I’m a Therapist, and These Are My Favorite Self-Care Journals

We like that this journal focuses on a few simple questions you can answer every day. It can be completed within five minutes, so even the busiest folks have the opportunity to tap into this journaling practice. Keep in mind that most pages are filled with prompts, so there isn’t much room for free writing.

Be aware that while the monthly reflection pages offer some room for free writing, there are no blank pages solely dedicated to free writing. But we don’t think that presents any hindrance to this journal’s efficacy. Just a few simple sentences offer the opportunity to make meaning out of your experiences and unearth hidden gems you can feel grateful for.

With this journal you can track workouts, what you ate, and how you’re feeling. All of these details are perfect for building accountability as you tend to your physical health.

In addition to letter-writing prompts, this journal has prompts that allow users to reflect on things that make them think of their loved one and how their loved one lives on in their daily life. It includes space to process memorial services and has a prompt that invites users to share their reflections with others when they are ready.

This journal can be used for tracking various wellness practices critical to self-care, including goal-setting, fitness, and mood fluctuations. It even has a space to track your screen time. There’s also a section to keep notes to reference in your therapy sessions.

Even though this one spans various topics, it is one of the shortest, offering just 91 days of journaling. While, admittedly, that isn’t a lot of time, it still offers the opportunity to feel a sense of accomplishment when you complete the journal.

A sobriety journal is a powerful tool on your journey to a healthier relationship with alcohol. By helping you identify why you drink, this journal empowers you to transform your habits and foster a better connection to it. Through insightful prompts, this resource guides you to reflect on the reasons behind your drinking, enabling you to interrupt patterns of alcohol consumption and identify healthier alternatives.

That said, for those suffering from severe alcohol use disorder, this journal may not be enough to help you beat your addiction, so consider reaching out to a therapist. It’s also worth noting that this journal doesn’t speak to any addictions other than alcohol, so it may not be the best for those looking to shift their relationship with marijuana or other substances.

This app, a virtual bullet journal, is an easy-to-use system to track how your emotional state fluctuates over time. It lets you quickly log your mood by answering a few brief questions designed to give insights into your emotional patterns. By tracking things like how often you feel anxious or depressed, you can gain insight into what activities or external situations might be linked to these moods.

The Wilde House Paper Open Journal and Open Journal Digital Library can help aspiring writers overcome impostor syndrome, learn basic craft techniques, and commit to a regular practice. The journal offers an app with tons of journaling courses that can help ground writers in a regular routine.

Designed to work seamlessly with its equally gorgeous app, we are impressed by the journal’s courses. These courses are updated quarterly, letting you dive deep into one topic at a time, from manifestation and stress management to overcoming creative blocks. We appreciate that each course is only a week long, making commitment much simpler. Visually, this journal is among the most elegantly designed we’ve seen. Its moss-green cloth cover, vintage typeface, and silky ribbon create a beautiful combination you’ll enjoy displaying on your desk daily.

If making lists is how you stay organized, this planner is an excellent journal to help you document your life. Though doctors’ appointments and coffee dates may seem like boring details, they ultimately create a snapshot of an exact moment in time to track your progress and setbacks. This undated vertical planner allows tons of creativity as you keep track of life as you know it. Fill in the dates and months as you go along. No need to sweat about leaving blank pages behind if you fall off for a week or two.

The art of documenting your day may seem mundane, but when you look back on this journal, your memory will be jogged to connect back to various milestones. This can prove to be inspiring and even motivate you to set new goals.

Get your kiddo into journaling early with this pediatrician-recommended journal that has daily journal prompts to help kids cultivate happiness, strengthen their minds, and tap into their creativity. This journal is a favorite among doctors for its engaging approach to introducing key life skills to children.

We love this modern and practical baby journal to help new parents chronicle special moments of new parenthood without pastel overload or saccharine prompts. The journal is chic and timeless, complete with thoughtful prompts and places to tuck keepsakes. Plus, it’s gender-neutral, so it’s great for all types of families and gender identities.

We love that this journal has a scrapbooking feature that comes with all the supplies needed, including a free set of prints you can order from their photo services, making journaling as easy as possible when extra time is sparse.

All parents can benefit from journaling’s stress-reducing ability to process big emotions. But for busy parents, pulling out a physical journal is often the last thing on their minds. Day One solves this. Its virtual format makes it easy to quickly jot down thoughts whenever and wherever you have a spare moment, such as early mornings, late evenings, or during kids’ activities.