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How To Start a Reading Journal

Reading Journal Examples
Recently, I started a book journal to avoid forgetting my reading journeys.Every night, I fill a blank page with my thoughts that surface while reading, recording everything from music recommendations to writing snippets to quotes I want to share with my friends. I'm not artistic, but people like Instagram creator HayleyoftheShire have created beautiful reading journal layouts (like the one above). So, I recommend starting a book journal to record your thoughts while reading. Your future self will thank you.

Book journal advice from Fable readers

A reading journal can be as bare bones as my one-page-a-night strategy or as complicated as the gorgeously printed pages these more artistic Fable readers create. Jess: “What always works for me is some kind of motivation tool (mine is my reading journal; I love it when I finish a book and I get to create an entire spread for it in my journal) other things that motivate me are audiobooks, reading challenges, and reading smaller/quick books to make me get back into the habit.”Bookworm82: “I enjoy having a little fun: book bingo, book cover rainbows, first line of the book (w/o the title to see if I can remember the book), days I read, what titles I read each month. I used YouTube a lot when I set mine up. I think I searched "reading journals" and the year. There are so many good ideas; just find what works for you.”Lexiii: “I have a reading journal that I update every time I finish a book and keep track of monthly and yearly reading goals. I find it therapeutic and I enjoy having my thoughts all in one spot.”And finally, it’s good to remember that many people use Fable as a digital reading journal, like James: “I did have a reading journal bought for me last Christmas which was used for a little bit but now without really thinking about it this app has become my log book so that’s a bonus!”

How journal writing can improve your life

Keeping a reading journal has a host of benefits for your physical and mental wellness. There are hundreds of studies and articles about the improvements journaling can bring to your life. I've rounded up a few of my favorites.1- Writing about your day can help reduce stress and anxiety. (Healthline) 2- Diary keeping can amplify your emotional intelligence, a crucial skill in both work and life. (University of St. Augustine) 3- Keeping a journal can strengthen your immune system and literally help you heal! (American Psychological Association)4- It can make you more mindful and improve your memory. (New York Times)5- Journaling can break the cycle of brooding or doom-scrolling about a problem. (WebMD)

Keep reading on Fable

The Fable app is built for social reading, with tools for sharing highlights, comments, insights, links, pictures, and videos as you set measurable reading goals. We also make it easy to launch your free book club, even if you are reading an audiobook. With our platform, you can host every aspect of an online discussion at a single destination to reach readers and build safe online communities regardless of location or time zone.
Start your own book club today!
You can also discover the best audiobook by exploring thousands of book lists on Fable, decoding your personal taste with our guided recommendations. It’s easy to make your own list as well!
Make a great book list.
Just finished reading an audiobook and have the urge to share your thoughts with the world? It’s time to write your review and highlight your favorite sentences! You can also import your Goodreads reviews to your Fable account!
Rate and review your favorite books

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