I started journaling when I was in 3rd grade, and all I wrote was: “Hi, I am eating chicken right now. Okay bye!” 😂

I start every journal with a hello to my journal. Usually I write why I like it and how the paper is running smooth and I basically flirt with the book.

I used to start my journal with a note for "unwelcomed guests", in fear that someone might read my private notes. Nowadays I just journal in a foreign language, which anihilates all my worries about privacy. It's also a great practice for my writing skills. I switched to writing "a pledge" at the beginning - basically setting up rules for myself, like "don't worry about the style" or "don't judge, analyze". Those rules help me remember that a journal is a place for growth and overcoming obstacles, not another unpleasant chore.

When I wrote, I used to have to consciously remember that I’m writing for me, not for someone who might read it in twenty years 😝

The tip 'don't make yourself the hero' really made me pause and reflect on whether I actually do that. Thank you! I never thought that someone would actually journal just their accomplishments and good stuff... because I use journaling as a way to process my emotions and understand my self better.

journaling becomes addictive remebered when i used to hate it then.. i’m buying a dollar store journal every year / 3 months

I've been journaling about 30 years. I'm 73 years old and my journals will be a legacy to my daughter and grandkids. They incorporate our family history with my feelings from my 40s into my 70s, from a career person into retirement. Most importantly it tells who I was so that when I croak, my loved ones will have more than just faded pictures to remember me.

Am I the only one that does several entry’s on different parts of the day? Like I just write when I want to and I end up with like 7 entries a day.

My journal definitely is the opposite of perfect. My handwriting changes depending on how I feel that day. Sometimes I even write backwards or write in cursive just to create a little variety in my journal. I guess you can say my journal is imperfect in a good way haha.

The honesty one, though! That one is very important! You don't have to lie to your journal or yourself. You already know what happened, put it down as it happened. You can write an alternate version or what you wish had happened later on, but make sure you can tell which version of events is the true one. You will feel so much better if you tell yourself the truth. Don't sugarcoat what happened. We all make mistakes, and none of our lives are absolutely perfect.Don't be ashamed of that. When you're writing in your journals, you don't have to pretend to be some one you're not, because that gets exhausting. Be who you are, and put that in your journal, and you'll feel so much better about yourself. Your journal will not judge you for who you truly are.

You're really right about the part where you said that don't always try to be a hero. Like it's really good to write those wrong decisions you did in your life and reflecting on it. I did that recently and it kind of felt good.

Question for Q and A: What do you write if you LITERALLY did nothing that day?

i started a diary two days ago because i was tired of keeping so many negative emotions to myself and let me say, writing them down definitely helps. this video made me realize a lot of things (like using a pen and not to make yourself the hero) so thanks ✨ i just hope i don’t get bored of it like I do with a lot of projects 🙃

Hi :) Love this video. I'm 31 and I've kept paper journals since I was 8 years old regularly. To add onto your how to begin a journal, I created my own little ritual. The very first page I always write "and the rest is still unwritten..." volume __ whatever the number journal is. The next two pages I leave blank with a title "important eveents". This could be something world wide, a friends baby born, a milestone, or even something silly like a new movie or book etc.. just anything that meant something to me that happened through out that journal. For me it serves as an index of sorts so I can open the first page of each journal and see a summary of what happened in my life in that time period. Then I start with my day as if it was in the old journal, except I write about how i acquired that one. I reflect on the previous journal a bit and write down goals for upcoming chapters in my life. This way has always been great for me because it's excellent to look back on later. It makes it somewhat like a chronological series. Hope this helps someone :)

To all the people that say that if I mess up with pen I can't erase it but there is this thing called an erasable pen so I think that you should get a couple of those pens.

When I start a journal I always leave the first page empty. When I am done filling all of the other pages I am going back to first one and I write a letter to my future self. I write there mainly my predictions about how am I going to be in 5, 10 or 15 years and how the things I wrote down in this journal may have impacted my future. It is just really strange but somehow satisfying feeling when I am later reading this letters and I am comparing these predictions with reality. Oh and sorry for my English I am still working on my writing. Hope it's understandable.

Ugh who else tried to journal in private but their family always burst in in them even when they are told not to? ⬇⬇⬇

As a bookkeeper, I can truly say that dating your stuff is super important! I put dates on everything because time passes before our eyes without us even realizing it so dating things can really help us to remember. Thank you for stressing that in this video! And I think I will take your advice and put days of the week and times down in my journal entries. Great tips! ❤ Happy Journaling!

