Maria Katrina Paras

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Shee Creates Journaling

<p>Try to observe this scenario the next time you&#x27;re out with a group of people: At a dinner or a family reunion, or inside a crowded elevator, everyone is most likely staring down at their screens. Or they&#x27;re snapping photos nonstop. It&#x27;s no secret that we live in the digital age, where our every move is connected to our smartphones. While we are not here to argue that being connected 24/7 can take a toll on your mind, we&#x27;re here to offer another proposition instead: Why not keep the memories stored on your smartphone and keep them alive in a journal?</p><p>This is precisely the valuable lesson <strong>Sheereen Tibajia-Esquivel </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/shee.creates_" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>(@shee.creates_)</strong></a> learned after years of practicing creative journaling.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750747661800IMG_7747.JPG" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/><span class="fr-inner">Sheereen Tibajia-Esquivel, founder of Shee Creates</span></span></span>We&#x27;ve heard the advice given countless times in wellness workshops, mindfulness classes, and the like: Journaling is good for your mental health. But how exactly so? The sheer amount of &quot;work&quot; you need to put into it can be daunting to some, but Sheereen is here to prove that notion otherwise. </div><p>Journaling, or scrapbooking for some, has become a full-blown hobby—attending workshops and journaling hangouts to create spreads of beautiful memories they can keep for years to come. Just like Sheereen, the hobby has grown into a whole thing: <strong>S</strong><strong>hee Creates</strong> is now a journaling workshop brand that aims to bring like-minded individuals together to start something meaningful. We spoke to Sheereen to ask her about the basics of journaling and how one can get started on this therapeutic hobby. Read on and get inspired to pick up a notebook today!</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Metro.Style: How did you begin journaling? How did this hobby go on to be a full-blown brand? </strong></div><p><strong>Sheereen Tibajia-Esquivel: </strong>I started journaling back in 2018 after attending a free workshop. I honestly thought it was so cool, it felt like a mix between scrapbooking and keeping a diary, which really clicked with me. I&#x27;ve always loved stationery, stickers, and anything crafty, so it quickly became one of my favorite hobbies.</p><p>Fast forward to the pandemic: like many others, I was stuck at home and looking for ways to stay creative. I figured, why not create a separate Instagram account to share my journal spreads? I didn’t expect much, but people started noticing and connecting with what I was posting. And somehow, what started as a little hobby turned into a full-blown brand!</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750747803846IMG_5834.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750747821504IMG_7754.JPG" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/><span class="fr-inner">&quot;I honestly thought it was so cool, it felt like a mix between scrapbooking and keeping a diary, which really clicked with me.&quot;</span></span></span></div><div><strong><br/></strong><strong>MS: Why do you think journaling is an essential hobby/activity for people in this day and age?</strong></div><p><strong>STE: </strong>In today’s fast-paced world, journaling has become more than just a hobby; it’s a way to slow down and reconnect with the little things. We’re constantly on our phones, snapping photos and videos, but most of the time, those memories just sit in our camera roll, forgotten.</p><p>Journaling helps bring those moments to life again. When you sit down to create a spread, you&#x27;re not just decorating a page; <strong>y</strong><strong>ou&#x27;re reflecting, being present, and enjoying a quiet, therapeutic moment away from screens</strong>. It’s a mindful activity that helps you appreciate what’s happening around you, one page at a time.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750747919127IMG_5045.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>MS: How has journaling helped you?</strong></div><p><strong>STE: </strong>Journaling became even more special to me when I became a mom. It gives me time to slow down, reflect, and relive moments with my son and family. Plus, it helped me meet amazing friends who share the same love for this hobby. Something I’ll always be grateful for.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750748013369IMG_4335.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong><span>&quot;Journaling helps bring those moments to life again. When you sit down to create a spread, you&#x27;re not just decorating a page; you&#x27;re reflecting, being present, and enjoying a quiet, therapeutic moment away from screens.&quot;</span></strong></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>MS: How can one begin journaling? What are the essential materials needed? </strong></div><p><strong>STE: </strong>Starting a journal can feel overwhelming because people think they need to buy everything, from fancy notebooks to loads of stickers and stationery. But honestly, you don’t!