A journal doesn’t have to be a diary. You don’t have to write about your day, work through your feelings, or fill pages with long entries to enjoy keeping one.
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Sometimes the most fun journals are simply collections of little things you want to remember, ideas you want to explore, and lists you enjoy making.
You can use an inexpensive notebook, a pretty journal you’ve been saving for something special, or even a spiral notebook from the dollar store. There are no rules, and you don’t have to write in it every day.
If you’re looking for something different to do with a journal, here are 50 ideas to get you started.
Lists of Favorite Things
One of the easiest ways to start a journal is by making lists. You can add to them whenever you think of something new.
- Your all-time favorite books
- Movies you could watch over and over
- Songs that bring back memories
- Your favorite comfort foods
- Little things that make you happy
- Favorite places you’ve visited
- Your favorite smells
- Things you loved as a child
- Favorite traditions from your family
- Things you love about each season
Things You Want to Try
Use your journal to keep track of ideas you’d like to explore someday. You don’t have to turn every idea into a goal. Sometimes it’s enough just to collect possibilities.
- Hobbies you’d like to try
- Crafts you’ve always wanted to make
- New foods you’d like to taste
- Places you’d like to visit
- Books you want to read
- Games you’d like to play
- Skills you’d like to learn
- Things to do on a rainy afternoon
- New experiences you’d like to have
- Small adventures to take close to home
Memories Worth Keeping
A journal can be a place to collect the little details that might otherwise be forgotten. These don’t need to be important milestones. Ordinary moments can be worth remembering, too.
- Funny things your family has said
- Favorite childhood memories
- Stories you’ve heard from older relatives
- Memorable family vacations
- Birthday celebrations you remember
- A day that turned out differently than expected
- Your favorite holidays growing up
- Things your children or grandchildren have said
- A memorable meal shared with friends
- Small moments you wish you could relive
Ideas to Collect
Think of your journal as a personal idea book. Whenever you come across something interesting, write it down so you can find it again.
- Gift ideas for people you love
- Recipes you’d like to try
- Interesting facts you’ve learned
- Favorite quotes from books
- Conversation starters
- Ideas for a future trip
- Things to make by hand
- Creative ways to celebrate birthdays
- Fun activities to do with friends
- Ideas for making ordinary days more interesting
Just-for-Fun Journal Pages
Not every journal entry needs a purpose. These prompts are simply fun ways to fill a page when you feel like writing something different.
- Ten things you’d take to a deserted island
- Places you’d visit if you could travel anywhere tomorrow
- Your perfect imaginary day
- Things you’d collect if money and space weren’t an issue
- Five fictional characters you’d invite to dinner
- Your dream bookstore
- Things you’d put in a time capsule
- A list of things that always make you laugh
- What you’d do with an entirely free weekend
- A list of things you want to remember about this year
You Don’t Have to Keep a Journal Every Day
The best thing about this kind of journaling is that there’s no schedule to follow.
You might fill three pages in one afternoon and then leave your notebook alone for a month. You might keep one journal for everything or start separate notebooks for books, memories, hobbies, and ideas.
You can write full sentences, make lists, draw little pictures, add photographs, or tuck in ticket stubs and notes. Your journal can be as simple or creative as you want it to be.
And if you don’t know what to write, pick one idea from this list and start there.
You might be surprised how much fun it is to have a little collection of your own favorite things.
Sometimes a notebook doesn’t need to tell the story of your life. It can simply hold the little things that make it yours.
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