Ready to grab a list of the best daily journals?
Generally, as you already know, I’m a bullet journal type of person.
So if you’re wondering why I wanted to get a premade daily journal, I have a confession to make.
Although I’m a massive fan of bullet journaling, which gives me this amazing freedom of tailoring planner’s layouts to suit my personal preferences, getting started with journaling in my bujo notebook was a failure.
Firstly, I had no clue how to start journaling in a blank notebook.
Secondly, I didn’t know what to put in it.
Basically, I felt stuck, and, rather sooner than later, I gave up this great idea of daily journaling.
With this in mind, my second attempt to write a daily personal journal was more thought through.
Unquestionably, I needed to find the best daily guided journals.
After much research, I came up with a subjective list of the best daily journals.
Today you’re going to learn:
- what my best journals for daily writing are (with a basic description and my honest review)
- why you should journal every day
- how to choose the best daily journals that will work for you
So if you’re:
- new to journaling and don’t know where to start
- looking for the best daily journals with prompts
- struggling with journaling regularly because you just don’t know what to write in your journaling notebook
Then you’ll love this blog post with the list of best journals for daily journaling.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It means that I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase a product that I have recommended. It won’t cost you any extra money.
Table of Contents
What Are The Best Daily Journals?
Without further ado, here is a list of the best daily journals. Also, all basic information, full descriptions, and my subjective opinions on these journals for daily writing you can find below.
[amazon box=”0399184449 , 0062849875 , 0062681265 , 1454930748 , B075K1VVGR”]
What is A Daily Journal?
Basically, a daily journal is any type of notebook where you can write your thoughts, feelings, emotions, memories, observations, dreams, intentions, daily events, etc.
Some of us may associate journal writing with grandma’s kind of diary. You know – “dear diary” type of journaling.
Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with keeping a journal notebook for daily memories.
However, for me, journaling is also about living intentionally by being present now and here.
Why You Should Journal Every Day?
Undoubtedly, journaling allows you to:
- relax your mind and clear your thoughts
- set a tone for a day in the morning and reflect on it in the evening
- live in the moment, now and here
- observe your own thoughts, find negative patterns, and come up with a solution
- focus on the things that matter
How To Choose The Best Daily Journal?
As a matter of fact, you can find your best daily journal notebook in your kid’s room.
Indeed, your best journal notebook can turn out to be as basic as an ordinary school notebook.
However, as I mentioned before, I gave up daily journaling so many times because of the lack of guidance.
For this reason, I’d highly recommend getting a guided daily journal, especially if you’re a beginner.
And yes, obviously you can go to Pinterest and look for journal prompts about fear, gratitude, or self-love.
However, rewriting journal prompts over and over again in your bullet journal might be challenging and hard to remember day after day.
Indeed, having already premade daily journal will force you to make a journal writing part of your morning and/or evening routine.
This is why I tried out many guided journals. Because I wanted to find the best daily journals that work for me.
5 Best Daily Journals
Best Daily Mindfulness Journal
[amazon box=”0399184449″ \ description=”Format: 192 pages
Size: 5.5 x 0.5 x 7.5 inches
Author: The Mindfulness Project
Paper: Sturdy, Blank
Cover: Soft
“]
I Am Here Now: A Creative Mindfulness Guide and Journal is a journaling book where you’ll find all information, daily activities, and exercises that help you slowly include mindfulness into your life.
Definitely, we’re currently living in a world, where we’re constantly exposed to too much negative information, bad news, and clickbait-y drama titles.
Unquestionably, nowadays it’s a lot easier to get in a negative thought spiral and be always stressed out, anxious, and overloaded with emotions.
With this in mind, one way to deal with this kind of negativity in your life is by practicing mindfulness.
In fact, this powerful tool helped me:
- become more aware of my body and mind
- and as a result, learn to react better aka more positively when something unexpected happens
- release pain and tension in my body
- improve a daily focus
- stop mind racing and be more present in the moment
However, it can be really hard to know where and how to start.
