I have journals dating back to elementary school, banded together by year and tucked into a container in my closet. Every deep clean, I somehow end up sitting on the floor crying over a Lisa Frank journal from third grade instead of actually cleaning anything. That’s how I know journaling isn’t a phase for me. It just took years to build a journaling habit that actually sticks, instead of buying a cute notebook, writing in it twice, and letting it die on a shelf.
If you’ve ever started journaling with the best intentions and abandoned it by week two, I get it. What finally worked for me wasn’t one perfect journal, it was a small system and figuring out what makes the actual writing part more comfortable.
Here’s exactly what’s in my journaling setup and how I use it.
The Tools Behind My Journaling Habit
Paper Republic Leather Journal Cover
I use the Grand Voyager XL from Paper Republic, with my name embossed on it. It bands multiple journals together into one system, and it’s the reason everything else on this list works together instead of getting lost in a drawer.
Kaweco Lunar Sport Fountain Pen
For writing, I mostly reach for my Kaweco Lunar Sport fountain pen. Something about a fountain pen makes me want to actually write instead of scribble, and it’s become part of the ritual at this point.
Dr. Grip Gel Pen in Serenity
On days I don’t feel like dealing with a fountain pen, I’ll grab my Dr. Grip gel pen in Serenity instead. It’s an easier, no-fuss option for when I just want to get thoughts down fast.
Polaroid Hi-Print Bluetooth Printer
Then there’s my Polaroid Hi-Print Bluetooth printer, which I was gifted for my birthday and didn’t know I needed until I had it. It prints straight from my phone, so I can print selfies or photos of friends and stick them right next to an entry. It turns my journals into something closer to a scrapbook, which is my favorite part now.
The Small Thing That Made My Journaling Habit Stick
Here’s the essential that made the biggest difference, and nobody tells you about it: I’m a lefty, and I never realized how uncomfortable writing in a journal could be until I started doing it every day. The book wants to close on your hand the whole time you’re writing, which sounds minor until your hand is cramping twenty minutes into an entry from holding the pages open.
Then I found journal page clips, and it changed everything. It’s a small thing, but little tools that add comfort to the writing experience are what actually turn journaling into a habit that sticks instead of a chore you dread. These are especially great for a journal you love that isn’t a flat lay style. If you deal with the same problem, grab a pair before you even start.
What My Journaling Habit Actually Looks Like Day to Day
My system isn’t one journal, it’s a few working together. The first is a blank page journal where I collect quotes, stickers, and taped-down receipts, bits of “junk” I want to remember. It’s not a junk journal in the true sense, but it’s easily the messiest one I keep.
Then there’s my ideas notebook, for every sudden hit of inspiration for something I want to create in my business, an offer idea, or a career path I’m curious about. As a multi-passionate person, this is where my random thoughts live, and it lets me sleep on something instead of acting too quickly.
The third piece is my true diary style journal, and it’s the one that actually keeps me grounded. I write down what I’m noticing about my life right now, what’s sitting heavy on my chest in the morning, what’s worrying me, and what I’m excited about or dreading. It’s an OG Dear Diary kind of vibe, and it’s where I process how I’m feeling instead of letting everything build up.
This is also where the Polaroid printer comes back in, adding selfies or photos of friends to make entries feel more memorable. When I finish a journal cover to cover, I band it with the others from that year and label the spine.
How to Build a Journaling Habit That Sticks For You
A journaling habit that sticks takes time to build, and I didn’t land on this system in a weekend.
If you’re just starting out, grab one notebook and a pen that feels good in your hand. You can always add the ideas notebook, the diary, and the photos once you know what you actually want out of journaling. Whether you build out a whole little ecosystem like mine is completely up to you.
