Did you ever draw on your high school notebooks, doodle the name of the person you like or draw eyeballs and geometric patterns? If so, you might enjoy using a creative journal. More than just a notebook to record life’s events, the Creativity Journal is a book of pages designed to advance your overall approach to thinking. Interested but not sure where to start? We’ve done some research (read: get high) to find the best creative magazine on the market to help you find the right book for you. Let’s dive in.
What is creativity magazine?
Creativity Journal is a place to explore the prompts of writing, drawing, scribbling or playing games. The purpose of a creativity journal is to engage your imagination and allow your inner creativity to emerge. Creativity is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it becomes. There are plenty of areas in life that require thinking outside the box, and creativity isn’t just for artists. Many successful endeavors have been launched due to creative thinking leading the way to innovation. Additionally, taking some time in your day to use a creative journal is a positive way to relieve stress and relax.
“Creative thinking is a competitive advantage in many aspects of life and work. It is about reinventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” – Sean Gould, founder of Pilgrim Soul
Why do we use creative magazines when they are high?
Cannabis is like a life coach creativity. It helps you relax into a state of being that draws you into the present moment. When stoned, the outside noises are almost muffled as you sharpen your focus on the task at hand. In our busy lives, it can often be difficult to stop the noise running through our minds. Thoughts of work, family, and the world we live in can sometimes consume all the time. But smoking marijuana (or eating, vaping, etc.) relieves these stressful thoughts and lifts the heavy thought cloud. When we are in this state, our minds rise to a new wave of divergent thinking, and we can access creative portals within ourselves. Scientifically speaking, cannabis stimulates blood flow to the frontal lobe of the brain, allowing neurons to fire more freely. The frontal lobe is where our divergent, creative thinking is born.
What to look for in creative thinking magazines
Sure, you can use a blank notebook to write down your thoughts and get your feelings out on the page. Writing works wonders in carrying out plans and releasing emotions. But to fully engage your creativity, access the Creative Thinking Journal. There are many options to choose from, each designed to help unleash your inner creativity through different activities and exercises. From written prompts to crossword puzzles, games, coloring pages, and quirky quests, we’ve reviewed some of the most popular creative thinking magazines to offer a side-by-side comparison.
summary
Pilgrim Soul Journal has the look and feel of a classic notebook. It has a hard cover with a silky placeholder so you can remember which page you want to take next. An elastic band wraps around the lid to close it. The body and pages are all in black and white, giving you room to add a splash of color inside. It is divided into four main sections of creative challenges – imagination, focus, awareness and thinking. For $29.95, this journal provides endless hours of creative exercise.
Positives
Simply put – this magazine rocks. Each page contains a different exercise and explanation of how and why it inspires creativity. For example, the “Personality of Place” exercise asks you to define a world famous city as if it were a person by giving it physical and emotional characteristics. This task pushes you beyond linear thinking to force your mind to imagine a new concept with its inherent core. Pilgrim Soul Journal is fun to do on your own but would be a great book to share with family and friends. Together, work on creative metaphors, create new team names, or draw zigzag birds.
cons
While this creativity notebook is full of fun, it is not as easy as you think. Many exercises take some time to start waving creatively. So if you’re looking for a stray magazine, this definitely isn’t.
summary
Wreck This Journal is more action-based than thought-based in terms of creativity. It has a look and feel that makes you want to throw it in the back seat of your car before a road trip, and don’t worry if it ends up on your floorboard with boot print on it. In fact, that might make it even better. The magazine is a paperback book with a warning on the first page that states:
Warning: During the process of this book will get dirty. You may find yourself covered in paint or any other number of foreign matter. You will get wet. You may be asked to do things you ask about. You may be saddened by the ideal state in which you found the book. You may start to see creative destruction all over the place. You may start to live recklessly.
Meant to use it anywhere you want, flip it over to a random page and dive in. For example, a page instructs you to make a path by cutting the selected shape on the page, rotating it in a funnel path and then taping it together. Final instructions? Fill it with water and drink. Another page instructs you to rip the page out, put it in your pocket, run it in the washing machine, and put it back in the book. Wreck This Journal is available on Amazon and in many bookstores for anywhere from $11 to $15.
Positives
This creativity magazine is funny! While some of the claims are silly — “find a way to wear this journal” — their often nonsensical nature is what makes it such a fun activity. This is the perfect thing to do in a few extra minutes or during a much-needed work break. Just turn the page and follow the instructions. This book is a creative diary because it pushes you out of your comfort zone and accepts these strange and often entertaining tasks.
cons
This magazine may be too cluttered for some people. It is verb-based in the first place, and many of these verbs may seem too silly to be intentional. If you intend to delve deeper into your creative thinking process, Wreck This Journal is not the right choice.
summary
Stoner activity book is in coloring book form, with smoked narcotic pot paper detailed on the cover. This is the most technically creative book, with several pre-designed art coloring pages like astronauts and aliens passing a joint in space, or a page full of magic mushrooms floating around a bunch of bongs. In addition, there are plenty of sudoku puzzles, crossword puzzles, mazes, word searches and other activities – but of course with a great theme. For the prompts, you’ll find pages like “How high am I?” It ranks you highly on the rating scale and documents what you do, what you eat, and how you feel. You can find the Stoner Activity Book on Amazon for $8.99.
Positives
If you are looking to relax and chill, this is a great choice. Play some tunes, light up the doobie, and let your mind wander as you read “Weed Fun Facts” and color the three-eyed cats. Sometimes all it takes is a little downtime to let your creative juices flow, and there’s plenty of room for free writing or doodling in this book.
cons
If games and coloring aren’t your idea of a fun activity, this might not be your best option. However, at this price, it’s worth having in case you have a mood disorder.
Each of these books is sure to provide great entertainment. When searching for the best creative thinking journal for you, keep the above information in mind. This is our final evaluation:
