Journaling comes with an endless list of benefits. It’s great for your mindset, it can help you to clearly define your goals and it’s the perfect way to unwind after a stressful day. However, it doesn’t come naturally for everyone! This is where guided journals can be a huge help.

The best guided journals make journaling easy for anyone - even if you’ve previously hated it. Guided journals provide prompts and inspiration for each entry. This means that you don’t have to start from a blank slate.

I personally LOVE guided journals and try to take one with me everywhere I go. In this post, I will share my top 12 guided journals for self improvement that you could use on your personal development journey in 2024.

Also see: 25 journal prompts for self care

It doesn't matter if you're looking for best guided journals for mental health, best guided journals for adults, or journals for women. My top picks will guide you to the right custom journals for your needs and goals.

How To Choose The Best Guided Journal for Your Goals

Before I reveal my favourite guided journals for 2024, here’s a quick guide on how to choose the best guided journal for you.

Finding the right guided journal is all about matching your needs with the journal's focus. Think about what you want to achieve and pick a journal that supports those goals. It's also important to look at how the journal is set up and what it looks like.

Start by thinking about what you want from journaling. Do you aim to be less stressed, feel more grateful, or be more creative? Then, look for journals that help with these specific aims.

1. Purpose: Choose a journal that tackles what matters most to you, like improving your well-being, growing personally, or becoming more productive. It's important that the journal's content matches your goals.

2. Structure: Check how the journal organises its content, daily, weekly, or monthly. Some are more free-flowing, while others guide you more directly.

3. Design: The look and feel of the journal are key. Select one that looks appealing to you. This will make the process more enjoyable.

Reading about other people's experiences and taking advice from experts can also help. Mental health professionals and good reviews can guide you towards the best choice.

Make sure the journal you pick just feels right for you. Spend time looking at different options. This way, journaling can truly make a difference for you.

12 Best Guided Journals That Make Journaling Easy!

Journaling is a powerful way to help yourself grow, but starting can be tricky. Guided journals offer prompts and structure to guide your writing. We'll look at 12 great options to find the right one for you.

1. The Three Question Journal

Find your way to better well-being with The Three Question Journal. This innovative self-care planner helps you focus on your health. It lasts six months and includes lots of helpful sections.

You can plan your meals, track what you're thankful for, take care of your body, keep an eye on your mood, improve your sleep, and set goals. It also comes with a special six-month self-care plan.

The Three Question Journal was thought up by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee. He's a well-known medical expert in the UK with a big online following.

It's a great way to think about your life, make changes, and feel re-energised. With three months of pages that you can fill in whenever you want, you'll work on becoming the person you want to be. It has sections for starting your day right, looking back on your evenings, and small exercises to help you get 1% better every day.

This journal is good for the planet too. It's made from paper that's 100% recycled and has an FSC label for sustainability. The pages are held together with cotton thread, not plastic. When you buy it, you won't get any plastic with your order either.

The journal comes is three different designs to suit your aesthetic. It is an excellent choice for people who are looking for a daily journal that they can use for just about anything.

2. 3x Happier Journal

The 3x Happier Journal is a companion to Glennon Doyle's "Untamed" book. It is filled with references from the book and prompts. These help you "reflect on Doyle's musings." They also help you "work through your beliefs to find peace and healing." You can get the journal in hardcover or spiral format, depending on what you like.

The 3x Happier Journal is made by Intelligent Change, the same company that made the 3 Question Journal. They are focused on giving people tools for gratitude, mindfulness, and living intentionally. With over 2+ million copies sold, the journal has become popular. It's for those who want to live a more joyful and meaningful life.

Intelligent Change also has other journals, like the Five Minute Gratitude Journal and the Productivity Planner. These are for different self-improvement goalss, such as mindfulness, setting goals, and time management. They all aim to help people live a happier, more fulfilling life.

If your looking for a journal that will help with self-improvement the 3x Happier Journal is a great choice. It focuses on reflection, healing, and growth. This makes it a useful tool for anyone aiming to be happier and healthier.

3. Inside Then Out Dig Deeper Journal

The Inside Then Out Dig Deeper Journal was made by Adrienne Marie Brown and Sonya Renee Taylor. It helps to improve self-acceptance, without pushing yourself too hard or being too harsh. It focuses on radical self-love, emergent strategy, and pleasure activism. You'll explore six main ideas:

1. Honing Your Body Technology

2. Self-Worship

3. Loving Your Shadows

4. Mutual Worship

5. Life Alignment

6. What's Emerging?

This deep journal guides you through self-exploration and growth. It has 180 questions to make you think. It helps you find your goals, heal, and be grateful, focused, and meaningful.

To start your journey, download the journal on your iPad, tablet or similar device. This is a digital journal that can be downloaded and used on the go.

4. Five Minute Journal by Intelligent Change

The Five Minute Journal has become one of the most popular guided journals due to its simple yet effective approach to daily gratitude and reflection.

With structured prompts that encourage users to focus on positive aspects of their day and set intentions for the future, this journal appeals to busy women looking for a quick and easy way to incorporate self-improvement into their daily routine.

The concise format, taking just five minutes a day, makes it accessible to those with hectic schedules, while still providing a meaningful space for personal growth and mindfulness.

The beautiful design and high-quality materials also add to its appeal, making it not just a practical tool, but also a stylish accessory for those seeking to level up their lives.

5. Therapy Notebooks The Anti-Anxiety Notebook

The Anti-Anxiety Notebook from Therapy Notebooks helps you "reframe and reset" your thoughts when you're anxious. Using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), it guides you to think differently. It's designed in a simple way with a fabric hardcover.

