are working on and how well you are doing with them. There is plenty of inspiration online for journal prompts, or else just write whatever comes into your head.

How to keep going

Some people want to stick to a routine and write every day. If this is you, then find a regular time during your day that you can dedicate to the task. Maybe after you drop the children at school, in your lunchbreak, after work or just before bed. Try to write something, even if it's just a few lines, just to keep the habit going. But don't worry if you miss a day or two, just pick up where you left off. If you are worried that missing a day might throw you off completely then try an undated journal or a diary with a blank space for the date that you can fill in when you have chance to write.

If you want to use the journal to record your travels then make sure to work with supplies that are easy to pack up and take along, and keep things simple. If you want to keep a journal of a special event like your wedding or the birth of a child then you might want to start a collection of ephemera like business cards, photographs, menus and so on that you can stick inside. If you want a keepsake, you might prefer to make notes in a rough book first, then write it up when you have the time to create an attractive entry.

Give yourself a small reward every time you write, and turn it into a ritual. For example sit down in a quiet place with a cup of tea and a biscuit, cuddle up with a soft blanket, play some favourite songs. Put the phone down and have a break from the screen. As you continue the habit you can treat yourself to new pens in different colours, a journal with better quality paper, or some fun supplies like stickers or washi tape. 

Avoid hunting out too much inspiration online. It can be a source of inspiration, but it can also be overwhelming and lead to unrealistic expectations which can put you off making a start in the first place. Likewise think about whether you want to share your journal pages online. It's fine if you do but be aware that you will write differently for an audience than for yourself. Most journal pages shared online have been created specifically to share.

How to take it further

As you begin to see yourself as a journaller you'll feel more confident taking the journal out and about with you, and perhaps making the act of writing in the journal the purpose of a trip to a café or a beautiful outdoor spot. Writing in a different location might help you to see things differently and gain a new perspective. 

Journalling can be a powerful tool. As you work on the habit you'll learn to turn to your journal to help you work through difficult emotions or to help make a tricky decision. You can also use the journal to plan your goals and to work on your personal development. 

Woman sitting outdoors journalling
Photo credit Ashlyn Ciara via Unsplash

I hope that this has inspired you to think about starting a journal! I love writing in my journal and I find it really helpful for dealing with a cluttered mind as well as taking some time for myself for quiet reflection.

Monday, 4 November 2024

How to use images as journal prompts

I love writing in my journal. I write about all sorts of things - what I've done that day, things that I'm worrying about, things that have caught my eye in the news, basically just anything that has been on my mind. Something that I've been dabbling in recently is using images as prompts for a journal entry. I've not done any creative writing since I was at school, and I have no desire to publish any of my creative writing. But I enjoy the process of creating, and using writing to express myself. I thought I'd share a few ideas on how to incorporate an image prompt into your journal writing process.

What types of images to use?

A place - either somewhere familiar or unknown. Somewhere that reminds you of somewhere that you've been, or somewhere that you'd like to go.

Faces and people - either that you recognise or of strangers. Close up individual portraits or family groups. Sitting still or taking part in an activity.

Natural images - plants, flowers, water, sky, landscapes.

Objects - modern or historic. Things that you own or would like to own. Something that reminds you of someone or something in your past. A single object or a large collection.

Seasonal - images that remind you of a certain season, either a season of the year or a season of life.

Where to find suitable pictures?

Postcards - ones that you've been sent or ones that you spot while out and about.

Your own photographs - favourite photos with memories attached to them, or pictures that you've taken of things that caught your eye and sparked your interest. I recently found an old photo in my parent's things that I couldn't help but write a journal entry about!

Magazines and catalogues - inspirational and aesthetic images or mundane advertising shots.

Online - I source my blog photos from Unsplash, or if it's for your own personal use then you can just do a Google image search and print. If you want to save potential writing prompts then Pinterest is a great way to group images that you've found online.

Photobooks or other collections of images - I recently bought a little book of tiny stickers and realised that they would be ideal for journal prompts!

Images to use as journal prompts

What sort of things could you write about?

Describe the image as you see it, and write about where you found it. Why did it catch your eye, and why did you choose this one over others? Is there one part of the image that particularly draws your attention?

How does this image make you feel? Think about the emotions that you feel when you look at the picture. Are they positive or negative? Does it make you think of something that you'd like to change about your life, whether that's a place you want to visit, an experience you want to have, or a change that you'd like to make to your surroundings.

