Readers Digest
Magazine subscription Podcast
HomeInspireLife

Make journaling your New Year's resolution

BY Jenessa Williams

17th Jan 2020 Life

Make journaling your New Year's resolution

Here's how investing in some seriously organised stationery could change the course of your year ahead. 

Advances in technology have given us many modern iterations of the diary. There are calendars built into our phones, trackers on our watches, itineraries in our emails… but still, there’s nothing quite like the joy of cracking open a brand, fresh new diary in the month of January. Rich with possibility and the promise of this year being the one where we finally get organised, physical diary-keeping has been proven to improve mental health by helping you keep in control of your life.

However, a regular dated book may no longer cut it. Along with adult colouring and mindfulness meditation, bullet journaling has slowly crept into our consciousness as an effective tool for self-care practice, allowing you to custom-design your notebook layout to suit whatever planning system bet fits your life.

Read more: 3 Reasons to start writing a diary

how to journal for better mental health in 2020

The process of tailor-making your diary may seem a lot of pressure, but with over four million users of the #bulletjournal hashtag on Instagram alone, there is no shortage of inspiration to be found, yielding a whole new world of creativity.

Whether you’re looking to keep on top of a packed schedule, commemorate a special trip or track a new diet or sleep pattern, here are some of our favourite brands and products to give you that extra little motivational boost…

 

The Completist

The Completist stationery

Get a funky start on 2020 with The Completist. Available at various independent boutiques across the UK (and online), this London company aim to make the paper experience as sustainable as possible, making everything from FSC certified paper.

Their colour concepts are second to none—plain notebooks, weekly planner, to-do lists and even birthday cards are laid out in the jazziest of patterns, giving you a boost of serotonin every time you go to journal.

 

Papier

Papier stationery

Beloved by bloggers and social media stars, Papier’s star is rising fast thanks mainly to their plain dotted-page notebooks, perfect for designing your own bullet journal spread from it’s barest bones. If this is a little intimidating, more traditional diaries are also available in a variety of styles, including collaborations with creatives Bodil Jane and Olivia Purvis.

Best of all, the entire Papier range is available for customisation, making it a lovely gifting option.

 

Martha Brook

Martha Brook stationery

A favourite of the Reader's Digest team, Martha Brook is your go-to for motivational quotes that will help you tackle your trickiest of goals. With pretty pastels and customisable foil lettering, they’ll add a touch of class to any work desk.

Team with one of their self-standing desk calendars for complete organisation—you’ll never miss a birthday again.

 

Kikki K

Kikki K stationery

Got a specific goal in mind for 2020? Australian brand Kikki K has a huge range of stationery tailored to wellness and life project-planning, covering everything from wedding organisation and 10-year plans through to dream journaling and travel records.

Their London stores also come stocked with various office filing supplies, homewares, bags, books and even workshops to help you live your best life.

Note: a Kikki K lifestyle quickly becomes very addictive…

 

Papier Tigre

Papier Tigre journalling

Keep all of your new journaling bits and bobs safely in one place with Papier Tigre’s stylish mesh wallets that perfectly match their range of easy-flow ballpoint pens.

Colourful without being childish, this French brand feels graphic and modern, perfect for creatives or adult learners looking to update their stationery.

 

Fred Aldous

Fred Aldous stationery

Northerners rejoice—Fred Aldous is your new hero independent stationery and art store, rich in all the accessories you need to craft your perfect bullet journal.

Shop stores in Manchester and Leeds or peruse online—they have all the top brands as well as an impressive range of local creatives.

They’re also a great place to stock up on Washi tape- a traditional Japanese decorate sticky paper beloved by journalers and craftspeople worldwide.

 

HP Sprocket 200

HP sprocket printer 200

A great journal often needs imagery to spur you on or help you remember, and an instant printer is an easy way to print holiday photos, selfies and notes-to-self straight off your phone.

Simply connect via Bluetooth to your phone, send to print and then apply straight to your diary—the HP Sprocket 200 papers are already sticky-backed for minimal fuss. Layer with washi tapes, captions, ticket stubs and more—individuality is the aim of the game.

 

Keep up with the top stories from Reader's Digest by subscribing to our weekly newsletter

 

This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you. Read our disclaimer

Loading up next...
Stories by email|Subscription
Readers Digest

Launched in 1922, Reader's Digest has built 100 years of trust with a loyal audience and has become the largest circulating magazine in the world

Readers Digest
Reader’s Digest is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards, please contact 0203 289 0940. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit ipso.co.uk