I started journaling my freshman year of high school when one of my closest friends gave me a cute little notebook. While it was mostly blank, she put her own touch on it by sprinkling in a mix of movie quotes, inspirational thoughts, and our own silly sayings that we thought were so funny back then. I loved the gift, plus I’d always thought journaling sounded romantic (I thought everything sounded romantic in high school), so I started writing.
Eighteen years later, I’m still writing. Today journaling is my most valuable method of processing through life, and I’m excited to share a lot more about how I approach it in this post. Earlier this week, I asked what you’d like to see me cover in this post and so many of you had excellent questions. So I’ll start this post with a hefty does of Q+As. Then I’ll finish up with my best tips to start your own journaling practice.
Get cozy, and settle in, this is a long one!
What do you write about?
I’d say about 65% of it is emotional processing — things going on in the country and the world, my dreams, what I believe and why (or why it’s changing), etc. Then maybe 25% is day to day things that were meaningful that I want to remember. And the other 10% is probably just nonsense. :) I do have a separate notebook I use for daily to-dos, creative content planning, task management, lists, etc. but I consider that more of a planner than a personal journal.
How often do you journal?
Usually I write two or three times a week, though I regularly go through seasons of journaling more and journaling less.
How much do you write a day?
It varies — sometimes half a page, sometimes six pages. Usually somewhere around two.
How much time do you spend / how long does it take when you do journal?
Typically something like 15-20 minutes.
Do you journal at a specific time of day?
I journal in the morning or at night — that’s when it works best for my schedule and when I’m in my most reflective state.
What if you don’t journal for a long time? Do you feel like you failed?
At one point, I stopped journaling for about a year. I didn’t plan it, it just sort of happened. I remember wondering to myself if this was it — if I’d ever come back to journaling or if it had run its course. But then after a while, I woke up one morning and wanted to journal again.
I started back with a tiny, thin little notebook — just about 30 or 40 pages, so I knew I could finish it. Sometimes you just need that feeling of completing a journal to get you back in the habit.
But because of that, now when I find myself in the middle of a long break, I don’t worry that I failed or that I’ll never come back to it. I trust my gut and know it’ll guide me back to it when the time is right.
Also! I don’t do huge recaps when I haven’t journaled in a while, because that’s feels like a burden. I just start fresh with the day I’m on.
How do you stay consistent?
Little things go a long way, like traveling with it, keeping it in plain sight near my bed, and always keeping a pen with it (why is it so hard to find a pen when you need one?).
I also avoid anything that makes it feel like a burden — like giant recaps, for example. Since I don’t do long recaps, I know that if I want to record something, it’s got to be in the moment. That really helps me stay consistent.
Finally, I only journal when I actually want to, not when I feel like I “should” because it’s been a while. That keeps it an enjoyable experience for me, which is key. If you enjoy something, you’ll keep doing it. If not, you won’t.
How do you let go of perfectionism?
Since the first page of a new journal can come with a lot of pressure, a long time ago, I started writing to/about the journal itself on the first page. Just silly musings like how the pages feel, if the lines are larger or smaller, how the cover looks — just nonsense really. But it took the pressure off myself to like, write a mission statement or something super positive or deep. Then when I came back the next time, that feeling of “spoiling it” was gone because I’d already written nonsense on the first page.
“Who” do you write to?
To me, journaling is both talking to yourself and listening to yourself at the exact same time. So rather than writing to someone, I write as myself. It’s hard to explain, because I’m not really talking to anyone in particular, but I’m also kind of talking to myself. Hah. :) Occasionally, when I feel like I need a focused point outside myself to write to, I’ll write to “J” (short for journal).
How much of my mood should I put into my journal? I don’t want to reread a sad journal.
I feel you. My journal is all mood though — it’s invaluable to me processing and growing from it. A lot of my past journals are sad. Sometimes it’s valuable to go back and read, sometimes it’s not. There are seasons of life where I’m not mentally healthy and that reflects in the pages. It won’t always be healthy or positive. It is what it is, just like being a human.
When I go back and reread them though, I always choose to see things through the lens of self-compassion. Choosing compassion over cringing is life changing. My past selves “live on” in a way, in my journals, and that can be kind of a weird thing. But because of that, I’ve learned to cultivate self-compassion in a unique way that no other method could have taught me.
What’s your format?
I simply open to the next page, write the date at the top and start writing anything and everything. No sections, no organization, just a chronological journal.
