journalling

As boring as it may sound to some, to others journalling is an essential part of everyday life. For me, it is an essential part of travelling. So, let’s talk about journalling and why it is one of the best things ever.

There are so many benefits of journalling every day, but I really want to focus on the art of travel journalling, how it has helped me, & hopefully inspire you to pick up a pen and some paper next time you leave home.

First thing is first… journalling essentials. This looks different when I am at home vs when I am travelling because I want to have the bare minimum with me so it is easy to pull out on a plane or train and doesn’t take up too much room. My journal – this is a monogrammed, leather-bound cover with a replaceable notebook (it also has pockets on the inside… who doesn’t love pockets?). A pen for writing, a pencil for sketching, a pencil sharpener, and some sticky tape for taping tickets and other random things. I also use my journal to keep postcards which I collect along the way.

Now, why is journalling so important to me when I am adventuring around the world? Three main reasons.

One. Routine. When hopping from place to place, not having a regular routine can start to take a toll on you. This is why I set myself up with an afternoon routine that can be done anywhere.

Sometime after lunch, I will go back to my room, edit the days photos, journal, and nap before heading back out for the evening. This meant that what I was journalling was fresh in my mind and I had a chance to take some me time.

Two. Memories. I have a terrible memory so between journalling and taking an extensive amount of photos and videos, I can capture every detail and keep them forever. It is so fun being able to look back on old journals and remember tiny details that I would have otherwise forgotten (& how cool will it be to show my kids one day?!).

Three. Processing. There is a lot that happens when travelling, good & bad. Writing things down is a really great way to process things that happen. It is also a great spot to debrief with yourself at the end of a trip – to see how much you have grown and what you have learnt.

So, whether you journal every day of your trip or once a week, whether you write pages and pages or just a few sentences here and there, journalling is an incredible tool and you’ll never regret doing it.