When I first started junk journaling, there were times when I’d open up my journal and I’d have no idea where to begin. 

Honestly, that still happens sometimes.

So over time, I’ve collected a handful of go-to ideas for when I feel a little uninspired but still want to sit down and make something.

Here are my favorite junk journal prompts I always return back to.

10 Ideas for Junk Journal Spreads

1. Monthly roundups: This is a staple for me. I have monthly roundups going all the way back to 2017 (!!), and they’re some of my favorite pages to flip through. I’ll include what I was reading, watching, buying, listening to, obsessing over. It’s such a low-pressure way to stay consistent without forcing yourself to journal every day or even every week. And at the end of the year, you have this little time capsule of your life (which I think is what it’s all about!!).
2. Movies watched: I do have a Letterboxd, but I’m not super serious about it because I don’t necessarily believe that every review has to be in a public forum or every thought needs to live on the Internet. (I say as I literally put my journal spreads onto the Internet). ANYWAY, I much prefer giving movies their own space in my journal. I’ll write the date I watched it, the title, the year, the director and my thoughts on the movie. Thoughts, feelings, random observations, themes. If I have a ticket stub (so rare these days!!) I’ll add that into there too.

3. Reading log: Very similar to movies! Rating and reviewing books in your journal can really help solidify what you thought about the material by putting pen to paper. I’ll usually rate the book, jot down a few themes I noticed, and include a quote that stuck with me. 
4. Lyrics and playlists: I keep a little list of lyrics that resonate with me on my phone. Whenever I listen to a song and I’m like “hm, that’s so me” I add it to that list so I can use the lyrics later for journaling. If I want to make it into a larger spread, I list out the playlist or album and then pull a line I like from each song on there.
5. About me: If you’re starting a new journal and don’t know where to begin, this is it. An About Me page is such a good way to ground yourself in who you are right now. What you like, what you’re into, what you’re figuring out. It’s simple but kind of special to look back on later. (P.S. I have a journal kit that specifically helps you with that.)

6. Travels: Big trips, small trips, random days where you decide to romanticize your own city. It’s all worth documenting! Keep the little things: receipts, tickets, maps, packaging, notes. The kind of stuff you’d normally throw away is now a part of your story.
7. Friend hangouts: You already took the photos! Now print them out, put them somewhere. I love doing little “friendship dumps” after coffee dates, nights out, or get-togethers. Photos, bits of the conversation that stuck out to me, maybe a funny quote someone said, a recap of the night. Just capturing the feeling of being around people you love.
8. Moodboards: As you know I love a good moodboard. Seasonal moodboards, life moodboards, vision moodboards. It’s such an easy way to create something visually satisfying without overthinking it. Cut things out, print things, layer textures. Done!

9. Mental health checklist: Almost similar to a Dopamine Menu, putting together a list of things to do when you’re feeling down is a practical thing to have in your journal. I like making little “reset lists” based on how I’m feeling (anxious, overwhelmed, low energy, etc. etc). I’ll ask myself, what do I actually need right now? and build from there. So when I’m not in the headspace to figure it out, I already have something to fall back on.
10. To-do calendars/bucket lists. Sometimes I’ll make a themed calendar for the month like a creativity calendar with tiny prompts for each day. Or I’ll do a seasonal bucket list. Things I want to try, places I want to go, little moments I want to create. It makes life feel a bit more intentional when you have an idea of what you’re doing for the season.

These are just a few simple ideas of what you can put in your junk journal.  

And the good thing about all this is that it gives you a reason to be present and connected in your life to what you’re consuming, how you’re feeling, who you’re spending time with, where you’re going. Letting yourself notice things, and then keeping little pieces of those moments. Living life, experiencing new things, taking it all in. 

It all makes it so worth it and so worth documenting.