Personal Journal Template

Journaling has been a long practiced tradition dating back hundreds of years. It used to be that only the elite members of society were literate, but now as literacy spreads, more people are able to write in journals. People have found many uses for journaling, including therapy, writing practice, and as a way to chronicle life experiences. The Personal Journal Template is a simple way to create and maintain a journal on your computer.

How to use the Personal Journal Template

Begin by clicking the download link and opening your template into Word. The template can be used as a cover for your journal, or a way to organize your thoughts daily.

Fill in the [Name] portion and move down to the font below the title. You can use this area as a summarization of why you journal, or delete it and click backspace to have the date underneath. Enter the [Date] and replace “Get Started Right Away” with a title for your cover or entry. The text is organized so that you can simply write over it and still maintain the sizing and structure.

The picture of the dog is an example of what you can use for your journal. To replace it, click on it and then choose “Cut” from the Picture Tools tab that appears up top. Then you can choose “Paste” from a copied image online, or upload your own from the Insert tab.

Tips on using the Personal Journal Template

• Use the template as a cover page for your entries by beginning to journal on the next page. This will create a continuous scroll and you can keep everything in one document.
• The other option is to utilize the template to guide you through journaling. The format forces you to think about titles, summarization, and photos to capture your day.
• Before you start, think about a goal you want to achieve from journaling. It can be a way to release frustrations, jot down ideas, catalogue memories, or just as a reason to write.
• If you want your journal to stay private on a family-shared computer, rename the file to fit something ordinary like “literature assignment 15” and store it in a folder you use. Likely, your family has no interest in reading your literary analysis of Lord of the Flies.

Download the Personal Journal Template

Template courtesy of Microsoft