The Journalette Approach: Tiny Journals for Self-Care That Sticks

Many journaling systems want you to do more.
More pages. More trackers. More commitments. For some of us, we can’t handle more. We need less. Smaller. Doable. Tiny tools we can start and finish. 

We have enough notebooks and journals gathering dust because we don’t have the time or energy to keep up.

That’s where Journalette™ comes in.

It’s about one page. One theme. One small daily win.

What Is a Journalette?

A Journalette is a tiny, foldable journal made from a single sheet of paper.
When you fold it, you get eight small panels, just enough to hold a few prompts, reflections, doodles, or truths.

It’s bite-sized self-care you can actually finish.

Instead of staring at a blank notebook and feeling overwhelmed, you hold something small, tangible, and doable.

When you finish a Journalette, you really finish it. That moment of completion is a win. Its a signal to your brain and nervous system that you showed up for yourself today.

Why Journalettes May Work For You (If Other Journals Don’t)

1. Finishable
So many people abandon their journals halfway through. A Journalette is built to be completed. One page, folded. That’s it. You can finish it in a single sitting, or return to it across a day.

2. Bite-Sized Self-Care
If you’re a caregiver, empath, or over-giver, the idea of adding “one more thing” to your plate feels impossible. A Journalette only asks for a few minutes. That’s the whole point.

3. Nervous System Friendly
Folding paper. Doodling. Writing a single line. These tiny acts bring your body into the present. They give your nervous system a break from the constant rush and scrolling.

4. Tangible & Creative
We’re so digital these days that working with your hands feels grounding. Folding, writing, decorating with washi tape, or scribbles, or stamps, or doodles and it turns self-care into a tactile ritual.

5. Realistic Wins
Journalettes are about small daily returns to yourself. We’re not aiming for a life overhaul. We’re taking small, daily steps. We’re building bridges, not taking leaps.

Examples of Journalettes

The possibilities are endless, but here are a few examples of Journalettes:

• The 90-Second Reset Journalette
  A quick nervous system check-in with prompts like “Right now I notice…” and “One thing I don’t need to carry today.”

• The Free-Flow Journalette
  A safe place to spill raw thoughts and feelings without censoring yourself.

• The Mini Self-Care Starter Journalette
  Track one small act of care you’ll give yourself today, plus a bonus if you have extra energy.

• The Boundaries Journalette
  Prompts that help you notice where you’re saying yes when your body is screaming no.

Each Journalette is just one page. Folded, filled, finished.

How to Start Your First Journalette

You don’t need fancy supplies.
You don’t need to be a “journaler.”
All you need is:

• One sheet of paper

• A pen

• A willingness to pause

Here’s how to begin:

1. Choose a theme (for example, boundaries, gratitude, a decision you need to make, a self-care practice you need to journal about, journal prompts related to one theme). To make this easier, you can download the free Journalette Starter Pack.

   • You’ll get three ready-to-print Journalettes to try: The 90-Second Reset, The Free Flow Journalette, and The Tiny Self-Care Journalette.

2. Print or grab a piece of paper. Once you’ve chosen a theme, download and print one of the Journalettes from the starter pack or simply pick up a piece of paper.

3. Fold. Watch the quick folding demo video.

   • Folding itself is a mindful ritual.

1. Fill it out today.

   • Even if it takes just two minutes, you’ll have finished something that’s just for you.

2. Share your win.

   • Post your Journalette online and tag #MyJournalette — let’s make small, finishable self-care contagious.

3.  You can also make your own Journalette if you don’t want to download any of my templates. You’ve probably already done this many times in your life. Some people call this paper fold a mini zine or a booklet.  Here’s a video showing how to create one:

Journalette as a Philosophy

Journalette isn’t about productivity.
It’s not about optimizing every second of your life.

It’s about giving yourself permission to pause.
To claim a pocket of time that’s yours.

It’s about not abandoning yourself in the rush of caregiving, over-giving, and endless noise.

Because self-care doesn’t have to be complicated.
Sometimes, it can be one page.
One theme.
One small daily win.

Ready to Try?

Download the Journalette Starter Pack and make your first tiny journal today.

Fold. Fill. Finish.
That’s the Journalette way.

xo

Alicia

Share This: