Health & Wellness trends
Oct 12, 2026MindTikTokSteady

Journaling on TikTok: What People Are Saying

Journaling goes anti-aesthetic: messy, private writing beats perfect spreads, while co-journaling sessions outperform gear hauls yet remain underused on feeds.

Last 4 weeks

-5%

Google searches vs 20 Jul to 13 Sep

Total social media mentions

~2M

TikTok, last 12 months

Views

~100M

on posts about this trend

Best post this month

6.7M

views · watch it ↗

Search, last 12 months

What people post about

Messy private writing13% of posts14.3% above averageOpeningExample ↗
Write with me11% of posts12.5% above averageOpeningExample ↗
Benefits overview9% of posts11.3% averageOpeningExample ↗
Memory keeping8% of posts15.7% above averageOpeningExample ↗
Reading notes2% of posts10.6% averageEmergingExample ↗
Digital journaling2% of posts2.8% below averageEmergingExample ↗
Goals and intentions2% of posts10.1% averageEmergingExample ↗
Journal products15% of posts9.6% below averageCrowdedExample ↗
Creative journaling12% of posts8.4% below averageCrowdedExample ↗
Writing prompts10% of posts10.9% averageSkipExample ↗
Getting started9% of posts11.0% averageSkipExample ↗
Planning and tracking3% of posts7.7% below averageSkipExample ↗
Emotional processing6% of posts9.0% below averageNot brand-safe

Opening engages well, few people post it. Proven engages and reaches. Emerging only a few posts so far, too early to judge. Crowded lots of posts, weak engagement. Skip low on both. Engagement = median rate, this trend averages 11.2%.

Post this

Three ideas built from the angles, formats and hooks that work for this trend.

1

Messy Journaling Over Pretty Spreads

Show scribbles, crossed out lines, taped scraps. Close the cover and say it is for you, not for the camera.

Text on screen onlyBold Claim hookMessy private writing
Example TikTok post by @djshamizhollaatmeSee an example · 630K views ↗
2

Cojournaling Timer Write With Me

Soft ambience, top down shots, a ticking timer on screen. Invite viewers to write silently with you, page turning ASMR.

Voiceover with b-rollRelatability hookWrite with me
Example TikTok post by @g.g7776See an example · 5M views ↗
3

Save Tiny Moments In Pages

Film collecting a receipt, photo, or wrapper, then build a memory page with tape and notes. Flip through a few finished spreads.

Vlog or day in the lifeCuriosity hookMemory keeping

How to post it

Talking head dominates at 35% of posts. Voiceover with b-roll earns the best engagement (13.9%).

Talking head35% of posts · 11% ER
Most used
TikTok post by @aliceehud: A young woman wearing hair rollers writes a dramatic, reflective letter to someone named…TikTok post by @dayydreamsssss: There is no right or wrong way to journal, this is just how I make it more fun for…
Voiceover with b-roll16% of posts · 13.9% ER
Best ER
TikTok post by @beccaohlund: the urge to write everything @louisecarmen_parisTikTok post by @bloominggirlhood: Journaling is one of the things that let you bloom so let out whatever is in your head…
Tutorial or demo11% of posts · 9.6% ER
TikTok post by @owenjournaling: I finished my journal so let’s do a journal refresh and put in my new one… @paper…TikTok post by @bella.grace016: I love fall journaling! The junk journal gods were looking down on me by giving me this…

Do more of this

  • Emotional Trigger hook17.3%3% of posts
  • Bold Claim hook14.7%2% of posts
  • Text on screen only14.1%8% of posts

Skip this

  • Reaction, duet or stitch7.5%2% of posts
  • Slideshow or carousel9.2%8% of posts
  • Tutorial or demo9.6%11% of posts

Median engagement rate; this trend averages 11.2%.

Posts to learn from

The posts that beat this trend's engagement, and how they were made.

Talking headRelatability hook
Text on screen onlyEmotional Trigger hook
Talking headQuestion hook
Talking headRelatability hook
Talking headStory Opening hook
Voiceover with b-rollRelatability hook

Who to work with

Olha KhomkoOlha Khomko@olga.khomko6.7MviewsOwen journalingOwen journaling@owenjournaling6.4MviewsSaloSalo@g.g77765Mviewsjournalingjournaling@that.bulletjournal4.7Mviewssophiepirrungsophiepirrung@sophiepirrung4.6Mviews

Brands in the conversation

What people ask

How to use it23

  • Any questions on my journaling process?
  • What would my younger self be proud of
  • If your life was a fantasy novel: What would your power be? What symbol would represent you? What would your character arc look like?

What is it13

  • Here's what to journal when you don't know what to journal?
  • what’s your favorite thing to journal.
  • What does the best version of myself not tolerate?

Comparisons5

  • is it kinda chic to just have one notebook for absolutely everything?
  • What's the difference?
  • how do i explain this feeling to someone who only uses their notes app.

Timeline and results2

  • I don't know, let's see. When, when did I last write in this?
  • how long have you been journaling?

Searched on Google

What is journaling?

TikTok creators show journaling as writing by hand or typing personal notes, thoughts, or memories in a notebook or app.

What supplies do I need for journaling?

Creators typically use a plain notebook and pen; brands shown include Hobonichi, Louise Carmen, Paper Republic, Leuchtturm1917, MUJI, John Derian, Amazon finds, and Moleskine.

What are some different formats for journaling?

Creators share messy private pages, everyday memory logs, co-journaling sessions, and simple prompt entries; videos appear as talking head, voiceover with b-roll, tutorials, slideshows, or text-only.

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