As a beginner, you may get overwhelmed pretty quickly.
Indeed, from my experience I know how bringing mindfulness into life as a mandatory part of daily routine might be challenging.
Basically, it’s a very slow journey with the learning curve of taking a tiny step each day.
For this reason, getting a daily mindfulness journal guide is so much helpful.
Not only it prevents you from being discouraged but also it motivates you to include your mindfulness practice in your daily routine.
How Does It Work?
On the first twenty pages, you’ll explore:
- definitions of mindfulness
- timeline of modern mindfulness
- the ground rules for practicing mindfulness
- mindfulness quiz
- what mindfulness meditation is
- how to meditate
- 10 ways to make your day more mindful
Along with this, you’ll learn how to use this book with the table of exercises, where you can track your journey by circling the exercises you want to do.
In general, exercises are divided into 4 categories:
- cultivate (like gratitude exercise)
- concentrate (breathing exercises)
- observe/investigate (for instance, noticing thoughts and emotions, while holding an ice cube in a hand)
- sense (for example, trying different coffees)
The order of the exercises is up to you.
Also, the book recommends meditation and offers the guided one with field notes, where you write your observation before and after meditation.
Last but not least, you can also play a mindfulness game.
Unlike other daily mindfulness journals with classic writing prompts, this journal offers creative, fun activities, like for example, wearing two different colored socks for one day to see if actually someone has noticed it.
Is It Worth a Buy?
You’ll Love This If You:
- are looking for an interactive creative journal for beginners
- have a hard time writing down thoughts, feelings
- feel stuck because of the lack of words aka writer’s block while journaling
- want to unleash your creativity by drawing, doodling, coloring the pages
- want to have fun and practice mindfulness at the same time
Keep In Mind That:
- it’s more of an exercise book rather than a classic journal with mindfulness prompts
- for more advanced mindfulness adepts, most of the activities may seem basic and childish
Alternatives To I Am Here Now: A Creative Mindfulness Guide and Journal
[amazon box=”1973531690″ \ ]
Best Daily Journals
Tiny Buddha’s Worry Journal
[amazon box=”0062849875″ \ description=”Format: 272 pages
Size: 6 x 0.9 x 8 inches
Author: Lori Deschene
Paper: Sturdy, Lined
Cover: Hard
“]
Tiny Buddha’s worry journal is a notebook, where you get all your worries out of your head onto paper.
It offers plenty of writing space and guidelines to form your thoughts which sometimes could be hard.
Also, you find coloring pages perfect for adult creative activities.
As a highly sensitive person, I definitely tend to worry a lot.
Although I was aware that worrying about things that hadn’t even happened, was irritational, I got into a habit of catastrophic thinking.
For example, switching my daily safe corporate job to an uncertain (but so loved) full-time blogger career caused me so much stress.
Instead of being excited and looking forward to new opportunities, I could only think “what if”.
What if no one reads my blog?
What if I’m not able to earn enough money?
And worst of all-what if it doesn’t work and I fail?
How will I pay the bills?
As a consequence, I was constantly tired, stressed and exhausted, checking blog analytics every couple of hours.
Basically, it consumed almost all of my energy.
So I started thinking about how to learn to deal with worry.
This is how I found a Tiny Buddha’s worry journal.
In fact, this worry journal helped me:
- identify my worries and put them in words
- reflect on why I feel this and not that way
- find solutions and alternatives
- put worries into perspective by getting a bigger picture
- release stress and finally calm my racing mind
- find an inner peace
How Does It Work
This journal includes pages with:
- writing “what if” prompts that guide you to focus on positive aspects rather than create a spiral of negative attitude by looking at your worries from the perspective
- “Let It Go” questions will help you to grow the “let it go” mindset and rather deal with your worries instead of constantly thinking about how to stop worrying for good.
