How to Set Up Your Journal

Whether you have been journaling for a while and have lost your spark, or you are 
brand new to the practice, one issue you might come across is getting confused on 
what to write and where. While there are no rules you need to follow when it comes to 
having a journal, some people find it easier to be dedicated to it when they have layouts 
and templates that allow for better organization.


Separate it Into Sections

The first step to setting up your journal if you want it to be a little more organized is to 
separate it into sections. Most journals just include a notebook with a certain number of 
pages, but don’t have any type of dividers. If this is the type of journal you are using, 
then you will need to create this organization on your own.

You might want to start by making a list of what you plan to journal about, so that you 
can see if any specific categories jump out at you. For example, if you want to use the 
journal for what you are thinking about daily, expressing gratitude, and working on your 
personal goals, then you know you need at least 3 different sections for the journal. 
Others might have more or less, depending on what your personal preferences are.


Add an Index and Page Numbers

While this is more commonly done in bullet journals, there is no reason you can’t do it 
with your regular journal! A lot of times, you don’t know how many directions your 
journal is going to take, and before long, you get your thoughts and ideas jumbled on 
different pages. When it comes to looking for a specific page, it can take a long time and 
get frustrating. This is why page numbers and using an index is handy.

Start numbering all your pages, then make a note of what that specific entry was about. 
You can then add the subject or topic to the index at the beginning of your journal with 
the page number, making it easy to reference later.


Consider Printable Pages

Another way to set up your journal and really have the pages organized is to use 
printable pages. These can be those you put in different sections of your current journal, 
or by having a journal in binder form, making it really easy to print anything you want 
and to move pages around as needed.

There are many printables, both free and for a fee, that offer templates and prompts for 
your journal. These are pages that are lined, with certain topics, daily journal pages 
where you input how your day was, mood trackers, health pages, and so many more.



