How to Start a Coloring Journal: Combine Art Therapy with Daily Reflection

What Is a Coloring Journal?

A coloring journal is exactly what it sounds like — a journal where coloring pages sit alongside your written entries. Some days you write. Some days you color. Most days you do both.

It's the intersection of two proven wellness practices: coloring for stress relief and reflective journaling. Each one is powerful alone. Together, they create something surprisingly effective.

Why It Works

Traditional journaling asks you to process your thoughts through words. That's great for analytical thinkers. But not everyone processes verbally. Some people need to do something with their hands before their mind settles down enough to write.

Coloring provides that bridge. Ten minutes of filling in a cozy kitchen scene quiets the mental chatter. Then when you pick up the pen, the words flow more easily.

What You Need to Start

The Basics

• A binder or notebook — something you can add pages to
• Printed coloring pages — digital downloads you print at home
• Lined paper or a journal — for the writing portions
• Coloring supplies — markers, pencils, or both

Optional Upgrades

• Washi tape for decorating margins
• Stickers that match your coloring theme
• A dedicated pouch for your supplies

5 Coloring Journal Formats That Work

1. The Mood Tracker

Assign a coloring page to each week. Color a section each day using a color that represents your mood. By week's end, you have a visual mood map.

Best pages for this: Simple, divided designs like grid layouts. Our grid-style pages work perfectly.

2. The Gratitude + Color Combo

Write three things you're grateful for, then spend 10 minutes coloring. The positive reflection pairs with the calming activity.

Best pages for this: Cozy themes — they reinforce the warm, grateful feeling.

3. The Theme Journal

Pick a coloring theme that matches what you're working through. Dealing with change? Color autumn harvest pages while journaling about transitions. Need comfort? Rainy bedroom pages while writing about self-care.

4. The Morning Pages + Evening Color

Write stream-of-consciousness in the morning (Julia Cameron style). Color a page in the evening as a wind-down ritual. The journal becomes a bookend for your day.

Best pages for this: Relaxing evening themes for the night session.

5. The Creative Prompt Journal

Write a creative prompt on one page, color the opposite page. Let the coloring inspire your writing and vice versa.

Best pages for this: Story-driven themes like Cat Cafe or Penguin Town — they naturally spark narratives.

How to Organize Your Coloring Journal

Binder Method (Recommended)

Use a 3-ring binder with dividers:

• Section 1: Current week's coloring pages
• Section 2: Written entries
• Section 3: Completed colored pages (your gallery)
• Section 4: Blank pages for free writing

This lets you add and rearrange pages without being locked into a sequence.

Notebook Method

Alternate between lined pages and coloring pages. Print your coloring pages on paper that fits your notebook size — A5 works great for most journals.

Digital-Physical Hybrid

Keep your written journal digital (phone app), print coloring pages physically. Best of both worlds if you prefer typing but want the tactile coloring experience.

Tips for Maintaining the Habit

Start small. Five minutes of coloring, three sentences of writing. You can always do more, but the goal is consistency.

Don't aim for perfection. A coloring journal isn't an art portfolio. Scribble outside the lines. Write messy sentences. The point is the process, not the product.

Rotate themes. Keep it fresh by switching between animal pages, cozy spaces, and nature themes. Variety prevents burnout.

Keep supplies together. The biggest habit killer is having to gather your stuff each time. One pouch, one spot, always ready.

Share if you want to. Some people post their colored pages on Instagram or Pinterest. Community accountability helps, but only if it feels fun, not performative.

Getting Your Coloring Pages

The easiest way to stock your coloring journal is with printable digital coloring books. Download once, print as many times as you want. Each of our books comes with 10 bold and easy pages — perfect for a week-plus of journaling.

Browse the full MiyoPages collection and pick themes that resonate with where you are right now. Your coloring journal is waiting.