- inspirational and motivational quotes
- coloring art
- doodle prompts that allow you to express yourself by drawing
- “Plan Ahead” pages help to create an action plan to feel less anxious daily
Generally, you can complete the pages in any order.
If you want to keep your mind relaxed, choose an amazing under-the-sea world coloring page and have fun just being creative.
As a rule, you complete one page at a time.
In that case, it allows you to take small steps and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Is It Worth a Buy?
You’ll Love This If You…
- want a journal with different kinds of prompts like writing, drawing, doodling, and coloring
- need a guide on what to journal
- love to have a lot of space to write
- want to be creative and have fun
Keep in Mind That…
- the prompts are repeatable and come in the intervals
Alternatives To Tiny Buddha’s Worry Journal
[amazon box=”1452149194″ \ ]
Best Daily Gratitude Journals
Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal
[amazon box=”0062681265″ \ description=”Format: 160 pages
Size: 6 x 0.6 x 8 inches
Author: Lori Deschene
Paper: Thin, Lined
Cover: Semi-Hard
“]
“ Gratitude helps you fall in love with the life you already have.”
Kristen Hewitt
Indeed, if you want to feel better about your life, start your own gratitude habit by keeping a daily gratitude journal.
In fact, it’s proven that practicing gratitude regularly increases overall happiness.
Without a doubt, keeping a gratitude journal helps:
- retrain your brain and change the pattern of negative thinking
- focus on what’s already good in your life and feel better about your life
- boost the mood and get through a bad day
- improve sleep quality
- be more self-confident
- strengthen the immune system
- deepen relationships with yourself and others
Moreover, daily gratitude journaling forces you to develop a new habit of journaling.
How Does It Work?
This journal includes pages with:
- a short introduction
- gratitude journal prompts which allow you to be grateful for not-so-obvious things you’ll never think about
- coloring pages with reflection questions
Also, you don’t have to write in any particular order.
Just open a gratitude journal in the morning to put you in a good mood and/or use it every night before bedtime and go to sleep with positive thoughts in your mind.
Is It Worth a Buy?
You’ll Love This If You…
- have never journaling
- need thoughtful writing prompts
- love adult coloring pages
Keep in Mind That…
- the paper is thin (but coloring pages are single-sided so possibly bleeding through isn’t a big deal)
Alternative To Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal
[amazon box=”0991846206″ \ ]
Best Daily Goals Journal
The 100-Day Goal Journal
[amazon box=”1454930748″ \ description=”Format: 256 pages
Size: 5 x 0.5 x 8 inches
Author: John Lee Dumas
Paper: Thin
Cover: Hard
“]
As a rule, setting goals is a huge topic, especially at the beginning of each year.
Undoubtedly, it’s so easy to dream about what you want to achieve.
To tell the truth, planning your goals is the easiest and funniest part of working towards them.
However, even then you can make some mistakes like for example, setting too many vague goals without a deadline.
Also, when it comes to the process itself, this is where things get even tougher.
Sticking to a (usually boring) daily routine and simply getting your job done day after day might be difficult, in particular after the first boost of excitement and motivation fades away.
For this reason, the 100-day goals journal is an awesome tool to:
- determine your number one goal and constantly be reminded of it
- create an action plan and move forward
- stay on track
- keep you focused, motivated, and accountable.
How Does It Work?
Firstly, you set one goal you want to accomplish in the next 100 days.
This journal guides you with helpful questions. They allow you to outline your goal in a very specific way.
After you finish this part of the journal, you know all the answers to basic questions like why, how, when, and who.
Consequently, you’re able to describe your 100-day goal in detail.
Now, it’s time to break this 100-day goal into smaller chunks and set the one you want to achieve in the next 10 days.
When you have your 10-day goal set, you start working on daily habits to get the job done.
Similarly to daily review, after 10 days you check out your progress, learn what works and what doesn’t, and set the next 10-day goal. And so on, and so on, until 100 days pass.