When u dont have: Gel pens Washi tapes Cute pens Watercolour pen A normal book *a glue stick* Markers that actually work ;-;

In my journal I use high lighters and I draw and doodle all over the page. I also add stickers and glue on inspirational quotes and other random pieces of paper. It makes it really cute and aesthetic! Have fun journaling!

Q:do you hide your journal and do you let you friends or family read them

Q:What are some good hiding spots for your journal

I have always loved writing in pen, for the ones who don’t like the scribbles when you cross out I suggest getting whiteout! Such a life saver!! :)

🙁🙁🙁🙁🙁🙁 I write 20 pages a day in my diary and I feel happy when I even write more (love your Chanel btw)

Sometimes when I journal i have the journal like talk to me? So if I for example wrote "sorry I haven't been writing for a few days" i would write in purple ink "it's not a problem, you were busy" it just makes me feel like someone is talking with me and listening, even if it may seem kind of crazy

I started journaling in 2017 and I forgot about it soon after. I started again about eight months ago with the intentions of documenting events in my life and improving my handwriting and the progress between my 2017 handwriting and my 2020 handwriting motivates me to write more. Journaling also feels nice since I tend to go on tangents about everything that happened in my day when I'm talking to people and afterwards I feel like I probably made them bored, so it feels nice to be able to ramble about my day without worrying that the things I'm saying aren't important.

One "tip" for pencil entries is artist's fixative. It's a spray used on pencil and graphite drawings (most commonly) that creates protective layer that prevents smudging and fading. One alternative for fixative is hairspray: it'll make pages yellowish, stiff and have a weird texture over time but it can also darken the pencil and make it more readable if it already started to fade and smudge. So, use pen obviously, but if you used pencil not everything is lost. Thanks for the tips. I try to get more into journaling but I noticed that I mostly journal when things go bad and I don't feel ok. Usually I'm just clueless about what to write, describing my day somehow doesn't fancy me that much.

I love keeping a diary. I use an old typewriter to write mine. I feel it really helps me think and motivates me to write as I love using the beautiful machine. Would recommend

I searched “Journaling” and your video was the first to pop up. You go girl!

I've been writing so much more since quarentine happened and every time I start a journal I just put my name on the first one then start on the second one it helps I love your journaling videos 💕

Hi Carrie, I'm from India and I love that you always reply to your comments, mostly youtubers don't do that. Love your journaling vedios 😊❤

Lol I love that you address that first feeling of "What the heck do I write in here???" I was introduced to journaling by my friend and she said to write whatever. I love this video, it's SO helpful. I definitely know what to show people when they want to start journaling

These Tips litterally changed my entire view on Journaling. I have been writing since May 22 2018 when I was around 10 years old. So about 3 years now. I always thought everything in my journal has to be perfect, but now I understand it really doesnt have to be! Thank you so much! :))

You inspired me to do journaling again

i am not a beginner, but, i love watching videos about this topic. i have been journaling for about 3 years. i do it everyday, i write a lot everyday too, i use the brand moleskine. i am almost 17 and journaling is actually a huge part of me. your videos are so interesting to watch!! i just subscribed🥰🥰

The tip of buying a journal that’s not expensive is such a good tip. My first journal I bought at the dollar store for 3 bucks and it was great then with my next one a bought a more expensive journal. And I totally agree with the it doesn’t need to be a million dollar journal. Slowly work your way up

LOVE to the journaling community for causing so many fantastic notebooks to get onto the market. I'm not a journaler nor do I have a planner, but I love the dot-grid paper for Math. I really wish all of you would put some pressure on the companies and make demands for a Letter size (8.5 x 11) dot grid journal with soft cover. I know they are out there already, but I haven't seen one that is very cost effective.

As a thirty something year old who has been journaling since I was in 2nd grade: This video is everything. I smiled at all your tips because you're 100% right on all of them. Even better: Your tips will last the test of time because I *still* follow all of these. And yes, ALWAYS date your entries. It's incredible to see where you were in your life when you read back on what's been written. Keep on with the journaling! :)

Some of my best journal entries is when I am honest with my self. When you're honest with yourself you learn so much that you might have other wise ignored if you never wrote down honest mistakes,fears,and what makes you upset. and i FEEL BETTER when i get those things out.

I started journaling today because of you and i love it’s and I really hope I’ll do it for a long time into the future. I subscribed yesterday and I can’t stop watching your videos.

For my summer journal, I bought a 5 dollar spiral journal. It is super cute! It has a ton of different people (girls) laying on the beach, in the middle it says ‘ Beach Please ‘ in all caps. I love it!

I'm glad that you mentioned about the handwriting, I have dyspraxia so it makes tasks like writing and drawing extremely difficult, I'm 17 but my handwriting is like that of a 7 year old. I've learned to accept it.

