Why Your Creative Art Journal Is the Key to More Joy and Less Stress
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Anyone else just... over adulting? 🙃
Too many responsibilities, too many chores, too much noise.
It’s like there’s this nonstop stream of stress that just hovers over my head. Sometimes I wish I could just crawl into a bubble and hide out for a while... like, “please do not disturb unless you have snacks or stickers.”
Adulting and “being responsible” can be such a creativity killer. Sometimes the very things we have to do are the things draining all the joy from the things we want to do.
But what I've learned is that the more fun we have while creating, the more joy we feel. And the more joy we feel, the more creative we become.
This week, I just want to gently remind you that creating should be fun. It’s easy to forget that when there’s so much pressure out there. Pressure to be perfect, to make something beautiful, to make something like-able.
Let’s take a step back. Let’s go back to when we made things just because it felt good. Back to the beginning, when creating was play. To help us prioritize joy, let's internalize this week's featured positive affirmation:
🌟 Featured Positive Affirmation
| Featured Positive Affirmation |
|---|
| Joy is worthy of my time and attention. |
When you embrace the affirmation "Joy is worthy of my time and attention," you invite a transformative mindset into your life. This statement encourages you to prioritize moments that spark happiness, reminding you that joy is not just a fleeting feeling but a vital component of your well-being.
What Is a Creative Art Journal?
But how exactly do we remember how to find joy and have fun when we create?
We need a creative playground where we can create without judgment and without any pressure for it to look good. A place we can experiment. Here's where the creative art journal comes in. At its core, a creative art journal is your personal canvas. It’s a mash-up of diary, sketchbook, scrapbook, vision board, and emotional safety net. It’s where you can doodle, collage, draw, paint, write, and just be.
My journal pages usually start with pencil sketches or a quick doodle in pen. Then I’ll layer in markers, watercolor, or colored pencils depending on my mood. Sometimes I get into a collage groove with origami paper, construction scraps, or cutouts from old magazines. (Pro tip: the free magazine bin at the library is basically a goldmine for mixed media play—I always leave with a stack!) My journals are kind of like a creative playground, and no two pages look the same.
Whether you're exploring mixed media, sticking to simple pen-and-paper layouts, or layering textures with a brush, every journal you create becomes a reflection of your inner world.
If you’re wondering how to start an art journal, don’t overthink it. Grab a notebook, a few basic art materials, and give yourself permission to get messy. You can even use an altered book or those leftover printables you’ve been hoarding (guilty!).
Why You Should Keep an Art Journal
Keeping an art journal can be such a transformative experience. It gives you a safe, pressure-free space to express emotions that might feel too big or complicated for words. Sometimes when I’m overwhelmed, just putting pen to paper or brush to page helps me release what I’m holding inside. It’s like my feelings get a little more untangled with every mark I make. Doodling or sketching often helps me understand what’s really going on beneath the surface.
Art journaling is also one of my favorite ways to let go of stress. There’s something magical about getting lost in color, texture, and shape. It’s like a mini-vacation for my brain. When I'm in that creative flow, daily worries start to fade into the background. Suddenly, I’m not thinking about the dishes or that never-ending to-do list—I’m just playing, exploring, and breathing a little easier.
And then there’s the self-discovery part. As you journal, you start to notice little things about yourself. Maybe certain colors always show up when you're in a certain mood, or themes start to pop up in your pages without you even trying. It’s like your journal quietly reveals what’s going on inside, and over time, that kind of reflection can lead to real growth.
When I journal, I let myself grow without needing it to be perfect. Some days, it’s just a quick affirmation with a felt-tip pen. Other times, it’s a messy explosion of layers—paint, stencils, scrap paper from a travel journal I forgot I had. My favorite time to journal is on peaceful weekend mornings with coffee in hand, or in bed during those quiet evenings.
My sketchbooks are filled with a mix of polished pages and total messes. One of the most satisfying things is flipping through and realizing how many pages I’ve filled without even noticing.
Also… is it just me, or do journals multiply on their own? I swear I started with one “perfect” notebook and now I have at least five half-finished ones scattered everywhere. They just keep appearing on my desk like, “Use me next!” But I’m not mad about it. They’re all different, which totally justifies having them… right?
Beyond the play and exploration, art journaling can seriously boost your mood. There’s something really uplifting about finishing a page or even just trying out a new color combo. It’s a little reminder that you can create something beautiful and meaningful, even if it’s just for you.
And maybe one of the best things? It brings you into the moment. When you're focused on creating, you're more present. It slows your thoughts, helps you breathe deeper, and gives your mind a little space to rest. That kind of mindfulness is healing in the gentlest way.
At the end of the day, there’s no “wrong” way to art journal. Whether you’re scribbling notes in a dollar store notebook or layering paint in a fancy sketchbook, the point is to explore, express, and enjoy the process. For me, this kind of playful journaling is a huge part of my creative life and it just keeps teaching me new things about myself along the way.
Tips and Ideas to Spark Your Journaling Habit
Need help getting started? Here are some tips and ideas to ignite your creative journal journey:
Explore free art journaling prompts online (or check out my weekly blog!)
Print some fun printables to glue into your next spread
Combine words and visuals in a diary-style entry
Use your iPad for digital spreads, then print them and glue into your journal for a hybrid look
Keep a stash of go-to supplies like brushes, pens, stamps, and glue nearby
Experiment with layering. Combine drawing, collage, and watercolor for texture
Track moods, habits, or gratitude.
Also, unfinished journals are totally normal. You don’t have to fill them perfectly. You don’t even have to finish them at all. What matters is showing up, trying new things, and having fun.
🎨 Creative Art Journal Prompt: Permission to Play
- Use your favorite pen to scribble a silly quote
- Create a layered collage from magazine cutouts
- Make a sketch of something that made you laugh today
- Try a bright color palette you usually avoid
- Add washi tape just because you like the texture
- Let yourself go off-script with a messy doodle or a quick drawing
Ready to Create with Joy?
Art is healing, and it’s so freeing to have total control over what I create.
That’s why I’ve been reconnecting with something I truly love: working in my creative art journal. It’s become my safe space to let go of expectations and lean into creative inspiration, no matter what my day looks like. This week, I want to invite you to do the same.
Let’s rediscover fun together through journaling. 🎨
