Creative Journaling Healing: Formats, Prompts and Ways to Begin
- Adilla
- Sep 12
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 16
Ever wanted a space to dump all your ideas in a fun way? Creative journaling might be something worth trying for you! It can be anything from writing, drawing, collage, or painting, all in a journal. Not only will it help you self-discover your artistic interests and nurture your creative juices, but it also aids in stress relief, improving your overall mental wellness.
Table of Contents
What Is a Creative Journal, and Why Does It Help?
There are 2 types of creative journals. One helps track your creative progress and goals. The other one is where you artistically express your ideas, thoughts, and emotions in a safe, nonjudgmental ‘space’. In this article, we are focusing on the latter. So, why and how is a creative journal for emotional healing?
According to a study, engaging in creative activities helps with emotional regulation. It provides a space for individuals to process and manage their emotions, whether good or overwhelming. Other than mental wellness, it fosters flexible thinking, problem-solving, and exploring different perspectives in life. Hence, improving an individual’s mental resilience, adaptability and coping skills.
5 Journaling Formats for Creatives
Here is our recommendation for journaling prompts for artists and writers alike:
Morning Pages
Similar to a brain dump method, the goal of this format is to write three pages without stopping or censoring your mind, a stream-of-consciousness way of writing. As the name implies, it is to be done every morning, and you are also supposed to change or reread anything that you write. An interesting challenge, no?
Sketch and Note
Also known as illustrated journaling or sketchnoting. It is a combination of hand-drawn visuals with written text to note ideas, thoughts, experiences and memories, or anything. In a way, it’s a personal record of your life in a sketchbook.
Reflective Journaling
A self-reflection format for you to look back and analyse your experiences. It’s not just about recalling your memories; you would be critically evaluating the meaning and impact of those experiences. If you would like saveable prompts to get you started, just scroll down!
Mood-map Journaling
Or mood tracking is about consistently recording your moods, feelings, and triggers that could affect them. This helps with identifying patterns in your moods to better understand your mental health on a day-to-day basis. This can be done in writing or even by doodling your emotions in your journals.
Gratitude Collage
If you prefer something more eye-catching and that tickles your brain aesthetically, consider visual journaling like a gratitude collage. This prompt allows a more multi-sensory experience in expressing your creativity. Pictures, washi tapes, sketches or stickers can be heavily used here in any way you want while taking note of what you are grateful for.
List Of Sample Prompts to Get Started on Journaling
Start Your Journaling Journey With a 4-Week Starter Plan
Week 1: Set The Goal
What do you want to achieve by the end of your 4-week plan? How long would you want to spend time journaling in your first week? You can even utilise our starter prompt to start your journey. Take note of what you feel during this week.
Week 2: Stay Consistent
How did you go about your first week? What ways can you improve this week? Were you able to consistently stick with your new routine?
Week 3: Analyse Deeper with More Details
At this point in the week, journaling would have become your daily habit. Here you can evaluate what and how it has changed your lifestyle. Do you still feel the same way as you did during your first week of this journaling journey?
Week 4: Integrate into Your Daily Routine and Repeat
Reflect on your overall progress. Did you feel personal growth or improve in ways you didn’t realise? Moving forward, will you be continuing this habit, and what can you change to make the experience better?
Key Takeaways
Journaling doesn’t have to only be about writing; it can be anything that you want it to be, whether to build your confidence or improve your creative skills.
Emotional healing doesn’t have to be rigid; it can be fun and engaging for your creative mind.
Additionally, if you would like to build a like-minded community, we would like to recommend you come to our mental health Facebook group: Creative Mental Health Group | Facebook
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are other types of journaling?
There are several types of journals out there that serve different purposes, like reading journals where you track the books you read, your reviews on them, and your favourite quotes and scenes from them. There are also dream journals where you note the dreams that you had. The most common one would be travel journals, which are self-explanatory of what they are.
Can I use digital tools instead of physical books?
Yes, you can utilise digital spaces instead of physical books. You can try out journaling apps, Canva or even something as simple as a Word doc to start your journaling journey.
Would scrapbook journaling be beneficial to mental wellness?
Yes, while it might not have a starting prompt like other journals, it is still a form of creative expression which contributes to better emotional regulation.
Author bio
With a background in Arts English, Adilla has been a casual writer for various hobbies, like parodies of animated shows and plots for board games. She loves to read anything and everything from fantasy stories to articles on tips and tricks. Now an advocate for mental health and effective project management for the creative industry. Currently, Adilla resides in Malaysia and is a creative writer at TESSR. To know more about her, check out her LinkedIn.
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