Cozy Fall Journaling for Everyone
Changing Leaves, Changing Notebooks
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Everything that reminds me of journaling also reminds me of fall types of things. This may be the best season for grabbing a notebook and getting ready to write.
Hot beverages.
Warm blankets.
Red leaves.
Lit candles.
Crisp mornings.
Sunlight in windows.
Nanowrimo.
Brain-dumping worries.
Moving a little bit slower in life.
Thinking about how the goals for the year are going so far.
Getting ready to think about goals for the new year.
Whether you like the fall for the football, changing leaves, or pumpkin spice lattes, journaling has a place in your everyday routine. This post is an ode to fall journaling. Think of it like a fall journaling toolkit. These are all easy things you can add to your journaling routine to get the most out of fall. Included in this post, you will find an update on my fall journaling routine, cozy fall music links to set the vibe, fun accessories and stickers, and reflective prompts to get you thinking.
My Current Journals and Purposes
Notebook #1: Creative Writing & Poetry Journal
Materials:
Archer & Olive B6 Notebook (Poetry/Creative Work)
Chic Sparrow Creme Creme Brulee B6 Leather Cover
PoppyStitchStudio journal charm on Etsy
Purpose: Free-flow creative expression
Poetry drafts and final pieces
Short stories, flash fiction, or scene sketches
Writing prompts and word sprints
Collections of metaphors, lines, or images you like
Notes on writing craft or quotes from favorite authors
Notebook #2: Personal Journaling & Reflection
Materials:
Archer & Olive TN Notebook (Braindump/Reflection/Morning Pages)
Chic Sparrow Pemberley (Retired) TN Leather Cover
Purpose: Emotional processing and self-discovery
Daily or weekly journal entries
Morning pages (3 pages of stream-of-consciousness)
Reflections after significant events or conversations
Lists of things you're grateful for or worried about
Tracking mood or thought patterns over time
Notebook #3: Planner
Materials:
Archer & Olive Undated Planner (Tasks, Routines, To-Dos, Appointments)
Moterm A5 Cover in Burnt Orange
Purpose: Daily life organization
Calendar spreads (monthly/weekly/daily)
To-do lists and habit trackers
Appointments and deadlines
Goals (monthly, quarterly, yearly)
Life admin (budget, bills, chores)
Moterm Leather Cover for A5 Notebooks
(Pebbled-Burnt Orange)
Made from Litchi pattern top grain leather, top layer cowhide leather
Stylish and elegant cover, has a great texture, very comfortable and soft
Designed for the Hobonichi, Leuchtturm 1917, Archer & Olive, Stalogy, Midori MD and other similar sized A5 planners
Features several card slots inside, side pockets each side and a back pocket, back pocket can hold A4 papers
Notebook #4: Brainstorming & Project Development
Materials:
Archer & Olive 8x8 Notebook
Purpose: Idea capture and productivity playground
Mind maps and brain dumps
Notes from books, podcasts, or videos
Project planning pages (creative or work-related)
Outlines for future big ideas (books, business, courses)
Sketches, diagrams, or concept boards
Fall Journal Inspiration
This is an archive of all of my favorite journal images from all of the -BER months (September, October, November) in the past few years.
Find Your Background Music
Splurge on Fall Accessories
Whether you're at home wrapped in a blanket or journaling on-the-go with a warm drink in hand, the right accessories can elevate your experience and bring a touch of seasonal magic to every page.
Cozy: The Art of Arranging Yourself in the World
The New York Times bestselling author of Happens Every Day, Isabel Gillies, presents a fresh and inspiring look at the subtle art of cozy—part manifesto, part lifestyle guide, part memoir—that shows fans of The Little Book of Hygge that true comfort comes from within.
When we talk about being cozy, most of us think of a favorite sweater or a steaming cup of tea on a rainy day. But to Isabel Gillies, coziness goes beyond mere objects. To be truly cozy, she argues, means learning to identify the innermost truth of yourself and carrying it into the world, no matter your environment.
