My Honest Experience Trying Junk Journaling

This month’s focus on fun and creative planning inspired me to try something new: junk journaling! Have you heard of it or tried it yet?

Junk journaling is like if vision boards and scrapbooking had a love child—layered, messy, and bursting with creativity. I kept seeing videos of people creating these beautiful, eclectic pages, and of course, I had to give it a go. I grabbed a notebook, some scraps of paper, magazines, stickers, washi tape, a glue stick, and dove in.

I expected it to be freeing and fun—letting go of perfection and simply enjoying the process. But, honestly? That’s not how it went.

My Thoughts on Junk Journaling

I didn’t love it. In fact, I found it really hard to make my pages look anything other than…well, ugly. Even though junk journaling is supposed to be imperfect, I couldn’t let go of the need for it to look “good.” I felt stuck and almost gave up entirely.

But then I had an idea. I started adding my kids' artwork to the pages, and something shifted. Suddenly, it felt meaningful. I realized I could add a photo of them at each age they created the artwork. Then, I decided to make two journals—one for each of them to keep when they’re older.

That little change made all the difference. It gave the project a purpose, and I enjoyed it so much more. In the end, it turned out cute, and I’m glad I tried it.

Not Every Hobby Will Stick—and That’s Okay

If I’m being honest, junk journaling isn’t a hobby I see myself sticking with—and that’s okay! The beauty of trying new hobbies is discovering what you love and what doesn’t quite click.

Some hobbies will stick, and others won’t. That’s part of the fun!

Should You Try Junk Journaling?

Just because it wasn’t my favorite doesn’t mean it won’t be yours. If you’re curious about trying junk journaling, I encourage you to give it a go. Grab some supplies, let go of perfection, and see where your creativity takes you.

If you’ve already tried junk journaling or decide to give it a go, I’d love to see how it turns out! Seeing everyone’s photos and messages has been so inspiring—it truly feels like we’re doing this together, which was my hope from the start.

Happy journaling!