The best self-journal will have writing prompts and critical questions to get users thinking about their successes, disappointments, plans for the future, and things that they are grateful to have. The contents and prompts of each journal will vary, but there are common questions asked that are designed to help users practice gratitude.
COMPARISON TABLE
Journal Name | Key Features | Pros and Cons | Where to Buy | Price |
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Self-Journal | Features high-quality materials, thoughtful prompts, and clear formatting. | Small enough to take anywhere, good quality materials, limited dotted space, limited writing space for some sections, higher in cost. | The SELF website, Amazon | |
Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration | Artistic illustrations and page formats, less strict structure. | Pretty illustrations but not for hardcore planning. Useful for visual journal users that don't need much detail. | Amazon, Barnes & Noble | |
The High-Performance Planner | Excellent materials and a well-cultivated design from an experienced coach. | Not for the casual user but ideal for those that want highly detailed plans and thoughts mapped out. | Amazon | |
Hello New Me: A Daily Food and Exercise Journal | Highly visual food tracking and exercise tracking that is fun and supportive. | Limited to food and exercise, suitable for forming new habits, not for journaling about other parts of your life. | Amazon | |
The One-Minute Gratitude Journal | Helps create more gratitude in life with a flexible format and inspirational quotes. | Limited prompts but effective at cultivating gratitude. Not for serious users looking to map out their goals in great detail. | Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble | |
Wreck This Journal Expanded Edition | This journal guides you through journaling with destructive quirks along the way. | Ideal for less serious users and those that have trouble sticking to journaling, exercises include defacing this journal which may bother some people. | Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Michaels | |
The Contentment Journal | By a bestselling author, this journal will help you alter your mindset in 90 days. | More expensive than other options and only lasts 90 days. Prompts help users to change their thoughts and actions. | Rachel Cruze website, Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble | |
The 5 Second Journal | More space and a larger size for serious users who want some space for their thoughts and the ability to check in on their own schedule. | The larger size is helpful and allows users to write in this journal as many times a day as they wish. The larger size may make it less travel-friendly, but the versatility is better than other products. | 5 Second Journal website, Amazon | |
The Mindful Life Journal | Carefully crafted mindfulness prompts with interactive pages and illustrated exercises. | Illustrations, thoughtful prompts, and interactive exercises make this journal enjoyable to use, but this journal is not ideal for serious users looking to map out fine details. | Amazon, Barnes & Noble, eBay | |
The Five-Minute Paperback JournalNo products found. | Effortless journaling with meaningful prompts and quotes. | Excellent prompts and flexibility in how users write in this journal. The paperback makes it ultra-light and portable. Not for highly detailed users who want to map out long term plans. | Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart | No products found. |
HOW WE REVIEWED
We've carefully reviewed each of these options to ensure that they feature high-quality materials and meet the rigorous standards of long-term use. We also take into account how easy it is to get another journal once you fill the first one, and how versatile and accommodating the journals are for different planning and journaling styles.
OVERALL PRICE RANGE OF THESE PRODUCTS
The pricing of these journals will range widely from $6 to $37 which reflects the materials used, their size, and how versatile they are. Products with higher quality materials used for both the cover and interior pages are going to cost significantly more than a paperback version with average quality paper.
BEST SELF JOURNAL - OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
There are different kinds of self-styled journals, but the list below are the ones that were high enough quality and versatile enough to make our list. Below are different journals to suit multiple purposes but all of them follow similar guidelines for page prompts and user guidance.
SELF Journal |
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SELF Journal by BestSelf — Undated Daily, Weekly and Monthly Life...
Key FeaturesThe SELF-brand journal started as a Kickstarter and has since spread to multiple different journals to suit various purposes. Pros and ConsThere is plenty of room to create your own sections on these high-quality pages, but the dotted part is quite small. This journal is also smaller than a full-size sheet of paper and has limited writing space for some sections. PricingThis journal is $$$ and comes in two colors. If you want it personalized, it's an additional $. Where to BuyThis journal is available for purchase on the SELF website and Amazon. Coupons/DealsThe SELF-site offers free shipping on orders that are over $50 and there are occasional sales that offer discounts on their products. |
Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration |
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Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration
Key FeaturesThis journal takes a more artistic and aesthetic approach to journaling but still features good quality materials and an interactive format. This journal explores knowing oneself, figuring out your dreams, and gratitude. Pros and ConsThe pages of this journal are pretty but may not be appropriate for hardcore planners looking to lay out detailed plans. PricingThis journal is $, but there is also a spiral bound option for $$$ Where to BuyAmazon, Barnes & Noble Coupons/DealsOccasional sales and discounts are available. |
The High-Performance Planner |
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The High Performance Planner
Key FeaturesThis planner features high-quality design and materials which are equally matched by the content that is sourced from 20 years of coaching experience . Pros and ConsQuality materials and well planned out prompts and assessments inside. Not for the casual journal writer or those looking to dabble in goal setting. Pricing$$ Where to BuyAmazon Coupons/DealsOccasional sales and discounts are available. |
Hello New Me: A Daily Food and Exercise Journal |
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Hello New Me: A Daily Food and Exercise Journal to Help You Become the...