Is there something that you've noticed in the image that isn't obvious at first glance? Maybe something seen in reflection or something in the distance. An expression on a face that doesn't feel quite right. What have you seen that a casual viewer might miss?

What happened just before or just after this photo was taken? What might have happened in this place in the past, or might happen here in the future? Why was the photo taken at just this time?

Why was this photograph taken? What else could it be used for?

What are the relationships between the people in a photo? Or the subject and the photographer? How do they feel about each other, are they friends, acquaintances or strangers?

What does this image remind you of in your own life? Something in your past, a dream, a memory or even something that hasn't happened yet.

Write from the perspective of a person in the photograph or even an object. What can they see, how do they feel, what are they thinking about?

Use the image as the starting point for a short story or poem. Maybe a location, a character or even just an emotion. This might even help you to learn something about yourself, maybe some challenges that you are facing or something you need to overcome.

How to use images for journal prompts
Photo credit Thought Catalog via Unsplash

Monday, 28 October 2024

Things that I've written about in my journal recently

I took a bit of a break from my journal over the summer, I'm not sure why but I just got out of the habit a little bit. But when the work started on our extension I wanted to pick it up and write some entries about what work had been done and how things were going. So that has been the main focus of my journal over the last few weeks, just to have something to look back on in the future. Not just a factual account but also how I've been feeling about it, and things that I'm looking forward to about the new space.

But I've also found time to write about plenty of other things! I made this very simple collage after feeling a little bit sad at the state of my poor garden, which is now a big muddy wasteland. I used some botanical collage elements and pretty floral washi stickers to remind me that soon I will have a beautiful garden!

Simple collage of flowers with paper elements and stickers

For the first few weeks of term the road outside the school was closed and so I had to drop the children off in an adjacent street. I've walked this way plenty of times before, but sitting with them in the car when we arrived early gave me the time to properly notice the abandoned church which has been decaying slowly over the last few years. It is up for sale but it's really big, which is probably why it hasn't sold as a conversion project. I quickly drew a very small part of it to remind me, I'll be interested to see what happens to it over the next few years.

Basic watercolour sketch of abandoned church

A couple of weeks ago I was delighted to receive a Lakeland Christmas catalogue through the post. I  like looking through the catalogue more than visiting the shop, which is good as there isn't one that I can easily visit. But a Lakeland concession is opening soon at the garden centre down the road, and I'm very much looking forward to having a look round. In the meantime I spent a lovely quiet evening cutting out my favourite aesthetic Christmas photos and gluing them down to create an inspirational collage.

And finally I was helping my parents sort through some things at their house and I came across this amazing photo! It was in the 'throw out' pile so she's not a relative of mine, and no-one knows who she was or why they had the photo. I must admit that I've partly shared it here just in case someone might find it as part of an image search and be able to give me some more information! I just love it, that expression on her face. I wrote a little bit about why I liked it so much and who I imagine she might be.

Vintage photo of an elderly lady with grumpy expression holding a book

Monday, 21 October 2024

Journalling and bullet journal supplies for Halloween

This post contains affiliate links

I love writing in my notebooks, and I have two journals consistently on the go. I use my bullet journal to plan my weekly schedule and keep track of my tasks for the day, then I use my illustrated journal to write down my thoughts and also as a creative outlet for small sketches and collages. I enjoy theming them both to the time of year, and with Halloween coming up I thought I'd share some Halloween themed supplies which would work really well for all types of journalling. 

Journal with pumpkin and candle
Photo credit Michelle Gordon via Unsplash

Almost all of my bullet journal pages are edged with a strip of washi tape, I just love it! I have a pack of Halloween themed washi tape that I bought a few years ago and it's the perfect way to give a page an instant Halloween look. If you want something similar then you might like this big pack of cheerful Halloween washi tape, or you might prefer something darker like this huge set of magic and witch themed washi tape

Halloween washi tape for bullet journalling and crafts

When I'm working on a themed journal page, I often use some patterned paper as a background or as matting for a piece of ephemera. Something like this Halloween paper ephemera would work perfectly, or for a less bulky look some Halloween tissue paper would also work really well. 

