Junk journaling is the wellness activity you should take into the New Year

A hobby you never knew you needed

TikTok’s newest obsession – junk journaling – has creators all across the platform embracing their inner crafting talents and creativity. Image: Pexels

If your New Year’s resolutions for 2025 are all about taking a step back and celebrating the small things in life, TikTok’s newest obsession may be exactly what you need. 

Whether you store keepsakes of the past in a dusty old shoe box in your wardrobe, or digitally organise every photo you’ve ever taken, the desire to hold onto memories is a universal one. 

Remembering the funny, embarrassing heartbreaking and character-building moments that helped shape us is an important part of self-development, helping us grow and gain perspective as we move through life’s many stages. 

However, while remembering every aspect of a wedding, birthday or baby’s first year is at the top of most people’s priority list, rarely do we make an effort to celebrate life’s mundane, everyday moments – until now, that is. 

What is junk journaling? 

TikTok’s newest obsession – junk journaling – has creators all across the platform embracing their inner crafting talents and creativity. A modern-day take on scrapbooking, junk journaling is all about highlighting the keepsakes and mementos most would consider to be boring or disposable – AKA ‘junk’. 

All over TikTok, creators are sharing their detailed journals, with pages and pages filled with anything from wrappers and packaging to stickers, postage stamps, menus and business cards. 

Some people choose to also fill their junk journals with words and doodles, but as the TikTok community will tell you, the beauty of junk journaling is that there are no rules when it comes to how you do it. 

However a person wishes to fill each page is up to them; mix and match days, have themed pages, or skip the whole ordeal entirely on days where creativity doesn’t strike. 

@livebrave2

5 ideas for collecting junk for your junk journal! 🥳✂️💌🫶🏻 #junkjournal #junkjournaling #junkjournalinspo #journaltok #journalinspo #journalideas #journalidea #journal #journaling

♬ original sound - CHEY

Though the benefits of journaling – whether for practising gratitude or simply to hash out the events of the day – have been long understood, finding the time to cohesively write your innermost thoughts every day is not always an easy habit to sustain. 

We’ve all invested in a beautiful notebook and filled out the first few pages with neat, scribble-free sentences only to abandon the activity altogether within a week. 

But unlike scrapbooking or journaling – where consistency is needed from start to finish – junk journaling requires little commitment or creative direction. The pages are there for you to play around with, adding anything and everything as you see fit. 

Unlike putting pen to paper, an activity that demands introspection and time, junk journaling allows you to save memories or jot down an idea as you go, embracing a fun – and slightly chaotic – world of free-form creativity. 

“There’s no ‘wrong’ way to do it, which makes it less intimidating,” Sarah Thompson, licensed professional counsellor, tells Bustle. “Collecting and assembling scraps of your day can feel playful and spontaneous, offering a low-pressure way to capture memories.”

@blnde.e

Been really liking simple spreads lately and just using what i have #junkjournal #junkjournalideas #scrapbooking #crafts

♬ original sound - CHEF DON

From sourcing the materials to sitting down and creatively cutting, layering and sticking them onto the pages, junk journaling can also be an incredibly grounding and calming pastime. 

As one becomes more invested in the hobby, it’s likely they’ll begin to intentionally keep their eyes peeled for usable ‘junk’ throughout their day too, helping them become more present in their day-to-day activities. 

“It’s like a scavenger hunt that trains you to notice the small, meaningful details around you,” adds Thompson. “This practice can create a sense of connection to the present moment similar to mindfulness, which is a major element of grounding techniques often used in therapy. Plus, the tactile nature of cutting, gluing, and arranging items can be deeply calming and centring.”

So, if you’re searching for a sustainable and enjoyable hobby heading into the new year, perhaps it’s time to dip your toes into the wonderful world of junk journaling.

Originally published as Junk journaling is the wellness activity you should take into the New Year