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 Journals

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. Many wellness experts and mental health professionals recommend journaling as a way to manage stress and anxiety and 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 at Papier
Best wellness journal for anxiety: The Anxiety Journal Book - view at Oliver Bonas
Best wellness journal for gratitude: Papier Mirage Foiled Wellness Journal - view at Papier
Best for quick journalling: Knock Knock Self-Care Weekly Tracker Pad - view on Amazon UK

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

Wellness journals make the most touching and thoughtful gifts, also...

Best wellness journal overall

This Papier Joy wellness 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 has a beautiful range of wellness journals to choose from.

Pros

  • Ten different designs for your taste
  • 12 weeks' worth of daily overview pages
  • Pages are undated for flexibility
  • Body & mind, gratitude and goal check-ins

Cons

  • Best if you want a more structured approach

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.

Customers love how easy it is to read and work through anxiety-focused activities, particularly meditation. If your friend is struggling, this could make a good gift.

Pros

  • CBT techniques and mindfulness exercises
  • Beautiful design - to help achieve peace and calm
  • Designed for anyone who struggles with anxiety

Cons

  • None we can think of!

Best wellness journal for gratitude

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. And, you can log your intentions. These will consist of weekly and monthly check-ins for your intentions and things you're grateful for. Plus, throughout this journal. there are useful articles written by a wellness expert - and the pages, are helpfully undated.

Pros

  • Three pages for intentions, feel-good goals and wishlists
  • Same format as the 'Joy' journal but is best for gratitude
  • You can personalise this gratitude journal with your name

Cons

  • Gratitude style may not suit all

Best for quick journalling

Knock Knock Self-Care Weekly Tracker Pad (Pastel Version)Knock Knock
Price: £10.95

An amazing affordable option, this Knock Knock Self-Care Weekly Tracker Pad 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 reflecting on your day - and setting intentions for the week. This Wellbeing Pad has suggestions on things to do - and a few blank spaces for your daily goals. Everything from reaching out to friends to stretching is included. It's your o e-sop shop for looking after yourself. It's OK to make a list.

Reviews love this Tracker Pad from Knock Knock, finding it helpful to keep them on track. Not only is it said to be high quality, but beneficial tool for self-care. If you're a little forgetful and need a little reminder of what you need to achieve each day, this is a great way to log your achievements. However, it's not very private and some customers would have preferred more blank spaces.

Pros

  • Breaks self-care goals down into small, doable chunks
  • With room to add your own daily goals and tasks
  • Make promising yourself a daily habit - a reflective tool

Cons

  • Some customers would have preferred more blank spaces

Best wellness journal for fitness goals

wellness journalMoleskin

Rrp: £27.12

Price: £25.49
Alternative retailers
Target$34.95View offer
Urban Outfitters$34.95View offer

This Wellness Passion Journal from Moleskin helps you to keep track of your milestones and reflections. The introductory pages are filled with nutrition tips, exercises and practical fitness facts. The other four dedicated sections allow you to divide your progress between goals and personal aspirations. Build your personal story towards a healthy, mindful lifestyle - step by step.

Customers like the Moleskin Wellness Passion Journal for its ample space to track fitness and detailed chapters for your diet. One customer commented that they love this book and love that this "is so much more" than expected. Another customer says the Moleskin journal has improved - since the last version and has more of "what you really need". However, one reviewer found the diet reviews unnecessary and plans to change their use. You can make this journal your own. There's not just one way to journal. Follow your intuition - and go your own way. It's a practical pick for improving health.

Pros

  • Moleskin is a renowned journal company
  • Contains dietary tips, exercises and information on fitness
  • Blank pages allow you to take additional notes

Cons

  • One review found the diet reviews unnecessary and plans to change their use

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

  • Stylish, premium-feel leather and features practical extras
  • Includes gratitude, affirmation, goal setting, and a note section for flexibility
  • Monthly, weekly, and daily goals - to stay consistent and track progress

Cons

  • Undated pages may not suit everyone's progress

Best semi-guided wellness journal

'End Of Day’ Wellness Journal Echor
Price: £27.99

This semi-guided Echor ‘End Of Day’ Wellness Journal 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. We love that it's made from sustainably sourced paper. Plus, it comes in the cutest gift box and feels luxurious to hold. A fabulous pick!

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 includes exercises on gratitude and affirmations
  • Premium design - with a luxurious linen cover and gorgeous gift box
  • Made from sustainably sourced, FSC-certified paper - which we love!

Cons

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

Best wellness journal for positivity

wellness journalThe Positive Planners

The Positive Wellness Journal from The Positive Planners focuses on a holistic approach to well-being and focuses on the mind, soul, and body. It contains a planner that provides space for daily journaling, creative outlets, and practical activities; and offers a holistic approach to self-care like breathing exercises, stretching, meal planning, and mood tracking. There's a deeper exploration that we love here. It's a follow-up to the original Planner - and is such a comprehensive wellness guide.

Customers love this journal, praising it for its high quality, thoughtful content, and appealing design. Many customers appreciated its affirmations and ideas - making it a great gift and keepsake to see your progress and growth. Though one customer found it a little smaller than expected, it looks super professional and is perfect for Christmas - with its knock-out packaging. Reviews love this pick. However, there's only one colour option available. We would love to see more!

Pros

  • Three sections for focusing on mind, body and soul
  • Weekly quotes and daily journaling for creativity
  • A good reminder to bring more positivity into your life

Cons

  • Only comes in one colour - red
Summer Picnic By The Lake At Sunset. Woman Relaxes In Nature.

Best 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.

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. Our pick of the best wellness journals will help you achieve zen.

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 was a Senior Health and Wellness Product Writer and has been a part of Bauer Media since 2020. She has left to study Ayurveda in India to expand her knowledge and skills in the health and wellness field, where she plans to continue making journalistic contributions.

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