I use stickers in both my bullet journal and my illustrated journal. For my bullet journal I like to use something small and fun, like these simple Halloween stickers. I especially like the small icons which you could use as bullet point markers. The stickers below are part of my Aesthetic Planner Stickers set which covers holidays and occasions throughout the year. But for my journal I want something a bit more dramatic, so I often go for some printed collage images which you can have fun cutting out and arranging on the page. I love this Vintage Halloween Ephemera Collection which is packed with spooky illustrations for all sorts of paper Halloween projects.

Halloween planner stickers

Until recently I always used the same fountain pen for writing in my journal, but after buying some new pens in gorgeous colours I've started to mix it up a bit. I use a new pen colour each day to make my entries stand out, and at this time of year I'm really drawn to autumnal colours. I have a set of these lovely pens - Zebra Sarasa gel pens - which come in a range of muted, vintage colours and are really comfortable to write with. It's difficult to choose a favourite colour but at the moment I'm really enjoying the golden yellow and the dark red.

Vintage Zebra pens in muted colours

Halloween usually calls for more muted, darker colours, so you can reflect this in the other accents that you use in your journal. For example coloured sticky tabs as bookmarks or to help find a certain journal page. I also love these fun Autumn leaf sticky notes which really stand out, both to use in a bullet journal or as a quick reminder around the house. 

Planner sticky tabs in faded fall colours

I hope you enjoyed these ideas for bringing some Halloween fun to your journal pages this month!

Friday, 26 April 2024

Starting my second journal

Around this time last year I began to write regularly in my journal, and I soon progressed to adding ephemera along with a few illustrations. I've mentioned my journal a lot on my blog.

I've written about how I use my journal, shared some of the things that I have stuck in to my journal, and how I use my journal to help me notice the things around me. I've also blogged about overcoming my fear of journalling in public, and how I use my journal to spark my creativity. A regular journalling habit has become really important to me, and I always feel better after getting my thoughts down on paper.

My journal is a very simple Amazon Basics notebook (affiliate link), and it's slightly smaller than A4 size. I always look out for this notebook on Prime day as they are often reduced to half price. The pages aren't the best quality but they hold up well to my fountain pen and even some ink and watercolours. The paper is really smooth for comfortable writing and although the pages are thin they are still sturdy enough for plenty of gluing. There's also a handy pocket at the back for loose odds and ends.

I was running out of pages in my original journal just before we went away over Easter, so I decided that it would be a good time to start a new one. I removed the last few blank pages to try and make it a little flatter. I love this photo comparing my old and new journals - you can see just how much I stuffed it full with tickets, pictures, postcards, stickers, cards and all sorts of ephemera!

Old stuffed journal compared to brand new one

Now I'm starting again with a lovely empty book of clean pages. I love writing with my fountain pen, or cartridge pen as we used to call them back at school. I'm thinking about treating myself to some different coloured cartridges so that I can have a really colourful journal!

Wednesday, 20 September 2023

Journal prompts for bloggers

I love writing in my journal, and even though I don't write every day I find that it's a really good way of putting my thoughts in order. I like to write about what I've been doing, things that I've learned or researched, things that I want to do and just random thoughts about various aspects of my life.

I often find myself writing about things that have interested me or caught my attention that have later made it into a blog post. I thought I'd have a think about how keeping a journal has been helpful for me when it comes to writing my blog.

I've put together some journal prompts for bloggers, both for myself and to share. I think that they fall into two different categories - firstly journal prompts which are for your own private thoughts and secondly journal prompts that help you to explore ideas, spark creativity, and which may become useful when writing future posts.

Journal prompts for private reflection

Why did you start your blog? For me it was to share photographs and updates of the children with the wider family, but it quickly moved on from there.

Why did you continue blogging, what was your motivation? 

How has the look and feel of your blog changed over time?

What have you gained from blogging? Maybe online companionship or paid work.

What has blogging taught you? For example confidence in using social media, writing skills, how to edit HTML, photo taking and editing.

What challenges have you had while blogging?

What are your favourite topics to blog about and why do you enjoy writing about them?

What puts you into a blogging mood?

What gives you ideas for blog posts?

What are your blogging goals? Some ideas - to post more frequently, to update older posts, to improve photography, to improve sharing on social media.

Are you happy with your blog? What would you like to change?

Open notebook in front of a laptop
Photo credit Jodie Cook via Unsplash

Journal prompts to inspire blogging

What have been your favourite blog posts to write and why? Are there any that could be updated or rewritten with a new perspective?

What subjects do you most enjoy writing about?

What have you never written about? What would you like to write about?