I have a friend who lists out the date, current temperature, and current location at the top of each entry. I’ve thought about incorporating that idea because it gives more context.
What type of journals do you like to use? Where do you get your journals?
For a long time, I liked getting a totally different journal each time, and making a special trip to Target or Barnes and Noble to pick out a new one.
A couple years ago, I wanted to make my journals super special, so for a little while I got these customized nubuck journals, but they really started to add up, so I don’t do that anymore.
Most recently I’ve been using Moleskins, and I think they’ll be my go-to for a little while. I just like how small and uniform they are (which will make storage easier!).
But even still, I love the process of picking out a unique journal (like the yellow one from Tribe Alive in the photos — sadly it’s only available in their Ft. Worth store, but here’s another cool one), so I’ll probably still do that every now and then.
How do you get over the initial cheesiness feeling? How do you do it without sounding like you’re 8 years old? Dear diary…
LOL. My husband and I make Dear Diary jokes all the time. :)
There’s always an awkward stage at first. It’s normal. You won’t know what to say at first and that’s okay. You’ll feel silly and that’s okay. But after a while, those feelings will fade and you’ll start connecting to your present self in a new way.
For daily entries, just jump in with what you want to say — no preambles. Just jump in and get down to what you really want to say.
Do you have good handwriting?
I don’t have pretty handwriting. But I think of handwriting as part of the story — it’s a fascinating glimpse into my emotional state. My handwriting gets messier and larger when I’m passionate, it gets clean and pretty when I feel at ease, and it gets suddenly small and light when I’m having a particularly difficult time. It’s interesting to add that little bit of insight to each entry. Let your handwriting be what it is — let it be part of the story.
What do you do with your old journals?
I keep them in the house in a box. Currently they are in a closet, out of the way. They are the one thing I’d grab if the house was on fire.
Do you bullet journal or use prompts?
I don’t personally, but I know they can be great for others.
What do you get out of journaling? How does it help you?
So many things! I’m sure you’ve already picked up on these from this post, but I’ll share briefly: It’s a space for me to process what’s going on in the world. It’s a counterbalance to social media, where it’s all to easy to jump to conclusions or get caught up in what everyone else thinks. It’s a space where I can hear myself and process at my own pace. It’s helped me become more accepting of my human state. It’s helped me develop self-compassion. It’s helped me foster a positive, healthy relationship with myself. It’s a chance to spend time with myself and get to know myself better.
How to develop a journaling practice:
- First and always when incorporating something new into your life — check your capacity for new things. There are plenty of good things out there, but if you’re at your limit, it won’t be a good thing.
- Make the process of getting your journal special. It doesn’t have to be over the top, just celebrate it inwardly, take yourself out on a date, pick a fun color, etc.
- Start with a small, thin journal. Consider it your “practice journal” to take the pressure off yourself. Sometimes you just need that feeling of completing a journal to start the habit.
- If you’ve started and quit a lot in the past, look for a different method of journaling than you’ve tried before. Test them out freely in your practice journal and don’t worry about having different formats in the same journal — one day might be a gratitude list, another day might be prompt writing, another day might be stream-of-consciousness.
- Know there’s always an awkward stage for the first few months. It’s normal. Keep writing.
- When starting something new, it can be helpful to start with a measured goal. If that sounds like your thing, try to journal for a week straight. Then try to keep it going for another week (and remember you’re in the early awkward stage, and that’s okay). See if you can make it a month, and by then you’ll have a habit forming. Then you can let it melt into your life in an organic way.
- Don’t write something that you don’t want to write. Don’t feel the need to do a big recap if you’re not feeling it. Let enjoyment be your guide.
- After a while, check in and make sure you’re journaling because you want to — not just because it’s another good thing in a long list of “Things I Should Probably Do Because Other People Say It Helps Them” like dry brushing, etc.
And there you have it!
You guys have no idea how excited I was to write this post! Thank you for asking me to share it. It made me so happy, and I hope it inspires you a bit.
So what do you think? With it being fall, the season to cozy up inside, do you think you might want to give journaling a try? Since journaling is such a personal practice, I’d love to hear from you if you approach it differently than I do — tell me, what works for you? And what got you into journaling?
xo,
Wow, I am really impressed! Journaling belongs also on my opinion to the very best things one can do.
