The Three Types of Journals I Use (and How They Work Together)

How I structure my journaling routine to stay grounded, organized, and intentional.

I mentioned in a previous post that I use three different types of journals, and I wanted to share a little more about how I use each one.

The first is my Surefooted Journal. I set aside about five to ten minutes each morning while I drink my coffee to reflect and answer the day’s questions. There are usually three main areas of reflection in this daily practice.

The first involves checking in with how I feel, and digging deeper than the surface. If I notice, “I’m feeling anxious,” I try to uncover what’s beneath that emotion. Am I stressed about something coming up later? Burned out and in need of rest? Tired from a poor night’s sleep? Or maybe disappointed that something didn’t go as planned? Taking a moment to explore the root emotion often helps me understand and soften it.

The second area is a gratitude reflection. I’ll ask, “What am I feeling grateful for today?” It’s a simple question, but it helps rewire my brain to focus on appreciation - a mindset that always improves my day.

Finally, I look at my priority for the day, often through a prompt like, “Reflecting on my goals, what tasks will I focus on today to move closer to them?” This keeps me from waiting to “find time” for the important things - I schedule them in.

The second “journal” I use is my daybook, which I carry everywhere. I know I could use my Google Calendar, but for some reason, I’ve always preferred writing things down. I use the monthly pages for work calls, appointments, important events, and upcoming travel. As I move through my day, I’ll also jot down small highlights or reflections to revisit later. So my daybook works both ways - it looks forward to what’s ahead and backward to what’s already happened.

And finally, there’s my notebook journal, which I’ve been keeping since 1986. This one is my free-writing space - a place where I focus on the highlights of my day and what went well. I usually write this one before bed. And if I had to describe it simply, it’s like a thank-you letter to the universe for my daily blessings. 

That’s not to say things always go smoothly. Sometimes plans backfire or life takes a left turn. But even in those moments, I try to reframe the setback as a lesson. It’s amazing how many times something that “didn’t work out” ended up working out, just in a way I hadn’t expected. Writing about it helps me remember that. It becomes a kind of pep talk with myself: a reminder that things have worked out before, and they probably will again.

I know this might sound like a lot to take on, but to be honest, these three practices combined take no more than twenty minutes a day. In many ways, they save time and energy because they help me prioritize what really matters.

If this feels like too much to start with though, begin simply - just try the Surefooted Journal first. Once that becomes part of your rhythm, you can build from there.

Happy journaling, and stay Surefooted.