6 guided journals that would make a great gift for any mama

This is the first journal I purchased after giving birth—and it has truly been an anchor within my first year of being a mom. Even now that my child is nearing the age of two, the reflections in this journal still do so much to ground me in my motherhood journey. The depth and intimacy of the questions really beckon you to get vulnerable with a lot of often unspoken topics in motherhood—from reflecting on your labor and delivery to addressing the changes within your marriage to thinking about how your parenting style differs from how you were parented. One thing I absolutely love is that this journal provides self-care check-ins, nourishment tips and even healthy recipes at the end of every section.

This guided journal is perfect for those busier moms who have so much on their plate, yet still want to carve out a few minutes for themselves. What I absolutely love about this journal is how quick and easy (yet still effective) it is. It sits on my nightstand, and a mere five minutes at the end of each day is enough to reflect on how the day went and set intentions for the next day. The prompts are the same for each day—having you reflect on how you felt, ways you made time for yourself, what you’re grateful for and how you plan to be intentional moving forward.

Though this journal isn’t specifically curated toward motherhood, it’s still a very effective journal for mamas to reflect on what they’re grateful for—which is an important thing for moms, especially when we get lost in the overwhelming chaos that often accompanies being a parent. With daily affirmations and space to reframe negative thoughts into positive ones, this journal can help to serve as a reminder that even in the midst of everything we may have going on, there is so much to be grateful for.

This postpartum journal was created with a group of certified therapists. Its purpose is to help women navigate their transitions of adding another being into their families. With prompts, therapy tips and postpartum resources, this guided journal offers a lot to help mothers along the way.

Not only are the illustrations in this postpartum journal a beautiful reminder of the motherhood experience, but the sections and thought-provoking questions really delve into the depths of how becoming a mom transforms you. From discussing the need for a “MotherNest” (a space for the mama to become) to reflecting on the moment that you feel you were birthed as a mother, this journal will take you to the innermost makings of your thoughts and emotions. And sometimes, that’s just what us mamas need.

If your journaling intention is more about creating a keepsake, the simple (but brilliant) Q&A a Day for Moms is just what you’re looking for. Each day provides a thoughtful question to answer in just a sentence or two. One year later, you’ll answer the same question again and over the course of five years, you’ll have created an heirloom–an heirloom that provides a window into your evolution as a mother and human.