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
This post came to me at just the right time. I recently started a journaling practice. The urge came to me suddenly, and I was on an incredible roll for a month. It has felt life-changing… as if my soul has been un-plugged and I can breathe again. Then it stopped. I haven’t felt the urge to write for 2 weeks, and it has made me sad. “Have I lost it?”, I’ve thought. But then I read your post just now, and I feel okay about my break. The urge will come back when I need it to.
Thank you, Caroline!
You Inspire. Your transparency & desire to move forward draw people in to take a look at what is best for them/for me.
Grateful for your insights & guidance.
Journaling softens the heart. Thank you?
So interesting to read these questions! I began journaling every day as a junior in high school. Aside from one several-month stretch after I’d lost a notebook, I’ve written in a black Moleskine every single day since — over ten years now. Sometimes I write five words; sometimes (rarely) twenty pages. When I look back, I always wish I’d said more about what was going on in my life, rather than just in my head, but I’m so so glad to have what I do.
I journal a lot more when I feel like I’m going through something and need to get it out. It’s really great for checking in with myself. Recently I read through an old journal that was from a bad relationship. It was really cringey to read back and I felt so sad for myself. I ended up recycling the journal because I’m in a way better realtionship and place now and I found the journal was good for the time but no longer serves me. I’ve never gotten rid of a journal before, but it was really cathartic doing so. Like really letting go of that past relationship.
I use those five year journals, so each page is a day of the year and there are five paragraphs to write in, one for each of the five years. I’ve written in it every day for almost eight years (currently on journal #2). I can’t believe I’ve stuck with it for this long, when throughout my teenage and college years I could never get into it. I find the clean format very helpful in keeping the habit (not wanting to leave any blank spaces), and it’s so neat to see repetition or coincidences when I look up at the previous years’ entries. I don’t think I write enough meaningful things in there, but your blog post is encouraging me to dig deeper and not be afraid to put certain thoughts to paper. The important memories are in there, though – I actually started my first journal about a month before my husband and I started dating, so I’ve had the joy of recording our entire relationship. They would absolutely be what I’d grab if there was a fire at our house, too!
Taryn…. what type/name any specific 5 year journal you use? Love your idea and the idea of being in one journal. Mine get scattered into different ones. Wonderful entry! Thank you!?
Hi Patricia! This is the exact one I use, but there are a lot of different styles with the same concept. :)
https://www.amazon.com/One-Line-Day-Five-Year-Memory/dp/0811870197/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1541428054&sr=8-2&keywords=one+line+a+day+journal+five+year&dpID=31o6m4snULL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch
Journaling is the best! I’ve been journaling since I was 10, which means I’ve kept the habit for uh… more than 20 years ?
I started in paper journals and have since moved to a digital journal. I’m a fast typer so being able to hammer out all of my thoughts as quickly as possible—much like a steam of consciousness—is most conducive to my thought processing.
Because it’s digital, seeing the completion mark for each day on the calendar view helps inspire me to maintain a streak. Plus I can easily upload photos and screenshots (from those oh-so-juicy text chains), which helps with context.
As far as my paper journals go: I scanned them all in and recycled them ? sacrilegious to some, but digitizing most of my paper life has been incredibly liberating.
Thanks for sharing! In the past I have felt like I need to do a big recap after taking breaks from journaling. I appreciate the encouragement to start back where I’m at, jumping in with a fresh start.
This post is so relatable. I’ve tried journaling so many times (most recently bullet journaling) and just can’t stick with it. When you hit your last point of the post: “After a while, check in and make sure you’re journaling because you want to — not just because it’s another good thing in a long list of “Things I Should Probably Do Because Other People Say It Helps Them” like dry brushing, etc.” I had a SUCH lightbulb moment! I think we work so hard to make things happen because of what other people recommend we forget to check-in and see if its right for ourselves. I know I especially do this with tips for mindfulness, relaxation, and art.
One of my favorite posts from you. Thanks!
yes! I wholeheartedly agree with this – that was such a great point. So often we think we should be doing things because it’s been so ‘life changing’ or ‘gratifying’ for someone else, when it might just be as simple as it doesn’t work for us.
I also really connected with your point “Don’t write something that you don’t want to write. Don’t feel the need to do a big recap if you’re not feeling it. Let enjoyment be your guide.” I started a gratitude journal that I was consistent with for a few weeks and then would only go back and to do it every few days and would feel like I needed to go back and “catch-up” which made me feel guilty (something I didn’t realize until now). Point taken! You should be able to enjoy it at the end of the day; definitely need to remember this!
