25 Types Of Journals To Keep (Plus: The One Journal You Need)

How many journals is too many? When there are so many different types of journal to keep, it can be hard to know what to choose. That is why so many of us end up with a stack of notebooks on the desk and another peeking out from under the bed.

Some people love a separate book for every ritual. Others prefer one flexible notebook for everything. Most of us sit somewhere in between. Below are 25 types of journals grouped by purpose, with an honest map to what we actually make at Yop & Tom.

Looking for a shorter take on how many books to own? See how many journals is too many. Want to match a practice to your personality first? Read 21 types of journaling.

The journals and planners we make at Yop & Tom

We design guided journals and planners for specific rituals, plus notebooks and notepads when you want a blank canvas (bullet journaling, study notes, business ideas, and more).

Guided journals

• Recipe journals — family favourites, tweaks, and a cookbook that is actually yours
• Reading journals — books read, ratings, quotes, and TBR lists
• Wellness journals — mood, habits, sleep, and daily check-ins
• Travel journals — trips, meals, and moments you do not want to forget
• Cocktail journals — recipes, ratings, and drinks to make again
• Museum journals — compact B6 format for galleries and exhibitions

Planners

• Wedding planners — timelines, budgets, and supplier notes
• Garden planners — sowing dates, beds, and seasonal jobs
• Daily planners — structured days with priorities and schedules
• Planner notepads — tear-off planning when you want flexibility

Notebooks and notepads (open-ended)

• Lined notebooks — long-form writing, study notes, and diaries
• Luxe Pattern notebooks — lined books you will want on display
• Tear-off pads and Miffy notepads — daily lists you can tear off and leave behind

Where a journal type below matches one of our guided collections, that is what we recommend. Where it is inherently open-ended (most bullet journal spreads, business notes, study scribbles), we point you to the right notebook collection instead of pretending we have a dedicated book for everything.

Types of journals for your mental health

1. Bullet journal

Your bullet journal is an organisation system for your whole life: mood, schedule, tasks, and creative spreads in one place.

Our pick: Wellness journal if you want structure built in, or a lined notebook if you prefer to build your own spreads — read our guide to bullet journaling.

2. Dream journal

Log dreams when you wake, before the day takes over. Sketch, bullet, or write long-form; the goal is to notice patterns.

Our pick: Wellness journal for structured check-ins, or a Museum journal if you illustrate dreams — see our dream journaling guide.

3. Financial journal

Money and mental health are linked. Financial journaling helps you see what is coming in, going out, and where small changes could ease stress.

Our pick: We do not make a dedicated finance journal; an A6 planning pad or lined notebook works well for monthly budget spreads.

4. Habit tracker

A visual way to mark when you complete a habit each day. In bullet journaling, a simple spread beats a forgotten calendar tick.

Our pick: Wellness journal — built for habits and check-ins. See spreads in our habit tracker guide.

5. Memory journal

Stories, trips, and moments you do not want to forget. Scrapbook tickets and photos, or write long entries; both count.

Our pick: Travel journal for trips; Recipe journal for family food memories — see memory journaling tips.

6. Moon journal

Journaling in line with the phases of the moon, noticing how energy and emotions shift through the month.

Our pick: Wellness journal for reflective check-ins — moon journaling guide.

7. Nature journal

Observe what you see outside, sketch it, or write reflections sparked by the natural world.

Our pick: Garden planner for seasons at home; Museum journal for gallery visits and outdoor sketch outings.

8. Gratitude journal

Noting what you are thankful for each day, training your attention toward small positives.

Our pick: Wellness journal — see also our take on gratitude journaling.

9. Spiritual journal

A place to explore faith, intuition, or connection to something larger than daily life.

Our pick: Wellness journal for reflective prompts — see our tarot journaling guide if you read cards.

10. Confidence journal

Notice when doubt shows up, log triggers, and track the moments you felt capable.

Our pick: Wellness journal — see how to build self-confidence.

11. Worry journal

Move anxious thoughts out of your head and onto paper so your mind can rest.

Our pick: Wellness journal.

Types of journals for your creativity

12. Creative ideas journal

A holding pen for concepts that strike mid-task, ready to revisit later.

