Mari's Journaling Power Blog | CreateWriteNow

Can a Simple Blank-Page Notebook Lead to Better Journaling

Written by Lori Wade | November 23, 2020

If there's one thing every journal writer, college student, and professional novelist has in common, it's a fear of the blank page.

The image of a cursor flashing on screen or the sight of an empty, blank sheet of paper has made many a writer stumble and choke. After all, the question of what, how, and where to begin a diary entry has been difficult since the very beginning of time.

In fact, some people may even refer to the hesitation to write on a blank page as a kind of fear. This fear, otherwise known as 'analysis paralysis,' is the bane of every journal writer. The fear of getting started is very powerful, so powerful that many writers invest in pre-fabricated items that warm up their writing muscles without the fear of starting from scratch.

Writing prompt notebooks, charts and planners, and even pre-planned 'today's topic' journals are all the rage and can be found in nearly every home. However, using a tried-and-true blank paged notebook is not only better for your budget, but it can increase your knowledge of yourself and others.

Can a simple blank-page notebook really lead to better journaling? Let's take a look.

Top Three Reasons Why Blank Notebooks Make You Better At Journaling

We have known for a long time that personal diary writing and journaling have the ability to improve your mental, emotional, and even physical health. However, the use of a blank notebook can exponentially double your success factors along the way. Below is a list of three reasons why blank notebooks take the cake when it comes to journal writing.

1. Blank Notebooks Invite Creativity

Who doesn't love being creative, especially as an adult? We often lack opportunities for creativity and left-brain engagement in our daily lives and easily fall into the trap of disenchantment. Blank notebooks work to change all that, and inspire us to journal more freely, clearly, and openly. After all, who said that journaling had anything to do with words alone?

Use your blank notebook to:

  • Draw pictures that represent feelings, events, or actions that sum up the events of your day. A picture is worth a thousand words, which is why art journaling can draw you closer to your journaling goals in a shorter period of time.
  • Sketch poetry, prose, memories, or other disjointed emotions in whatever format is conducive to you. Why write one or two sentences when you can express yourself through bullet points, lines, or simple rhymes? The number of options you have is simply limitless.
  • Use the additional space and openness of the blank notebook to write notes or thought bubbles in the corners of your writing. Come back to old writings and journal entries with different pen colors, and make notes about your progress over time. How much more do you know about yourself now than you did then? What fears or hopes did you have that changed over time? Use the simplicity of the blank notebook to harness the power of internal evaluation.

Writing with creativity in mind frees your journal entries to move beyond the scope of words and paragraphs and become an art form that is entirely yours. Unleash your unique thoughts and feelings using the medium that is best for you, and shake off the forceful weight of ruled or graphed writing paper.

2. Less Clutter Leads To More Freedom

The human fascination with stuff has been long recorded by researchers and cultural observers alike. People love filling their homes with one-use kitchen appliances, single-function tools, and 'useful' gifts that spend more time gathering dust than serving a real purpose. In the same way, garbled paper notebooks or journal formats seem to gather in places all over the house.

Blank page notebooks lead to better journaling through decluttering our lives. Here's why:

  • Blank page notebooks provide a one-stop-shop for all journaling needs. Rather than rely on many separate journals, use a single blank-paged notebook to exercise the full gambit of personal journalistic techniques.
  • Minimalists rejoice! Using a single notebook for multiple needs allows you to compile all your thoughts about a day into a single page.
  • Explore yourself on a deeper level by cutting out the fluff and commercialization of your writing. Dive deep into your personal experiences, and allow yourself to freely write about whatever comes to mind. The world is your oyster, and the blank notebook will become your pearl!

Free yourself from lines, boxes, and everything in between by utilizing a blank notebook for your daily journaling efforts. Take the experience one step further and prefer a notebook made of post-consumer paper, because recycled material is the way to go!

3. Empty Space Provides Margin

The simplicity of the blank-page notebook is found in its clear, empty pages, ideally made of post-consumer paper. In fact, the lack of any extraneous material is part of the reason why these notebooks lead to better journaling over time.

For one thing, blank notebooks offer the opportunity to be as creative as you desire. No 'in the box' line formatting can force you to cover a subject or write on a topic that you're not interested in. As another point, blank pages produce a kind of calm in our lives that is rarely appreciated. Empty spaces give us the chance to collect our thoughts, calm our racing minds, and simply 'be' for a while.

Like a cadence in music or the period at the end of a sentence, empty space provides a 'breathing moment' for your brain. Blank notebooks supply you with enough empty margin to successfully navigate your complicated thoughts and unlock more unseen observations that could be lurking just beneath the surface of your mind.

Formatted notebooks have their place in the journaling journey. However, they can do little to improve your technique beyond what is already known. Besides, In an already helter-skelter lifestyle, how much more clutter do you really need?

How To Journal Better With A Blank-Page Notebook

Equipped with a blank notebook and a pen or two, writers like you can begin the process of improving journaling techniques and developing personal thoughts about inner emotions, feelings, and desires. Dedication to your task and the desire to know yourself better will be all you need to get started.

The use of a blank page notebook will be enough to permanently improve your journaling habits if used correctly. Commit yourself to a lifestyle of writing, and watch yourself become more familiar with yourself and your emotions over time. Chances are, you will be so glad you did.

 

Author bio: Lori Wade is a journalist & content writer from Louisville, who has experience in small editions. She enjoys creating news and conceptual articles about efficiency and productivity in life. You can find her on LinkedIn. Hope you appreciate Lori’s useful insights!