If you've been blogging for a long time, how has your life changed since you started? What new direction could you take the blog in based on new interests, surroundings or family situation?

What advice do you have for someone that is thinking of starting a blog? What blogging tips and tricks would you share?

What would you like to change about your blog?

How would you love your blog to look? Think about posting frequency, structure, images, design, colour scheme and so on.

If you are looking for inspiration when it comes to writing blog posts then you may find this post useful - an entire year of blog post ideas and inspiration.

Friday, 28 July 2023

Things that I have stuck into my journal

 Things that I have already glued in my journal:

Stickers, seaweed, photographs that I've printed of things that interest me, packaging from food and snacks, notes from the children, wristbands, printed quotes from books, washi tape, business cards, scraps of fabric, notes found in second hand books, printed information from things I've researched, photographs from leaflets, confetti, gift tags, sand, drink mats, teabag tags, seed packets, leaves, maps, wrappers from watercolour paint blocks, dried flowers, set lists from concerts...

Things to stick in a journal, ideas and tips

Things that I have yet to stick in my journal:

Postcards, wrapping paper, greetings cards, photographs, dried earth, seeds, stamps, tissue paper, patterned paper, ribbon, jokes from Christmas crackers, tickets, recipes, envelopes...

Tips for keeping a journal flat when it is filled with ephemera:

If you are planning to stick lots of things into a journal then you might want to consider a spiral bound sketchbook. The pages will be thicker so they can hold heavier items, and as well as giving you a bit more room because of the spiral binding it will also be easier to remove pages.

Removing pages will mean that the journal will lie flatter and be easier to write in as it fills up. You can also try to stick bulkier objects to different areas of the pages to spread them out at bit and use photographs or scans instead of originals.

Or you can just embrace the look of a splayed out journal, overflowing with all sorts of interesting things!

Ideas and tips for things to stick in a personal journal

Ways to attach items inside a journal:

PVA glue (be careful as this can make the page wrinkly and takes longer to dry), a glue stick (keeps the page flat, dries quickly, not so good for heavier objects like dried flowers or leaves), paperclips, staples, sellotape, washi tape (not as sticky as sellotape and can peel off easily), BluTack (will lose it's stickiness over time and is quite bulky), glue dots, double sided tape, sewing, storing items inside envelopes (good for more delicate items that you don't want to cover in glue).

Remember that many of these adhesive methods (and for that matter most of the things that you are sticking inside) are not archival and will not last forever. It all depends how long you want the journal to survive - just for your lifetime or for many generations to come! If you are very concerned about the longevity of your journal then it's worth doing some research on what supplies to use and ways to preserve it. There are some good tips here - Best supplies for archival journal making.

Personally I'm making my journals for myself so I'm not too worried, and as long as I can look back through them in a few years time then I'm happy!

If you want to read more about my journal then you might like this post - How starting an illustrated journal helped me to notice things

Wednesday, 5 July 2023

How I use my journal to spark my creativity (plus some creative journaling prompts)

I've written a lot about my journal recently, mainly because I'm really enjoying writing in it regularly. As well as helping me to get my thoughts in order, I've found that writing and drawing in the journal has really helped with my creativity. Sometimes I make collages using things that I've collected like tickets or pictures from leaflets, and I often do a quick illustration of something and splash some paint around.

Things that I've written about in my journal have sparked ideas for blog posts and craft projects that I want to work on. I've been enjoying looking around for simple things that I can draw to illustrate posts, and pleasantly surprised when an illustration has turned out how I want it to. I make lists of things that I want to try, I write about memories that have been sparked by things I've seen or heard and I write about things that I've seen in the news or social media and my reactions to them. I do use it as a diary as well but I don't record everything that has happened in the day, it's more open ended.

There are lots of guided journals that you can buy to help you with your creativity, but although I've had a look at some of them I don't think they are for me. Instead I've put together a list of journal prompts which I think would be really helpful if you are trying to use a journal to spark your creativity. Some of these I've tried, and the rest I am planning to try!

Journaling prompts to spark thoughts about creativity

What is the difference between a creative process and the end result?

Make a list of ways to get out of a creative block - like going for a walk, sitting outside, visiting a particular place, spending time with a particular person

Make a list of the craft supplies in your stash - what do you tend to collect and what could you do with it?

Plan for creative occasions that you like to craft for - Christmas, birthdays and so on.

