The best wellness journals to help find your inner zen

Here are some of the best journals to help with self-reflection, anxiety, and gratitude.

wellness journal

by Ellen Kinsey |
Updated on

Whether you're new to journaling or looking for a fresh approach, there are the best wellness journals out there that can help you prioritise your self-care and improve your overall well-being. So, grab a pen and let's get started. After all, self-care can take many forms, from exercise and healthy eating to mindfulness before sleep. However, one often overlooked form of self-care is journaling.

Writing in a journal can help you reflect on your emotions, organise your thoughts, and improve your mental health. In fact, many wellness experts and mental health professionals recommend journaling as a way to manage stress, anxiety, combat loneliness and other mental health concerns. If you're looking for ways to enhance your self-care routine, you may want to consider incorporating journaling into your daily practice. In this article, we'll explore some of the best wellness journals on the market, from guided prompts to blank pages that allow for creative expression.

Best wellness journals at a glance

• Best wellness journal: Papier Joy wellness journal - View on Papier
• Best guided wellness journal: The Journal by Roxie Nafousi - View on Amazon
Best goal-setting wellness journal: Mal Paper Daily Goal Setter Planner  - View on Amazon
• Best wellness pad for quick journalling: Lovendu Wellbeing Pad - View on Lovendu

When you put pen to paper, you're creating a safe space for yourself to explore your thoughts and feelings without judgment. Journaling allows you to process complex emotions and gain a deeper understanding of your inner world. By gaining this insight, you can develop a more positive relationship with yourself and others, leading to improved mental and emotional well-being.

Best wellness journals

Best wellness journal with a guided programme

The Journal by Roxie NafousiThe Head Plan

Your self-doubt ends now with The Journal by Roxie Nafousi and The Head Plan: a guided programme that empowers you to see yourself through the eyes of the people who love you most. Taking you on a transformational journey over the course of 12 life-changing weeks, The Journal has been curated by renowned self-development coach and manifestation expert Roxie Nafousi it includes powerful self-discovery exercises and meditations to work through.

Customer review: "These journals are fantastic! Especially for those who are a Roxie fan!"

Pros

  • The Journal is a 12-week guided programme curated by renowned self-development coach and manifestation expert Roxie Nafousi
  • Comes with a green ribbon bookmark

Cons

  • Expensive

Best wellness journal for anxiety

oliver bonas journalOliver Bonas

The Anxiety Journal is designed for anyone who struggles with anxiety. Created by Corinne Sweet, a psychologist and psychotherapist, the journal encourages using CBT techniques and mindfulness exercises, one of Sweet's specialist areas, to help you understand your anxiety, identify negative thought cycles and soothe stress, to try and achieve some calm.

Customer review: "Beautifully illustrated and written. A lot more detailed than I was expecting so a great resource to have and good for some time to reflect in a nicely structured way. Highly recommend."

Pros

  • Contains exercises
  • Beautiful design

Cons

  • None we can think of

Customer review: "A really nicely balanced book for dipping in and out of."

Best wellness journal for colour selection (Editor's choice)

This journal is available in a number of different colours and is designed for you to start and end each day with a little bit of mindfulness to help give you a positive mindset. Inside you'll find 12-weeks of pages for goal-setting, reflection, gratitude and more. Papier have a beautiful range of wellness journals to choose from.

Pros

  • Ten different design
  • 12 weeks' worth of daily overview pages (two-page spread for each day)
  • Pages are undated
  • Body & mind, gratitude and goal check-ins

Cons

  • Best if you want a more structured approach

Best wellness journal for front cover
Mirage Foiled Wellness JournalPapier

This journal contains 12-weeks of pages for reflecting on your mindful goals, habits, meals, sleep and the things you're thankful for.

Pros

  • Three pages for intentions, feel-good goals and wishlists
  • Same format as the 'Joy' journal

Cons

  • Expensive

Best wellness journal for fitness goals

Save 13%

wellness journalMoleskin
Price: $26.10 (was £29.99)
Alternative retailers
Target$34.95View offer
Urban Outfitters$34.95View offer

This wellness journal helps you to keep track of your milestones and reflections. The introductory pages are full of nutrition tips, exercises and practical fitness facts. The other four dedicated sections allow you to divide your progress between goals and personal aspirations.

