I’ve always considered myself somewhat of an expert chronicler of my own life. For decades, I’ve recorded my life story in journals and diaries. Crushes, heartbreaks, wishes, and manifestations — I’ve written and saved all of them. For me, this practice serves two purposes: It provides me with a living archive of memories I can return to, and it helps me to slow down and fully inhabit those memories as they’re unfolding. In a world that constantly pressures us to move on to the next, bigger, and brighter thing, this act of slowing down and savoring my life feels incredibly healing.
“In a world that constantly pressures us to move on to the next, bigger, and brighter thing, this act of slowing down and savoring my life feels incredibly healing.”
As we approach the end of another year, I’ve added a new ritual of reflection: The end-of-year scrapbook. I collect my favorite photos from the year and combine them with journal entries, ticket stubs, and other memorabilia. It’s been a really fun and grounding way to reflect and let the last year settle before rushing ahead to a new one. Plus, the tactical, crafty time away from anything screen-related has been super enjoyable. If you’re looking for a cozy, screen-free hobby to carry you through the long winter nights ahead, an end-of-year scrapbook is a beautiful place to start.
Why I turned to scrapbooking this year
I chose to start this project for a few reasons. First, as I’ve mentioned, I’ve always had a natural penchant for journaling. I also have about three billion unappreciated photos living in my phone. They just sit there, gathering dust on a forgotten digital shelf. I wanted to find a way to bring them out of the dark and into my home. I much prefer physical photos over digital ones; there’s something magical about holding a memory in your hands. I always love going to my mom’s house and flipping through our old photo albums, so making one of my own felt like a natural extension of that nostalgia.
“I always love going to my mom’s house and flipping through our old photo albums, so making one of my own felt like a natural extension of that nostalgia.”
I also love collecting little keepsakes: Ticket stubs, four-leaf clovers, pressed flowers, things of that nature. By combining all of these elements, I realized I could create a more dynamic snapshot of that moment in my life, giving me something joyful and tangible to look back on.
The second driving factor behind my newfound scrapbooking interest was my craving for an indoor hobby that was screen-less. Like most of you, I’m guessing, I spend a bulk of my workday in front of a screen. When it’s time to wind down, the last thing I want is another glowing box draining my attention. At the same time, I wanted an activity that felt restorative without demanding too much mental effort.
Ultimately, this practice has become less about preserving memories and more about creating space to acknowledge them. Sitting with the year in this way has reminded me that reflection doesn’t have to be heavy or formal to be meaningful. In fact, one of the most surprising parts of this project has been just how easy it is.
How to start your own end-of-year scrapbook
The barrier to entry is quite low here, making this a great hobby if you’re just starting out. This is meant to be simple, flexible, and entirely personal. Before getting started, take a moment to gather your supplies and decide how much time you want to dedicate to the project. You might spend an evening, a weekend, or a few slow nights scattered throughout the winter. The most important thing is to set aside enough time so you can work without feeling rushed.
The scrapbook: There are a few different kinds of scrapbooks, so it’s crucial that you get one that suits your needs. For me, total creative freedom was nonnegotiable, which meant blank pages were a must. I also wanted plenty of pages from the start, without having to buy additional inserts later. Many traditional scrapbooks come with 10 to 15 top-loading plastic sleeves, but no actual paper, which wasn’t what I was looking for. After a bit of scouring, I settled on this one from Michael’s, which is actually meant to be a sketchbook, but it checked every box for me. This spiral-bound option could also be a good choice, depending on your preference. Ultimately, choose something you’ll genuinely enjoy returning to.
The photos: If you’re staring down an overwhelming archive of photos, as I was, I suggest tackling this section in small batches. I’ve been working in three-month intervals, which works quite well. I’d like to encourage you to start the ritual practice here. Set aside an evening to slowly scroll through your photos and choose your favorites, either the entire year or your chosen interval. Make it intentional and cozy. Settle onto the couch with some tea, light a candle, and reflect back on what you’ve done this year with care. If a photo with an old friend pops up and it makes you smile, send it to them. Share the love. Our process of savoring begins here. I also like to use this time for a bit of digital decluttering, deleting duplicate photos or screenshots I no longer need.
Once I have my favorites selected, I do a bit of editing. This part is completely optional, but quite fun, especially if you enjoy photography or visual storytelling. I usually play with brightness, shadows, and saturation, just enough to let each image shine. When everything feels right, I save the final picks to a dedicated folder and get them ready to print. Printing photos is super simple and affordable. Walgreens and CVS both offer same-day printing, and with their frequent promo codes, I often end up paying around 50 percent less.
The journal entries: If you’re not a journaler, you might not have these, and that’s okay. You can still add some reflections to your photos while assembling your scrapbook. If you do keep journals or planners, gather the ones from the past year and have them nearby when you start scrapbooking. This is also the perfect moment to pull out your secret stash of ticket stubs, wristbands, or memorable chachkis.
The assembly: Now, we put it all together! I build my scrapbook in chronological order, starting in January, but there’s no need to follow a timeline if you don’t want to. I pull my photos from the first few months of the year and take a moment to read back through anything I wrote during that time. From there, I arrange the photos in whatever layout feels natural and layer in journal excerpts or notes that still resonate. Once the structure is set, I let myself doodle and color until the page feels complete. There are absolutely no rules here. Do whatever makes you feel good, and honors the memories of this year passed.
As you work through the pages, it becomes easier to see the year as a whole rather than a blur of moments. And that shift is where the real value lies.
What scrapbooking taught me about reflection
This project asked very little of me in terms of output or efficiency. And in doing so, it quietly challenged my default way of operating. I’m still in the process of unlearning my deep-seated need for control and my tendency to measure my time by productivity. But sitting with the past year in a way that was entirely celebratory, with no need for an end goal, felt like enough.
“Days blur. Seasons pass. I’m constantly reminded of that famous quote from Ferris Bueller, “life moves pretty fast…” Scrapbooking has become one small way I push back against that momentum.”
In the past, I’ve been somewhat averse to more *traditionally* artistic pursuits. I could never quite overcome my perfectionist tendencies. My partner is a painter, and I would watch in awe as he casually pulled mountains and streams out of globs of paint. Meanwhile, I’m hovering over a Pinterest reference photo, fervently trying to match every color and angle. It was enjoyable, in a way, but I was never able to let go entirely. There was always a sense that I was performing creativity rather than experiencing it. Scrapbooking, on the other hand, is delightfully low-pressure, but it’s still artistic enough that it feels like a vacation for my obnoxiously left-oriented brain.
That pressure to perform mirrored something larger in my life: The constant sense that time should be used efficiently, productively, or “well.” I still feel the pull of time moving fast. Days blur. Seasons pass. I’m constantly reminded of that famous quote from Ferris Bueller, “life moves pretty fast…” Scrapbooking has become one small way I push back against that momentum. I’m learning to slow down and make sure I enjoy my life instead of letting it fly by. I want to savor moments and remember them. I want to have meaningful stories to tell my children and grandchildren one day. Life is so precious and magical, and I never want to forget that. More than anything, I want to move through my life with presence and enjoyment, holding onto its quiet magic as it happens.
Sierra Vandervort is a writer and yoga teacher based in Portland, Oregon. When she’s not writing about wellness, culture, or travel, you can find her at a concert, reading a good book, or hiking in the beautiful PNW. Say hi on Instagram or Substack!
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