How to start a journal: tips from our journalling experts

January tends to be a time to reflect and plan for the future. Our leather journals have long helped people do that. But if you need a little push to help you continue or even start journalling, here is our advice from some of the paper republic team...

How did you start journaling?

Monica: Before joining paper republic, I mostly used journals for sketches and design ideas. Now, I find myself actually writing regularly so journaling has become a mix of art, thoughts, and planning for me.

Paul: I began doodle journaling during my first trip to Vienna last summer. Two friends gave me a notebook and encouraged me to do a doodle a day. It was such a nice and mindful way to capture my summer in Vienna while travelling solo.
 
Nastya: Three years ago I was visiting my parents and found a journal I wrote in as a teenager. It felt like looking into someone else’s mind. My mother - who's been journaling her whole life - said that the things you write today, can never be written about in the same way tomorrow, or next week. That really stuck with me. I think writing a journal is like taking a photo; a way to freeze a moment in time and make it immortal.
 
Lea: I used to write digital notes and previously only used a journal for work. But then I fell in love with the idea of capturing your thoughts on a physical surface and making the intangible tangible, so I abandoned the notes app on my phone. Now I'm hooked on pen and paper and have four journals! I use them for ideation, to-do lists, and planning (work and personal life, separately).

Ani: I've always been the person who starts a journal and doesn't finish it. Since I started working at paper republic I have started journaling more frequently and I finish my journals now.

How did you choose your journal?

 

Monica: I own all three sizes! My olive green grand voyageur pocket is my travel companion, it fits my passport perfectly, and I love writing things down on the go. The green colour matches everything I wear, it’s timeless.

My chestnut grand voyageur xl is the one I use most. I chose it for extra writing space at work, and I like how beautifully it’s aged.

And finally, my venezia grand voyageur a4 is for my German classes, it fits my books and an extra refill for notes perfectly.

Paul: When I joined paper republic, I put together my own setup with a red grand voyageur [pocket] — a change from my usual black choices. It has aged beautifully and feels truly my style. I added a Celtic cross charm from a flea market to honour my Irish roots and a broken rosary cross from the Vatican. For paper, I use dotted refills because they’re versatile, whether I’m sketching architecture or jotting down notes.  
 
Nastya: I chose the [xl] leather journal (in olive green) because I need space to write freely without squeezing words. I use it for everyday observations, therapy notes, work notes, poems, and stories. As a chaotic writer, plain refills work best for me, especially since I like to sketch.
 
Lea: I chose the grand voyageur [pocket] in cognac because of its compactness and flexibility; it fits in any of my bags or pockets. I don’t care much so about the type of paper, but I love the aesthetics of a refill, so I’m a big fan of Dybdahl notebooks!

Ani: I participated in a workshop and made my own portfolio a5.

Where and when do you journal?

Monica: Mostly at night, before bed. That’s when I make myself a hot cup of tea, slow down, and set the mood sometimes for writing, sometimes just for slipping in a book and finding inspiration.

Paul: My favourite journaling spots are cafés in Vienna like Café Kafka, or during peaceful moments after an evening swim in the Danube, sometimes on train journeys too.
 
Nastya: I write all the time, mostly on trains or in coffee shops. No specific place, but those are my favorites spots.
 
Lea: Whenever I feel like it, I write things down. Because my grand voyageur is pocket sized, it’s easy to carry around and jot down notes on the go.

Ani: Mostly at home before going to bed.

Tips for starting a journal?

Monica: Choose the right setup. When your journal fits your needs and truly reflects you, you’ll find yourself reaching for it more often. Take the time to select your accessories, paper refills, and pens,  it makes the whole experience more enjoyable. And most importantly: there are no rules. Journaling can become anything you want it to be.

Paul: Don’t pressure yourself—journaling should happen when you feel like it. If you wanna do three doodles a day, go for it, if you're not feeling like it today, that's also ok.
Personalise your setup! You don't need a l'atelier customised journal (as beautiful as they are!) to do that. Use stickers, charms, or doodles to make it your own. Finally, try pairing journaling with something you love, like a relaxing activity or a cosy setting.  
 
Nastya: Don’t overthink journaling. Forget about “doing it right.” Just write whatever comes to you, and reflect on it later. You'll be amazed at how meaningful it can be.
 
Lea: I used to feel pressured to make my journal look as pretty as the ones I saw online. But once I started using my journals more often, the process felt natural, and I genuinely began to enjoy it. Over time, journaling became a part of my daily life. So, just get started and the rest will follow...

Ani: Just start, don't wait for perfect moment or setting. Start by just writing down your thoughts, no structure or anything, it doesn't have to be pretty or perfect, the act of doing it is the most important.