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Journaling is one of the simplest yet most powerful habits you can develop. It helps clear your mind, organize your thoughts, and even improve your mental well-being. But like any habit, it takes some effort to make it a part of your daily routine. If you've struggled to stick with journaling, don’t worry—you’re not alone! Let’s break it down into easy steps so you can build a journaling habit that lasts.
1. Set a Journaling Goal
Before you start, ask yourself: Why do I want to journal? Your reason could be anything—self-reflection, stress relief, creativity, or even just a way to keep track of your daily life. When you have a clear purpose, it’s easier to stay committed.If you're not sure where to start, try using Reflective Retreat’s guided journal prompts, designed to inspire deeper self-reflection and make journaling effortless. These prompts help spark ideas, making it easier to fill your pages with meaningful thoughts.
2. Choose Your Ideal Journaling Time
The best time to journal is whenever it fits best into your schedule. Some people like to journal in the morning to set intentions for the day, while others prefer writing at night to reflect on their experiences. Try different times and see what works for you. Keeping a Reflective Retreat hardcover or spiral notebook by your bedside or workspace makes it convenient to jot down thoughts whenever inspiration strikes.
3. Keep It Simple
You don’t have to write a novel every day! A few sentences, a short list, or even just doodles can be enough. If you’re feeling stuck, use prompts like:
- What made me smile today?
- What’s one small win I had?
- What’s something I want to improve tomorrow?
Using journaling prompts from Reflective Retreat’s digital downloads can also make the process more engaging and prevent writer’s block.
4. Make It Fun with Journaling Supplies
Journaling doesn’t have to be just pen and paper—add a little creativity to make it more enjoyable! Consider using:
Pens & Markers:
iBayam Journal Planner Pens Colored Pens
If you love journaling, planning, or just adding a pop of color to your notes, the iBayam Journal Planner Pens are a must-have! With 18 vibrant colors and a superfine 0.38mm tip, these pens glide smoothly across the page without bleeding or smearing—perfect for detailed writing, doodling, and organizing your thoughts. Customers rave about the rich, bold colors, the long-lasting ink, and the comfortable writing experience.
Caliart Markers
If you're looking for affordable, high-quality alcohol markers, Caliart Markers are a fantastic choice! These richly pigmented markers offer smooth blending and bold colors, making them perfect for journalers and artists of all ages—whether you're a beginner or an experienced writer or colorist. Customers love the chisel and fine tip design, giving you precision for details and coverage for larger areas.
Ohuhu Alcohol Markers
If you love journaling with color, Ohuhu Alcohol Markers are the perfect way to bring your pages to life! With 40 bold, vibrant colors and a dual-tip design, these markers let you create beautiful headers, intricate details, and smooth gradients with ease.
Highlighters:
Mr. Pen Highlighters
If you're new to journaling and want to add a touch of color without worrying about bleed-through, Mr. Pen Aesthetic Highlighters are a perfect choice! This set of 8 soft, pastel colors helps you organize your thoughts, highlight key moments, and make your pages pop.
Vitoler 10Pcs Aesthetic Highlighters
Starting your journal and want to keep things organized, colorful, and easy on the eyes? The Vitoler 10Pcs Aesthetic Highlighters are a must-have! With a mix of soft Morandi tones and vibrant candy colors, these highlighters let you color-code notes, highlight key moments, and add a creative touch to your pages.
Zebra Pen Mildliner Double Ended Highlighter Set
If you're new to journaling, the Zebra Pen Mildliner Double Ended Highlighter Set is the perfect tool to help you organize, color-code, and bring creativity to your pages. Unlike regular highlighters, these feature soft, unique colors that enhance your notes without overwhelming the page.With dual tips—a broad chisel for highlighting and a fine bullet tip for underlining—you’ll have complete control over your designs, whether you're highlighting key moments, doodling, or creating a study system.
Washi Tape:
Mr. Pen Washi Tape Set
If you're just starting your journaling journey, the Mr. Pen Washi Tape Set is a simple and fun way to add color, style, and personality to your pages! This 21-piece set comes in three different widths, making it perfect for decorating, organizing, and layering without overwhelming your journal.
40 Rolls Washi Tape Set
Decorating your pages can feel overwhelming—but the 40 Rolls Washi Tape Set makes it fun and effortless! With a huge variety of designs—including cute patterns, geometric prints, and soft pastels—you can easily highlight important notes, frame entries, or add creative touches to your planner, bullet journal, or scrapbook.