Starting when she was young, Gillies has gradually learned the art and subtle beauty of creating a life where you feel safe, steadied, and at home in the world. From old family recipes and subway rides to jury duty and hospital stays, in Cozy Gillies shows readers that true ease stems not with throw pillows and a candle, but from opportunities to feel that we are part of something bigger than ourselves, and learn to make ourselves at home no matter where we are.
Simple choices can make a hectic life or an uncomfortable situation just a little more comfortable—you just have to know what to do. Just as Marie Kondo offered a philosophy for how to tidy, Gillies offers a new way of occupying the spaces we live in. Starting with yourself, then broadening to your home, your community, and the world at large, Cozy will show you how to bring the truth of who you are into any situation, easy or challenging. As Gillies says, “Cozy isn’t something that just exists. You have to make cozy happen.”
Written with profound warmth and featuring hand-drawn illustrations, this wise, necessary book is call to action for each of us to seek out those often-missed opportunities to care for ourselves, and to begin living a more intimate and authentic life.
Here are some ideas for both practical journaling tools and cozy fall items that can help set the perfect autumn atmosphere:
JOURNALING ITEMS:
Leather journal covers for notebooks of all sizes
Pen pouches
Journal charms
Pencils, markers, pens, and more
Seasonal sticker books
OTHER COZY FALL ITEMS:
New tote bag to carry items on-the-go
Knit or fleece blankets
Books to read/Magazines
Candles with warm scents
Slippers or warm socks
Pillows
Mugs for warm beverages
Pumpkin-scented hand lotion
Sweet Water Decor Cinnamon Roll Candle
Fall Candle with Cinnamon, Icing & Buttery Pastry for Home - Soy Candles with 40 Hours Burn Time - 9Oz Black Lid Amber Jar Holiday Scents
Clean Burning and Poured in the USA - Made with proprietary soy wax blend and premium fragrance oils for a clean, long-lasting burn. Non-Toxic, Vegan, Non-GMO, Kosher. Gluten and Phthalate Free. Poured in Pittsburgh, PA.
Vera Bradley Featherweight Original Zip Tote Bag (Dark Slate)
Grab a tote bag in an unexpected muted blue for fall, one that you can toss everything into and go.
FEATHERWEIGHT - Experience the ultimate blend of softness and performance with super-lightweight, water-repellent, diamond-quilted styles; crafted from 100% recycled Featherweight, this featherweight fabric is perfect for life on the go; polyester lining
DETAILS - This style features a 12-inch handle drop, an exterior slip pocket and zip pocket, and two interior slip pockets and zip pocket; Zipper closure
SIZE - Measures 15 inches wide, 15 inches high and 7 inches deep; includes 12-inch handle drop
Grab Cozy Seasonal Stickers
Rongrong Cozy Fall PET + Washi Tape Box
Autumn Planner Tape Set with Hand-Drawn Designs – 6 Rolls for Journals, Scrapbooks, DIY Crafts – Sweaters, Lattes, Leaves & Books – Limited Edition
Wrap Your Pages in Autumn Magic: Capture the golden glow of fall with this beautifully curated set of PET and washi tapes featuring sweaters, lattes, falling leaves, books, and cozy fall vibes.
6 Rolls for Endless Creativity: Includes 1 x 65mm PET, 1 x 20mm PET, and 4 washi tapes (10mm, 20mm, 30mm, 45mm) designed for layering borders, headers, and accents in planners, journals, and crafts.
Exclusive Hand-Drawn Fall Art: Showcases original seasonal illustrations by Rongrong—each tape is infused with soft golden tones and charming autumn icons for elevated creative spreads.
Get Reflective with Prompts
Areas to think about:
HEALTH/ACTIVITY
GRATITUDES
HABITS
TIME MANAGEMENT
MEMORIES/LESSONS LEARNED
MUSIC/BOOKS/PODCASTS
WORK GOALs
PERSONAL GOALS
SAVINGS GOALS
MOOD/MINDSET
When would you like to make time for reflection? Examples: morning, afternoon, evening, bedtime, etc
What memories define you as a person?
What experiences do you not like to bring up?
