The year 2026 is when I’m going to become less addicted to my phone.
I know I’m not alone in admitting my doom-scrolling habit and phone dependence are getting the best of me. I fully recognize I am wasting hours of my days (and life) scrolling through videos and posts that truly don’t matter or benefit me in any way. And I want to address that.
So I’m trying to adopt some new outlets of creative expression to keep me off my phone. The top screen-free hobby I want to pick up this year: junk journaling.
What’s the Deal with Junk Journaling?
I know it sounds a little crazy at first. I mean, “junk” doesn’t necessarily sound enticing.
But junk journaling is a creative outlet where you glue scraps that you’ve accumulated throughout the day into a notebook, however you’d like. Think about your printed plane ticket from an exciting trip, a handwritten card, a cute coaster from a bar you like, or even the fruit sticker from a delicious apple.
It’s basically giving a new life and purpose to small (flat!) physical things you’ve encountered during your day. It’s a combination of scrapbooking, journaling, and recycling. But unlike these hobbies, there are no rules and no demands for perfectionism.
Why I’m Junk Journaling in 2026
I’ve never been someone who could just throw away a birthday card written in my grandmother’s elegant cursive or cut off a wristband from an event for which I waited so long. I always want to hold on to these objects, so I normally tuck the most precious away in a shoebox.
I’ve seen the trend of junk journaling for a while now, and I decided that 2026 was the year to try it out. And with finding a home for all my scraps, I’m working to limit my screen time.
As an editorial assistant for The Kitchn, I do quite a bit of cooking and eating. So, I knew the majority of my “junk” was going to be from some of the delicious recipes and treats I tried throughout my week. I was excited even before I began to look back on my week through this new lens.
Since starting junk journaling at the beginning of 2026, I’ve already felt a tremendous effect. I love these new tangible ways to look back on memories, and I am appreciating how I spend my time throughout the week more. Something I also didn’t expect was how much more present I’ve felt in the moment. While I’m trying to capture memories with objects to junk journal later, I feel like I’m giving these moments more care and attention.
I’ve loved the reminders of what I’ve eaten and drank. This week’s spread now holds the memories of taste testing Costco’s version of Portuguese custard tarts for a story and the few caffeinated cups of tea I drink in the early afternoon to keep me going.
I’m also appreciating the little things more, like how cute the packaging is for my new water bottle I’m testing and how I discovered I like unwrapped Reese’s over wrapped ones after testing them for another story this week.
If you’re still looking for inspiration to pick up a fun new hobby or to slightly lower that (terrifying amount) of screen time, junk journaling just may be the thing for you.