Our pick: Museum journal for visual inspiration on the go, or a lined notebook for quick written notes.

13. Morning Pages journal

Three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing each morning, from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, to clear mental clutter.

Our pick: Luxe Pattern notebooks or Lined notebooks — how to do Morning Pages.

14. Doodle journal

Drawing without pressure to be good. Sketch, experiment, and keep your hands busy.

Our pick: Museum journal — compact enough to sketch in anywhere.

Types of journals for your personal life

15. Daily to-do list

Busy days disappear fast. A visible list keeps priorities in front of you.

Our pick: Tear-off to-do pads, Miffy notepads, or a Daily planner — how to write a to-do list.

16. Health and fitness journal

Track movement, energy, and progress when motivation dips.

Our pick: Wellness journal — realistic fitness goals.

17. Parenting journal

Milestones, funny quotes, and everyday moments for your future self or your child.

Our pick: We do not make a parenting-specific book; a Lined notebook or Travel journal (for family trips) works well.

18. Personal journal

The classic diary: daily thoughts, what happened, and how you felt.

Our pick: Luxe Pattern notebooks or Lined notebooks.

19. Personal planner

Manage appointments, downtime, and the bigger picture. Pair with goal planning when you are working toward something specific.

Our pick: Daily planner or A6 planner notepad — Power of 3 method works well if you prefer three focused priorities at a time.

20. Travel journal

Capture sights, flavours, and stories while they are still fresh.

Our pick: Travel journal — how to create the ultimate travel journal.

Types of journals for your education

21. Study journal

Plan essays, track assignments, and monitor what you are learning.

Our pick: Lined notebook for notes and assignment tracking — see bullet journal ideas for students.

22. Reading journal

Log what you have read, what is on your list, and what you thought of each book.

Our pick: Reading journal — our dedicated format for books read, ratings, and TBR lists.

Types of journals for your career

23. Business journal

Product ideas, launch plans, and lessons from each experiment if you run a side hustle or small business.

Our pick: Lined notebook on your desk; no separate business journal in our range yet.

24. Work journal

Meeting notes, project updates, and career milestones for review season.

Our pick: Daily planner for dated work logs, or a lined notebook for meeting notes.

25. Work planner

Plan your schedule so back-to-back meetings do not catch you unprepared.

Our pick: Daily planner or A6 planner notepad.

How many types of journal is too many to keep?

There is no magic number. A better question: does each book have a clear job?

• One guided journal or planner for the ritual that matters most right now (reading, wellness, travel, wedding, garden, goals)
• One lined notebook or notepad as your daily driver for notes and life admin
• Extras only when a chapter of life genuinely needs its own format

Many of the 25 types above can live inside a single flexible notebook as collections and trackers. Guided journals make sense when you want structure without setup. For a practical framework, read types of journal to keep and the benefits of journaling.

Combining work and personal life in one journal

When work and home share one calendar, one notebook can give you an honest view of your energy.

“Keeping separate bujos for work and home can trick you into thinking you have separate energy banks. Now I keep one bujo, but each daily page is split in half: work stuff and non-work stuff.”

Combining work and personal planning in one notebook can help you see your whole week, manage overlapping hours, and stay on track with goals you pursue outside office time.

When a separate work journal makes sense

Sometimes separation is smarter: colleagues may see your notes, or you want a hard boundary when you close the laptop.

A Daily planner or Lined notebook for work, plus a Wellness journal at home, keeps contexts clean. Planner notepads can sit alongside either setup when you want tear-off flexibility.

Where to start

Pick the ritual you care about most this season:

• Reading more → Reading journals
• Mood, habits, sleep → Wellness journals
• A trip on the horizon → Travel journals
• Cooking and family recipes → Recipe journals
• Wedding or garden year → Wedding or Garden planners
• Daily structure and planning → Daily planners and Planner notepads
• Notes, lists, and open-ended writing → Lined notebooks and Luxe Pattern notebooks

Browse all journals, planners, and notebooks, or shop gifts for someone building their stack.

However many journals you keep, make each one earn its place on the desk. Clarity beats clutter every time.