I always write that I am the villain in my story, I never feel like the hero and that my anxiety and depression really get to me. I always write about everything I feel like that I have done wrong. Then I have something I have to tell my therapist because it’s right there in my journal. I use my journal to help me remember things and how I feel for my therapist to know. I try and put happy things in my journal also, but I have a lot of self loathing more than happiness in my soul.

I just found your channel and I’m obsessed! I journal off and on but I really want a fresh start so I just ordered a journal that was a spiral spine (fun fact: it was only $8!) and I have my black pen all ready! Thank you so much for inspiring me! I think journaling is a REALLY fun thing to look back on!

You mad me get inspired to do journaling. Yesterday I bought a small journal. I literary begged my dad to buy it. And I want to do the same thing you did. I want to have a line of journals to look back at. Thank You for inspiring me. ☺☺☺

All your videos are amazing, and because of you I have started my own journal. I am very lucky I found your channel during quarantine 😌

In the way i see you, i see you as a hero for me.I was out of motivation and was gonna give up diary writing for good. I was in search for a video to help me with this all over youtube and one of your videos came up. I watched it and some more of your videos and realised i wasnt giving diary writing much of a chance. THANK YOU SO MUCH! im so grateful!! I HAVE GOT MY SPIRIT BACK AND NOW IM WRITING MORE THAN EVER!

Started journaling 4 days ago and I already love it! I can clear my head and vomit thoughts on paper instead of keeping them bottled up.

I’m so happy for to see this video notification! I recently found your channel and it has made me realise how passionate I am about my own journals. (NEW SUBSCRIBER ALERT!) I’ve been keeping a diary for four years now and I absolutely adore it! Thank you, I’d love to see a video of journal prompts or you reading through more of your own extracts 🥰

If you use the right kind of pencil, it doesn't smudge or transfer at all. Plus, pencil marks do stand the test of time. Ink is more likely to degrade and wear while graphite marks take much, much longer to do so. I've been writing in pencil for years and don't regret it at all. But to each their own!

Keep up the journaling videos! I love watching them and I have been writing for years! I had a collection full of journals but ended up throwing them away, so this year I started over and I’m never letting go again. I recommend journaling to anyone. 💕

My journal costed 2€50 ( that’s like 3 dollars) and I love it so much. It kinda elevate the anxiety about "messing up" or "ruining" a fancy journal. I can be as messy, as creative as I want. If I write something wrong I just cross it out and keep on going. It’s not cheap looking, the cover is black fake leather and there’s an elastic band to keep it closed and that’s perfect for me. It’s very basic but keeps me peaceful.

On every first page in my journals i write my name, age, music that i like, food that i like and so on. So i can see back on what i liked at that time

Okay, who disliked this video?! Also, thank you! You really helped me realize how much I love to journal!I finished my last journal in exactly 2 weeks.❤

Do you ever bring your journal with you and journal though out the day or just all at once

I started journaling 2 years ago and I was really scared about someone reading my journal I write in yellow and in English (since English is not my first language) The thing about writing in yellow is that even I can't read what I write 😅😂 But I still do it, it's fun!

Decomposition books are my favorite for journaling!

I love it! You put the day, date, and time on your entries, too. Awesome! Also, I agree about the first page of a journal. I usually just use that first page as a cover page for the rest of it. LOL

I came across your video and I loved it. I especially love that drawing you did with all the small squares that I have to try a small version to put in my journal. I've been journaling since I was 16 and I am now 48 and I still love it. The only difference is that I've incorporated more drawing. Thank you for sharing

I wrote in a journal in 2nd Grade, and in 4th Grade, someone went into my cubby and figured out the stupid lock combination (1234) and read my diary. Now, this girl was also the girl who i felt was stealing my friend because ever since she became her friend, she would deny things i wanted to do with her and all, so she basically read the part where i wrote about “I feel like Miranda is stealing Disha from me, but hey, you got to fake your feelings sometimes. So i act all happy around her, but in reality i hate her so much” Miranda told the entire class and I was so embarrassed, so I just brought it home and threw it into a drawer. Now I’m a rising 6th Grader, and i want to pick up journaling again now. Thanks for the tips, and thanks for listening to my story!

