What is a reading journal? If you’ve heard all the hype about reading journals, you may be wondering what they are and how you can start using one to improve your reading life. Both the concept and the use of a reading journal can be super simple, but here’s everything you need to know!
What Is a Reading Journal?
So what IS a reading tracker or reading journal? Reading Journals are places you record your thoughts, reactions, and responses to the books you’re reading. You can also use them to track the books you read and to keep track of your reading goals.
While this is the basic overview of what a reading journal is, the actual form a reading journal takes can vary. For instance, you can journal in print format or in digital format—you can use a bullet journal or a printable journal, or you can use a spreadsheet or an app. Which is the best to use? Whichever format you prefer!
The information recorded in reading journals might also vary, but in general you’ll find most people record the books they read, the books they want to read (aka a TBR list), book reviews or book notes, book ratings, reading goals, and even sometimes statistics on the books read.
But really, when you decide to start a reading journal, it’s your reading journal and it should work for you. You can choose one that has the features you like, or go a more customizable route like creating your own unique journal in a bullet journal or spreadsheet.
So what is a book journal? Ultimately, it’s a place for you to record whatever you want to record about the books you’re reading and want to read. It’s a tool to help you stay organized and on track with your goals, and it can also be a fun way to express yourself and talk about the books you love.
Benefits of a Reading Journal
Ok, so now you know what a reading journal or reading response journal is…but why should you keep one?
Keeping a reading journal has many benefits. Here are a few you should consider:
1. Reading Journals can help you remember what you read
Writing down the titles of books as well as any thoughts or notes you have about the books while reading them can help you remember more about the book long-term. It also gives you a written record to look back on in case you forget titles or details about the book. At the very least, it can save you from forgetting the name of a book you loved and having to try to find it again from only a vague description!
2. Reading Journals can boost reading comprehension
Keeping a reading journal helps you slow down and actually process what you’re reading, which in turn can help boost reading comprehension and your processing of the text and its meaning.
3. Reading Journals help you keep track of your progress
By keeping a log of your reading, you’ll have tangible evidence of the progress you’re making toward your goals. It also makes sure you record all of your reading “wins” so you don’t forget to celebrate your progress!
4. Reading Journals can give you an outlet to practice writing skills
If you’re regularly reading books and writing mini (or long!) reports about what you read, you’ll be doing lots of little writing projects and getting a chance to practice and grow your writing skills. This is especially fun to see after you’ve been journaling for a while—if you look back at your earlier entries, I’m sure you’ll notice a difference in your writing!
5. Reading Journals help you process your feelings
Ever read a book that leaves you screaming ‘Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!” in your head? Either a good “Ahhhhh” or a bad “Ahhhhh?” For the books that leave you feeling all the emotions, being able to journal your thoughts and feelings about it can help you process it and sometimes can help you actually discover what you’re really feeling.
These are just a few of the benefits you’ll find when you start to keep a reading journal, so as you can see there is a lot of good that can come from doing so!
How to Keep a Reading Journal
Ok so now you know what a reading journal is and why you should keep one…but how do you keep a reading journal?
1. Choose What Format You Want to Use to Journal
Your first step will be choosing what format works for you. Would you like to keep your reading journal in print format or digital?
Then, do you want to keep it in a printable journal, premade journal, spreadsheet, app, etc.? To decide this, you’ll want to consider what metrics and details you find important to track, as well as whether you prefer more flexibility or more ease of use/ease to get started.
If this all sounds overwhelming, be sure to check out this overview of some of the most popular reading trackers. It covers a lot of popular apps, spreadsheets, and journals to help you compare and find one that works well for you.
2. Set Up Your Journal
Once you’ve chosen your journaling method, the next step is to set up your new journal. Depending on the method you choose, you might have more or less setup to do.
For instance, if you go the bullet journal route you might want to get some fun reading journal ideas for things to include in your custom bullet journal spreads. But if you decide to go with a premade spreadsheet or app, then all you’ll need to do is start filling in your books as you read!
3. Start a Routine for Journaling
Lastly, you’ll want to start and get into some sort of routine for your journaling to make sure you actual use your new journal.
I like to enter the books I read into my journaling spreadsheet as soon as I finish a book, because otherwise there’s a really good chance I won’t end up keeping a record of reading that book. And then I’ll be sad later when I try to find it or find my notes and discover they aren’t there.
Over time, journaling will become more habitual, but it’s especially important to plan out your journaling in the beginning so you get into a good routine and figure out how journaling your reading works for you!