Three Different Ways to Start Journaling

The tale of the three journals

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Discovering the Joy of Journaling

When I started journaling, I was completely lost. A friend suggested I write down my feelings. My first thought was, “Where do I even begin?” So, I turned to my trusty desktop computer. It had an RGB monitor, no internet, and I was using WordPerfect 5.0—an old software that’s since been bought by Coral Technology (I think). That company was later acquired by someone else in the early 2010s.

My journal, originally titled “My Life,” was a mix of my feelings and daily activities. I imagined it would one day be a treasure for my children, once they figured out how to use a 3.5-inch floppy disk. Eventually, it morphed into a much larger Word document called “My Life in the 21st Century.” Back then, my frustration levels were through the roof. I barely had space for the smaller journal on my internal hard drive, and I lost everything when my Dell Dimension tower crashed. I didn’t have a paper backup, which was a huge mistake.

The Evolution of My Journaling Journey

Fast forward to today, and I’ve got a much better system for keeping my journals. I invested in a 6TB external hard drive/server in 2020, and I’ve only used about a quarter of it. Talk about being prepared! During the pandemic, I switched from an older Dell Inspiron tower to a 2-in-1 model (which I wouldn’t recommend—just get a laptop), and then back to a newer version of the Dell Inspiron tower in 2024.

Today, I want to chat with you about different types of journals—both physical and digital. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned writer, there’s something for everyone.

Starting Simple: The Power of an Empty Notebook

If you’re new to journaling, I always tell people to grab an empty notebook from the dollar store. It doesn’t need to be fancy, and your writing doesn’t have to be perfect. This is the beauty of first-stage writing! Honestly, I’d even suggest starting with a simple piece of paper. Why? Because you might not yet know if journaling is for you.

Once you accumulate a collection of papers—big and small—take a moment to evaluate. If you find yourself jotting down everything, it might be time to start an idea journal. If you’re writing about your day on those pieces of paper, you’re ready for a more generalized journal. I’ll pause here because I’m getting ahead of myself, and we’ll dive into the types of journals next.

Choosing the Right Journal for You

After you’ve journaled for a while, you may feel ready for something beyond a plain notebook. But if you prefer to stick with a simple, lined notebook, that’s perfectly fine too. One thing I’ve learned about journaling is that there’s no wrong way to do it. I won’t be offended if you never buy a journal from me and instead choose something like this journal book from Paperage. I love it because it fits in my purse (5.6 x 8 inches) and is perfect for when inspiration strikes.

I also use my phone to jot down ideas. When I write in my journal, I prefer using a good quality pen, like the Paper Mate InkJoy Pen in black.

Embracing Digital Journals

I briefly mentioned digital journals earlier, and I must admit, they’re my go-to these days. I have a business journal, an idea journal, and a personal journal. Sometimes, I even combine all three into one file when I’m pressed for time. It doesn’t matter as long as I can keep track of which entry belongs where.

For my digital entries, especially on busy days when I’m juggling multiple types of writing (and maybe even sneaking in a travel entry), I find two advantages to digital journals: you can save content from the internet and share it if you want to. For desktop and laptop users, I recommend MS Word and GoodNotes for Windows. For Mac users, any program you like will work just fine. On my phone and tablet, I have MS Word downloaded from the Apple App Store, with Google Docs as my backup. Google Docs also serves as a backup for my PC.

The Unique Offerings of P Lynne Designs LLC

Now, let’s talk about that third type of journal. It’s not really a type at all but more of a subset. For those who are new to P Lynne Designs LLC, Journal Jam Club, and Journal Jam and Curated, these are the products I create and sell. Here comes the shameless plug! I’ve been making journals, notebooks, notepads, bookmarks, and other stationery products since 2010. What started as a hobby has blossomed into P Lynne Designs LLC (the LLC part came about in September 2025).

I’d love for you to check out P Lynne Designs on Payhip and this website. You can also find P Lynne Designs on Etsy and Stan when available.

Conclusion: Your Journaling Journey Awaits

In conclusion, there’s no wrong way to start journaling. You can choose between physical and digital formats, and neither is superior to the other. It all boils down to personal preference. If you haven’t started journaling yet, the world is your oyster! You can pick any type of book or device that feels right for you.

You might even find that a hybrid approach—using both physical and digital journals—works best. And hey, if you discover that journaling isn’t your thing, that’s perfectly okay too!

Whatever you decide, including the possibility of buying a journal from my shop, make sure it’s a choice that resonates with you. Happy journaling, and have a wonderful evening!