6 Journaling Trends in 2025 That Will Change the Way You Write
Why Journaling Matters in 2025
Journaling has never really gone out of style, but in 2025 it is experiencing a revival. Mental health is in a tough place for many people right now. Burnout, anxiety, and overwhelm are widespread, and screens dominate so much of daily life. More and more, people are craving tactile ways to process their emotions, their to-do lists, and their thoughts.
Journaling trends in 2025 reflect this craving for balance and connection. People are looking for ways to slow down, untangle their thoughts, and make space for creativity. The notebook has become more than paper. It is a tool for wellness, productivity, and expression.
That is where journaling comes in. A simple notebook can become a safe container for everything from grocery lists to grief. With pen and paper, you can slow down, sort through what feels heavy, and create something that feels personal and grounding.
This year, we are seeing a mix of timeless practices like bullet journaling alongside creative, eclectic approaches like junk journaling. Here is a bird’s-eye look at the most popular journaling trends right now and how you can start.
✨ Junk Journaling
What it is: Junk journaling blends scrapbooking, art journaling, and memory keeping into one. It is all about repurposing materials such as envelopes, tickets, old book pages, stickers, and fabric scraps, and turning them into creative spreads.
Why it is trending in 2025: In a world of fast digital everything, junk journaling celebrates the tactile and imperfect. It is sustainable, nostalgic, and deeply personal.
What you need:
- Starter kits
- Mixed ephemera packs
- Dot grid or sturdy journals for a base
✈️ Traveler’s Notebook (TN) Journaling
What it is: The Traveler’s Notebook system, popularized by Traveler’s Company in Japan, is a refillable leather cover that uses elastic bands to hold interchangeable inserts. Instead of filling up one notebook and moving on, you can swap inserts in and out as your needs change. This flexibility has made the TN community one of the most creative and passionate corners of journaling.
Why Traveler’s Notesbooks are one of the top journaling trends in 2025: People want flexibility and tools that adapt to their lives. One week you might use an insert for daily planning, the next for a gratitude log, and the next for sketching on a trip. The same cover grows with you, becoming more beautiful and broken-in over time. Online communities share spreads, setups, and inspiration, keeping the system fresh for new and long-time users alike.
What you need:
- Traveler’s Notebook (TN)
- The original Traveler’s Notebook is a classic leather cover and a true investment piece. It has a devoted community of fans, and the leather only gets better with age. Many makers now create their own versions of this refillable style. See this post on affordable options.
- Leather cover alternatives
- Artisan brands like Chic Sparrow, Sojourner, and Paper Republic offer handmade covers in a variety of leathers, colors, and sizes. These are great choices if you want something unique but still high quality.
- Budget-friendly elastic band notebooks
- Options like the Voyager Notebook or even simple craft-store versions make it easy to try the Traveler’s Notebook system without a large upfront cost. They are perfect for beginners who want to test the style before investing in a higher-end cover.
• Bullet Journaling (BuJo)
What it is: Developed by Ryder Carroll, bullet journaling is a flexible analog system for tracking tasks, goals, and reflections. It often uses dot grid notebooks with minimalist layouts or elaborate creative spreads.
Why Bullet Journaling is one of the top journaling trends in 2025: The BuJo community is maturing. Many people are moving away from Instagram-perfect spreads and back toward the original intention: simplicity and productivity, with a side of creativity.
What you need:
- Dot grid notebooks
- Minimalist pens and rulers
- Creative supplies like washi tape or stencils
🌿 Wellness & Therapy Journaling
What it is: Using journaling for mental health, reflection, and emotional regulation. Often includes guided prompts, CBT or DBT worksheets, gratitude logs, and affirmation pages.
Why wellness and therapy journaling is one of the top journaling trends in 2025: Rising stress, burnout, and mental health awareness are making wellness journaling more important than ever. People are looking for tools to support healing and daily balance. Journaling is one of the simplest ways to meet that need. Putting pen to paper can slow racing thoughts, create clarity, and give your nervous system a moment of calm.
What you need:
- Guided journals (we offer a free guided journal here if you’d like a gentle place to start)
- Prompt cards for inspiration when you’re not sure what to write about
- Needs and feelings inventories that can help you put words to emotions and build emotional clarity
🎨 Creative Journaling & Art Journaling
What it is: Combining words with art such as watercolors, collage, doodles, or mixed media. Often overlaps with junk journaling but focuses less on memory keeping and more on creative expression./
Why creative and art journaling is one of the top journaling trends in 2025: Many people who do not consider themselves “artists” are finding joy in small-scale, low-pressure art inside a notebook. It is creativity for creativity’s sake.
What you need:
- Watercolor-friendly sketchbook
- Some options: Watercolor Journal, XL Watercolor pad
- Heavyweight paper journal
- My personal favorite: Leuchtturm sketchbook,
- Brush pens and watercolor set
- I love TomBow brush pens and SAKURA Koi Pocket watercolor set
📅 Digital + Hybrid Journaling
What it is: Using tablets or apps like GoodNotes, Notion, or Obsidian alongside paper journals. Some creators design printable inserts or hybrid systems.
Why digital and hybrid journaling is one of the top journaling trends in 2025: It allows the best of both worlds. The flexibility of digital meets the tactile joy of paper. Perfect for planners who also love journaling.
What you need:
- Tablet and stylus
- Digital journaling templates
- Printable inserts
📝 Other Notable Journaling Trends in 2025
- Gratitude journaling → a quick, daily habit still going strong
- Morning Pages → stream-of-consciousness writing popularized by Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way
- Commonplace books → collecting quotes, ideas, and learnings in one place
- Manifestation journaling → scripting, affirmations, and intention-setting
Final Thoughts: Choosing Your Journaling Style in 2025
There is no one right way to journal. Whether you are drawn to the structure of bullet journaling, the creativity of junk journaling, or the mindfulness of wellness journaling, the best system is the one you will actually use.
The exciting thing about journaling trends in 2025 is that journaling has become more flexible, accessible, and personal than ever before. With so many options, you can mix and match until your journal feels like a true reflection of you.
Recommended Journals & Supplies
- Dot grid notebooks
- Traveler’s Notebook and alternatives
- Leather covers from artisan makers
- Heavyweight art journals
- Portable pocket notebooks
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