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From Self-Reflection to Gratitude: Exploring 13 Different Journals for Every Purpose – VISIYA

Updated: Sep 17, 2023

While many people tend to think of journaling as recording the events of their lives, it’s just one way of keeping a journal. There are many types of journals, as well as ways to keep them. Let’s take a look at several of them, the most interesting and useful ones, from our point of view, of course.


1. Personal Journal or Diary

Personal journals have been kept since the advent of written language. Typically, a diary contains relatively frequent notes about the authors’ lives and events, but it can be anything you want it to be.


Example of a notebook used as journal
Personal journal

2. Health and Wellness Journal

Do you have some health problems, or do you simply want to feel better in general? Keep track of your problems and progress – keep a health journal. You can use it to find principles and ideas to guide you toward better health.


Notebook with lemons 'My health journal'
Health journal | myhealthjournals.com

3. Food Journal

Whether you want to find delicious recipes and share them or start eating healthier, a food journal can help you do that. Many things can be learned about your body and health by observing how you feel before and after eating different foods.


Food journal on an iPad
Digital food journal

4. Fitness Journal

This is an organized record of each session. For example, the number of sets, weight, timing, and feelings. All the things that help you to follow the dynamics of your training, analyze your abilities and adjust your individual plan are recorded. The more information you put in your journal, the better. It’s suitable for anyone who does sports: starting from jogging in the morning to daily strength training with heavy weights. The main purpose of such a journal is to monitor your progress and your own feelings, which will enable you to control your body condition and avoid injuries.


Journal or log for workouts and training
Fitness/workout journal

5. Dream Journal

Dream journals are kept to document your dreams. You may find it interesting to interpret dreams, so it’s often important to write them down immediately after waking up.


Example of writing down a dream
Dreams journal | baronfig.com

6. Joy Journal

It’s a place to store joyful emotions, feelings and experiences. It’s a storehouse of positivity and a treasure trove of happiness! By starting such a journal, you’ll create a powerful magnet for joyful events. If you create new entries in it, you will “vibrate” on a happy wave, and following the Law of Attraction, you will attract even more happy moments and reasons to be happy in your life.


The word "joy" in a notebook
Joy journal

7. Anxiety Journal

If you deal with a lot of stress in your life, keeping an anxiety journal can help you sort out your feelings. Don’t be surprised if you find out that once you start journaling, you become less anxious.


Example of an anxiety and stress journal
Anxiety journal | asos.com

8. Personal Development Journal

It’s a good tool to figure out how and where to improve your life and then track your progress. For example, do the Wheel of Life exercise and find a great way to visually track your progress. Or you can make a list of concerns and a wish list. Taking them into consideration will allow you to reconsider yourself and figure out what you need to focus on in the near future.


Example of a personal growth journal
Personal development journal

9. Success Journal

A powerful tool for self-motivation, support towards your goals, and an effective way to focus on the bright side of your life.


Notebook used as success journal
Success journal | DreamVallie on etsy.com

10. Talent Journal

Have no idea what your talents are, or do you want to further explore and develop them? If you write about your talents, it will help you focus on how to apply them, and even help you discover new talents.


Journal of talents and strengths
Talent journal

11. Gratitude Journal

There is always something to be thankful for, even in hard times. You can start a gratitude journal by writing down all the things you feel grateful for. If you have a hard time remembering something good, just think of what your life would be like if you woke up tomorrow and had only the things you are thankful for today.


Woman holding a gratitude journal
Gratitude journal

12. Travel Journal

Keeping records of your travels is very helpful. Do you often try to remember where you were on certain dates or when it was? Tracking it improves your travel memory. Document everything you see and hear during your vacations or travels in your travel journal. This journal becomes especially meaningful when you visit the places once occupied by your ancestors.


Maps and travel journal on a table
Travel journal

13. Notebook

Not all journals are destined to turn into fiction – and they don’t have to. Your journal may be half planner, one-quarter notebook for recording your thoughts, and part chronicle of the day’s events. Or you can even use digital notepad apps. A notebook lets you assess your days and achieve success in life.


Empty notebook
Notebook

With so many journals to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. Remember, you don’t have to try everything, just select the one or two you find most suitable. Note that the form of journaling may change over time. For example, you can keep a health journal or a travel journal only for a while.

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