Customer review: "I love this! There are loads of pages for your recipes. A lovely keepsake for yourself or for a gift. I bought it so I could record my recipes for my daughters. There are a lot of these books out there, but this one is particularly lovely. Ignore previous reviews - the pages are not thin, and your writing doesn’t show through on the other side of the page.

Pros

  • Moleskin is a renowned journal company
  • Contain dietary tips and exercises to increase muscle mass, as well as general information on fitness

Cons

  • Some reviews say that the pages are too thin for them

Best goal setting wellness journal

The Daily Goal Setter Journal will help you to start your day by checking in and listing three emotions that you're feeling. It will also help you to make your list of daily tasks. This simple journal can help you become more aware of yourself and your thoughts with the simple daily activity of checking in.

Our review: "Journalling is a fantastic way to start and end your day. It allows you to get on paper goals and tasks you would like to achieve, as well as write down affirmations and daily gratitudes. I love the format of this check-in journal; the first three lines are to write down any feelings or thoughts you first have in the morning. Then a section where you can list your tasks, goals or general thoughts you want to release."
"I like to do this just before I start work as it gives me a clear head, and there is something so relaxing about daily rituals. There is an evening checkout at the end of the day where you can pen your reflections, sentiments, or a little reminder for your future self. The journal also has a monthly review section so you can write down your monthly plans, achievements or important tasks. The notebook also has an introduction by Matt Johnson, an ambassador for the mental health charity, Mind, and for every purchase, £2 is donated to the charity. If you are looking for a clean, clear and relaxing way to release your anxieties and thoughts onto paper, then this would be a great wellness journal for you."

Pros

  • £2 is donated to the charity
  • Features 274 pages
  • Sections on: gratitude and affirmation, goal setting, daily, weekly and monthly view
  • Three colours

Cons

  • None

Best semi-guided wellness journal
'End Of Day’ Wellness Journal Echor
Price: $27.99

This semi-guided notebook explains the benefits of some powerful psychological mindfulness exercises. These include gratitude, affirmation, and reflection prompts to help you fall asleep better and put your worries aside.

Our review: "If you are looking for a notebook with a premium feel that has blank pages to release your thoughts at the end of the day, then this wellness journal would be a good choice. It is semi-guided with explanations of concepts and exercises to consider when penning your thoughts. At the start of the journal, there are several pages of guidance on using it as a reflective notebook and the benefits of offloading to ensure a good night's sleep. If you find yourself unable to sleep due to a mountain of thoughts in your head, this journal allows you to unload so you can free your mind and take up your thoughts the next day."

Pros

  • Semi-guided journal
  • Linen cover
  • Premium gift box

Cons

  • The semi-guided may be too open-ended for some

Best wellness journal for positivity

This Positive Wellness Journal focuses on a holistic approach to wellbeing and focuses on the mind, soul, and body. It contains a planner that provides space for daily journaling, creative outlets, and practical activities.

Pros

  • Three sections for mind, body and soul
  • Weekly quotes and daily journaling

Cons

  • Only comes in red

Best wellness pad for quick journalling

An amazing affordable option, this wellness planner comes in the form of a pad instead of the typical journal. Perfect if you're looking to spend only a few minutes each day on practising gratitude and positive mental health. This Wellbeing Pad contains space for acknowledging gratitude, positive affirmations, feelings, water intake, mood, and room to write about self-care, meals, exercise or sleep.

Customer review: "Just perfect to start my journaling journey. Once it’s used, I will be making a bigger purchase."

Pros

  • Each daily sheet can be torn off or folded over to start another week
  • A quick way to practise gratitude and positive mental health

Cons

  • Not private like a journal

Best personalised wellness journal

This wellness journal comes with some fantastic affirmations and reflections to help inspire gratitude in your daily life. At the end of the month, there are also reviews on how the month went and what there is to look forward to in the months ahead. A journal that comes in 4 colours with an option to be personalised would also make a lovely gift.

Pros

  • Daily AM and PM prompts
  • Gold foiled personalisation
  • Four colours

Cons

  • Only six months capacity

Best coiled wellness journal
Designworks Ink Guided Wellness JournalLisa Angel

A guided wellness journal that allows you to focus on things that are important to you every day, inspires gratitude, and urges you to celebrate your achievements (no matter how big or small they may be!)

