Benefits of journaling about books!

There are many benefits to journaling about books we love, read and hope to read! Are you a book lover? We've been thinking about the benefits of journaling about books, including, noticing your own reading patterns and personal interests, gaining a deeper understanding of the books that you read, learning about and recording new words, sayings and topics, making the books that you read more memorable and of course, a way to love books even more!!!

Read on for the benefits of journaling about books, journaling prompts for book lovers, team WashiGang's reading list and our fave stationery products for book lovers. 

Keeping a record of what you’re reading helps you notice patterns: For example, noticing the topics, authors and genres that you are reading, helps to give you a clearer picture of how your emotions and current interests align with your reading journey. Looking back over your reading journey, you will discover your interests, preferences and reading identity. You might even discover more about your own identity in the process.
Journaling about books also makes you engage with what you’re reading more deeply. We find that especially when reading at night, it can be hard to remember what you’ve read! So keeping a journal about what you’re reading allows you to take notes on key points, important quotes and plots lines, that will make your books more memorable, while helping you to gain a deeper understanding of the characters, metaphors and meanings within the pages.
Reading books can trigger memories, thoughts and feelings, where a journal is a great and safe place to explore these ideas as the come up. A reading journal gives you a space to explore what it is about a certain character or theme, that prompts certain feelings and ideas for you. When you’re reading, you may not realise the different feelings that arise for you while you are reading, so a journal can be a great place to jot things down as you are reading to explore later.
Reading and writing are great things to do together! When you’re reading and expanding your vocabulary and understanding of different themes and points of interest, you can also extend what you’ve learnt by applying, practicing and writing in your journal! Why not keep your own glossary of words, terms, phrases and new concepts that you are learning as you read?
Need some more ideas? Here are a few journaling prompts for book lovers:

1. Make a reading list! You might even like to make several that are categorised into themes!

2. Start a reading journal (Read here for some great tips by our guest blogger Library of Kate)

3. Write a book review. Or give books that you've read a 5 star rating. 

4. Make a list of book recommendations that you've been given.

5. Try out some hand lettering with your favourite book quotes.

6. Create a watch list of books that have been adapted to TV or Film.

7. Create reading goals and track your progress.

8. Describe your perfect reading spot. While you're at it, why not make a list of ideal reading locations? 

9. What was the first book you remember loving? And why?

10. Create lists and rankings of your favourite books and authors. (You might even like to include quotes, memorable moments and create a decorative journal spread as a way to remember your favourite books). Or you could try creating a book shelf doodle to celebrate your fave books.  

11. List your favourite reading snacks?

12. Describe your ideal book club.

13. Make your own reading glossary of new words, terms, or points of interest that you learn about.

14. Have a go at doodling some characters, icons, or scenes from the book that you’re reading OR create a map of where everything takes place in your book!! 

15. Keep recipe pages inspired by different books you’ve read.

What are our WashiGang reading recommendations? 
Shannon: Atomic Habits by James Clear
Emily: Just Kids by Patti Smith
Bec: The Clock Makers Daughter by Kate Morton
Emma: The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon

!!! Don't forget to check out our great range of books on Bullet journaling, hand lettering, art journaling and doodling, in the WashiGang shop!

We've collected some of our favourite stationery products for book lovers. Perfect for adding some bookish love to your reading journals, adding some book love to your planners, some great reads on bullet journaling and lots of general book loving fun!!! 
Featured products:
1. Bullet It! List for Living by Nicole Lara.
2. Happy Planner Value Pack Stickers - Bookish
3. The Little Bullet Book by David Sinden
4. Doodling for Bookworms by Gemma Correll
5. Mind Wave Illustration Stickers - Interior Life
6. Mind Wave Die Cut Washi Tape - Bookshelf 
7. How to Bullet Plan by Rachel Wilkerson Miller
8. My Journal Book Shelf Stickers
9. Mind Wave Washi Paper Flake Stickers - Stationery Illustrations
10. Mind Wave Stickers - Books
11. My Journal Book List Decoration Stickers
12. Marshmallow Studio Story Time Washi Tape
13. Eric X Papier Platz Washi Tape - Bookshelf
14. The Bullet Journal Method by Ryder Carroll
15. Mind Wave Washi Paper Flake Stickers - Study Days
16. Happy Notes Classic Notebook - The World Was Hers

Info sourced from: Broke by Books - 31 Journaling Questions for readers 
Royalty free images sourced from www.unsplash.com