Letting Go of Journals: An Eco-Friendy Approach

We all have old journals tucked away in closets or drawers, holding memories of who we were and what we’ve gone through. As an eco-friendly professional organizer, I will ask, do these journals still serve you, or are they simply taking up space?

Journals can be extremely personal, which makes parting with them tough. We fear losing pieces of ourselves. The truth is, the memories we cherish most already live within us. They're not bound to paper—they live in our hearts and minds. Letting go of them doesn’t mean erasing your past. You can preserve what's important while lightening your load and benefiting the planet. Read on ...

Letting Go of Journals from Difficult Times

Letting go of journals that reflect difficult times can actually be a powerful and healing process. Here are a few positive perspectives to consider:

Growth and Resilience - By letting go, you're acknowledging that you've overcome those struggles. You don’t need the physical reminder to prove your resilience—it’s already part of who you are.
Celebrating Progress - Discarding journals from difficult times can be a way to celebrate how far you’ve come. It can mark your growth, showing that you’ve survived, learned, and evolved.
Trusting Your Journey - Letting go can symbolize trust in your own journey. You don’t need the written records to know what you've been through—those experiences have shaped you, and you carry their lessons inside you.

Rethink Your Relationship with the Past

When decluttering, be intentional. Not every journal needs to be kept forever. Sift through them and ask yourself: Which ones still matter? Which tell a story you still connect with, and which feel like clutter? It’s okay to keep a few that hold deep meaning. But holding onto journals that no longer resonate can weigh you down—physically and emotionally.

Eco-Friendly Ways to Preserve Your Writing

Here are a few eco-friendly solutions that allow you to declutter sustainably:

Digitize - One way to let go while still preserving your memories is to digitize important pages. Scan or photograph key sections and store them digitally so you can revisit those entries without needing to keep the physical books.
Recycle - If you're ready to say goodbye to the physical journals, make sure they’re recycled properly. Remove any plastic elements, like spiral bindings or stickers, and dispose of them separately.
Upcycle - Got half-filled journals or ones with plenty of blank pages left? You can use those pages for scrap paper, grocery lists, or creative projects. Upcycling keeps the paper out of the waste stream and gives it new purpose.

Sentimental Sustainability

The idea of "sentimental sustainability" is key here. You don’t need to keep everything to preserve the sentiment behind it. Curate a selection of journals that reflect different life phases or that hold the most meaning for you. By keeping just a few, you're still honouring your past but in a way that doesn’t overwhelm your space.
You might also want to think about your future journal-keeping habits. Consider using digital journaling apps or opting for journals made from recycled or eco-friendly paper to minimize your environmental footprint.

Letting go of old journals is liberating. It opens up space physically in your home and mentally in your mind. By releasing the weight of past, you make room for new experiences, new memories and new creative endeavours. It is empowering. You’re not only making an intentional choice to clear clutter, but you’re doing it in a way that honours the planet and your past.