Why You Should Start Junk Journaling (Even If You Don’t Think You’re Creative)
Lately I've been on my phone waaayy more than I would like to. One of my big intentions this month is to create more art and make new friends. I've been motivated to attend a couple of events recently and it's been really fun! Going alone is great because it helps me push myself out of my comfort zone. Thankfully, I have met so many wonderful people. We are all just trying to find connection and build a tribe, especially in this digital age. I'll share the junk journaling club I went to yesterday and hopefully this inspires you to go out there and create!
Of course, I found this group on tik-tok. You might think tik-tok is just for funny cats, dance videos or content creators. But there is a lot more cool things than you might think. I find AZ groups and events to attend all the time. One of them being, this junk journaling group -azjunkjournalclub. Jazmine was so nice and so were all the ladies! She organized a fantastic event with tables and local vendors. Make sure to check her out!
OK, so why is junk journaling something you should try?
1. It Turns Ordinary Scraps Into Something Beautiful
The magic of junk journaling is really simple. You take all the "junk", aka tickets, receipts, envelopes, packaging, old book pages, magazine pages, etc and you transform that into an art piece. Instead of throwing more in the landfill, you declutter and create texture, color, memories, and inspiration! Then when you are in "flow", ideas spark more ideas! Pages have a life of their own and you get to see them transform into things you didn't think of at first. Playing with “junk” removes the fear of mistakes, and that freedom often leads to the best creativity.
2. It’s Stress-Relieving and Meditative
If you know me, you know I'm always struggling with my anxiety. I do different things to stay grounded as much as possible. One of them being, journaling. It's therapeutic because you get to be outside of your mind for a few hours. As your hands get busy cutting paper, glueing down layers, flipping through pages, your mind focuses on the activity at hand. You are outside of yourself. The mind slows down and focuses on what's right in front of you. There’s something incredibly grounding about that. Many people find junk journaling lowers stress because it lets you play, not perform. There’s no pressure to be perfect. No rules. Just creativity and calm.
3. It Helps Capture Your Real, Everyday Life
I have a HORRIBLE memory. I barely remember what I did yesterday. Junk journaling helps me remember. It's a beautiful way to record your life as it really is, not the way you might filter it in your mind. It’s part memory-keeping, part storytelling, part time capsule. Of course you can have digital photos, digital journals but nothing beats a tangible journal. It doesn't capture the coffee sleeve from a morning that mattered or a receipt from a spontaneous day trip. What about the scribbled note from someone you love or a grocery list that, years later, makes you smile. You can go back to a moment in time in the physical world.
4. You Don’t Need Fancy Supplies (or Any “Art Skills”)
Unlike some art hobbies that require expensive tools, junk journaling can be as simple as getting yourself an old notebook, glue, scissors, scraps you already have, pictures and whatever else you have lying around. In fact, many junk journalers prefer using recycled materials because it adds charm and character. Skill doesn’t matter. There is no “right” way to do it. Your journal is yours, and everything you create in it is valid.
You don’t need to be an artist. You don’t need fancy supplies. You don’t need a plan. You just need scraps, curiosity, and a willingness to play. Junk journaling is about expression. It’s about slowing down. It’s about finding beauty in the everyday and honoring your life in a way that’s uniquely yours. So gather a few scraps, pick up some glue, and start your first page. And if you find a club that also junk journals, even better!