As you can see the last spread is not finished yet. It still needs to be written on. That's how I work. I do my preparing/decorating of the pages at a different sitting and sort of in a different setting too than I do the writing. To me they are like separate things that still come together splendidly in the journal.
I usually sit at my journaling table for a few hours at a time to prepare two to four spreads for writing. This can happen at night or some time during the day, especially now I have more time during the day! My journaling table is usually a big mess after I'm done and stuff will be lying on the floor too. It's play time central then.
The writing however is done in the early morning about 95% of the time, when the day is still quiet and I need nothing more than a pen to do it. It's my variation on morning pages, stream of consciousness writing or whatever else you want to call it. Most of my writing is not all that interesting, but it helps clear my head for the day and it keeps a record of my life. A nice way to fill an ongoing series of books and a nice way to keep me from going moderately insane. ;-)
My way of working is just that: my way. There is no right or wrong way to journal, so don't let anybody tell you there is. You don't need specific materials and you don't need specific skills. What you need is a love for journaling, just because. No deeper reason needed, but if you happen to have one, go with that! To have a certain joy in the process is what will keep you coming back. And you will learn more and more as you go.
Do what you love the way you love doing it and the joy will follow! Yes it will!
Wishing you all a wonderful and artsy weekend!