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The first time I started journaling I had just learned how to write. I was an 80s baby so we had the diaries that had locks on them with keys. And if you lost your key, well… you were pretty much screwed.

As a teenager I journaled but not a lot. I should have with everything I had going on. I mean that’s the point, right? To get your feelings out of your head and onto paper so you don’t ruminate about things. Boy would that have helped.

Then, later in my teenage years, when I took myself off my medicine because I knew I was better (yeah right), I journaled off and on.

I avoided journaling in my 20’s because I was too afraid that husband #2 would find my journal and it would make my situation even worse. We’ll talk about this in detail in another post.

It wasn’t until my late 30’s when I started seeing my therapist “S” that I picked journaling back up and started journaling daily.

It’s become cathartic to me and I couldn’t be happier that a big assignment from “S” was to start a self-esteem journal. It’s made a huge impact on my life and I think it will to yours as well.

I journal four different ways. I bullet journal, journal, self-esteem journal, and gratitude journal. I’ve linked descriptions of each above. They each serve a different purpose and, as such, I use some of the same and some different supplies for each.

1. Bullet Journaling

This is where I keep up with a monthly calendar, appointments, medication, birthdays, holidays, habit tracking, no spending, no drinking, daily to-do lists, brain dumps, etc. I touch this journal many time throughout the day. All you really need is a notebook and pen to get started but I decorate my pages.

The supplies I use are:

• Leuchtturm 1917 or Scribbles That Matter (both dot grid and hard cover)
• Stencils
• Distressed Ink Pads and Blending Brushes
• Papermate Flair felt and ultra fine
• Crayloa Supertips
• Rulers
• Washi Tape
• Papermate Inkjoy

2. Journaling

This is where I empty my head of anything that is bothering me, write stuff I want to remember, and inspirational quotes that I want to break down the meaning of.

The supplies I use are:

• Papercode Lined Journals or Composition Notebooks
• Sharpie S Gel Pens
• Stencils and Blending Brushes
• Archival Ink Pads

3. Self-Esteem/Gratitude Journaling

Self-esteem journaling is where I list things that I’ve accomplished for the day, things I’ve done for other people, things I’m proud of, etc. Since I have such a negative view about myself, this helps me focus on the positive things I do or that happens around me.

Gratitude journaling is where I list things I’m grateful for. These include people, physical and non-physical items, thoughts, emotions, etc.

The supplies I use are:

• Papercode Lined Journal
• Papermate Inkjoy of Sharpie S-Gel pens
• Stencils and Blending Brushes
• Distressed Ink Pads

Of course all of these things can be done with a simple notebook and pen, I just like to spruce things up since I’ve done it for awhile now.

What kind of journaling do you do? I’d love to hear it in the comments below!