5 Common Journalling Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Journalling is one of the most rewarding habits you can develop; it’s a great way to escape real life for a little while and its a great hobby that you can do whenever or wherever the mood takes you. Whether it’s jotting down reflections in a bullet journal one idea or sentence at a time, sketching out ideas, or experimenting with colours and paints, the process provides a personal space to de-stress, focus, and explore your creativity. Yet, even the most committed journalkeeper / writer can fall into a habit of making mistakes that can leave their practice feeling more like a chore than a joy. 

If you’ve been wondering why your journalling routine isn’t quite clicking—or you’re just starting out and want to steer clear of unnecessary pitfalls—this post is for you. Here are some common mistakes to avoid, plus tips to help you make the most out of your journal. 

1. Overcomplicating Your Bullet Journal

Bullet journals (aka BuJos) are an amazing planning system that are as flexible as you want them to be. But here’s the thing—while Instagram might suggest otherwise, your bullet journal doesn’t have to be a masterpiece of art and typography. People often get stuck trying to recreate stunning spreads they’ve seen online, only to burn out or feel discouraged when theirs doesn’t look the same.

Avoid this by focusing on function over perfection. Start with a simple key for tasks, events, and notes—no need to break out a ruler or 15 different markers. If you want to add an artistic flair later on, go for it! But remember, a messy layout that works beats a perfect one that never gets used.

2. Comparing Your Art Journalling to Others

If your journalling style leans toward visual creativity with paints, sketches, or collages, it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparison. Maybe someone else’s drawings feel more polished, or their layouts look straight out of a graphic design studio.

The truth? Your journal isn’t for them; it’s for you. Instead of comparing, focus on how journalling makes you feel. Is it relaxing? Fun? A creative outlet? That’s what matters. Use imperfections as a sign that you’re learning and improving. Even Picasso had to start somewhere.

3. Writing to Impress, Not Express

We’ve all been there—writing entries that sound like they’re for a Pulitzer panel instead of yourself. You catch yourself overthinking word choice, obsessing about grammar, or trying to make your inner thoughts sound poetic and polished.

But journalling isn’t about writing an article or guide for others; it’s about showing up for you. Give yourself permission to write messily, vaguely, or even angrily if that’s how you feel at the time you start writing. Your journal is a judgment-free zone where no one’s grading you. Some days, your entry might be profound. Other days, it might just say, “Tired. Tea helped.” Both are valid. 

4. Rigidly Sticking to the Same Routine

Routines are great. They give structure to habits. But journalling isn’t supposed to feel like homework. When you lock yourself into one way of doing things—whether that’s always writing at the same time or sticking strictly to the same journal prompts—you risk zapping the joy out of it altogether.

Listen to what you need that day. Want to doodle instead of write? Do it. Want to use block colours or copy a passage from your favourite book? Do it. Feeling like a quick gratitude list instead of a full reflection? Perfect. Your journalling “rules” can shift and evolve to suit your mood or lifestyle. Keeping it fresh keeps it fun, and don’t forget you are the author, so you can write about what you want and can mix it up as and when you want too. If you want to create a list of separate topics, go ahead. If you want to make a journal about your favourite romance novel, horror story, or TV programme, you can do just that. There is no set rule as to what you base your journal on or around. You might love this so much that you make it into a collection.

5. Neglecting to Revisit Old Entries

One major journalling perk that’s often forgotten? Looking back at how much you’ve grown. Many journal-keepers fill up notebook after notebook only to never revisit their earlier storytelling entries. But these pages—messy thoughts and all—hold valuable reflections and memories, and if you do spot an error or slight mistake, you can easily fix it should you wish—you might not want to, as seeing your old content can show you how far as a writer you have come.

Make it a habit to flip through past pages now and then. You’ll likely spot patterns, strengths, and lessons you’d forgotten about. Plus, you might even laugh at some of your outrageously overdramatic entries or your overuse of exclamation marks, misplaced punctuation, or grammatical errors. 

Start Journalling Without the Stress

Journalling doesn’t have to be perfect or pretty. It doesn’t even have to make sense. It just has to work for you. By sidestepping some of these common writing mistakes, you can create a journalling practice that feels rewarding, whether it’s through bullet journalling, artistic self-expression, or free-flowing diary entries. 

Do you write a journal? Have you made any of these common mistakes in the past? If so, how did you correct them? I would love to hear about any mistakes and how to fix them in the comments below. You never know, they might just help some address an issue that they are facing on their own journalling journey.