Make a list of crafts or activities that you would like to try one day

What makes you feel inspired to create? What blocks you?

What creative projects are you most proud of?

Make a list of unfinished craft projects then use the list to make a decision about each one - whether to set a goal to complete it, pass it on to someone else to complete or to quietly dispose of it.

How has your creativity changed at different stages in your life - for example as a child or as a parent

Do you like to share your creative output with others or do you keep it to yourself? 

Does social media give us unrealistic expectations of creativity, or a fear of comparing ourselves to others?

For many more ideas see this brilliant list of 100 Journaling Questions to Spark Creativity

Illustrated journal page by Elena Mozhvilo
Photo credit Elena Mozhvilo via Unsplash

Saturday, 17 June 2023

How starting an illustrated journal helped me to notice things

I started a new journal in February this year, and I always knew that I wanted to make it an illustrated journal. I've written in more detail about how I use my journal here, but essentially it's a record of what I've been doing, places that I've visited, and what's on my mind at the time. I'm currently using a very simple Amazon Basics plain notebook (affiliate link), it's not a perfect watercolour paper but I like the way that my writing and drawing pens flow on the page, and as long as I don't add too much paint or water it's fine for simple sketches.

I like breaking the writing up with little pictures, I don't claim to be a great artist but my simple sketches are a way of recording something which was important to me at the time. Most of them only took 5-10 minutes which is exactly what I want as it needs to be a quick process.

Simple sketches from illustrated journal

I'm hoping that as I practice I'll get better and find it easier, and ultimately be able to take my journal out and about with me and illustrate it while I'm on the go! Especially for a travel journal, as I never get to sit still for very long when we are visiting somewhere. 

Since I started the journal, when I'm out and about I'm always on the lookout for something interesting to draw. I have a few regular walking and running routes near our house, and I've found myself noticing things that I never previously paid any attention to. For example the George V postbox in a brick and flint pillar which I've been obsessed with recently, I've drawn it loads of times but it always comes out a bit wonky!

I also noticed a little footpath down the side of a row of houses with a 'Private' sign on the gate and it has fascinated me, although I'm sure it only goes to the garden at the back of the house. I spotted an interesting gate in a wall that I pass on my walk over to the school, and the other day I was waiting in the shop for a pizza and I noticed a beautiful old church window framed by some modern houses. I've found myself snapping quick photos of all sorts of things and then hurrying home to attempt a vague reproduction in my journal! It's definitely helped me to notice more of what is going on around me.

Wednesday, 7 June 2023

What I've been doing instead of blogging

I feel like I have neglected my blog a bit lately. I know that I'm still posting but usually I write and schedule lots of posts in advance as well as writing as I go along, and lately I've been scrabbling to get something published! I feel like I've been quite busy though, I've been working on my hobbies and trying out a few new things. So here's what I've been doing recently instead of blogging!

Going for walks - The weather here has been wonderful for weeks. Lovely and sunny but not too hot, the perfect temperature for a long walk. My husband and I try to get out after dinner most days and I often also go out at some point during the day, even if it's just around the block. 

Journalling - I've been really into my journalling lately, I love sitting down for ten minutes or so at a time and writing down my thoughts. It's a mixture of diary entries and just things that are on my mind, nothing too personal just what I'm thinking about, maybe something that I've read in the news. I have also started doing a few little illustrations, very badly, which leads on to my next interest...

Sketching - I've always fancied the idea of having an illustrated journal, especially a travel journal. I did study Art A-Level so I have a vague art qualification which maybe gives me a bit of a head start, but it was a long time ago and the first sketches in my journal didn't look at all how I wanted them to. I discovered Urban Sketching and some artists that work in a really loose way, so I've been following a few tutorials on YouTube and giving it a go!

Some very early attempts at Urban Sketching

Sorting out and reading my old diaries - I have a box of diaries dated from 1991 - 1998, throughout my teenage years. I keep them stashed at the top of the wardrobe and every now and then I get them out to decide if I still want to keep them. The early diaries are fun to read although pretty boring, it's mainly just what I did at school that day. The later ones are much more interesting, especially when boys came on the scene, but they are so embarrassing that I can't bear to read them and I would hate for anyone else to come across them! But they are also filled with memories, like my driving test mark sheets and entries from visiting the Orlando theme parks which I really enjoyed looking back on. So back they went into the wardrobe!