</p><p>You can start with any notebook you already have. Use what’s around you, like scraps of paper, packaging stickers, cup sleeves, receipts, cinema tickets, or old photos. These little everyday things make your journal even more personal and meaningful.</p><p>You really don’t have to buy anything at first… but fair warning: once you fall in love with it, you might get addicted and start collecting all the cute stuff anyway!</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750748249296C9CEB7ED-DA04-467B-8F3A-814E7864B1A8.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/><span class="fr-inner">&quot;But fair warning: once you fall in love with it, you might get addicted and start collecting all the cute stuff anyway!&quot;</span></span></span></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>MS: Are there specific brands you are drawn to for journaling? </strong></div><p><strong>STE: </strong>I’m a big fan of local brands and artists! There’s just something so special and personal about their work! Some of my favorites are <a href="https://www.instagram.com/project.lemons/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Project Lemons</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nicacosio/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nica Cosio</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sunnystoicstudio/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sunny Stoic</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ella_lama/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ella Llama</a>, and the amazing team behind <a href="https://www.instagram.com/journaltambay/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Journal Tambay</a>.</p><p>There are so many more talented creators out there, but these are a few that really inspire me and make journaling even more fun and meaningful!</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:500px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750748910149SnapInsta.to_434501931_1178178736876650_7223777443983645390_n.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Journal Tambay @journaltambay</span></span></span></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>MS: Are there technical skills needed for this hobby? How can one train?</strong></div><p><strong>STE: </strong>I love getting this question because many people feel intimidated by journaling. Some think you need to be super “artsy” or be conventionally creative, but that’s not true at all!</p><p>If you love memory keeping, that’s already the perfect start. Journaling is about expressing yourself, capturing moments, and enjoying the process, not being perfect. This is your safe space!</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750748981472IMG_8699.JPG" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>MS: What can our readers look forward to from you this year? Any workshops/events you would like to promote?</strong></div><p><strong>STE: </strong>I’m planning to organize more journaling workshops and arts and yap parties soon, so stay tuned and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shee.creates_/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">follow me</a> for updates! For now, I’m really enjoying casual journal hangouts with the community. If you’d like to join in, just send me a message. I’d love to create and connect with you!</p><p>I&#x27;d also like to share with everyone that we are launching the <strong>Escolta Journaling Club </strong>on<strong> July 12</strong> at <strong>Lemon Lab</strong> with <strong>Project Lemons</strong>.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750749237851IMG_0366.JPG" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>MS: Any other last words/advice for our readers?</strong></div><p><strong>TSE: </strong>This is something I always share during my workshops: At first, it’s easy to feel intimidated, especially when you see others who’ve been journaling for years and their pages look “perfect.” You might find yourself comparing and feeling like yours isn’t good enough. But please remember: <strong>this isn’t graded.</strong></p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750749350852SnapInsta.to_482281444_18057801431091988_6649779721112752287_n.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/></div><p>Journaling should be your safe space. It’s meant to be therapeutic, not stressful. So just start. Be yourself. Find your own style. And <strong>keep creating memories, one spread at a time.</strong></p><div><em><br/></em></div><div><em>Follow Shee Creates on Instagram at </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/shee.creates_/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>@shee.creates_</em></a><em> for updates on upcoming events!</em><strong></strong><br/></div>

<p>Memories? They don't have to stay in your brain. You can flex your creativity and start journaling to keep a memory-keeping practice going!</p>

Memories? They don't have to stay in your brain. You can flex your creativity and start journaling to keep a memory-keeping practice going!

This Creator Shows Us How Journaling Can Benefit Our Mental Health

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This Creator Shows Us How Journaling Can Benefit Our Mental Health

Kate Paras-Santiago

Published June 24, 2025 03:00 PM PHT

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Updated June 24, 2025 04:42 PM PHT

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Sheereen Tibajia-Esquivel

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