12 Ways to Benefit from Nature Journaling and How To Do It
Nature journaling is a simple way to slow down and notice the natural world. With a notebook and a few minutes, you can record what you see, hear or wonder about.
You can journal outside in a garden or park, or observe nature from a window. Bring a notebook, sketchbook or journal and whatever you like to write or draw with.
There’s no need for a polished page. A few notes or a quick sketch are enough to begin.
You don’t need to be an artist or know the names of every plant and bird. Nature journaling is for anyone who’s curious about their surroundings.
Nature educator Bethan Burton encourages people to focus on observing and recording, rather than worrying about making a finished work of art.
The aim can be as simple as paying attention to the natural world and recording what you notice. You might describe a leaf, sketch an insect or note the sound of rain.
Your journal can include drawings, writing, poetry or photographs—whatever helps you record your observations.
The ritual of journaling with nature
Taking a notebook outside can give you a reason to pause and pay attention to your surroundings. You might notice something small that you usually walk past.
Listen for birds, notice the movement of leaves or describe the light. There’s no need to capture everything; choose one thing that interests you.
Returning to a familiar spot can help you notice how it changes over time, from the weather to the plants and animals you see.
The magic of analog in a digital age
A paper notebook offers a chance to step away from notifications for a while, though you can also keep a nature journal digitally if you prefer.
The slower pace of writing or sketching may help you spend more time looking closely at your subject.
You can use the page to ask questions as well as record what you notice. What has changed since you last looked? What would you like to learn?
Over time, your journal becomes a record you can revisit, whether it contains detailed drawings or a few quick observations.
Some people find time outdoors or creative activities relaxing. Experiences differ, and nature journaling is not a treatment for anxiety, burnout or other health conditions.
Here are twelve ways nature journaling might enrich your experience. They’re possibilities, not guaranteed outcomes.
Benefits of nature journaling
1. A holistic approach to wellbeing
Research has explored links between nature and human health, although this does not establish that nature journaling itself produces a particular health outcome.
Nature journaling combines time spent noticing your surroundings with writing or drawing. How it feels and what you take from it will be personal to you.
It can provide a little space to pause and reflect without needing to produce a perfect page.
If you enjoy writing about your thoughts, you can also explore daily journaling alongside your nature observations.
2. Stress relief & relaxation
A quiet moment to observe and write may feel relaxing for some people. Choose a setting that feels comfortable and accessible to you.
You might spend a few minutes listening, sketching or simply noting what you see.
3. Mindfulness & presence
Looking closely at a plant or listening for birds can be a gentle way to bring your attention to the present moment.
There’s no need to notice everything. One small detail is a good place to start.
4. Enhanced creativity & reflection
A color, shape or sound might inspire a sketch, a few lines of writing or a collage.
Experiment with the materials you enjoy, whether that’s a pencil, paint or simply words on a page.
5. Emotional processing & self-discovery
You can include your own thoughts and feelings alongside what you observe, if that feels useful.
For example, you might write about how a particular place feels to you or what it reminds you of.
Your journal is personal: you can share it, keep it private or leave out anything you don’t want to record.
6. Fostering a deeper connection to the earth
Spending time observing a familiar place may help you notice more of the plants, animals and seasonal changes around you.
Try returning to the same tree, garden or patch of sky and noting what is different each time.
7. Space to reflect
A page can give you room to jot down thoughts as well as observations. Some people find this helps them pause and consider things from another angle.
8. A break from screens
A paper notebook can offer a short break from screens and notifications. There’s no medical promise attached—just an opportunity to spend a few minutes noticing what’s around you.
9. Cultivation of gratitude
You could note something in nature you appreciate: a patch of sunlight, an indoor plant or a familiar view from a walk.
It’s an invitation to notice what feels meaningful to you, without pressure to feel positive all the time.
10. Questions and curiosity
A question can be a useful starting point: Why is this leaf shaped that way? Where might the bird be going?
Write down your guesses and any new questions. You can look for reliable information later if you want to learn more.
11. A record to revisit
Looking back through earlier pages can show you what you’ve noticed or learned over time. Your journal doesn’t need to measure progress; it can simply be a record of your curiosity.
12. A valuable tool for creative inquiry
Nature journaling can combine observation, questions, sketches and notes. It’s a flexible way to explore a subject that interests you.
You can try identifying a plant or animal, or leave a note to look it up later. It’s fine not to know its name.
For an Australian example, listen to nature educator Hannah Jones of Wattle and Wonder discuss using nature journaling as a way to learn about plants.
Getting started with nature journaling: Tips from John Muir Laws
Ready to begin? Choose a comfortable spot, gather a few simple supplies and start with one observation.
Select your spot
Try a park bench, your backyard, a window or another place where you can comfortably observe. You can return to the same spot or choose somewhere new.
Can’t go outside? No worries…
If you can’t get outside, you might observe an indoor plant, a view from a window or a photograph of a plant or animal.
For example, look at a plant near a window and note its colors, shapes or any changes you notice.
A plant journal is another way to record observations indoors or in a garden. Here are some ideas for starting a plant journal. You can also listen to Hannah Jones talk about nature journaling.
Gather your supplies
Start with a notebook or loose paper and a pen or pencil you already have. You can add other materials later if you like.
A small set of supplies is enough. There’s no need to buy special equipment or use a particular kind of notebook.
Set your intention for the Session
You might choose a simple focus, such as noticing one tree or taking a few quiet minutes for yourself. An intention is optional.
Observe & absorb
Look and listen to your surroundings. Notice colors, movement, sounds or the weather. Avoid touching or smelling unfamiliar plants or wildlife.
Capture the moment
Write, sketch or paint what you notice. For example, describe the sky, draw the shape of a leaf or note a question you’d like to explore.
For example, a family trip to the mountains might inspire someone to start a nature journal and record the landscape, observations and memories they want to keep.
For more ideas, explore Bethan Burton’s Journaling with Nature podcast.
Embrace creativity
You can use drawing to look more closely, rather than aiming to produce a perfect picture. Nature journaling educator John Muir Laws encourages drawing as a way to learn.
Write a few lines, sketch a plant or paint the changing sky. If you collect leaves or petals, check local rules and avoid disturbing protected plants or wildlife.
Reflect & revisit
You might revisit your pages later and notice what has changed in a place—or simply enjoy seeing what caught your attention.
FAQs
What are the benefits of nature journaling?
Nature journaling gives you a way to practice observing, record questions and explore your surroundings. Some people also enjoy it as a quiet creative activity.
What is the Purpose of Nature Journaling?
The purpose is to observe and record the natural world in a way that interests you. It can be about curiosity, creativity, learning or simply taking a moment to notice.
Educators and parents can also find nature journaling resources and lesson ideas online.
What to Record in Your Nature Journal
Record whatever catches your attention: shapes, colors, weather, sounds, questions or a quick sketch. A date and location can help you notice changes if you return.
I have found that drawing and painting help me focus on my subject for longer. You might also try a few words or a simple sketch and see what holds your attention.
Some final thoughts on nature journaling
Nature journaling is an invitation to slow down and notice the world around you, whether you’re outdoors or looking through a window.
Your pages don’t need to be polished or profound. They can be a simple record of things you’ve seen and questions you’d like to explore.
Grab your journal or notebook and get started today
Take a notebook and pen you already have, choose something to observe and begin with a few words or a sketch.
After years of running an ecommerce business and juggling full-time work, Jen now writes about burnout, meditation, yoga and her new found mission of finding more zen every day! When not behind a screen, you’ll find her doing yoga, scribbling in her notebook, going for bushwalks and nerding out on