Im not even in high school and I thought it was a really good idea to journal a week ago and now I’m OBSSED! This rly helped me thank you so much ☺️

I usually start my journal with a note to anyone who intends to read it without permission, basically telling them to buzz off 😂 It really helps me to get started with whatever I want to talk about, while also giving me a little peace of mind. I have this intense worry that someone is going to read my journal 😬

I've been doing good :) I read a book about keeping a diary/Journaling and it inspired me to start! I'm getting a kind of space aesthetic diary ✨️ I always wanted to journal, and have tried, but I quit only briefly after because I felt it as a chore, not a hobby. But I found Journaling again, and I want to start! I greatly appreciate the tips! Although I might start with pencil, because I still mess up my letters. (Yes, nobody cares about my life story on why I want to journal. I know. ) but I love seeing other people with the passion of Journaling, because those people inspire me to be more creative!

Journaling videos is just what I need. Nice to have find your journaling videos 👍 I started a traveler's notebook insert in my TN for my daily journaling. I love writing, but can struggle to keep up with it, but now I feel very motivated to write and will do it as often as I can.

Girlll!!!! You are doing so dang good with the editing now I love it!!! With all the cuts in and out 👌🏼🙌🏻🙌🏻 loving all these tips so far! Lol

100% agree with the writing the date tip. I've gone through a lot of my old journals and SO WISHED that I wrote the date.

I've started journaling because during 2021 my deppersion spiked and after that I needed a way to cope so now I use journalijg as a way to cope with that

When I journal just for fun I add little doodles like a smile face or a heart or something and I use colourful pens and stuff and it looks so cutee mine has a lock and a pink blue orange and yellow pattern on the cover I wish you could see it😊

Hi Carrie I love u sooo much it’s unbelievable u inspired me to journal and ur so underrated ur amazing and I have been looking forward to this video I love ur videos all ur journaling videos I have learned by heart I have filled a whole journal in only a week and u inspired me to thank u and I love u I hope u reply bc I hope we can be friends 🥺

I don’t write the time when I journal, I put the date, day of the week and weather. Also I learned the hard way not to journal with a pencil. I used a pencil with my first journal and now I can barely read it. 😢 I’ve filled over 15 journals so far, but I took a long break and am trying to get back into it.

I just start a journal like it's no different from any other page. Like the next novel of a series that just jumps right into the story and expects the reader to have already read the previous book.

Along with the date in my journal I also put the day of the week along side it. For me it helps me to better remember that particular time and date of what other things I was doing that day. Very cool I absolutely love this video. Thank you for your tips and suggestions. I have been journaling since I was 9 and I am no in my early 50's yes, yes I know giving my age away! That's ok because inside I am still very young at heart! Thanks to journaling! Blessings.

Hi Carrie! I love your channel!! It's so inspiring and positive💗💗 I love to journaling myself and I am currently on journaling #14! I also love to put washing tape and stickers and print outs in my journal to make them more colorful and interesting🌴🌴

When I’m thinking about what I want to say I forget words while I’m writing ave I don’t catch myself until way after the fact and I’m re-reading previous entries.

I never thought about why I did it, but I always write in the second or third page of every journal I’ve ever had! That’s so interesting and a great tip!

Literally every time I start anything that has multiple pages (journal, sketchbook ect.) I NEVER start on the first page because I've done that since elementary school and now whenever I look at the first page it really intimidates me. I don't know why but to me it just seems like the first page of the journal just isn't meant to be filled. I'm so glad that I am not alone ❤️

Gongrats on 2k! Will you do another "Reading old diary" video? :)

On my opening page, I put the date that I started the journal, and a quote that is important to me at that time. When I finish the journal, I go back, and add the last date to the front page. If that makes sense.

Hi! I have watched your videos for like two weeks now. That has given me inspiration to start journaling again. I did it maybe 5 Times per year when i was 6-10 Years old. But now i'm gonna start a new diary in a pretty notebook (unfortunately without lock) Hope you have a great Day, gonna watch your tips now. (I'm 12 so i wanna make it as a way to remember My Thoughts and be able to Read it like you're doing in your series)

you’ve inspired me so much! ive learned so much. i’ve started Journaling when i was 6 ❤. ive been journaling for 10 years! tysm

The "don't be the hero" part is absolutely true. One of the things that sometimes stresses me out while journaling is that im a bad person. But im not, and if I did something wrong than I can learn from that experience. :)

First thought "whoa! She is pretty♥️"

You are the best KZfaqr ❤️ I've seen many videos regarding journaling but nobody has said like you that we can journal freely the way we want. No matter on what time we write. But many KZfaqrs have said that it is must to journal in the morning. You're sooo kind-hearted person ❤️ LOVE YA ❤️

