Paper journals guide
If you have weighed the pros and cons of writing a physical journal instead of a digital journal (like minspirits 😉) and you have decided to go with the paper format, here are some resources that may help you choose your perfect paper journal.
But before going into further detail, the first decision that you have to make is either if you go with an empty journal or a guided one:
Empty Journals
- Empty journals, also known as blank journals or notebooks, are typically devoid of pre-printed content or guided prompts.
- They offer blank pages that allow you to freely express your thoughts, ideas, creativity, and personal reflections.
- These journals provide complete freedom for self-expression and can be used for various purposes, such as daily journaling, sketching, doodling, note-taking, or any other form of creative or written expression.
- They are versatile and adaptable to your preferences and needs, as you can customize how you utilize the pages. But that will be your responsibility too, deciding what and how your write there.
- Some empty journals come with specific features like lined pages, or dot grid pages to cater to different writing or artistic preferences.
Guided Journals
- Guided journals are designed with pre-printed content, prompts, or structures to provide guidance and inspiration for journaling.
- They can include not only prompts but inspirational quotes, reflection spaces, writing prompts, drawing areas, tracking sections, questions or exercises that help you explore specific themes, topics, or areas of personal growth.
- Guided journals can have various focuses, such as gratitude, self-reflection, mindfulness, creativity, goal-setting, or specific life stages or experiences. They are designed to facilitate personal development, self-discovery, or specific therapeutic or wellness objectives
- They provide structure and direction if you prefer more guidance or need a starting point for your journaling practice.
The choice between an empty journal and a guided journal will depend on your preferences, goals, and desired level of structure. You will have to choose (or have both) the open-mindedness and creative freedom of empty journals, or the guidance in specific purposes of the guided journals.