Key FeaturesThis book is ideal for those trying to gain better control over their lives by tracking their eating and forming better relationships with their food and exercise regimen. Features fun visuals, and well thought out exercises for setting new habits. Pros and ConsUseful for planning and tracking, but this journal is limited to food and exercise. Maybe ideal for those trying to form new habits, and the size is perfect for traveling. Pricing$ Where to BuyAmazon Coupons/DealsOccasional sales and discounts are available. |
The One-Minute Gratitude Journal |
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The One-Minute Gratitude Journal
Key FeaturesAn excellent journal for creating more gratitude in your life and users can write in their own dates for added flexibility. Pages contain quotes that are non-religious in nature and limited prompts. Pros and ConsThis journal is not for hardcore planners but can help cultivate gratitude. The design is more aesthetically inclined, and the size is travel-friendly. Pricing$ Where to BuyAmazon, and Barnes & Noble Coupons/DealsOccasional sales and discounts are available. |
Wreck This Journal Expanded Edition |
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Wreck This Journal (Black) Expanded Edition
Key FeaturesThis little black journal is designed to be cool and less serious than other journals while still being inspiring and offering guided journaling. It's more creative and quirkier than other journals and designed for those that have trouble sticking with daily journals. Pros and ConsHighly transportable size and innovative prompts make this journal interesting, but some users won't like the requests made to do things like poke holes in some of the pages, or defacing photos. Pricing$$ Where to BuyAmazon, Barnes & Noble, and Michaels. Coupons/DealsOccasional sales and discounts are available. |
The Contentment Journal |
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The Contentment Journal
Key FeaturesThis journal is by a best-selling author and features well thought out prompts to help change your mindset in as little as 90 days. Pros and ConsThis journal is well thought out but only lasts 90 days as it guides a user to more productive thoughts and actions. It's also more expensive than other options for fewer days of journaling. Pricing$$ Where to BuyRachel Cruze website, Amazon, Target, and Barnes & Noble. Coupons/DealsOccasional sales and discounts are available. |
The 5 Second Journal |
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The 5 Second Journal: The Best Daily Journal and Fastest Way to Slow...
Key FeaturesThis journal offers more space for daily use and comes in a larger size for serious users. The format allows users to check in as many times each day as they wish. Pros and ConsThe size of this journal may make it hard for some people to carry around, but the quality materials and prompts make it enjoyable and versatile to use. Pricing$$ Where to Buy5 Second Journal website, and Amazon. Coupons/DealsOccasional sales and discounts are available. |
The Mindful Life Journal |
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The Mindful Life Journal: Seven Minutes a Day for a Better, More...
Key FeaturesMany well thought out mindfulness prompts, an interactive format, and illustrated exercises for a lighter journaling experience. Pros and ConsBest for mindfulness training with a limited amount of time, but not ideal for long term goal setting or serious journaling. Pricing$ Where to BuyAmazon, Barnes & Noble, and eBay. Coupons/DealsOccasional sales and discounts are available. |
The Five-Minute Paperback Journal |
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No products found. Key FeaturesThis journal makes the act of journaling effortless but also packs meaningful prompts for optimal effectiveness. Slimmer design and paperback construction make it ideal for those on the go. Pros and ConsThis journal is less expensive than other options, but the paperback construction won't hold up the same as other hardbound options. The prompts are easy to act on and are research-based. Pricing$ Where to BuyAmazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart. Coupons/DealsOccasional sales and discounts are available. No products found. |
PRODUCT FAQS
The best self-journal will have multiple parts that allow the user to track their goals, thoughts, and other relevant information to help them practice mindfulness and achieve their goals. Here are some frequently asked questions about self-journals.
What Kind of Journaling Are Self Journals?
How Would This Journal Benefit Me?
Where Can I Buy One of These Journals?
THE VERDICT
Image Source: Pexels
Journals are an excellent way for users to practice gratitude which can help induce calmer feelings, reduce anxiety, and remind individuals of the good parts of life. At times it can be easy to overlook little victories and other essential things, but with a journal, you'll be able to track various items and refer to them at any time.
The SELF-brand journal may be the most expensive on this list, but it offers the best structure that is versatile and accommodating to a variety of purposes and goal setting methods. The high-quality materials also make it preferable to less expensive options that may not last as long.