I started a dairy when I was 9, and I was surprisingly good at writing in cursive and spelling. I remember when I started it my reason was that I sometimes didn't want to talk to anyone about things going on in my life and my emotions and so all that would bubble up inside me and I would have unintentional anger out bursts and how I knew at 9 that Journaling would help me us beyond me but it did and I am proud to have 2 full journals so far. (I'm not very consistent, so that's why I don't have that many journals filled up)

5:51 How i do my journal is to do it with a pencil and top it up with a pen

Thanks for tips and tricks it's very useful

8:45 I agree 100%! Always write the dates! When I was in high school, I kept a journal during 10th, 11th and maybe some of 12th grade? I didn’t write every day, only whenever something significant happened. And somewhere between 10th and 11th grade, I stopped writing the dates for any of my entries because I thought that the date wasn’t important or I could vaguely remember when whatever I was writing about happened. Now, almost ten years later, whenever I go back and look at that journal I WISH I had written the dates. Because as expected, I have no idea when any of that happened at this point XD which sucks but oh well. Now that I picked up journaling again, I’m making sure to always write the dates and even the time I’m writing 😂 thanks Carrie for all of your wonderful advice! ❤

I really adore how i can reflect and others can also better understand me and the life i have through my writing

Marshalls have the best journals, you can get leather journals sometimes for 12 dollars, marshalls is perfect for journals, thrift stores come in clutch too; yard sales too. Ollie's is good too! Also: pencil, if you sketch and draw on it modge podge over the sketch and it's fine. But daily writing nah pen is better. I use pilot g2s and buy the huge pack during back to school and every journal I use a new pen color. Also, the first page dilemma can be defeated if you leave it blank and give a summary when the journal is done of what went on. I title my journals so I'll either do a summary or a extra title.

You know when you start journaling and them your family keeps messing with you. Like when I'm not doing anything y'all leave me alone and now y'all wanna talk to meee

I have kept a journal for 45 1/2 yrs. Have never had first page issues. When I start a new journal, I do what I do any time I write in any of my journals : put the day of the week, then the date, then the time....& write. What do I write ? Anything that comes to my mind ! What's going on ? What am I feeling or thinking? What are my plans for the day? What's the weather like ? Did I have a crazy dream the night before ? Gosh, there are so many things to write about ! I am on my 45th 200 page, spiral, plain ol' notebook. That's what I always use. 8.5" X 11" pages. I haven't had any issues w/them falling apart . I keep used ones in several boxes . I know it sounds like I use a notebook per year but I don't. For a short period of time, unfortunately I typed my journaling, printed pages & put them in 3 ring binders. SO regret doing that. And I don't write every single day. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't. I've gone weeks w/out writing a single word. I don't worry about it. I've consistently chronicled my life for 45 1/2 yrs. Yes, there are things that have happened that didn't get written down. So what? No pressure. No worries. There have been times when I've written something along the lines of "I'm tired. Going to bed. There are things to say but I'm too tired right now." It's reality. What you need to remember is this : this is not an assignment. You will not be graded on your handwriting, content, spelling, sentence structure or punctuation. There are no Journal Police ! Keeping a journal is highly individual & personal. You do it your way & that's fine !! Another thing....I don't devote a page per day. I write until I run out of things to say. When I write the next time, I start right below where I left off...making sure to make note of day of week, date, & time. I highly / strongly recommend using a pen & writing by hand. Our emotions show thru our handwriting & it changes as we age. This is interesting to observe over the years. What Carrie said about this is spot on. Carrie made some excellent points about keeping a journal. And Carrie, you are so fortunate that you started early in life. I wish I had. I'm glad I started when I was young....but wish I'd started even sooner.

I agree that it is not a good idea to write in pencil. However, if you have entries already that are written in pencil I have a trick that I have done to kind of persevere what's there (mind you, you have to be REALLY careful with this) I take clear tape and like self-laminate the pages so that I can still see the words but that there's a layer keeping them from getting smudged

Buy pilot pens with erasers on top, I love them.

I agree with number 2! In my opinion pencil is for drawing, not writing 🤷‍♀️

I'm start to interested to make my own journal for the first time in my life and I have so many insecure like I have a really ugly handwriting and I don't even sure what to write and I'm not sure how long I will be journaling. But thankfully I found your video it's really help me a lot and I can't wait to start writing my journal😊

Carrie, I think you are A MASTER OF JOURNALSSSS YOU HAVE TO GET A REWARD FOR THAT Ily💕💕

I always skip the first few pages it helps to take the pressure off and you can always go back and add to those pages

I literally just use any journal I have around bc my family jUdGeS mEeE 🙃

I have been Journaling for over 1 year, everyday, all in pencil. Changing that today! Thank you

Thank you for every tip! You are such a positive person