Have you ever wanted to play more with your creative side, but the idea of buying art supplies and learning new skills feels too daunting? Or maybe you’ve wanted to try a little journaling, but the idea of keeping a diary feels pretty pointless?
Well, guess what! You don't need supplies, talent, or a two-hour YouTube tutorial. You just need a journal and the next 20 minutes.
That's the magic of art-journaling, and it's ridiculously easy to do. Don't let those hour-long videos fool you into thinking otherwise!
Art-journaling is a super simple AND super effective way to spark your creativity, calm your mind, center yourself, reflect on new learnings, boost your energy, and reduce stress. It’s got all the good stuff you get from both making stuff and writing. No skills, no talent, no therapy required. Plus endless ways to make it yours. No lie.
I want you to think of art-journaling as an easy way to incorporate play into your life.
Because I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that the world is only getting crazier. And all the unreal things are piling up on each other, making life too overwhelming to deal with. And that is EXACTLY WHY it's a matter of your vitality to self-regulate and reduce stress through some form of creative play.
A bit of play resets your day.
Play is an energy source, not a luxury. So why not use play as a strategy to reset yourself?
Let me tell you about the benefits of art-journaling and the power of small rituals. And at the end, I’ll give you links to some of my art-journaling videos so you can go see for yourself.
As I said, there are a gazillion ways to try art-journaling. I’ve got a few fun ideas to help you get started. But once you start experimenting, you’ll figure out what works best for you. Sound good?
People say we’re all seeking a meaning for life.
I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking.
I believe we’re seeking an experience of being alive.
- Joseph Campbell
Part 1. The benefits of art-journaling.
Art-journaling is a productive way to reflect on your inner life. It can take many forms and endless combinations of artistic techniques. It doesn’t require talent or "being an artist.”
Here are just some of the benefits of art-journaling:
1. Visual Stimulation Tool
Art-journaling helps you calm your mind and boost your concentration. But you also get to express how you’re feeling at any given moment. A super intuitive way to express yourself is to include coloring. Or if you’re making paper collages, using colorful fodder.
2. Mindfulness Practice
Art-journaling is a deeply absorbing, meditative practice. It allows your mind to relax and wander as you slow down and connect with the present moment.
3. Concentration Boost
In addition to helping you slow down, the repetitive and rhythmic motions can really help you find your center. It's like hitting the mute button on all the distractions around you.
You’re also engaging both hemispheres of your groovy brain. While playing is a right-brain activity, writing down your thoughts is a left-brain activity.
4. Reflection and Learning Tool
The process of art-journaling gives you the time and space you need to notice your thoughts. Reflection is the key to learning. The creative process helps you access parts of your brain that you can’t reach with words alone.
Your ideas will pop into your head through random thoughts, pictures, or little sparks of inspiration that just float up to the surface.
5. Energy Boost
Creative play charges your feel-good battery. It’s amazing how just a bit of play can wipe away all that built-up stress and leave you feeling revitalized.
6. Self-Care Practice
Art-journaling is an excellent alternative to watching TV when winding down at the end of the day. Taking time for a creative play break can act as a buffer from daily stressors and negative thoughts. And as a result, you'll improve the quality of your sleep.
Okay, so now you know the benefits. Now you’re clear on why art-journaling is worth trying. But to actually get your butt in a chair and do the thing is another story, right? And that's where mini rituals come in. Keep reading to see why this is the missing piece you’ve been looking for.
Part 2. The power of mini rituals.
Both mini rituals and prompts are like shortcuts that make it easier to jump into your creative flow. They help you bypass your overthinking and just get started. The best part about a mini ritual is that it becomes your reliable kick-off for the practice you want to build. It’s that automatic action that kicks things off and gets the ball rolling!
For instance, lighting a candle can create the perfect vibe for the writing that follows. You can also toss in a prompt, like a question, to kickstart your thoughts and guide your writing right from the get-go.
Other examples of mini rituals include:
• Make a cup of coffee or tea
• Listen to music
• Light some incense
• Pick an oracle card
• Stretch and tune into your body
• Focus on your breathing
• Review your notes
• Make space by decluttering your work surface
If you want to have a starting and closing ritual for your art-journaling, then you could go about it like this:
You can use a starting ritual to center yourself and have your supplies on hand so you can jump in and create. Then you can use a closing ritual to take a moment to be mindful of what you’ve made, and do a little journaling. And then finish by prepping for your next play break.
These rituals are tiny and may seem unimportant.
But rituals move us toward our desires in the long run.
If you desire to be more creative, more present, more yourself, then a ritual makes you that person today, not someday.
Let’s say this year you’ll spend 300 days doing 20 minutes of art-journaling. That adds up to a whopping 100 hours you’ve spent being creative, mindful, curious, and present. Whoa!
Twenty minutes feels like nothing, looks like nothing on any given Tuesday. But a year from now, you'll have a filled journal, an established creative practice, and a fundamentally different relationship with your own creativity.
Each time you sit down and make something, you prove to yourself that you can. This matters enormously. Many people carry deep beliefs that they're "not creative" or "not artistic." Regular practice dismantles these stories through evidence. The proof is in the pages of your journal.
Over the years, this compounds into a life that looks different. Not because of any single grand gesture, but because of thousands of small choices to honor what matters. You become someone who doesn't just dream of being creative - you are creative.
And you’ve let your creativity evolve in the process. You might start with collage because it feels accessible, but six months in, you're experimenting with watercolor. Or you’re writing poetry in the margins. Remember, the specific format of your journal is just the container for your practice. What happens inside it can grow and shift over time.
All it takes is your willingness to begin. Twenty minutes, your journal, and you. Be curious to see what works, and you’ll surprise and delight yourself in the process.
More for you:
1. Check out these videos:
Wanna see how to art-journal with a simple accordion book format and easy-peasy prompts? Here are some videos to get you going.
• Art-Journaling With Collage (Envelopes-Accordion-Fold, #1)
CLICK HERE to check out my video: https://youtu.be/p3eNpEdI0I8
• Art-Journaling With Collage (Envelopes-Accordion-Fold, #2)
CLICK HERE to check out my video: https://youtu.be/PH2NX6qJIJQ
• Vision Board With Collage (Envelopes-Accordion-Fold, #3)
CLICK HERE to check out my video: https://youtu.be/K3BPyrNyqow
• Art-Journaling With Mandalas (Envelopes-Accordion-Fold, #1)
CLICK HERE to check out my video: https://youtu.be/DDrPiblfiRc
• Art-Journaling With Mandalas (Envelopes-Accordion-Fold, #2)
CLICK HERE to check out my video: https://youtu.be/uPdL-U1fvUA
2. Get on my mailing list and grab the free Permission To Play Training:
CLICK HERE to learn more and get Permission To Play!
This is a short, fun training (less than an hour!) where I'll guide you through my own 6-step framework for getting my butt unstuck through play.
Think of me as your personal trainer for getting your creative mojo back on track.
In this training, you'll be scribbling, doodling, making marks, and having fun with your art supplies. No fancy skills required. Just you, some markers or crayons, and a willingness to play.
What you'll take away:
• The satisfaction of giving yourself the gift of spending time on yourself
• The joy of having fun with your creative side
• A simple framework you can use anytime you need to jumpstart your momentum