Thank you so much for this post, Caroline. Loved hearing your insights, as always :)
Thank you so much for writing this post. I actually picked up that nubuck journal months ago after coveting it for even longer…and I haven’t written a single word. 1. I don’t know what to write. 2. I didn’t want to spoil it as you mentioned. Your post has helped me see I’m not the only one who feels this way and I’m sure will help me get started.
Delightful post! Journaling intrigues me, I’m more of an inconsistent jotter, haha. Thoroughly enjoyed reading about your practice and how you approach it, loved your response to letting go of perfectionism ? Thank you for sharing.
I journaled all through high school and well into my 20s. I don’t really know why I stopped but now you’ve got me thinking I should start again:) Jounaling is so cathartic.
http://www.poutineandprada.com
Hi Caroline,
I’m a very infrequent journaler and I find I feel the need to write more when I am not feeling my best – like you say, it helps me process things. I don’t really reread my journalling much but when I do, I try to do it from a place of self compassion too. The occasional rereading makes me grateful for having moved on from such and such thought/line of thinking.
I usually write the entries to a you. And the you changes. I suppose it’s things I want to say to a certain person but can’t (because writing a 2 page letter about something they did and my thoughts on it would be pretty crazy :) ).
Thank you for this post!
xo Kat
Thankyou! You just gave me the push to start journaling my way through life challenges and to make note of joyful times.
Your suggestions are golden! I have been journaling on and off for most of my life. I am 53 and I still have my diary from when I was 12 – it was the year my mom passed away and it contains the love and loss and thoughts of my little-girl self. I’ve been journaling regularly for about 20 years now. It started in earnest when my first child was born and I wanted to share with her all the thoughts and feelings I had toward her. I wanted more than “you walked on such-and-such date…” etc. So, I wrote how darling she looked to me when she was sleeping and about her first art sale when she was six and was sure she wanted to be an artist! I retold her funny sayings and silly songs and recanted some of the simple events of our days together. When she turned 20 I let her read it on the trip out east to take her to college. She laughed and cried, I cried, and I felt confident that she knew she was loved and wanted and special to me. Sigh. I actually have five children (!) and I keep a journal for each of them. I write on their birthday and usually fill 10 or so pages. Again, not event-driven, but more about how I feel about their year and how amazing I think they are, my dreams and hopes for the year to come and because we are a family of faith, I write a prayer for them. My question for you is: what will you do with your journals long-term? Any plans for a book? I thought it might be fun to take my personal writings to make a memoir of sorts for future generations. Is that silly?
I was so happy to read this because I’ve been journaling for 10 years and am currently in a dry spell where I just can’t seem to be motivated to write. I used to journal every day and have even presented on the importance of writing things down. But recently I’ve been hesitant to write because I’m afraid of others reading it. I’m not sure why this has changed now, but I need to just start again. This is a great post!! You’re actually one of the first bloggers I ever followed when I started blogging myself!
I have journaled for the past 17 years consistently. I started when I was 14. I have about 30 volumes full now! I don’t often go back to read them, but I love knowing they are there. Every now and then it’s nice to take a read down memory lane. A fun vacation. Or when my mom was alive. Or just hearing my voice and what mattered to me at 16 or 26 compared to now.
Caroline, thank you SO SO much for addressing the “recap” issue. I was doing journaling for a couple of months and was very diligent about it, never skipping more than 2-3 days. But then I somehow slipped off, and a couple of months flew by when a lot had happened. I was itching to start writing again, but just thinking about writing a huge recap made me anxious. I mean, it would probably very therapeutic, but I just didn’t want to do this kind of self-reflection. And I kept stalling. It puzzles me why we feel so strongly about these recaps; after all, the journal is not a novel where readers might get lost if a writer skips too many details. I realized that at least in my case, the reason is definitely my inner neurotic perfectionist who always overcomplicates things. But really, as you said, it’s that simple – you do it when you want to and it’s perfectly okay not to do it if you don’t feel it. Brilliant. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Gonna go find that pen.
Love this look! And I’m totally into journaling these days. It helps me calm my mind and get rid of toxic thoughts.
