14 Best Journals For a More Mindful 2026

Any New Year’s resolution can easily be enhanced with one of the best journals. At its best, journaling is a form of calm reflection—a way to take stock of your day, week, or last night’s maze of dreams. Writers have long extolled the virtue of writing things down: Joan Didion wrote about keeping a “notebook”—no She emphasizes that this is a diary in which she details random impressions and memories, sometimes based on fact, sometimes not, in order to remember “what kind of person I am.” Virginia Woolf believed that independent writing “loosens the ligaments.” David Sedaris has been keeping diaries since he was 20 years old, and published a book in 2017 called ” discovered theft. But journaling isn’t just limited to best-selling authors scrolling through their thoughts with a pen—supermodel Alex Consani, for example, keeps a diary in her Birkin bag at all times.

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For those more keen on functionality, a journal can serve as a tangible record of daily notes and to-do lists. You can also get creative with it. There are plenty of journal formats to suit any interest, with options for blank pages that double as sketchbooks (visual journals, anyone?), coaching journals for goal setting, gratitude journals for building healthy habits, recipe journals for the aspiring home cook, and more.

Those who are looking for a way to deal with anxiety might consider journal entries as a form of self-care. Research shows that 15 to 20 minutes of “expressive writing”—writing about your deepest feelings without pausing or worrying about grammar—is associated with improved mental health, lower blood pressure, and better sleep.

No matter what you’re signing up for, you’ll find a selection of the best journals (including traditional and guided journals, line journals, and dotted journals) to write a great 2026. You can choose from a luxurious journal that includes leather-bound high-quality paper or a price-conscious minimalist design perfect for everyday notes.