Hi hi! Welcome to a new blog and a new little chat between friends. I’m Nina from @diarybynina, and I’m part of the amazing Archer & Olive ambassador team! Today I want to share what I consider a real, basic guide on how to start a journal.
This is a space for anyone who wants to have a journal but has no idea where to begin. For those who maybe don’t have a lot of time, don’t want to write too much (or at all), or just want some direction in this long journaling journey. Because let me remind youuu: journaling isn’t just writing. It’s playing, remembering, collecting, and creating. All together or separately, because journaling is a reflection of what you need or want the most.
Usually, when you look up how to start a journal, you find perfect pages, flawless spreads, museum-worthy lettering, and such a beautiful aesthetic that it almost feels scary to even touch the notebook… but you rarely see the real, uncomfortable part.
The part where you sit in front of a blank page and your mind goes:
“okay… now what?”
Supplies
Remember you can use my code: NINIS10 to get 10% off!
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Notebook
You can use any size of journal. In my case, I used an A5 notebook. -
Stamps, pens, stickers, etc.
Feel free to use any decorative elements that help you express the best version of your journal.
BEFORE YOU START - What no one tells you
So before I tell you how to start a journal, I want to talk about what no one tells you before you begin.
The first thing is that it feels weird at the beginning. Writing for yourself isn’t something we naturally do every day, and most of the time you won’t know where to start. Your mind starts questioning everything: whether what you’re writing makes sense, if it’s too simple, or if you should be writing something deeper.
Another thing no one tells you is that you probably won’t know what to write on your first pages. And that’s okay. It’s actually way more normal than you think. Getting to know yourself isn’t easy either, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.
And what absolutely no one tells you is that your journal doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to look like Pinterest, it doesn’t need a flawless aesthetic, or pages planned weeks in advance. If you want that, maybe you’ll get there with time, but that doesn’t mean everything has to look magazine worthy from the start.
I’m here to inspire you to pick up a notebook and start your real journal. But don’t feel pressure to follow every step exactly as I present it, because we’re all different, and because of that, our processes are beautifully unique.
Your journal just has to work for you. And that’s exactly why I want to show you how to start one in a more realistic way.
1. Choose the type of notebook you want
The first step is choosing your notebook, but here’s something important: there’s no such thing as a “perfect” journal.
Some people prefer small notebooks they can carry everywhere. Others like bigger ones because they feel like they have more space to create. Some prefer dotted pages, others blank, others lined.
The best option is simply the one that makes you want to open it.
If every time you see it you feel like writing or creating something inside, then that’s the right one. Find one that feels like you and make it your best friend.
And of course, at Archer & Olive you’ll definitely find something that inspires you <3
2. Ask yourself what journaling style you like most
Journaling isn’t just writing pages and pages of text. There are so many different ways to do it.
Some people prefer reflective journaling, where they write a lot about what they feel or think, using prompts and treating their journal almost like therapy. Others prefer something more visual: collages, photos, stickers, drawings, or short phrases.
And then there are people who mix everything, a little writing, a little decorating, a song here, a photo there. Personally, I think this is the most free style and my favorite, BUT…There is no right way.
The goal is to find the style that feels natural to you, not the one that looks the prettiest online. Some styles are super minimal, others are full of color, so think about what you’d enjoy exploring and what kind of materials you’d like to use.
3. Decide the purpose of your journal
This step can help you a lot, especially in the beginning when the blank page feels overwhelming.
Ask yourself something simple: Why do I want this journal?
Maybe you want it to reflect and write your thoughts.
Maybe you want to document moments of your life.
Maybe you want a creative space for collages or drawings.
Or maybe you just want a place to throw random ideas into.
Your journal can have a clear purpose… or it can just be a free space. Both are valid.
Online you’ll find endless ideas for what a notebook can be, from personal journaling to art journaling, reading journals, pregnancy journals, food journals… there are so many options that honestly, you could have one of each and just enjoy the process.
4. Start with simple pages
We often think the first page has to be incredible. But honestly, the best thing you can do is start simple. You can do things like:
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Glue images you like
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Write a quote that stayed with you
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Make a page about a song you’ve been playing on repeat
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Write a list of things you love
You don’t need a huge idea to begin. Simple pages often end up being the most special.
At the beginning, you might not have many ideas and your creativity might not feel fully there yet, and that’s okay. The best thing you can do is look for inspiration online and even try to “recreate” something you like. For example, a profile page or a concept you found interesting. The cool thing is, you’ll never make something exactly the same. You might be inspired by something you saw, but your result will always be 100% you and that’s what makes it special.
5. Don’t force yourself to write too much
One of the biggest reasons people quit journaling is because they feel like every page has to be full of text or deeply meaningful. But like I said before, that’s not necessary.
You can have pages with just one sentence or an image, or a song, and they’re just as valid.
Journaling doesn’t mean writing a lot. It means creating a space where you can come back to yourself every time you open your notebook. Let journaling evolve with you. Maybe at the beginning you loved highly aesthetic pages, and later you prefer simple ones full of chaotic thoughts. Or maybe a memory journal turns into a music journal.
That doesn’t mean you lost your way, it just means you found another version of yourself.
And finally…
If you’re thinking about starting a journal, I want you to remember something very simple:
It doesn’t have to be perfect.
It doesn’t have to be deep.
It doesn’t have to look amazing.
It just has to be a space where you can create, think, or simply spend a moment with yourself.
It’s for you and about you, so make sure you enjoy every second of it!!
You can always share yours with me on my social media (@diarybynina). And even if my content is in Spanish, you can absolutely message me in English! I love when you share your creations or your thoughts with me, it makes me so happy.
I’m also leaving you this little free printable here for even more inspiration!!!!
When life feels loud, your journal can be a quiet room. When everything feels messy, it can be your soft landing place. Aaaaand when you get lost, come back to this blog, I’ll help you return to yourself, okaaay?
If you decide to use the printable, I would love to see your cozy pages.
Tag @archerandolive and @diarybynina, it makes my heart so happy to see your rituals come to life. #AOshare #archerandolive
In this video, you will find inspiration
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