I’m Trying a Daily Diary This Year (No Promises) πŸ“˜

January always feels like an invitation. A clean slate. A fresh page. A month full of quiet hope that this year, somehow, we’ll figure things out a little better. ✨

And like many people, I feel the urge to try something new when the year rolls around. This year, that β€œsomething” is daily journaling. πŸ““


🚫Not A Resolution

I don’t like resolutions.

They always feel a little doomed from the start, like we expect ourselves to become an entirely new person overnight πŸŒ™βž‘οΈπŸŒž and then act surprised when it doesn’t stick.

Daily journaling isn’t a resolution for me anyway. It’s something I’ve done before. I used to journal every morning… until I stopped. πŸ–ŠοΈπŸ““

I stopped for two reasons. First, it was taking up a big chunk of my morning time ⏰, which meant less time for things I wanted (and needed) to do, like writing blog posts. βœοΈπŸ’» And second, after a while, I felt like I had less and less to say. My entries started sounding the same, day after day πŸ”, until journaling felt more repetitive than helpful.

So I let it go.


πŸ““Why Now?

So why bring it back now?

The older I get, the faster time seems to move πŸ•°οΈ, but I realized that even ordinary days have moments worth remembering

Also, there’s the stationery factor. πŸ’–
I love using my stickers, washi tape, ephemera, and all the little paper treasures I collect. I used to scrapbook every trip I took, but these days I don’t have the time (or energy) for full scrapbooks.

What I do have is a habit of saving tiny mementos from everyday moments:

  • a clean napkin from a date night with my husband 🍽️
  • a receipt from a purchase that made me smile 🧾
  • a photo of a sunset I don’t want to forget πŸŒ…

So I’m gonna start journaling again.
This time, at the end of the day, just to log the moments I want to remember.

πŸ’‘Quick Tip: I love gluing a small envelope or pocket at the back of my notebook to store receipts, tickets, or tiny notes until I’m ready to add them into my pages. I even put sticker sheets and washi samples in there so I can journal on the go!


πŸ’–Taking the Pressure Off

Something that made me slow down journaling a lot before was how much pressure I put on myself to write a full entry every single day. This year, I want to approach it differently. πŸ’­

I also used to make things harder by insisting every page follow the exact same model. πŸ“πŸ““ Every day, no exceptions.

It looked neat and organized, but it quietly turned journaling into a chore of a checklist instead of a place to just exist. βœοΈπŸ’¬ And that took the fun right out of it. πŸ™ƒ

This year, there’s no obligation to write dailyβ€”sometimes a sticker, a quick note, or a bit of ephemera is more than enough. πŸ“ŽπŸŽ€

A closed blue journal with the year 2026 embossed on the cover placed over an open journal with a detailed entry, homemade scheduling column and priorities section.

πŸ“–Why Journal At All?

So if it can feel like such a burden, why journal at all?

Because journaling, even for a few minutes at the end of the day, can help me slow down, notice small joys, and save memories I might otherwise forget. It’s a tiny way to make my day feel happier and lighter, and to create without pressure or judgment. And honestly? That’s why I love it. πŸ’–


πŸ’­Final Thoughts

That’s my plan for daily journaling in 2026: flexible, full of stickers and little mementos, and a tiny celebration of each day πŸŒˆπŸ’Œ, and permission to skipβ€”not a chore or obligation.

If you’re thinking about journaling (or trying something new this year), I’d love to hear how you approach it! Do you have a favorite notebook, a fun journaling style, or a little ritual to make it feel special? Drop a comment below or send me a messageβ€”I’m always curious about how other stationery lovers play with their pages. πŸ’–πŸ“–

Here’s to a year full of memories, stickers, and tiny daily joys! I’m ready. πŸ₯°βœ¨

Open notebook on a blank daily page with the date printed in the corner and a fountain pen, uncapped, placed on the page.

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Hi, I’m Valerie! πŸŽ€
I’m a Canadian stationery enthusiast who loves stickers, washi tapes, pastel colors, and indie shops. πŸ›οΈ.
My goal here at Miss Stickers is to help you discover the next stationery item you’ll fall in love with! πŸ’–
Don’t be shy β€” say hello! πŸ‘‹


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