Organising my holiday leaflet and ephemera collection - I've always been a collector, especially of free things, and I have two boxes filled with mementoes from my travels over the years. It wasn't very well organised though, just everything piled in together, so I had fun going through it all. I've got theme park maps going back years and it was interesting to get them all in one place and compare them. It also made me realise that this kind of collection probably won't grow very much, now that everything is done electronically. When we visit an attraction we rarely have a physical ticket, and on our last couple of cruises they no longer give out the daily itineraries - it's all in the app. 

Two boxes filled with travel ephemera

I'm not giving up on the blog though, I love writing it!

Monday, 5 June 2023

Overcoming the fear of journalling in public

I started journalling seriously in February this year and I've kept up the habit, mostly writing daily. I record about what I've done that day, I glue in ephemera, I write about things that I've learned or that have interested me in the news, I copy notes from research about things that have interested me and recently I've started illustrating it with very simple sketches and watercolours.

I write with a fountain pen, and because my journal has smooth pages I love how the ink flows onto the page. Sometimes I write a paragraph or so and sometimes I'll write several pages, and I pick it up throughout the day whenever the fancy takes me.

On the first page of my journal I wrote a list of places that I wanted to write. I wanted to conquer my fear of writing in public, I intended to take it out and about with me, even though I hate the thought of anyone reading what I write.

I started by writing in different positions around the house - in bed, in the egg chair, on the sofa, on the garden chairs, in the car or on the floor. This helped me to find comfortable ways of holding the book and the pen. I also wrote in front of other family members, I think they all took a peek and realised that it wasn't particularly interesting!

Woman sitting on a hill writing in a journal
Photo credit Ashlyn Ciara via Unsplash

The first time that I truly wrote my journal in public was on our cruise holiday over Easter. I wrote while sitting on a chair on deck with my back to the wall and holding the book almost upright so that no-one could see. And I'm pretty sure that no-one even noticed! Then I took it to the beach a couple of times and wrote while sitting on a sun lounger. This was much less private as the beaches were busy with lots of people walking past, but again no-one cared. 

My next step is to become more comfortable with drawing in my journal in public. I think that this will be much more obvious, especially if I get the paints out, and also I'm very aware that my sketching definitely has room for improvement. I don't think anyone would criticise me out loud but I don't want people judging my efforts even internally, especially when they are a work in progress. 

I'm going to start by taking a very small sketchbook up to school with me and drawing in the car, just sketching the things that I can see from where I'm sitting. The houses on the road, trees, and maybe people if anyone stops in one place for long enough. Then I think that my next step will be taking it to the beach and finding a quiet spot while I get used to working outside. Eventually I'd love to be able to create an illustrated journal which I'd be happy to share with others!

Friday, 5 May 2023

How I use my journal

Recently I wrote about how I was building up a collection of notebooks and pens, and one of these notebooks was my new journal. As a teenager I was an avid diary writer, but I fell out of the habit at university. I did keep travel journals as a young adult, but since then only my blog has filled the gap. 

I've always loved the idea of keeping a written journal. Maybe part of the appeal is having important things on my mind that need to be recorded for posterity, as well as a need to get back to something analogue in this digital world. I'd been spending time on Reddit reading about bullet journals when I stumbled across the subreddit r/journaling and that was what finally inspired me to start a 'journal' rather than just a diary. It was seeing pictures of pages that people shared, and realising that they were in fact often just as dull as what I would write!

My journal is an Amazon Basics black notebook, slightly narrower than A5 in size. I write in it with a Helix Oxford fountain pen, or a black rollerball pen when travelling. I chose blank pages because I wanted the option to add drawings or sketches. 

I write the journal like a diary, with the date at the beginning of the entry, and I often write about what I've done that day. But I don't write about the day in detail like I used to as a teenager. Instead I pick a few things from the day and write about what they meant to me. So I might write that I've been for a run, but only if I saw something particularly interesting on that run. I write throughout the day, not just in the evening.

I'll often write about the book that I'm reading, maybe copying a quote or something that has particularly stuck in my mind. Sometimes a book has inspired me to do a bit of research into a topic, like a haunting book I read about the ship the St. Louis, that was carrying Jewish refugees from Europe in 1939 and was turned away by Cuba, the US and Canada, eventually being forced to return to Europe. I read about what had happened to the passengers on board and made some notes.

I write what's on my mind, but I don't write anything too personal that I wouldn't want others to read. I don't write anything negative about others, and I always write with a future reader in mind (although I'm sure most people would find it very boring!) 