What areas of life are you happy with?
What areas of your life do you wish for improvement?
“Some advice I would give myself is…”
“I smiled today when…”
“I am grateful for…”
“The last time I belly-laughed was…”
“My favorite childhood memory was…”
“I would describe myself as…”
“From 5 years ago, I have changed by…”
“From 10 years ago, I have changed by…”
“Something I regret is…”
“The last time I celebrated was…”
"As a child, I loved to..."
"A memory that will always stay with me is..."
"As a child, I remember imagining..."
"When I think of animals, I remember..."
"When I think of school, I remember..."
"People always say I am..."
"Some beliefs and values that guide my life are..."
"I got my sense of right and wrong from..."
"A mistake I remember making as a kid was..."
"As a teenager, the things I thought were important were..."
"I always feel..."
"A time when I surprised myself was..."
"One time when I was brave, I..."
"One time when I was joyful, I..."
"I cry thinking about..."
Use a Fall Journaling Mood Board
A journaling mood board is a visual tool that can help spark creativity and guide your journaling practice. By surrounding yourself with images, colors, and textures that reflect your current mood, season, or goals, you create a visual landscape that can guide and inspire your writing.
1. Set the Intention for Your Mood Board
Before diving into the visual elements, take a moment to reflect on what you want to get out of your journaling session. Are you looking for inspiration for personal reflection? Do you want to explore your emotions, dreams, or goals? Setting a clear intention for your mood board will help you choose images that align with your journaling theme.
Goal Example: "I want to journal about my hopes for the fall season and reflect on my favorite memories."
Mood Example: "I want to explore the feeling of calm and tranquility during autumn."
2. Choose Your Visual Inspiration
Now, begin collecting images that resonate with the theme or mood you’ve set. These can be anything from magazine clippings, photographs, digital images, or artwork that you find inspiring. You want to curate visuals that evoke emotions, memories, or ideas you want to explore in your journal.
Images for Fall-Themed Journaling:
Cozy sweaters, autumn leaves, pumpkin patches, and scenes of foggy mornings.
Warm-toned color palettes like golden yellows, browns, reds, and oranges.
Textures like knit blankets, wood, and rustic elements.
Emotional Inspiration:
Pictures of people you admire, places you want to visit, or abstract art that reflects how you feel.
Quotes, words, or phrases that resonate with your current thoughts or desires.
3. Arrange the Images to Reflect Your Mood
Once you’ve gathered your visuals, arrange them on your mood board in a way that feels intuitive and inspiring. Don’t worry about perfection — this is a creative and fluid process. You can lay them out in a collage style, in a specific pattern, or simply scatter them to create a dreamy, relaxed vibe.
Tip: Try to use a variety of imagery that plays with texture, color, and contrast. For instance, if you have an image of a vibrant red leaf, pair it with something more muted like a soft sweater or a foggy landscape to create balance.
4. Place the Mood Board in Your Journaling Space
Once your mood board is assembled, place it in a spot where it’s easy to reference while journaling. This could be a physical mood board on your desk, a pinned board on the wall, or a digital mood board you can pull up on your tablet or laptop. The key is to make sure it’s within your line of sight while you write.
Pro Tip: If you use a digital board (Pinterest, Canva, or Google Docs), you can even create a folder or folder system specifically for different journaling moods, like “Fall Reflection” or “Dreams & Goals.”
5. Journal in Response to the Mood Board
With your mood board set up and within view, begin journaling. Let the images guide your thoughts. Here are a few ways to incorporate the visuals:
Free-Write: Start by describing how the images make you feel. What emotions arise as you look at them? Do certain colors or textures stir memories or ideas for your writing? Write down whatever comes to mind without filtering yourself.
Prompt-Based Writing: Use the visuals as writing prompts. If there’s a picture of a peaceful forest, for example, write about your ideal escape or reflect on a time when you felt most at peace with yourself.
Focus on Specific Images: Pick one or two key images and journal about them. Dive deep into why they resonate with you — are they representing something you want more of in your life, or are they reminding you of a place or moment you cherish?