Pros

  • Includes a sheet of colourful stickers to use
  • Coiled for easy page removal

Cons

  • Notebook more than a journal

Best journal for inspirational quotes
Lovendu Happiness Journal Lovendu

Happiness is wellbeing, and we love that this journal is a tool to guide yourself on the path to a happier life. The structure of this journal is loosely based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. This is a motivational theory in psychology that suggests that humans are motivated to fulfil their basic needs before moving on to more advanced needs. This journal will take you through some of this hierarchy and strive for you to meet some of your needs and learn more about yourself. It will also make you reflect on who you are as a person and what makes you happy.

Customer review: "I was feeling really low, and I was just trying to gain my personal happiness back and not rely on external factors or validation. I love how the book doesn’t have dates as, well. If I miss a few days, it doesn’t mess up the whole book. I can’t express this enough, but I love this book."

Pros

  • Self-discovery activities, mood trackers and more
  • Coil bound for easy page removable

Cons

  • Only 180 pages

Wellness journals FAQs

What is a wellness journal?

Wellness journals give you a set time of the day to grab a pen and write down your feelings, goals, achievements, reflections, worries, and things you are thankful for.

You don't need to be a novelist to write down how you are feeling. These beautiful and useful journals will help you write free-flowing notes or inspire you with structured activities to reflect on the day.

Scientific research has also shown us that journaling can be just the remedy for the trials of modern-day life. Journals boost mindfulness, memory, and communication skills. Studies show that writing in a journal can lead to better sleep, a stronger immune system, elevated self-confidence, and a higher IQ.

Benefits of using a mindfulness journal

Mindfulness meditation improves brain development and awareness

Writing and other creative activities, such as mindfulness colouring, can bring you into a meditative state that can help rewire your brain and revamp your thoughts. As described by the Buddhist monk Nyanaponika Thera, mindfulness is a “clear and single-minded awareness way to know exactly what is happening to us and in us, at the successive moments of perception."

Boosts creativity and productivity

Mindfulness journaling supports your artistic and creative side. When you list down what you can accomplish throughout the day, it gives you a sense of satisfaction and an adrenaline rush that will motivate you to be more productive.

Rituals develop self-discipline and self-confidence

Rituals are different from routines. Routines are constrained and are seen as flexible, whereas rituals are things you do daily - these make you feel good but can be anything from writing in your journal to five minutes of meditation. These rituals help develop good organisation skills, which is an indication of self-discipline.

Strengthens your emotional stability and self-awareness

Writing down your thoughts and feelings in a journal will help release your emotions. It will provide you with an outlet to process and evaluate how you feel; so that you can work through them and allow them to pass. In turn, this will make you more self-aware and help create stronger relationships with other people and yourself.

Makes you happy

Journaling is like therapy. This easy and free way of healing—mentally, physically, and emotionally will help you release unwanted negative emotions such as anxiety, stress, and other mental health issues onto the page. Keeping a mindfulness journal teaches you to be grateful for things in your life.

Many of the journals in the list below teach you how to compose words of gratitude and self-affirmation and guide you by channelling your negative thoughts into the pages and letting go of the negative energy.

How can I get the most out of my wellness journal?

If you're looking to get the most out of your wellness journal, it's important to be true to yourself. Don't worry if you find it difficult to write at first; simply jotting down a few short words about your day can prompt inspiration and get you on the right track.

Remember to reflect on your intention for starting the journal. What do you hope to achieve with it? How can it help you grow personally and spiritually? Consider taking this time for yourself without distractions and view it as an act of self-love. You may find it to be a fulfilling part of your day that helps restore balance and reconnect you with yourself.

Summer Picnic By The Lake At Sunset. Woman Relaxes In Nature.

How often should I write in my wellness journal?

There's no set rule for how often you should write in your wellness journal. Some people prefer to write daily, while others write weekly or whenever they feel inspired. The important thing is to make it a regular practice that works for you.

Do I need a special journal to start a wellness journal?

No, you don't need a special journal to start a wellness journal. You can use any notebook or paper you have on hand. However, there are many wellness journals available on the market that include prompts, exercises, and other tools to help you get started and stay motivated.

Ellen Kinsey is a Senior Health and Wellness Product Writer for Yours and has been contributing to publications across Bauer since 2020. Specialising in natural health and beauty, her passion for wellness is rooted in her personal journey, blending her love for food, travel, and holistic living.

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us