Last but not least, you complete the “reaching my goal” pages where you reflect on the entire process.
Is It Worth a Buy?
You’ll Love This If You…
- look for a simple but detailed-oriented goal-focused tracking tool
- struggling to focus on long-term goals
- prefer taking one step at a time
- want a structured daily journal with step-by-step guidelines
Keep in Mind That…
- this journal has a little space for freestyle daily journaling
Alternative To The 100-Day Goal Journal
[amazon box=”1722885599″]
Best Daily Planner and Journal
MyndMap Daily Journal & Planner
[amazon box=”B075K1VVGR ” \ description=”Format: 256 pages
Size: 5.5 x 1.4 x 8.3 inches
Author: MyndMap
Paper: Thick (140gsm)
Cover: Soft, 6 Colors
“]
For those of you, who are tired, of keeping your daily planner separate from a daily journal, there is an awesome combination of these two – Mynd Map journal.
You can use this amazing daily planner and journal for:
- setting goals
- creating an action plan
- monthly, weekly, and planning
- daily affirmations
- practicing mindfulness
- color therapy
- practicing gratitude
- doodling and drawing
- tracking progress
- journaling
As you see, you can use this journal in many ways, as part of your daily self-care routine.
How Does It Work
If you beginner at journaling, the first pages of this journal cover all information you need to know before you start.
First of all, you start by establishing your goals by using a wheel of life.
Similarly to the Level 10 Life exercise, you evaluate six life categories from 1 to 10.
Then you decide what your main focus for the next 90 days will be and, guided by thoughtful questions, you set your goal(s).
Now it’s time to create an action plan.
This journal includes such helpful spreads like a monthly overview, weekly intentions page, and daily log that help you to plan each day intentionally and work towards goals.
Also, by filling weekly review pages and eventually progress plus 90 days reflection page you’re able to control the progress through all the stages.
Along with the planning pages, this journal includes creative coloring pages and doodles so you can express yourself, unleash creativity, relax and just have fun.
Moreover, all pages can be easily removed and put for example on a vision board.
Also, you get a great tool to practice gratitude, mindfulness, or just journaling with inspirational quotes, daily affirmations, and additional space within the daily pages for a gratitude log.
Last but not least, you can find simple dotted pages you can use to create a habit tracker, doodles, or other typical bullet journal pages.
Is It Worth a Buy?
You’ll Love It If You…
- need not only a structured planner but also creative pages
- want to have your planning system and journaling space in one notebook
- look for a daily journal with a wide variety of pages
- want to use watercolors for coloring pages
- need removable pages
Keep in Mind That….
- because of the thick paper, this journal is heavy
- the front and back covers are semi-hard so it can get pretty fast worn out, especially if you carry it in the bag
- it’s just for 3 months so you have to buy 4 journals for the entire year which could be pricey
Alternative To MyndMap Daily Journal & Planner
[mv_create key=”20″ type=”list” title=”Bullet Journal Setup 2019 + 2020″ thumbnail=”https://anjahome.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Bullet-Journal-2020.jpg”]
If You’re Struggling To Stick With Journaling Every Day
- create a cozy and safe space where you feel yourself
- add to a habit tracker
- put in your morning and/or evening routine
- schedule it
- start from one line per day
- entry a journal challenge
Best Daily Journals – Final Thoughts
In conclusion, daily journaling is an amazing tool to increase your life quality and level of happiness.
However, it could be hard, especially for beginners.
Sometimes, all you need is simple guidance.
As a journalling beginner, I found guided journals helpful.
Not only I didn’t have to come up with writing prompts every day, but also having daily journal notebooks motivated me to complete them as a part of my daily routine.
What’s Next? Discover More Journal Inspiration:
Bullet Journal Self-Care Ideas: Get Your Life Together in 2023
Create a Vision Board in 7 Simple Steps 2023
Daily Routine: How To Create The One with a Bullet Journal