Which Approach to Journaling is Right for You?

Journaling according to your enneagram personality type

Andrea Chelle
The Orange Journal
Published in
6 min readMay 7, 2022

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A notebook with a cover that says Smile Shine Bright Be Kind sits on top of a blue and gold flowered notebook. Both are spiral ringed. A pen with a pink cap sits on top of them.
Image by Author

According to Scriviner, “the modern diary has its origins in fifteenth-century Italy where diaries were used for accounting.”

Today, diaries (from here on out referred to as journals) are everywhere and are used for almost everything!

Journals can differ in appearance. They can have cute covers or can be plain. They can be lined, dotted, or blank. They can be large or pocket-sized. They can be on paper on online.

The physical journal itself is more of a personal preference. You can use anything that suits your fancy.

Types of Journaling

The type of journaling that will be best for you, on the other hand, is not as easy to figure out.

For example, I want to be a bullet journaler so badly, but it’s just not something that I can remember to keep up with.

Free-write journaling; now that’s something I can do because it doesn’t matter if I write every day or every few months and the topic can change every time I touch my pen to the paper.

Here are some popular types of journaling:

  • free-write journaling
  • bullet journaling
  • gratitude journaling
  • dream journaling
  • art journaling/scrapbooking
  • prayer/bible journaling
  • field journaling (nature journaling)
  • food journaling
  • travel journaling

*This list is not extensive. There are many many more types of journaling.*

Knowing Your Enneagram Personality Type

The Enneagram Institute credits the enneagram as “one of the most powerful and insightful tools for understanding ourselves and others.”

If you don’t know your enneagram personality type, click the link below for a free enneagram personality test.

Here are summaries of the 9 personality types along with which types of journaling are best suited for each type.

Type 1: The Reformer / The Perfectionist

1’s like to follow the rules. They have a strong sense of right and wrong.

Journaling to inspire mindful activism is a perfect fit for 1’s. This type of journaling includes figuring out your core values and opinions, brainstorming solutions to social problems, and writing for empowerment.

Project journaling is also great for 1’s who like to keep track of their ventures. According to The Minimal Plan, project journaling can help you:

  • gain perspective and see the big picture
  • clarify and solve problems
  • plan and track your progress
  • reflect on lessons learned
  • stay focused
GIF by Djemilah Birnie on GIPHY

Type 2: The Helper / The Giver

2’s are caring and always think of others before themselves. They are the first ones to reach out to help when a friend is sick or in need.

Prayer journaling is a great way to keep track of people you are helping and praying for. Some ideas for your prayer journal include:

  • recording and praying scripture
  • keeping track of personal prayers and prayers for friends
  • praising God for answered prayers

Gratitude journaling, according to Matt Kandler of Happy Feed, “is the habit of recording and reflecting on things…that you are grateful for on a regular basis…[and training] your brain to focus more on the positive aspects of your life.”

I have found this type of journaling to be extremely beneficial. It helps turn your focus to the positive. Like attracts like! Kick that negativity to the curb.

Type 3: The Achiever

3’s are extremely driven to be the best at what they do. They are competitive and want to be recognized for their successes.

An open journal with lists written in green and black sits against a wood background with a green highlighter and pen resting on top.
Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash

Bullet journaling, according to Good Housekeeping, “turns the chaos of coordinating your life into a streamlined system that helps you be more productive and reach your personal and professional goals.”

Bullet journals can include things like:

  • daily logs (weight, food intake, weather)
  • lists (favorite books, best restaurants)
  • checklists (which steaming episodes you’ve watched, to-do lists)

Type 4: The Individualist

4’s want to stand out. They are creative and unique. They want to create their own identity and express themselves.

Art journaling has no rules, so it is perfect for 4’s. According to Artjournalist, some benefits of art journaling include:

  • working out thoughts and feelings
  • dreaming, planning, and setting goals
  • awakening your creative self
  • personal development and spiritual growth
  • playing and having fun

Scrapbook journaling is a specific type of art journaling that combines written journaling, art journaling, and scrapbooking. Scrapbook journals can include pictures, quotes, stickers, really anything you want!

Check out this YouTube video on journaling about the past!

Video by Johanna Clough on YouTube

Type 5: The Investigator

5’s are intelligent and always want to learn more. They like to think about things deeply and logically.

Field journaling is a perfect form of journaling for 5’s. According to the American Museum of Natural History, “all scientists who work in the field keep a field journal. In it they record everything they find, observe, and collect.”

There are so many options here! You can record anything from specific plants in nature to funny conversations you hear. The possibilities are endless!

Type 6: The Loyalist / The Skeptic

6’s can be very anxious; always anticipating the worst-case scenario. They love to ask questions and attempt to understand situations from all perspectives.

Personal diaries are a great way for 5’s to record and reflect on their thoughts and emotions. According to Wikipedia, a personal diary may include a person’s experiences, thoughts, and/or feelings, excluding comments on current events outside the writer’s direct experience.

BetterLyf states that the benefits of personal diaries include:

  • providing clarity
  • problem-solving
  • self-discovery
  • self-expression
  • alleviating stress

Type 7: The Enthusiast

7’s are adventurers. They are always on the move and are looking for the next challenge.

Travel journals are great for 7’s to record and reflect on all their adventures. Vanilla Papers suggests that travel journaling helps you to slow down and make travel more meaningful; capturing your experiences in a more personal way.

Bullet journals (see personality type 3) and personal diaries (see personality type 6) are also great options for 7’s.

Type 8: The Challenger

8’s have very strong personalities. They are confident and they like to take charge.

Fitness journaling is great for those go-and-get-’em types. Livefit suggests using your fitness journal to keep track of your workout stats, keep notes about your workouts, and keep track of your fitness goals.

Bullet journaling (see personality type 3) is also a great way for 8’s to keep track of all their achievements.

Type 9: The Peacemaker

9’s are easygoing and like to see harmony in their environment. They go with the flow and don’t like conflict.

For 9’s, any of the above-listed journaling types would be helpful. You may even switch back and forth between a few different types. Which ones do you feel drawn to?

Journaling can be fun, creative, and reflective no matter what your personality type! Don’t worry if you’re drawn to a type of journaling that doesn’t necessarily fit your enneagram type. Try it out anyways! There are no rules to self-expression!

Thanks for reading! Follow me on medium.com.

Do you want to know more about the enneagram and how it can help your relationships? Check out my article The Enneagram Saved My Marriage.

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The Orange Journal
The Orange Journal

Published in The Orange Journal

The Orange Journal is a publication devoted to helping one another grow into the best version of ourselves. From productivity hacks to love stories, we want to know the best way to make this life as beautiful as it can be.

Andrea Chelle
Andrea Chelle

Written by Andrea Chelle

Homeschooling mama and creative spirit. ❃ 🎶 I write about God♱, my homeschooling journey, and personal development. 📝Check out my fiction too!