Traveling gives you so many great moments and memories that you’ll want to cherish forever. But since the trip is so packed with experiences, it might be difficult to recall everything exactly the way that it happened. People, places, events, and adventures will probably all start to run together once you return home. It’s for this reason that you should journal your trip as you travel. Wondering how to keep a travel journal? Keep reading and I’ll share the best way! Journaling allows you to keep all of those great experiences fresh and intact.
How to Keep a Travel Journal
To keep a travel journal, start by choosing a notebook or digital format that suits your style. A popular option is this artisan travel journal which includes prompts for the day, location, and weather. Make it a habit to write regularly, whether it’s a quick note after an adventure or a detailed reflection at the end of the day.
Use bullet points or short phrases if you’re short on time, and expand on them later. Capture more than just events—include your thoughts, emotions, and sensory details like smells, sounds, and textures. Enhance your journal with sketches, ticket stubs, postcards, or pressed flowers to make it more personal. Keep an open mind and allow your journal to evolve naturally, reflecting your unique travel experiences.
No Pressure—Make It Your Own
Some travelers may be somewhat intimidated, at first, by the thought of jotting down their adventures. Remember that this is for your benefit so you shouldn’t put too much pressure on yourself to make sure that it is perfect. It is supposed to be a reflection of your adventures. Have fun with it! When considering how to keep a travel journal, remember that there are no set rules. You’re not required to write pages of details on every adventure that you undertake. There are no minimum standards here. If you do not feel compelled to write, then don’t.
Capture Key Moments in the Moment
If you don’t have the time, or the urge to journal right after an adventure, then make a short list of key topics, people that you met, and places that you saw. Later, when you feel up to it, use the list to elaborate further. This way, you are sure not to forget something or mistakenly place it out of order.
Include Both Highs and Lows
When considering how to make a travel journal, make sure you capture everything—including the challenges. There are undoubtedly going to be some bumps on your trip that are less than pleasant. For example, your plane was delayed, your hotel couldn’t find your reservation, and it rained one whole day in a particular town. Your journal is supposed to be a complete detail of your adventures, so don’t be afraid to include everything that happened.
Enhance Your Journal with Mementos
Adding visuals and keepsakes to your travel journal can make it even more meaningful. You might find it fun to enclose visuals and mementos in your travel journal as well. It might be a ticket stub, a flower petal from a unique plant that you smelled, or a feather from a rare bird that you saw. These are things that you would otherwise never experience, and now they are forever a part of your memory, thanks to your journal. These small items help bring back the emotions and sensory details of your experiences.
My Personal Journaling Style
When I travel, I carry colored pens and a small composition book. I tend to journal with words and sketch what I see, even though I am by no means an artist. It makes me happy to sketch outlines, special views, or interesting angles I see, like a castle in Germany or pottery in Mexico. I try to capture what I see, hear, smell, and feel at that time, including details about people I meet. I also incorporate items I find into my journal like a seashell from the Bahamas or my metro pass from Paris. These things bring back the memory. Later, after I am home, I tuck photos into my journal to create a complete story of my travel adventures.
Revisiting and Expanding Your Journal
You don’t have to finish your journal while traveling. Leave space between entries so you can add thoughts and reflections later. This allows you to elaborate on moments and maintain a natural flow in your storytelling.
The Power of Music in Journaling
I also try to bring home some music unique to my destination and play it while completing my journal. This turns journaling into an almost meditative activity, reliving the experiences while finishing the capture of my trip to share with friends and family.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on March 11, 2017, and has since been updated.