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Journaling has always been recommended as a great stress-reliever, a gateway for a goodnight’s sleep, and can even help keep your brain in tip-top shape.
Getting started journaling can be as simple as buying a unique diary that reflects your personality. To help narrow down the field a bit, we have found a few great fill in blank gift journals below that can help you get started on this great wellness tool.
These journals all have a luxe feel and are made from either high-quality leather or faux leather and come with lined or unlined paper. We have also included refillable and non-refillable options depending on your needs and these journals are compact enough to throw into a bag for easy travel. In addition to journaling, these diaries also make a great way to stay on top of your to-do lists, draw, sketch, and even make the perfect gift.
The Best Blank Gift Journals
Dingbats Wildlife Hardcover Notebook — Best Overall
Sporting a sleek gray elephant design, this hardcover vegan journal boasts an impressive 192 pages of cream 100gsm ink-proof paper. The paper quality is simply unbeatable, offering a super smooth writing experience with no bleed-through or feathering issues. This makes it an ideal choice for fountain pen lovers who are often let down by subpar paper quality in other journals. This journal from Dingbats not only excels in performance but also in size, measuring 6.1 x 8.5 inches. It provides ample space for your creative musings without being too bulky. The dotted layout can also act as a guiding grid for your writings or drawings while maintaining a clean and uncluttered look. If you're seeking to unleash your creativity in a top-tier vegan journal that values both quality and aesthetics, the Dingbats Wildlife Gift Journal is our best overall choice you should seriously consider.
Pros
- Superior paper quality
- Larger size for more writing space
- Comes with a pen loop
Cons
- No pages for an index
PAPERAGE Lined Blank Gift Journal — Sophisticated Design
Introducing the PAPERAGE Lined Blank Gift Journal, a timeless companion for all your writing endeavors. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this notebook combines functionality with style to elevate your note-taking experience. At 5.7" x 8", this journal is the perfect size for portability without sacrificing writing space. The durable vegan leather cover ensures longevity and protection, while its water-resistant properties keep your precious thoughts safe from unexpected spills and splashes. With 160 college-ruled lined pages, an inner expandable pocket, sticker labels for personalization, a ribbon bookmark, and an elastic closure band, this journal is designed to meet all your needs.
Thicker than average notebooks, the paper resists ghosting and bleed-through, allowing you to write confidently with most pens, pencils, and markers. Enjoy unparalleled writing ease with the lay-flat design, perfect for both right and left-handed users. Whether you're journaling, note-taking, or planning, this thread-bound notebook stays open effortlessly, providing a seamless writing experience.
Pros
- Vibrant and bold colors
- Lay flat design
- Comes with an elastic closure band
Cons
- Little small
Moonster Tree Of Life Leather Journal — Best Leather Journal
Made from genuine buffalo leather, this handmade leather journal and writing notebook has a uniquely embossed tree design on the front and 240 pages (back and front) of thick, unlined writing space. This notebook is small-medium in size and is compact enough to throw in your bag and take with you while traveling or wherever you may go and easy enough to pull out whenever inspiration strikes.
Pros
- The paper is handcrafted of recycled cotton which is acid and tree-free
Cons
- This notebook is non-refillable
MALEDEN Embossed Travel Journal — Best Travel Journal
This charming faux leather journal has a vintage feel with a compass pattern engraved on the front. The addition of two retro-looking pendants hanging off of a strong leather string serves to help keep the book closed and can function as a bookmark as well. This six ring journal is also sturdy and can be refilled at any time easily with a push ring open and close.
Pros
- This journal is refillable
Cons
- This journal is not made from real leather
Scriveiner Handmade Leather Journal — Honorable Mention
This handmade journal uses thick, premium quality leather which makes it more soft, supple, and durable. This, combined with handcrafted thick, recycled cotton paper, gives the user an authentic writing experience in a journal that will last a lifetime. These journals also have an authentic leather strap closure, a convenient pen holder, and come with a cotton gift bag for storage and protection.
Pros
- For every journal sold, a donation is made to help fight pollution and climate change
Cons
- This journal is non-refillable
Kennedy Embossed Travel Journal — Contender
This bold and unique faux leather journal has an embossed and very detailed 3D owl on the cover combined with a unique bronze color for a vintage vibe. This textured journal comes with 200 (back and front) pages of off-white, thickly lined paper making it ideal for writing, making notes, and even overall everyday to-do lists.
Pros
- This journal comes in a variety of antique-looking designs and finishes
Cons
- There may be a slight odor upon opening that will go away
EvZ Vintage Black Loose Leaf Journal — Also Consider
If you need something on the smaller side, this notebook and journal is a great option. Measuring in at a little over 5 inches, this journal is compact and comes with refillable, loose-leaf blank pages to draw, sketch, or write down your notes. It is also made of high-quality faux leather with a leather string and decorative leaf hanging ornament that helps keep it closed and your ideas protected.