Hannah / Words & Latte
Great topic for a post. :) The NY Times recently had an article about the psychological benefits of journaling: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/25/style/journaling-benefits.html . The main point of the article is that journaling can help people process events/feelings, and move on in a healthy way. I started journaling regularly only recently, while going through a difficult period of change and growth. I totally agree that it’s important to only write what you want to write, and not get caught up in the feeling of having to give all the details (I think that’s why I never stuck with journaling for long before–it was tiring). More stream-of-consciousness is best. Maybe I’m alone in this, but I never had the urge to re-read my journals, and I don’t think I’ll start now…for me the act of journaling is what is helpful.
looking back, i journaled most when i was saddest or feeling on the sidelines. so that timeline was middle and high schools, parts of my 20s. then i hit 30 and i stopped. sames goes with reading, i hardly read anymore. i take it to mean that my life is full and i’m in a better place that i don’t need to go to another place, already imagined. i took up bulletjournaling last year and i’m not consistent, but i like it.
thank you so much for this! i used to journal years ago, and it actually helped me get through the passing of my oma while living abroad. your answers were both helpful and inspiring. it is something i’ve wanted to get back into, and think i just might.
Wow nice post! I’ve been journaling my whole life, but always feel a bit like… if anyone read what I write they’d call an ambulance or something :D I get very emotional in my diaries. I actually threw away my very first diary because I was so afraid of my family reading it. I often write angry or emotional letters (that I don’t send) or sad thoughts, because when I’m happy, I usually don’t feel the need to journal. Maybe that’s why people’s journals tend to be more sad :)
journaling has always been a bit of a mixed practiced for me. I write, I vent, I ask questions, sometimes I sketch or paste interesting quotes or pictures, sometimes I copy a poem that really speaks to me. My journal is kind of a collections of thoughts, some inpiring, and some I don’t want to revisit. Strangely, I collected some journals from earlier in life and threw them away, not sure how symbolic that was but it just felt unnecesary to have them around. I really appreciate your blog post Caroline. It inspired me to in fact get out my journal today – a happy thing to do on a Friday.
I adore Tribe Alive!!! I have that same journal and I love it.
I love this post! I started journaling in second grade (after being inspired by the Dear America books I used to read) and I’m 24 now. It’s definitely cool to look back on them now and is it weird how I think it would be interesting if when I died my grandkids read them?? Haha. It’s definitely harder to journal now, I used to do it every day but as an adult sometimes it’s hard for me to commit when I feel like I have so much to catch up on but I like your tip of just starting fresh on that day.
This is something I’ve wanted to do for a while now, but I’ve found it difficult to get started because it seemed sort of daunting. I really love your tips about picking a short journal the first time and writing nonsense on the first page so you don’t worry about “spoiling it.” Great ideas!
Thank you for the lovely post. I’ve journaled off and on for 20 or so years now. Over the years, I have developed an anxiety about someone finding and reading it (my mom told me she once read my journal when I was in high school). I used to write down my uncensored thoughts but find myself sometimes tearing out and ripping up an entry right afterwords. Any suggestions on how to get over this? I typically throw away all of my journals when I’m finished and now wish I had saved them.
oh i worry about this so much. Especially say about my kids finding them when i am gone and reading my frustrations with them. I would never want them to think this is how i really felt. Journals are just a place to pour out the brain junk for me, and certainly not a reflection of my overall attitude toward them or anyone. i think sometimes about scanning my old journals and keeping them on a password protected file somewhere. haha. i dont know.
I have some journals from when I was teenager, it’s great/terrible to read back and realise that yes you were just as annoying as teenagers are now. Lately I have a feeling I might benefit again from journaling to help reflect on certain thoughts… I will probably give it another go soon.
OK. so in theory, I love the idea of journaling. I used to write in a diary as a teenager all the time, and I’ve gone through brief periods as an adult where I have sporadically written down my thoughts, especially when my kids were babies and i wanted to remember sweet things or more often vent about particularly difficult (read: sleepless) times in life. But this is the thing I can’t get past…and it’s a bit morbid, haha. What happens when I am gone…to all the journals that are filled with my deepest and strangest and most vulnerable thoughts? I tend to want to write to expel anxiety or frustration or pain. Do my kids or husband end up reading them? Do they think that this is the way I felt about life in general? I guess ideally I would write when things are going well in life also, so there is a balance in there. But I often don’t have the impulse to write when everything is going well in life. So i guess my question is, do you write with the thought that someone might read these words one day? Or do you plan to someday destroy your journals? Or does one just decide not to care if people read our words after we are gone. I already wonder/worry about my adolescent angst being read by someone one day…wow they would think i was a messed up teenager, though on the whole I was actually (and am now) reasonably happy. Journals are just where I pour out all the brain junk. What about parts that might be hurtful to someone if they were read by that person…? I may decide to eventually scan my childhood journals and then keep them in a private file and destroy the originals…? I don’t know.
