Travel Journal Ideas and Why You Should Keep One
You’re here because traveling has changed your life. Each plane flight we take, person we meet, meal we share, problem we solve adds to big adventure we call life. How do we try to hold onto it? Whether it’s a little detail you don’t want to forget, a conversation you want to reflect on later, or creating your own souvenir, a travel journal makes a great companion for any trip. I’ve added my travel journal ideas below to help you create the most meaningful travel for your trip.
Beyond being a keepsake, keeping a travel journal offers mental and emotional benefits backed by science.
Here are my top travel journal ideas and a bit about the science behind writing.
Travel Journal Ideas
Starting a travel journal doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some tips:
1. Choose the Right Journal: Pick a journal that feels good to write in. Whether it’s a sleek leather-bound notebook or a lightweight spiral journal, choose something that suits your style. Make sure it fits in your day bag; bonus if it has a place to store a pen.
2. Set a Routine: Dedicate time each day or at specific moments (like after dinner or during flights) to jot down your thoughts.
3. Prompts: Not sure what to write? Pick a prompt and start there at the beginning of every entry.
– What surprised me today?
– Describe one detail you don’t want to forget?
– One thing I’m grateful for today.
– Who did I meet, and what did I learn from them?
– What moment brought me joy?
– Write a letter to yourself.
My Favorite Travel Journal Idea – Make It a Scrapbook
A travel journal can be so much more than words on a page. If you bring small scissors and some tape, you can turn a standard travel journal into a scrapbook to capture the essence of your trip (legit a souvenir you can’t buy). This also means you don’t have to make the scrapbook when you get home.
1. Collect Mementos: Save tickets, maps, postcards, and pressed flowers to tape into your journal. These small items can bring back memories even years later. Most of my pages are part momentos and part words.
2. Add Photos: Bring a portable Kodak printer to instantly print photos from your phone and stick them into your journal.
3. Draw or Sketch: Even simple doodles of landscapes, buildings, or meals can add a personal touch to your journal.
The Science-Backed Benefits of Writing
Writing is more than just putting pen to paper; it’s a therapeutic and creative act that can enrich your mind and emotions. Studies show that journaling has numerous benefits:
1. Improved Memory: Writing things down strengthens your ability to recall details. When you write about your travels, you create a vivid record of sights, sounds, and feelings that might otherwise fade over time.
2. Stress Relief: Journaling helps process emotions and reduce stress by providing a private space to reflect on your experiences.
3. Enhanced Creativity: Travel inspires fresh ideas, and journaling nurtures creativity by encouraging you to put those ideas into words.
4. Emotional Insight: Writing helps you identify and process emotions, making it easier to understand how a particular trip or experience affected you.
Keeping a travel journal is a deeply rewarding habit that enhances your adventures, preserves your memories, and fosters personal growth. Whether you’re jotting down your thoughts, creating a scrapbook, or blending the two, a travel journal turns your experiences into treasures you can revisit for years to come. So, pack a notebook, some tape, scissors, and maybe even a portable printer, and let the magic of writing enrich your next journey.
