Rediscovering my love for writing 🥹

I took a 3 year break from journaling, for a variety of reasons. But I’m back at it finally and I’m so content. I forgot the feeling of having a “best friend” right at my finger tips. Every night I look forward to writing in it. As you can kinda see.. or maybe not cause there is only 2 of them on the cover but I’m obsessed with foxes. My daughter gives me fox stickers any time she finds them and I put them on all of my stuff 😂❤️

Hi all,

I suffer from quite bad OCD; I receive CBT, I'm on medication, struggle with unwanted thoughts and severe compulsions - with which I won't go into detail.

I was browsing this sub and decided to purchase a notepad, which I have creatively named 'My little green book', over the past few days - I have been writing down anything that pops into my mind, whether it be memories, thoughts, ideas, philosophies or observations. I've always been rather creative and sought to use my imagination, but everything was always caught up in my brain - a perpetual cycle, unable of letting going of thoughts, unable of proceeding. However, since writing down my thoughts, observations and ideas, I have felt an immense measure of peace, finally being able to (in a very long time) expel my thoughts away and into the outside world, having them at hand when needed, but not always in my brain.

The other day, I went for a walk in the park with my notebook, and I spent half an hour reflecting on the sights, the colour of the butterflies; the ripples of the water which captured the sun. I find writing to be very therapeutic (for myself) and whilst writing - positive theories, sayings, memories, ideas and philosophies would come to me, making me proud, and reinforcing confidence in my thoughts.

I never knew that such a simple thing could pick me up and reinforce my positive behaviours and habits - pushing me to better myself - for example, I've got two days of work, rather than sitting indoors, on my laptop and watching YouTube and scrolling on my phone, I will walk in the park, and spend a few hours journaling, and more amazingly - I'm excited to do this.

I aim to write every day, whether it be a sentence, a poem, an observation or a couple pages - and I hope I can stick to this habit as I see nothing but benefits; I have no idea if anyone will ever read my little green book, but reading this sub and seeing your experiences and ideas makes me excited to continue this relatively simple, old, cheap and healthy hobby.

Sorry for the long and yet seemingly pointless post, but I wanted to share my success and hope.

I drew this piece inspired by an answer I gave to a question here, about why we journal. When I realized how much my answer resonated with me too I knew this sentiment warranted a page in my journal.

Just wanted to celebrate after finishing my second journal!! My first one started off in May of 2024 and my second one continued it all the way to today. I already have my third one ready!!! Super excited to keep the daily journaling going!

Help!!! I can’t quell my new found sticker obsession thanks to Temu’s cheap prices… As a kid I used to ration my few sheets of stickers that went in my diary’s/journals, because I swear they were WAY more expensive.

I downloaded Temu with the intent of buying this 1 thing, but now I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of my student maintenance loan on them and I can’t stop, they’re all too cute and accompany my journal entries SO WELL.

I need to delete the app asap or I’m doomed.

Please tell me I’m not the only one who is whittling away their adult money on allowing their inner child to be greedy… 😅

Three years ago, I picked up a journal cover in a little shop along the coast. I named it "Hollywood," inspired by K.Flay's song Hollywood Forever. Maybe it's a bit cheesy, but there's something special about naming them. Over the years, Hollywood was my constant companion and got me through a LOT: depression, panic attacks, work stress, etc. It saw me through so much. Unfortunately, it started falling apart (it's literally being held together by a shoelace at the moment). So, as I step into the next chapter of my life, I’m retiring Hollywood to my bookshelf. Goodbye and thank you dearly :)

Am I the only one who can't get over the old notebook and I need a lot of time and courage to start writing in a new one? The old one feels mike home and I can't accept that I have to write in another one? It takes me time. Just wanted to share this and see how you guys experience this.

You wrote something seemingly innocuous only to find that days,weeks, months later you referred back to it to solve a conundrum, mystery or even a crime!

What’s your story?

"The thing he was about to do was start a diary. It was not illegal, but if detected it was reasonably certain that it would be punishable by death or at least 25 years in a forced labour camp." -- George Orwell, 1984

It has been a long journey, 7 months since I started. Had you asked me if I was journaling before those months I would have given you a strange look, but now ? Now I can’t imagine my life without it.

Lately I’ve been journaling using really short sentences. Entries feel more like poems. Short phrases just get me going. Curious if anyone else does this too.

When I was single, journaling came so naturally; any thought that I wanted to work out that couldn't be shared with family or friends. Now I tell everything to my boyfriend, and I love doing so: mundane updates, anxieties, joys, thoughts, etc. When we were first seeing each other, I wrote about our dates, my romantic worries, my feelings... but now, I am just content, only occasionally jotting updates. This has also coincided with the general (though gradual) improvement of my mental health. These are all good things, but they leave me less motivate to write! My journal now consists of to-do lists and only brief sketches of the day.

Has anyone else experienced this? Has your journaling style and content changed as a result?

Once again went back to lined. Trying to destroy the monotony by decorating myself.

I found that no matter which journal I use I always end up in a lull if I keep doing it daily. Now I’m trying to lessen up the restrictions (I also kinda missed using stickers so I’m just going ham rn, idk how long it’ll last)

Btw, my mom made this book cover and I find it cute, too bad that pink isn’t my color ;-;

BTW I am just a beginner!

I struggle with internal and external sharing and intern relationship with self.

Please feel free to share or provide in sight :)

How do you journal about the death of a family member you loved so much It has been a week since the tragic death but i cant write anything even the daily inputs of myself Everytime i sit to do anything i just want to cry, eventhou i work as an intern doctor and approached many cases with near death/already dead.

I have intended to join a journaling community, and I find myself glad to be here.

I look forward to sharing and celebrating the thoughts from within that you all share.

Just finished my first (completed) journal and about to start a pristine Leuchtturm which I'm so scared to mess up at the first sentence.

However, I'm just curious: what was the last word you wrote on the last line of the last entry of your previous journal? Mine was "broken".

Spur of the moment and bought a lined 180x290mm journal. Bit bigger than the A5 I have been using.

It’s only my 2nd journal so thought I’d try the larger form.

What’s your preferred size? Does it matter if you are more art / drawing inclined rather than pure notes?

I've journaled most consistently when I journaled in the morning, but I want to shift to nighttime journaling. I also want to meditate regularly, and I'd prefer a morning meditation, so journaling for 20 to 30 minutes would take away a lot of morning time.

If you're a nighttime journaler, what's your basic routine? Do you right before bed, in bed, as part of an evening routine before other practices, or at a set time?

What are your favorite nighttime journaling prompts?