However you may have welcomed the New Year on December 31, there’s nothing like cracking open a fresh journal and marking its first day to help you draw a line under the past. A blank slate, a new leaf turned, a fresh start and new beginnings. Trite as the clichés sound – they ring true.
Opening a new diary onto the first page of the year is symbolic. There’s the crackling of the spine as it’s opened for the first time, the smell of fresh paper, and a gleaming white space under January 1. For some, there’s also the quiet ritual of setting out your resolutions, goals and hopes for the future in writing.
A new diary is also emblematic of what the year ahead has in store. With 365 days waiting to be filled in with what comes next, time stretches out in front of us in the blank pages. We march into the New Year with intention.
Inevitably, come mid-January the pages are scribbled with scratched out reminders to buy cat food, but maybe that’s the best part. As the months go by, we pack them with the minutia of our daily life, etched in amongst reminders of birthdays, anniversaries and other important milestones. This eventually lends our diaries a different sort of magic, infused with memory and time-stamped into a 12 month capsule you can look back on forever.
When it comes to choosing the best diary this year, consider your goals. From planners to maximise productivity to journals that encourage you to carve out mindful moments throughout the day, there’s a wide variety of options on the market that do so much more than simply providing a space to jot down important dates.
Whether you’re looking for a focused journal that monitors your mood, a planner to brighten up your desk in a design you love, a keepsake to write down thoughts as well as to do lists, or something personalised and meaningful for Christmas gifting, we’ve got you covered.
We’ve curated a selection of 2022’s best offerings to help narrow down the choices, so you can start the year as you mean to go on.
Step into the New Year with style and a blank slate, with our edit of 2022 diaries.
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2022 Panama Diary with Slide Closure in Mara
A diary from luxury stationers Smythson is always a covetable addition to your desk. This perfectly slim iteration from the iconic Mara collection comes in glossy red crocodile embossed calf leather and is just the right size for slipping inside pockets and small handbags.
Make it a gift to treasure for yourself or someone special with added personalisation.
Buy now £95.00, Smythson
Moleskine x Missoni Limited Edition Weekly Planner
The latest limited-edition Moleskine comes dressed, ever so fashionably, in Missoni. The hardback weekly planner is dated from January to December 2022 and has ample space for planning as well as organisational tools like time zones, international measurements and dialling codes.
The tactile, woven cover comes adorned in the Italian fashion house’s signature and iconic print, finished off with a contrasting inner leaf in bold red. Complete with Moleskine’s ivory toned paper, this diary is an impossibly stylish way to keep track of your day to day.
Buy now £37.00, Moleskine
Lethally Her 2022 Productivity Planner
With a mission to help women become the “ultimate version of themselves”, this planner will have you charging into 2022 like you mean business. Female-founded independent brand Lethally Her specialise in unique stationary that aims to empower women by encouraging personal and professional development.
This productivity planner comes in three shades: Executive Realness (black), Fine Wine (deep plum), and Peachy Queen (soft peach). Made from vegan leather and recycled paper, it includes features like bespoke planning tools, reflections designed to help build confidence and trust in yourself, as well as daily affirmations, self-care prompts and mindfulness exercises. There are also 12 pieces of artwork spotlighting young female artists, Lethally Her branded stickers, and of course: lots of space to note down your to do list and schedule.
Buy now £30.00, Lethally Her
Monogrammed Leather Diary
This is a classic leather-bound diary from independent stationers, Papier that is available in four jewel-toned shades with the option of gold or silver leaf monogramming for the personal touch. It would make a meaningful and bespoke Christmas gift to treasure.
Buy now £32.29, Papier
MiGoals 2022 Weekly Spread Goal Diary
This planner is designed to keep you on track for achieving your 2022 goals. It includes sections for both long-term and short-term goal planning, along with gratitude prompts and guides for improving habits. You can pick from a selection of weekly layouts for one that suits you and your goals best. Choose from six shades including clay, navy, sky blue, teal and soft pink as well as classic black.
Also available at Amazon
Buy now £19.99, Moxon
The Positive Planner
Brighten up the winter months with a planner dedicated to instilling positivity. Follow its pages down a 12-week journey of self-care and positivity with daily mindfulness exercises. It’s complete with sections for journaling, intention setting and reflections, along with mood checkers and gratitude prompts.
It also serves as a daily planner for jotting down your own reminders, while making use of organisational extras such as shopping lists and meal planners.
Buy now £22.00, NOTHS
MY Journal Planner
The My Journal Planner from independent, female-founded company Mynd Map, prioritises mindfulness and mental health in a blended approach to productivity and planning.
It features tools such as habit trackers, self-care routines and workbook pages to set you on the path to staying organised and on top of tasks, while keeping you in tune with your needs at the same time.
Also available at Amazon
Buy now £34.99, Myndmap
Papier Personalised Photo Diary
Papier offers this fun, personalised diary that is sure to put a smile on your face every day until 2023. Choose from four colours including berry red, lilac, and cheerful yellow, as well as classic shades of navy and black as well as the option to customise this diary in multiple ways. You can pick two of your favourite photographs for the front and back cover. Add your name or a meaningful message across the cover for a unique and personalised piece.
Buy now £24.64, Papier
Emma Bridgewater Pink & Gold Stars 2022 Diary
This beautifully designed, classic diary from Emma Bridgewater comes decorated in a splash of pink-toned and gold stars. It’s a moderately priced option that doesn't scrimp on design. There’s an array of equally colourful designs to choose from to suit all tastes and fancies.
Buy now £7.95, Emma Bridgewater
Monogrammed Bee Diary in Recycled Leather
We do love a monogrammed diary. This iteration is subtly personalised with discreet lettering and a crowd-pleasing design of a bumblebee. It’s made with recycled leather and is available in a huge spectrum of 29 colours, from the bold and fun hues, to classic shades in muted, neutral tones.
Buy now £27.50, Not On The High Street
Discovery Journal
The Discovery Journal is specifically designed to help manage anxiety and aid better mental health. It’s pages are laid out to help you break down your day and tasks, while also providing tools and exercises to help you identify your stress or anxiety triggers. The starter packs include a faux leather binder available in purple, red or teal, a yearly mood calendar and 30 journal entries. There are two varieties of journal pages to choose from depending on whether you are an adult or teen that provides tailored content specific to different needs.
Once you complete your pages you can also refill the pages by purchasing the refill book blocks, making this a sustainable option.
Buy now £36.50, Discovery Journal
