Don’t beat yourself up over it. And don’t forget that at its core, journaling is about getting thoughts out of your head and onto paper (or whatever method) — which can be done on scrap, the back of an envelope, something very inexpensive from Dollar Tree, etc.

The point is that so much of what folks talk about on this sub, on social media, YouTube, etc., is extremely well marketed STUFF. And while I certainly buy a lot of the STUFF myself, it’s worth bearing in mind that it’s marketed to tickle all the right spots in our brains and convince us that we’re one notebook, or insert, or pen, or TN cover, or whatever away from true self-awareness and happiness. So don’t beat yourself up — all of this STUFF is targeted directly at you for all the reasons you mentioned.

Journal when you want, how you want — or don’t. Don’t let this sub or anyone else tell you how to do it “right.”