This notebook has 272 pages, giving you plenty of room for writing. You'll find 40 guided journal entries to help you right then, and 5 check-ins with different anxiety-fighting techniques. You also get more than 100 notes and tips from therapists.

The Anti-Anxiety Notebook is praised by over 150,000 people and backed by experts like Hod Tamir and Rachel Brenner. They cover many important ideas in psychology, like CBT and The Feelings Wheel. With this journal, you can learn to see anxiety in a new light.

6. Papier x Anthropologie Guided Journal

The Papier Gratitude Journal lasts five months and has morning and evening prompts, 30-day reflections, affirmations, and activities. It focuses on 'finding gratitude.'

You can choose from many beautiful colours and personalise it with your name. It shows how being grateful can make you physically and mentally healthier. This includes sleeping better and boosting your immune system.

The Papier Gratitude Journal is perfect for setting goals, looking back on your journey, or taking time to appreciate what you have. It comes in various colours to match your style.

7. FORM Daily Check In Journal

The FORM Daily Check In Journal is a unique "gentle, date-less planner". It helps you record things, plan your life, and understand your feelings. You can step in and out as your daily life changes.

This journal is perfect for your changing needs and busy life. Since it has no dates, you can start whenever you want. It offers weekly, monthly, and yearly plans to keep you organised. Plus, it has tools to explore your emotions.

Use it to write down thoughts, set goals, or remember special moments. The FORM Daily Check In Journal is great for exploring yourself and growing. Enjoy the freedom it gives and see how it helps you stay well and focused.

8. Best Year Yet: A Journal for Becoming Your Best Self

The Best Year Yet: A Journal for Becoming Your Best Self acts like a "personal development coach in paper form".

It guides you through 20 weeks of self-improvement activities. These include daily inspiration, weekly reviews, and setting long-term goals. It aims to increase your discipline and boost your productivity, helping you become the best version of yourself.

This journal is Earth-friendly. It's made without plastic. The binding uses cotton thread instead of polyester. Moreover, it’s printed on paper from sustainable sources and wrapped in natural fabric.

9. Wilde House Paper: The Reset Guide

Wilde House Paper offers many guided journals including The Reset Guide. The Reset Guide is a fantastic guided journal because it provides structured prompts and exercises to help you reflect, set goals, and track your progress effectively.

The thoughtfully curated content covers various aspects of life, from personal growth to career development, making it a versatile tool for self-improvement.

With its user-friendly design and actionable tips, The Reset Guide is a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their daily routines and achieve their goals with intention.

Once opened, The Reset Guide takes you on a personal journey. You discover who you really are without criticism. Its design and questions are there to help you grow. It's perfect if you want to know yourself better, accept who you are, or simply start fresh.

10. Create Your Self Guided Journal

The Create Your Self Guided Journal helps you make your own self improvement guide. This book will guide you in understanding the good and the thought times to unpick your thoughts and belief systems.

It includes pages you can tear out easily. On these pages, you'll find lists and topics to complete. For example:

"Things I like to do"

"People I like to see"

"Power songs"

"Things to do when I'm feeling sad or burnt out"

By making this journal fit your own needs, you'll create a powerful self-care tool. This tool can help you with many things. It's great for finding focus, managing your feelings, or knowing yourself better. It gives you a set place to work on growing as a person.

11. Let That Sh*T Go Journal

Looking for self-care with an irreverent twist? The "Let That Sh*T Go Journal" by Monica Sweeney might be what you need.

This guided journal uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques. It helps tackle anxious thoughts and change how you see things.

In the "Let That Sh*T Go Journal," you'll find prompts to think about what happened and how you felt. It leads you to new ways of thinking when you're anxious or stressed. The journal talks in a down-to-earth way, making it easy to connect with anyone wanting to let go of frustrations and change their story.

Got old grudges to let go? Need to beat negative thoughts? Or just want to be more honest with yourself? The "Let That Sh*T Go Journal" is your go-to. It mixes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with a real and direct approach. This journal aims to help you face life's ups and downs with more clarity and self-love.

12. Soul Therapy Journal

The Soul Therapy Journal is your daily guide for self-exploration and healing. It includes 365 days of prompts, quotes, and questions. These tools aim to help you form a positive journaling habit and view yourself differently.

The journal's approach is detailed, covering many aspects of your well-being. It guides you through understanding your emotions and growing gratitude. It also helps in planning and observing your personal development.

This journal is perfect for improving mindfulness or finding moments of peace. It helps you connect with your true self over a year. Start your journey towards self-discovery and growth with this well-crafted journal.

Let me know in the comments which guided journal from the above list takes your fancy!

What Are The Benefits of Guided Journaling?

Guided journaling is great for your mental health. It helps with anxiety, stress, and depression. The prompts in these journals stop you from getting stuck on what to write.

They make you think more deeply. Each prompt focuses on different topics like making friends or setting goals. This makes you understand yourself better as you write about your feelings and the things you do.

Guided journals also keep you on track with your writing. They might have set times when you should write or how often. But some let you write whenever, without the stress of missing a deadline.

People have been writing in journals for centuries. Even the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius kept one. Today, guided journaling is a trend for better mental health.

Studies say that writing can do a lot of good. It can lower anxiety and depression. It boosts your immune system and makes you feel better. It helps you handle stress and think about who you are and what you want.

For ambitious women (aka, my lovely readers!) writing in a journal can make you more creative. It lets you dream and come up with new ideas. Using pen and paper gives you a private way to express yourself. It helps you see your life more clearly.

Guided journals are a great way to open up your mind, tackle negative thought patterns, and develop a success mindset.

I regularly send out FREE journal prompts and challenges to my community. Join The Rich Girl Club to be part of the loop!