Everyone Keeps Suggesting Journaling

But I Suck at Writing! 

Here’s How to Make It Fun and Low-Stress

Let’s be honest: we’ve all heard about the wonders of journaling. People swear it’s the answer to everything—clearing your mind, reducing stress, sparking creativity. Sounds magical, right? But if you’re like me, you might be thinking: “Journaling? That sounds suspiciously like homework.” Or maybe you’re thinking, “I can barely keep up with my to-do list, let alone pour my heart onto paper!”

Let this be your most imperfect work.

Here’s the thing: journaling doesn’t have to be hard or involve poetic prose. You don’t need to transform into Shakespeare, Thoreau, or Liz Gilbert to get something out of it. So let’s shake things up and talk about some easy, fun, and yes—low-pressure—ways to get started with journaling.

1. Don’t Write… Doodle!

Who said journaling has to involve words? If writing isn’t your jam, grab a pen or marker and doodle your thoughts instead. Your journal can be as much about shapes, squiggles, and little doodles as it is about words. Sketch your mood, map out your dreams with funky diagrams, or just scribble aimlessly until your hand cramps a little. You might be surprised by how therapeutic it feels to just let the pen move around the page without overthinking it.

For bonus points: make it colorful! Adding color can help you connect with different emotions or ideas. Blue might calm you, while yellow adds a dash of energy.

2. Keep It Brief – Like, Really Brief

How about keeping things super short and sweet? If a journal entry feels overwhelming, give yourself permission to write one sentence per day. Yep, just one sentence.

Write down the most interesting thing that happened that day, a quick gratitude, or your best “note to self.” Maybe something like, “Today I actually remembered to drink water.” Or “Note to self: Not all cookies are created equal.” One line can capture a lot, and you might even find yourself looking forward to these mini-reflections.

3. Turn It Into a Playlist of Emotions

Music is an amazing emotional outlet, so why not let your journal reflect that? Instead of writing out how you feel, create a playlist for your mood. Feeling happy? Pop in those feel-good anthems. Feeling like curling up with a blanket? Add a few slow ballads. Write down the song names or even some lyrics that speak to you.

Not only is this super fun, but it’s also a great way to look back and remember how you were feeling without needing a single line of “dear diary” text.

4. Journal with Prompts that Actually Excite You

If blank pages and open-ended reflection make your brain freeze, prompts can be your new best friend. And don’t worry, they don’t have to be those deep “Who am I?” questions. Start with fun prompts that make you smile or laugh:

  • If your pet could talk, what would it say about you?
  • What’s the weirdest thing you Googled this week?
  • Describe your day as if it were a movie trailer.

These prompts take the pressure off, making journaling feel like a conversation with a friend. Keep a list handy, and when the mood strikes, pick one that sounds fun!

5. Snap a Daily Photo Instead of Writing

If you’re not into writing, but you have a phone (which, let’s be honest, we all do), snap a photo a day and paste it into your journal. Capture a moment, a meal, or something that represents your day. Add a tiny caption if you feel like it: “This coffee saved my morning,” or “Here’s me trying to figure out why my plant is dying.”

It’s like journaling for the visually inclined. And someday, flipping through these photos will give you a memory lane of your life in snapshots.

6. Record Voice Notes for Future You

If writing isn’t your thing, try voice journaling! Use your phone’s voice memo app to record little snippets of your day. Maybe it’s a “Hey, future me, today I…” Or perhaps it’s a quick vent about that weird email you got at work. Whatever it is, voice notes can be a more natural way to capture your thoughts, especially if you’re someone who tends to think out loud.

These snippets can be so much fun to revisit later, and it’s like having a conversation with a past version of yourself—cringey as it may be.

7. Treat Your Journal Like a Messy Scrapbook

If words alone feel intimidating, think of your journal as a scrapbook instead. Glue in ticket stubs, receipts, doodles, and anything else that captures your day or mood. Add in some silly stickers, a weird magazine cutout, or a sticky note from a friend. Don’t worry about keeping it neat—this is your space to be as messy and random as you want.

Let your journal be a collection of things you’ve experienced. Not only will it be a fun memory book, but you’ll also get to unleash your inner kindergartner with the cutting, gluing, and sticking!

8. Try Mind Mapping – Let Your Thoughts Be Free!

Mind mapping is perfect for those of us who don’t do linear thoughts (hello, chaotic minds!). Grab a blank page, write down a topic or a word in the center, and let your thoughts branch out. Draw lines to connect ideas, make little bubbles of thoughts, and go wherever your brain wants to go. It’s like brainstorming, but without needing to make sense of it afterward.

Mind maps are great for processing emotions, brainstorming dreams, or just getting the million little thoughts out of your head and onto paper.

9. Turn It Into a Gratitude Habit – But Make It Silly

Gratitude journaling doesn’t have to be profound. Instead of the usual suspects (family, friends, health), try being grateful for small, funny things:

  • “Today, I’m thankful for whoever invented pajamas.”
  • “Shoutout to coffee for being there when I needed you.”
  • “I’m grateful I didn’t trip over my own feet today.”

Silly gratitude adds a sense of humor to your journaling habit, making it light and fun, which is often exactly what we need.

10. No Rules Allowed – Make It Work for You

The best part about journaling is that it doesn’t come with a rulebook. You don’t have to write every day, fill up pages, or produce anything meaningful. Your journal is yours, and it should work for you, not the other way around. Use it once a month, or ten times a day. Make it look however you want, write about whatever you want, or don’t write at all.

If you take anything away from this, remember that journaling is a tool for you. Make it quirky, make it short, and above all, make it fun. This isn’t English class, so there’s no one grading you. Let go, and enjoy the freedom to express yourself, your way.

Journaling may be hyped for its benefits, but it doesn’t have to be a chore. So grab that blank notebook—or a napkin if you’re in a pinch—and start filling it with your unique, imperfect thoughts. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it, even if you do “suck at writing.”