The Wirecutter Show

Journaling Through Life's Plot Twists with Suleika Jaouad (Encore)

Episode Summary

Writer Suleika Jaouad delves into how journaling can help unlock creative potential. Plus tips for building a writing habit and our favorite journaling tools.

Episode Notes

In this episode, our guest is Suleika Jaouad, author of The Book of Alchemy and creator of The Isolation Journals Substack. We delve into how journaling can help you unlock creative potential and navigate life’s challenges. 

 

Suleika shares her personal journey with journaling as a lifeline during her battle with leukemia and a pathway to "creative alchemy" – transforming difficult experiences into meaningful expression. She highlights the benefits of journaling on mental health, and how it has changed her life.

 

The discussion also explores practical aspects of journaling, from overcoming the fear of a blank page to maintaining consistency through accountability and prompts. Suleika shares her preferred tools—a fountain pen and quality paper—and the rituals that help her stay consistent. 

 

Plus, Wirecutter writer Arriana Vasquez tells us about digital notebooks, an innovative way to modernize the writing experience without sacrificing the tactile pleasure of it. 

 

Listeners will gain actionable insights into starting and sustaining a journaling practice.

 

Products we recommend:

 

Suleika’s favorites: 

 

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