Why do we still write journals?

Travelers Notebook Opened up with various refill options

2nd November 2022

Why do we still write journals? And what is it with my stationery obsession?

Writing a journal may seem archaic, but studies have shown that getting busy with pen and paper has many benefits to our technology-obsessed, extremely online selves.

Professor James W. Pennebaker and his team at the University of Texas have conducted extensive research on the benefits of journaling. Pennebaker wrote a research paper called Writing About Emotional Experiences as a Therapeutic Process (published in 1997). In the article he observed: “For the past decade, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated that when individuals write about emotional experiences, significant physical and mental health improvements follow.”

These improvements included decreased anxiety, blood pressure, depression, muscle tension, pain and stress; enhanced lung and immune function; improved memory, sleep quality and social life; improved grades and work performance.

Writing about emotional and even traumatic experiences helps us to get them out of our system and allow us to be released from their grip a little. Pennebaker states that “As the number of studies increased, it became clear that writing was a far more powerful tool for healing than anyone had ever imagined.”

Reasons to be Cheerful

Another way of using a journal is as a Gratitude journal, or a Things I Am Proud Of journal, both of which have benefits to everyday mental health. A Gratitude journal doesn’t need to be full of awe-inspiring moments, it can be as simple as seeing a nice sunset, having a good chat with a friend or having a really great cup of coffee.

As someone who struggles with their mental and physical health (I have C/PTSD and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), I find that a Things I Am Proud Of journal can be really helpful. On my good days I can be proud of writing a good piece of poetry or reading some of my work at an open mic, whereas on bad days I can allow myself to be proud of those things that I might not give myself credit for normally – making it out of bed, getting showered and dressed, making sure the kids are up for school.

The important thing is that I met the challenge and got through it, and I know that on my really bad days getting out of bed is nothing short of an actual triumph.

And I have to admit, I do really like treating myself to nice notebooks to record my successes - and my gratitude; I keep another journal for this.

Recognising the tiny good things that happen on really difficult days, like a poppy growing from a crack in the pavement, a rainbow on a bleak day, or a favourite pair of fuzzy socks, really helps to keep me seeing the positive side of life.

The pen that I use for all of this (and for more mundane things like the post-it-notes all over my desk reminding me of things I have to do, and nice things people have said to me – yes, I write those down too!) is this absolute beauty, bought for me by my lovely stepdaughter…

I really believe that having a favourite pen is so much nicer than an old chewed biro, and I also find that I look after it better so I actually know where it is! The fact that I can immediately lay my hands on my lovely pen and notebook, rather than having to turn the house upside-down to find them, means it is more likely that I will stick to the habit of journaling, and noting down my tiny triumphs in my Things I Am Proud Of journal and positive things from my day in my Gratitude journal.

You can never have too many notebooks.

As Adrian Searle, Art Critic, says about keeping notebooks, you need at least “One for dreams, one for writing down things you might otherwise forget, one for composing drafts and organising your thoughts: in the end, they all get mixed up, but that’s half the fun of keeping notebooks. You could use your phone, but it isn’t the same.”

Conveniently for Adrian, USTUDIO have a lovely set of three Moleskin notebooks, which will cover dreams, reminders and deep thoughts quite nicely…

I’m down with the kids!

I recently read that TikTok has reported a surge of interest in stationery from Gen Z and Millenials. The hashtag #stationeryhauls has had over 300 million views. I think this shows an interest in the tactile and tangible nature of stationery in comparison to the digital alternative. As Adrian Searle said, you can use your phone instead of a journal but it just doesn’t feel the same.

A brand new, pristine notebook has the potential to capture your most captivating thoughts or even to become the first draft of your blockbuster novel, so a new notebook feels like a genuine thrill. Especially if it happens to be leather-bound and screen printed – a notebook with destiny written all over it!

It’s not just notebooks

Although the most important things when it comes to journalling are a notebook and a pen, you can get creative, marking pages with a cute cat paperclip, doodling and chuckling with a Sharp & Blunt X USTUDIO pencil set, or livening things up with some vibrant washi tape in its own matching dispenser… it’s your journal and you can make as much mess as you want!

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A way to brighten your day

Stationery cheers us up. Whether it’s the pen of your dreams, the perfect notebook or a lovely weekly planner, you can treat yourself without breaking the bank. As Lucy Mangan says in The Guardian;

“After all, stationery still makes us feel better. In a recession, you can still find something to suit your pocket and cheer you up. A notebook still carries the promise that you will one day make your mark literally and metaphorically. And nostalgia too has us ever in its grip. Whenever I write in longhand these days I increasingly feel like I am helping to preserve an ancient skill.”

I’m with you on this, Lucy. And once I get just the right notebook, there will be no stopping me!