I hear you Sara. For me personally, I have to write as if no one will read it because otherwise I lose the therapeutic benefit to it. I just have to trust it. I’ve actually talked to my husband about it — that I don’t want anyone to read them after I’m gone. I think one day I might write a letter to “anyone who might read these” and just generally and briefly address things like parts that might be hurtful, super dark parts, etc. But as much as I trust no one will read them, I also know it’s not totally in my control, so I’m also trusting that if they ever were read one day it’ll be okay. It’s the best I can do, ya know?
I love this post! I’ve never really done a journal but all these helpful tips and advice makes me want to give it a try. I will keep an eye out for a thin one to buy and get started. Thanks for sharing some of your philosophy :)
Loved this post and LOVE your blog! I’ve been a journal-keeper for 20 years or so. For me it’s an escapist, spiritual and totally grounding practice all at the same time. I related to many of your thoughts about it. Notebook-filling is also great for relationships. I often run to the page to vent and end up in a much more compassionate space (for myself and others) by the end (or by the third entry). And I think to myself, thank goodness for the page because you don’t have to worry about bending its ear, getting on its nerves, dwelling too long on the same thing, sounding like a jerk, etc. etc. There’s nothing like a very long or very short chat with your own soul and a receptive, completely non-judgmental slip of paper. Thanks!
I had a good habit of writing every evening while lying in bed, but since I moved in with my boyfriend I don’t have that private alone-time any more.
such a refreshing post, Caroline! I honestly don’t think i have to patience to journal on a regular basis. It takes such determination! but i am sure it helps reflect upon ourselves. we often don’t talk to ourselves enough so journaling is a great way to do so.
https://www.hintofgrey.com/ | Hint of Grey
Join a great journaling community on Facebook. It helps to have friends who have the same interest as you have. We’d love to have you on Christian Journal Keepers on FB ?
I have been journaling for forty years. I have three separate journals. I started one for myself to process my inner feelings. Most of my entries these days are dedicated to my loved ones who are gone and to my furry children who shared their lives with me. The second one was for my children, noting what I loved about how they were changing and how I felt about them. As my children became adults themselves, I tend to write about special events or circumstances in their lives. The third one I started for my mother. I wanted her to know how special she was to me and how much I appreciated all that she did for me and for my children. I would write different memories every year and give it to her on her birthday. She would return it to be filled again the next year. She passed away seven years ago and it is so rewarding to look back through that journal when I am missing her. I am not afraid for anyone to read what I have written because it is a true reflection of who I have been. That is the point about journaling. I am writing my memoir and reading the journals has helped me to make it special.
You pretty much answered all those questions the same way I would. lol
I’d be lost if I wasn’t able to journal. I’m such an introvert and talking to people is hard. Even good things…sometimes I want to ramble about a new cleaning plan I want to do or a different way I want to eat. Who wants to hear that, at least as often as I really want to talk about it? lol!!!
So I work through a lot in it. I get revelations and jot them down and sometimes I completely forget about them. But then I reread them and go “wow…I forgot about that!”
One thing I do is add a sticker, or draw a heart or a bubble letter type exclamation point next to something I definitely want to read again…so it stands out.
I got to the point where I love writing so much that I actually stopped buying actual journals. Instead I buy 5 subject, college ruled notebooks. That way I have a ton of space to write and I even have pockets to store stuff in if there are things I want to keep for memory purposes. Sometimes I print off things online, like an email, or a screenshot of a conversation that I don’t want to forget, and the pages are big enough for me to just tape/glue it in there.
I love it! Like I said, I’d be lost if I didn’t do it. And I never put two and two together about the handwriting!!! What you said is so true!
I noticed I wasn’t being fully honest in my journals or I was leaving out parts of my story out fear of them being found and read. So I secured all my old journals in a steam trunk with a padlock and my current journal I keep in a small lock box my husband made me. It’s perfect. It is barely bigger than my journal so I can have it anywhere without worrying about any prying eyes. I keep telling him he should sell them:) I am going on 30 years of journaling. I call it my personal therapy.