Do You Need A Journaling Eco System For 2026?

The short answer? No.

Journaling isn’t one-size-fits-all. Sometimes we scroll social media, see a beautiful journaling aesthetic, and think THIS IS IT. This is what will ground me in the coming year.

But the truth is, it’s not the system that grounds you t’s the habit. What you choose to journal about is personal, and it can change. Thats what makes it unique.

I’m an autistic and ADHD woman who struggles with consistency. I mean… just look at the date of my last blog post.

In 2024, I decided to start junk journaling. I began in June and slowly found a rhythm that worked for me. My style ended up being a mix of junk journaling and scrapbooking. I was able to kep up and make it a habit for myself. I looked forward to the mornings or nights I would sit down and journal.

The point is simple: put pen to paper. Write down what moves you. What makes you… you.

After a year of consistency, I felt inspired to try a full “journaling ecosystem.” So in June of 2025, I added a planner, daily prompts, and a book journal to track everything I read this year.

And after some trial and error, I realized something important: daily prompts just aren’t my thing. I did them for three months, and I’m proud of myself but they’re not helpful for my brain.

What is helpful? An analog planner. Especially one filled with stickers and washi because honestly how can you not enjoy planning when you get to decorate it with such cute things?

my cute palnner for 2026 and a stickerbook to go along with it.

This coming year, I want a specific journal place for my knitting. So I’ll be adding a small journal just for the knits I make in 2026. I want to look back and see how I felt, what mistakes I worked through, and which yarns I used. What I felt as I was knitting and why the pattern spoke to me. I can’t wait to look back on this.

I’ll also keep junk journaling. I’m so excited to be starting my sixth junk journal. Looking back over the last year and a half, it’s been a breath of fresh air. I can physically see the changes I’ve made, the growth I’ve experienced, and what shaped those shifts along the way.

There are so many types of journaling:

brain dumps, mind mapping, diary-style writing, daily journaling, recipe books, gratitude journals, travel journals, creative journals, therapy journals, commonplace and so many more.

The point is simple: put pen to paper. Write down what moves you. What makes you… you.

In a world where social media encourages us to curate our lives for everyone to see, it’s powerful to have a place with no judgment. A place where you can expand on your day and your thoughts without the limitations of a caption.