Nature journaling is not the same as practicing mindfulness, but the two go together very well. Journaling is an opportunity for us to take what we experienced, reflect on it, and express what we saw, heard, felt, and how that affected us. One of the best ways to do that is to write or draw while we are still immersed in the woods or grasses that we are visiting. Quite often I will sit somewhere for a while and then write about it before I get up and move somewhere else. 

Some people mostly draw or paint, while others mostly write. A mix of both is great. If you think, “I’m not great at writing,” that’s fine! You don’t have to be. If you would like to try journaling, know that your writing (and drawing) will get better the more you do it. 

What is the average person going to get out of keeping a journal?

Let’s say you bring an inexpensive spiral notebook and a pen or a couple of pencils on your walk. Since writing and drawing will be part of your walk, you may notice your surroundings more closely, and when you find something that really attracts you, perhaps you sit for a while and draw it or write about it. In this way, nature journaling becomes an exercise in paying attention. This is especially true when you stop and write about or draw something. Instead of walking on by and only half-noticing it, you become immersed in it.

When you write, if you include something about yourself and how your walk is affecting you, there’s another benefit. You consider how the woods or stream make you feel, and you might write something about feeling awe or being grateful for this place. There could be some sadness for other similar places that are now gone. The journal becomes an exercise in self-reflection. There is value in taking time to think about what we’ve experienced, how it made us feel, and what it means to us. This is a big part of self-knowledge and wisdom. It is like the ways we benefit from journaling in other parts of our lives.

A nature walk at the usual walking speed often means that we notice things as we pass by. There’s a glimpse at beautiful lichen on a tree branch, a bird suddenly flies away, and so on. Slowing down, we notice more. When we stop to write or draw, we sit with these things for a little, look at them from more than one perspective, and think about what we are noticing. The journal becomes an exercise in creating memories. Even if we lost our notebook later and could not look back at the pages, the memory would be richer.

If you come to a journaling event that I am leading, bring a notebook and pen or pencil and create (or add to) a nature journal. Any kind of notebook is OK – don’t get one that’s so fancy that you’re afraid to use it for fear that you’ll “mess it up.” In my sessions I focus mostly on writing, which is what I know best (I don’t teach how to draw but I’ll support and encourage your doing it).

Here is an example of a nature journaling “challenge” I have offered through the Friends of Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve.

And here are a couple of downloadable pages. One is for helping you get started, even if you are skeptical about whether it is for you. The other might be helpful for older kids who are thinking about nature journaling.