This is a pretty easy and meditative practice that helps ground me and makes me feel productive while allowing me to take stock of all that is actually going on with me. Lately I have felt really absent and tapped out of my own life, really stuck, but journaling allows me to realize that there’s actually tons of shit going on, things are constantly changing, and the future holds so much. I also have silenced the voice in my head that insists I am not a visual artist so I can’t make collages and stuff, and I have unleashed the collage monster within. It is so fun and relaxing to cut and paste and glue in your journal- it makes the journal itself feel more lived in, fuller, it adds texture… and it also stokes my crow-like inclination to collect scraps because now the scraps have meaning! Collage nights with friends are also super fun and pure. You can use prompt generators to guide you, or just freestyle. I’ve had little collage sessions with friends when we are all feeling depressed and directionless etc, and I’ve noticed we come away from it feeling more centered and optimistic and at peace. This was a long rambling post, and I’m putting off working right now, but maybe this will help!
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My journal is very chaotic and has a lot of collages, sticker dumps, poems and quotes I like, along with more structured diary entries, but one of my favourite things to do in it is what I call free journaling. I’m sure this is not a new concept, I just haven’t looked into it at all. All you do is write anything and everything that comes to your mind even if that is “I don’t know what to write right now. I’m really bored.” It’ll start with that but as you write you start to tune in more to the things around you and how your body feels, and you might start describing what the room looks like, or what you did that day to lead you to this point, or some strange idea for a project, or how the pen feels in your hand.
I had a professor once say to start writing by just starting and making a word vomit page, then open a new document and completely rewrite it. I have taken that advice into my journaling and just done this word-vomit free journaling, then taken some keys ideas/ phrases and used them elsewhere, but also, you don’t have to ever look at it ever again. It gives you the chance to really let go, and let your brain warm up.
Jan 29, 2025
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Specifically in the format of my junk journal; but i also got on substack recently and have a normal journal & writing has been such a fulfilling hobby/practice.
i also have been hoarding ephemera for the last 10 yrs , so junk journalling has been a perfect way to save my scraps in a meaningful way instead of keeping them all in a box that gives me anxiety :^)
Jan 29, 2025
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These past few days, I’ve been having a knack of writing out my feelings, experiences and just little random thoughts that would appear in my head from time to time. However, I’ve been wanting to amp it up and really improve my journaling life. I stumbled across junk journling. I’d see people collect the randomest of things, from receipts to bottle caps, to even clothing tags; which in my head, it just looked like junk to me. However, the end result of these junk entries always turned out to be so beautifully put together. It gave the journal personality, and even made the journal entries look more raw. I was in awe. I have not started yet, but i’ve already been collecting some things such as train tickets, reciepts, sticker, and postcard. I didn’t realize how many creative entries can be used with such things. Hello? It’s even more environmentally friendly. Things that one would just throw away after one use, can be reused and collected as a memento. I can’t wait to partake in this activity, and i’ll probably start posting it on here too.
Jan 30, 2025
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truly America’s pastime. I was reading in the park earlier and overheard a girl dishing about a breakup to her friend who was kinda implying she was in the wrong… and she was like “so did I lie? Yes. But I meant it at the time” and then explained to her friend how the NYT connections puzzles work. I only hope people are as thrilled when they listen in on my crazy ass. I love being nosy
Mar 17, 2024
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really just stretching your whole body so intensely you’re using muscles you didn’t even know you had and squeaking like a little mouse. wiggling like a worm on the sidewalk after it rains when you poke it with your shoe, but a little slower. maybe more snake than worm. but to each their own
Feb 7, 2024