I stick things in too - tickets, pictures cut from leaflets, seed packets, other random bits of ephemera. I've not added as many of my own drawings as I'd like to, I'm still a bit shy although I'd love to create a full on art journal! But I have written in it in public lots of times, mostly on holiday when I wrote on the beach and on the cruise ship deck. 

Journaling for me is a peaceful way to spend some screen free time, and it often helps me to get my thoughts in order. I might find it interesting to look back on the journal one day although I hate to look back at my teenage diaries as they make me cringe! But I try to write a little bit about current events, for example I'll write about the coronation next week, as I imagine that reading about historical events might be something that I'd enjoy reading back about. 

Closed journal with fountain pen on top

Do you keep a journal? What kinds of things do you write about? I'd love to hear!

Monday, 22 November 2021

Christmas journal prompts and ideas

A few years ago I shared how to make a simple Christmas journal and so today I thought I'd share some ideas for journaling prompts that you can use to fill it! There are all kinds of ideas for things to write about, from specific ideas for this year to more general Christmas memories and experiences.

Christmas journal prompts and ideas

Particular things that you want to remember about Christmas this year

The Christmas activities that you got up to - what part did your children play in the Nativity play? did you visit Father Christmas? was there a school Christmas fair?

A list of the gifts that you and your family received

Which new Christmas decorations did you purchase or make this year?

What Christmas crafts did you do this year?

If you have an Elf on the Shelf, what were his most memorable antics this year?

Did anything new happen this Christmas? any new guests for Christmas dinner, or any activities that you tried for the first time?

What books were you reading this Christmas, and were they festive themed?

Did you stay at home this Christmas or were you visiting family and friends?

What Christmas crafts were you been working on?

Who did you receive Christmas cards from this year and who did you send them to? maybe stick in some of your favourites.

Glue in a page or two from the Christmas television guide so you can see which programmes were popular and which ones come round year after year.

Create a collage with some of your favourite scraps of wrapping paper, gift tags or Christmas cards.

Stick in a page from a toy catalogue (or a print out from the website!) so that you can remember which were the top toys this year and how much they cost.

How do you celebrate Christmas in your family?

What are your Advent calendar traditions? do you have the same one or a new one each year? are they for everyone or just the children? how have Advent calendars changed since you were a child?

What new Christmas traditions have you started as an adult or with your family? for example Elf on the Shelf, Christmas Eve boxes, reindeer food, gingerbread houses.

Your memories of Christmas past

What sort of Christmas tree did you have growing up? was it real or artificial?

What do you remember eating for Christmas dinner growing up? how has it changed?

What Christmas crafts did you do at school or with your parents?

What Christmas films did you watch growing up?

Do you have any heirloom or vintage Christmas decorations from your childhood that you still display today?

What were your family Christmas traditions as a child? have you continued them now that you are an adult?

Ask other family members, for example your parents or grandparents, to contribute their own Christmas memories, both of you as a child and of their own childhoods.

General Christmas topics to write about

What would it not be Christmas without?

Ten (or more!) things that you love about Christmas.

Do you prefer a real or an artificial Christmas tree? why? 

Share some of your favourite seasonal recipes and the memories associated with them.

What are your favourite Christmas songs and carols and what do they remind you of? copy out the lyrics so that you have a record in your journal.

What are your favourite Christmas movies to watch with your family?

What are your favourite Christmas tree ornaments and decorations? are there any with particular special memories?

What are your favourite Christmas decorations around the home and garden?

How would you spend your ideal Christmas Day?

Who would be your fantasy Christmas dinner guests?

Which foods do you only eat at Christmas time?

Ask your children some questions about Christmas that you can repeat each year, for example what time will you get up on Christmas morning, what gifts are you hoping to receive, what gifts do you think that Mum and Dad are hoping for, who do you want to spend Christmas with, what foods are you looking forward to eating? Then you can see how their answers change over time!

If you are writing your Christmas journal in the form of a blog then you might find this post helpful - Blog post ideas for Christmas

If your journaling style leans more towards video then I also have lots ideas for Christmas Vlogmas videos and vlogging.

I hope that this post has given you plenty of inspiration when you come to record your memories this Christmas!

Christmas journaling ideas and prompts
Photo credit Joanna Kosinka via Unsplash

Main image credit pure julia via Unsplash.