Pros
The paper has an aged look to it
Cons
- This journal requires specialty hole-punched paper for refilling
Maleden Leather Journal — Another Option
This premium faux leather-bound journal has an embossed butterfly girl picture on the front with a hanging butterfly ornament on a leather wrapping string. Its classic shape has a vintage feel and it comes with refillable, thick, and unlined craft paper that won’t bleed when you put a pen to it. Use this to write down your thoughts and feelings, as a drawing pad or sketchbook, diary, or traveler’s notebook.
Pros
- This journal comes in a few different rich color options
Cons
- There is no pen holder
Buying Guide: Fill In Blank Gift Journals
Journaling has been around for quite some time now and is becoming increasingly popular due to its benefits for your mental health. A lot of people find it calming to plan their day out by physically writing in a journal because typing on your smartphone is just not the same. For these reasons, a lot of brands manufacture fill in blank journals, and you can easily find one that is suited to your specific needs and personal choice.
What Are the Benefits of Journaling?
Journaling has a lot of benefits like inspiring your creativity as you can jot down any and everything no matter where you are. Keeping a journal helps you develop a daily writing habit, which has more benefits than you can imagine. Most people like to use their journals to keep track of their to-do-list, which helps them set deadlines for themselves and achieve their goals. Writing daily can have a positive impact on your motivational levels as well, as you will feel more inspired when you meet your daily goals.
Once you start writing regularly, it will become a daily part of your routine, and gradually you will start feeling incomplete without it. Writing your feelings down can also have a positive impact on your mental health. You will understand your issues better, and keep track of your feelings. Moreover, when you write something down physically, you retain and understand the concepts better than typing it on your phone or laptop. Lastly, journal writing can be a source of stress relief as it forces you to slow down from your busy lifestyle.
How Can You Use a Fill in Blank Journal?
Fill in blank journals can be used in many different ways; the possibilities are endless. Still, some people find themselves collecting blank journals with no idea what to write in them. For such people, we have shortlisted a few ideas. The most common use of a journal is to make a to-do list. It helps you plan out your day and increases your motivation levels as you achieve the goals you have written. You can use it as a gratitude journal to list down everything you are grateful for. This helps you stay positive and will boost your mood. If you love art, journals with blank pages are your best friend. You can sketch or draw anything you want, and have all your artwork in one place. Some people like to write down their dreams as well, to keep track of them and notice any patterns.
Another way to use your journal is to jot down your ideas. For this purpose, get a small size that you can carry around with you all the time so that you can write down your ideas wherever you are. Some people like to jot down their favorite quotes in their journals. Others like to use them as travel or health and fitness planners. Writing down your goals and habits can help you be more aware of your progress. If you do not want to do anything specific, you can use your journal as a commonplace diary. In this, you can write or draw anything you want at any time, as you have not assigned a specific purpose to it.
How to Choose a Good Quality Journal?
When you are going to be using your journal on a regular basis, you want it to be of good quality and aesthetically pleasing. For this purpose, you will need to consider a few things before you make your final purchase.
Material
The material of your journal needs to be sturdy so that it can withstand daily use. Most people prefer a journal that is made using leather or faux leather because they are sturdy and add a luxurious feel. If you are going to travel with it, make sure that it can withstand different weather conditions. However, you can be more flexible if it is just going to rest on your nightstand.
Size
The size of the journal you choose will depend on how you plan to use it. If you want it to be with you at all times and will be carrying it with you in your bag, you need to make sure it is small enough. However, it should not be so small that it is difficult to fit more than one or two points on one page. If your journal will not leave your home, you can opt for a larger size, especially if you are using it for artwork.
Design
The design is a very important consideration because it can impact your motivation levels. If you own an aesthetically pleasing diary, you will want to write in it. You can also choose between the designs of the pages. If you are planning to use your journal strictly for writing, you can opt for lined pages. You can also choose from completely blank or squared pages for drawings or a mixture of both. You also have a choice between ring binding or stapled journals.
What Stationery Do I Need to Journal Regularly?
The first, most important piece of stationery you need is a pen. The stationery you use can have a huge impact on your motivational levels, so it is important to choose one correctly. Ballpoints and gel pens are convenient for most people as you do not need to fill ink in them. However, some people like the classic feel of writing with an ink pen. At the end of the day, the choice depends entirely on you. Make sure you get pens of a few different colors to keep your journal colorful and alive. If you plan to use your journal for artwork, make sure you have adequate supplies. From color pencils to paints, sketching pencils, markers, crayons, and other necessities like glue and tape, you should own them all.
