document the moments you feel most like yourself and refer to them often.
how the beautiful chaos of junk journaling is leading me to creative freedom and reshaping our collective nostalgia. 🌍
for the last few months, my latest hyperfixation and favorite hobby has been junk journaling. it just scratches my neurospicy brain in the right way- the perfect organized mess, the freedom of expression, the hoarding of seemingly miscellaneous and mundane items collected over time that end up telling a unique story that could never be duplicated. the receipts, love notes, boarding passes, matchbooks, restaurant flyers, broken pieces of jewelry, keychains, metrocards- all compiled together to become what is ultimately the physical museum of your life.
in an era where we could literally be competing with cyborgs in the next 10 years for our jobs (jk…i hope), there’s something so refreshing, soul-fulfilling and satisfying about having a little growing collection of physical, 3-D, IRL memories. it’s something i can pass down to my kids one day or a fun piece of memorabilia that my loved ones can take turns looking through at my next dinner party. but what’s most important is that it’s a pastime that requires minimal products, requires both hands (so no aimless scrolling to distract me), and it allows me to practice gratitude and being fully present while reflecting on all of the special moments- even the passive, boring ones.
what is junk journaling even? as someone who absolutely loved scrapbooking and journaling as a kid, junk journaling is basically scrapbooking 2.0 but deconstructed. you don’t need the 12-patterned washi tape (although you can definitely add that if you want), or a $25 pack of stickers, fancy markers, or even a paper cutter so you have straight, perfect lines. junk journaling is focused on using what you already have, recycling materials readily available, and keeping the mundane, “junk” items like old magazines, pieces of fabric, and postcards and turning them into a collage of memories and experiences.
wanna throw in that Chipotle receipt for $18.79 and a random sticker from an event you went to 3 years ago? perfect. wanna keep the label of a wine bottle you really loved (or hated) and slap it on there? amazing, do it. wanna keep glue down those super pretty, cute packaging labels from your favorite skincare products? beautiful. there are quite literally no rules to it and i can guarantee you that no two junk journals will look the same.
not only is this a sustainable method of art (as you’re literally saving up what would often end up in the garbage or a forgotten drawer eventually), it is a method of documentation that requires no digital materials. as we very recently saw with the 14-hour shutdown of TikTok this week, (political theater and propaganda aside), we are way more dependent on the dopamine fix and connection we get from social media than most of us want to admit. even i was genuinely worried about what would happen to my beloved saved/favorites folders with my account, and how i would be able to continue sourcing inspiration through these daily videos.
there are many layers that impact our reliance on social media and our reflex to collect our memories digitally vs. physically, but what’s at the root of it is our desire for documenting our lives, our stories, and sharing that connection with others. and while my camera roll has an obscene amount of videos and photos (no seriously, it’s over 50,000…), there’s no way i would print them all out or keep every single one if i took the time to be more intentional about what i was actually capturing.
when searching through my phone, what i tend to reach for when trying to access a core memory is my “favorites” folder: the moments and instances where i feel the most beautiful, an art installation at a museum that moved me, experiences and special days when i’m surrounded by my loved ones, or when i’m on a trip in a new city or country that later becomes the place i constantly reference. when i document the moments i feel most like myself, i end up referring to them over and over again because those memories represent my essence, my unique life experiences. those thousands of .jpg and .mp4 files serve as a reminder that as unpredictable and scary as the world might seem at times, i have always had the power and opportunity to create beautiful moments. an act of softness and resilience, simultaneously.
it’s serendipitous that bad bunny’s latest album explores the themes of memory, nostalgia, cultural preservation and a deep rooted appreciation (and sorrow) for what was while also anticipating what will be. DtMF is a resounding, powerful yet soft nudge to document the moments you feel most like yourself, document the people, places and things that bring you joy. it serves as a reminder that memories and keepsake is also the process of world building, and cultivating heritage and legacy—a way to honor the past, celebrate the present, and shape the future through storytelling and shared experience. and it’s no wonder it’s taking the world by storm, because all of us are walking time machines.
often when we think about culture, we’re thinking about visuals and sensory memory: a mood, a vibe, a feeling, a moment. we ask: what was it like during this era? what was the fashion, what kind of food did my grandparents eat? where are my grandmother’s handwritten recipes? how much did movie tickets cost 20 years ago? and that is why when we lose access to precious memories, like thousands of families and individuals have devastatingly in the recent fires across Los Angeles- we suddenly realize how incredibly valuable and precious those physical memories are to us.
what junk journaling is teaching me is to wholeheartedly witness the mundane moments, embrace imperfection, and to remember that true creativity is about flow and perspective, not about what expensive equipment or fancy materials you have. as a recovering perfectionist, this beautiful yet somewhat chaotic approach to art and memory collecting is liberating; it’s teaching me patience, sharpening my observational eye, and allowing me to experiment and expand my perspective of what’s worth “keeping.”
it is a form of artistic expression that goes beyond the highlight reels or photo dumps so perfectly curated on social media, and instead- it worships the mundane, the ordinary, the fleeting moments of “nothingness” and gives it value and substance. it’s a practice and reminder that even the seemingly insignificant fragments of life can hold meaning and beauty when viewed through a lens of curiosity and care.
so if you want to start the process of documenting intentionally and junk journaling, start here:
use what’s at your disposal. the more accessible the items are in your junk journal, the more sentimental and authentic it’ll be. trust me when i say you could go on a mini scavenger hunt around your home at this very moment and already start your junk journal today!
become a collector. especially with experiences or moments you cherish, but also in the day-to-day exchanges: keeping the receipt after grabbing your oat milk latte, holding on to a coat check ticket after a concert, or keeping old birthday cards instead of tossing them out.
make it multisensory. your junk journal doesn’t have to be just visual—incorporate textures, scents, and even sounds. tape a dried flower from a walk, add a fabric swatch from a meaningful outfit, or write down song lyrics that remind you of a specific moment. the more senses involved, the more immersive your journaling experience will be.
embrace imperfection. junk journaling isn’t about perfect pages or polished layouts—it’s about capturing life as it is. let yourself scribble, tear, layer, and smudge. doodles, random thoughts, and messy handwriting all add to the charm. the beauty of a junk journal is in its rawness and honesty.
tell micro-stories. instead of just collecting items, write a short note about why each piece matters. jot down a memory sparked by an old movie ticket, describe the weather on the day you found a pressed leaf, or write a few words about what a torn-out magazine quote means to you. these small stories add depth and make your journal even more meaningful.
to my photographers, writers, artists, podcasters, journalists, musicians, junk journalers- we need you. you are the pulse that keeps the soul of our society alive. no amount of generic AI art could ever replace or compete with the dynamic and unique contributions of your lived experiences.
if this post resonates with you, be sure to listen to this week’s short and sweet podcast on this topic, and remember follow us on IG, YouTube and subscribe to our podcast, The Soft Life with Saddie Baddies®.
stay soft and talk to you soon, baddie.
softly,
i looove journaling like this 🥰 i honestly get so emotional when i finish a journal it’s like a part of me is copied there. one of my fav additions is a parking ticket envelope i stuck in. i wrote the story of my unexpectedly lovely date night and put it in the envelope. a little letter in my journal 😍
I have been thinking about starting a junk journal this year using my Passion Planner. As a photographer who has also dabbled in mixed media, this idea appeals to me! I recently stopped creating after having my son a year ago, so I appreciate the reminder that this is also a form of creativity♥️