40 Plain Washi Tape Set
The 40 Rolls Plain Washi Tape Set is the perfect companion to help you personalize your pages with ease. With 40 vibrant, rainbow-colored rolls—including red, yellow, green, blue, and more—you’ll have everything you need to decorate, highlight, and add personality to your journal, scrapbook, or planner.
Stickers & Stamps:
Lsushine Craft Ink Pad (20 Pack)
Start your journaling journey with a splash of color using the Lsushine Craft Ink Pad Set! This 20-pack of vibrant, high-quality ink pads is perfect for adding bold, saturated hues to your journals, scrapbooks, greeting cards, and more. The ink dries quickly and becomes waterproof once set, making it ideal for all your creative projects.
Clever Fox Planner Stickers
Great for beginners, these stickers are compatible with almost all planners and journals, helping you customize your space without the hassle. Whether you’re new to journaling or looking to enhance your current setup, Clever Fox Planner Stickers are a must-have for a more organized, fun, and inspiring journaling experience!
300 PCS Vintage Stickers
Add a touch of nostalgia and creativity to your journaling with the 300 PCS Vintage Stickers set! Whether you're just starting your journaling journey or looking to enhance your pages, this assorted collection of vibrant and aesthetic stickers is a perfect choice for beginners. With designs ranging from mushrooms to moons, flowers, and cute animals, there’s a sticker for every vintage-loving creative!
Sticky Notes:
Post-it Super Sticky Notes Limited Edition Color Collection
Journaling is all about capturing your thoughts, ideas, and inspirations—and the Post-it Super Sticky Notes Limited Edition Color Collection is here to help! These vibrant sticky notes stick twice as well as regular notes, making them perfect for marking pages, jotting down quick reflections, or organizing your journal with color-coded reminders.
Post-it 100% Recycled Paper Super Sticky Notes
The Post-it 100% Recycled Paper Super Sticky Notes are the perfect tool to capture your thoughts, track ideas, and stay organized—while staying eco-conscious!With their super sticky, yet residue-free adhesive, these notes stay put on your journal pages, whiteboards, or planners, making them ideal for bookmarking, brainstorming, or jotting down quick reflections. Plus, their soft, dreamy colors from the Wanderlust Collection add a peaceful, creative touch to your journaling experience.
Post-it Notes Beachside Café Collection
Make organizing your thoughts fun and effortless with Post-it Notes Beachside Café Collection! These vibrant coastal tones—Sunnyside, Aqua Splash, Papaya Fizz, and Fresh Mint—will add a refreshing touch to your journal pages while keeping your ideas neatly in place.
Tabs or Dividers:
Mr. Pen Sticky Note Dividers Tabs
Journaling beginners, meet your new favorite tool for keeping your thoughts, ideas, and reflections beautifully organized! The Mr. Pen Sticky Note Dividers Tabs offer a versatile set of sticky notes and index tabs in various sizes, perfect for marking sections, categorizing ideas, or adding quick reminders to your journal.
Post-it Tabs
Post-it Tabs are durable, writable, and repositionable, making them perfect for organizing your journal, planner, or notebook with ease. Use them to mark important pages, track progress, create sections, or quickly find your notes—whether you're journaling, planning, or studying!
Mr. Pen Transparent Sticky Note Set
Getting started with journaling? These Mr. Pen Transparent Sticky Notes are the perfect tool to add notes, reflections, and reminders without covering up important text! Whether you're marking key moments in your journal, adding insights to books, or color-coding your ideas, these see-through sticky notes keep everything clear and organized.
These tools make journaling more interactive and visually appealing, helping you stay engaged in the habit.
5. Keep Your Journal Accessible
If your journal is tucked away in a drawer, you’re less likely to use it. Keep it somewhere visible—on your nightstand, desk, or even in your bag—so it’s always within reach when inspiration strikes. Reflective Retreat’s beautifully designed journals are stylish enough to display and durable enough to take on the go!
6. Be Consistent, But Forgiving
It’s okay to miss a day (or a few!). The goal is progress, not perfection. If you skip a day, don’t stress—just pick it back up the next time you remember. The more pressure you put on yourself, the harder it becomes to stick with it.
7. Reflect and Adjust
After a few weeks, take a look back at your entries. How do you feel? What’s working and what’s not? Adjust your approach if needed—maybe switching journaling styles, times, or prompts will make it even more enjoyable.
Start Journaling Today!
Journaling is a personal practice, and there’s no right or wrong way to do it. The key is to find what works for you and make it something you look forward to each day. Grab a Reflective Retreat journal, use inspiring prompts, and start writing—it’s that simple!Do you have a favorite journaling routine or must-have supplies?
Share in the comments!