Q&A for How to Start a Journal

If you want to keep the journal for yourself, don't show it to them no matter what. First thing you can do is to avoid the topic and make them forget about the journal. When this doesn't work and they keep asking, confront them openly. Stand up for yourself and make it clear that it is your personal thing, and they have no right to want it from you. If you see that the situation requires it, tell them something general about the journal (like "I write about my day to relieve stress throught it"). Maybe they would become less curious; however, be kind, patient and stand up for yourself

Make it your own! Add stickers, pictures of your favorite bands/movies, etc. Make it organized and unique.

Write about your hopes and dreams, your fears or your day-to-day experiences.

Tumblr is always a good place to look. They have a wide range of "aesthetic" photos you might enjoy. Or you could simply use photos you take yourself to make your diary a more personal look.

The safest way is to take it with you where ever you go. If you don't want to do that, I would recommend putting in a good place where no one would think to look. My siblings and parents look through my stuff a lot and they know where I hide things so I hide it in my mattress.

No. Journaling is not a chore, and you don't 'have to' do anything. You can do it as often as you want to.

Always keep it in the same place and return it to this place immediately when you are finished writing in it. Don't take it out of the house unless you absolutely must.

Of course! Journals and diaries are personal things, so do what feels right for you.

If you are writing a personal journal, you can write however you'd like. If you are journaling for school, ask your teacher how she/he'd like you to write.

That's up to you. It's good to have it on hand in case you get inspired and you want to write, but you also increase your chances of losing it or having it fall into the wrong hands. If you do decide to take it to school, just be careful!

No. You can if you like, but it's certainly optional.

Keep it somewhere no one looks.

You can look for journal apps in your computer's app store. You can also start an online journal using a site like Livejournal, Tumblr, Wordpress, etc.

No one is going to look at your journal except for you! You can make it as messy as you want. It doesn't matter!

Yes, express yourself in words and drawings if you want. Sometimes you can't describe things in words. Also, if doodling is something you enjoy, you should feel free to do it!

Of course not! Your journal is your own, so as long as you can read your handwriting, then that's good enough.

Just write about what you're thinking. Journals are normally used to confront feelings, and teens are experiencing them all the time, be it stress, sadness, happiness, or any other feeling! It doesn't necessarily need to be interesting, you just need to write your thoughts and feelings.

Yes, you can use whatever writing implements you want. Just make sure you don't smear the ink while moving your hand across the page.

There isn't really a difference between a diary and a journal unless it is a different kind of journal, such as a bullet journal. If you use the journal for writing down thoughts and emotions, that is considered a diary or a journal. You can start a journal entry by simply writing the date and then jumping right into talking about your day or whatever you need to get off your chest.

Absolutely! You can use word-processing software such as Microsoft Word or apps specifically designed for journaling.

It depends on what you want to do. Journals are personal, so make set it up however you feel comfortable. Making it organized is good if you want to easily navigate through your entries, but you can also just make it more casual if you find it easier.

Be serious and tell them that it is private and that every person should have their privacy. You can also keep it secret and just don’t tell them that you have one.

Yes. If you don't have a journal book, you can write on pieces of paper and staple them together to keep all of the entries together. It is also okay to write one single journal entry on a piece of paper and not write any more. It is up to you. All that matters is that you are getting your thoughts down somewhere!

Your local Walmart and Amazon would be the best places to start. Check online articles for what materials are available, and check to see where they are sold. A Dollar Tree or similar variety store might also be a good place to check out. First do some research for what kind of decorations you might like, and then check online and in local stores for where you can find them.

If you're walking and have your phone with you, pull it out and type those thoughts and ideas. When you get home, copy your thoughts into your journal. When you're driving, use Siri to record your thoughts on your phone, or pull over and type it out. If your journal is small, take it with you when leaving the house.

If you manage to fill up your first journal and want to continue, you can get another one.

There's really no difference. "Diary" carries the connotation of recording daily events, no matter how mundane. The word "journal" may suggest a record of thoughts or activities that carry greater significance. You can choose the term you like.

Sure, if you have enough space in your journal to write all of that. A journal is personal property, so you can write about whatever you want.

Sure, if you have enough space in your journal to write all of that. A journal is personal property, so you can write about whatever you want and whenever you want.

Write about what inspired you to buy a journal, how you got it, and what you plan on using it for. You can also write about anything else that happened that day.