What I’ve Learnt About Journaling for Mental Health and Creativity

Journaling has profoundly transformed my mental health, creativity, and daily organisation. Over the years, I’ve developed a collection of journals, each with a unique purpose, to help balance various aspects of my life—from health and design work to personal insights and on-the-go anxiety relief. Here’s what I’ve learnt about maintaining these journals and how each one plays a role in my well-being.

1. The Health and Well-Being Journal

This journal is where I reflect on my physical and mental health, set personal goals, track routines, and monitor emotions. Regularly writing here has made me more aware of patterns, such as stress triggers and energy levels, which has encouraged me to make healthier lifestyle choices.

What I’ve Learnt: Taking the time to reflect on my health has given me a greater sense of control over my choices and behaviours. It’s a continuous dialogue with myself, fostering self-awareness and self-care.

2. The Design Journal for Work and Ideas

For my professional life and creative projects, I maintain a dedicated design journal. Here, I sketch concepts, jot down inspiration, and work through any challenges that arise in my design projects. This journal is like a creative reservoir, sparking new ideas or helping me revisit old ones when I hit a block.

What I’ve Learnt: Allowing myself the freedom to jot down ideas and explore concepts has enabled me to overcome creative blocks and discover new directions in my work.

3. The Recipe Journal

Cooking is both a therapeutic and creative outlet for me, so I keep a small journal just for recipes. This one is more practical but equally rewarding; it’s where I capture family recipes, new discoveries, and culinary experiments.

What I’ve Learnt: Having a dedicated space for recipes saves time and inspires me to experiment in the kitchen. It also builds a personal cookbook that I can one day share with family or friends.

4. The Portable Journal for Ideas, Anxiety, and Stress Relief

This is the journal I carry everywhere. It’s a small notebook where I can quickly jot down ideas and write whenever I’m feeling anxious or stressed. It serves as a kind of “release valve” that I can use anytime, helping me process feelings on the spot.

What I’ve Learnt: Having a portable space for jotting down thoughts or managing anxiety on the go has been invaluable. It’s like a mini therapist, allowing me to offload emotions and ideas whenever I need to.

5. The Journal for Films, Books, Gadgets, and More

This journal is where I list films I want to watch, books to read, gadgets, software, or anything else related to work or hobbies. It’s a place to capture recommendations from friends or things I come across online, so I can refer back whenever I need inspiration.

What I’ve Learnt: This journal allows me to act on my curiosity without feeling overwhelmed. I can revisit these notes when I have time, knowing I’ve saved them in a reliable place.

6. My Workload and To-Do App: Things

While I journal for personal projects and reflections, I use the app Things to manage my workload and day-to-day tasks. It’s easier for me to use a digital tool for scheduling and reminders, which keeps my paper journals free for creativity and self-reflection.

What I’ve Learnt: Separating workload from personal journaling helps me maintain a clear mind. With a dedicated space for professional goals, my app Things can focus solely on managing my workload.

Final Thoughts on Journaling

Journaling has become more than just a creative outlet; it’s a therapeutic practice and an effective way to organise the different parts of my life. Having multiple journals allows me to compartmentalise, giving each area—whether it’s health, creativity, or stress relief—a distinct space and purpose.

Each journal is like a small piece of a larger puzzle, helping me maintain balance in a way that feels meaningful and deeply personal.