📚 Today I want to share some of the journals I have used, their purposes, and a glimpse into my plans for next year. Each journal holds memories, photos, and creative layouts that have made my journey fun and unique.
Past notebooks
My 2021 bullet journal
This bullet journal was great for experimenting with different layouts. In the video you can see some of the many designs that I tried. It was fun creating all those weekly spreads, trackers, and monthly views. I loved having the creative freedom, but it was also tiring to have to create all spreads from scratch, and not being able to plan ahead.
My spiritual journal
Another journal I used in recent years is my spiritual journal. In this one I take notes from Bible studies and some of the books I read. While I have been using my iPad for this recently, I’m considering returning to a physical notebook next year. Although I might do less decorations to keep it simpler and focus more on the text.
A more compact journal in 2022
In 2022, I switched to a smaller journal, and I absolutely loved its size. The left side had the days of the week, while the right side was a blank grid. Though I didn’t always know how to fill the grid, I enjoyed adding scraps, doodles, photos, and stickers. It became a colorful record of my year, and looking back through the pages makes me feel happy!
The discbound Mini Happy Planner
I didn’t use this planner much, but since everything except the pages is reusable I can give it another try at any time. The monthly covers are really cute! I have removed the used pages and I plan to print new ones to use it again.
My 2023 journal
This one is the "Forest Planner", by Nicole Josephine. I loved the size, but I found that the daily spaces were too big for my needs. Although I often struggled to fill the entire area, I appreciated how beautiful it looked when I did. Near the end of the journal, there are still blank pages, and I’m thinking of doing a “year in review” spread to wrap it up. I also made some lists for a few collections on the front, which I love to have as a record.
Tracking my reading in 2024
My reading tracker is another favorite. This is where I kept a log of every book I read during this year, noting when I started and finished each one. I also added photos of book covers and short reviews, which made it functional but also fun to look through!
Collecting scraps in a discbound notebook
One of my less structured notebooks is a space for scraps and random stickers. There’s no order or dates; it’s just a place to collect things that I don’t want to throw away but that don’t quite fit into my other journals. Some scraps are just decorative, while others are more thoughtful.
Finding new uses for unused journals
I have a stack of new planners and older unused notebooks waiting for their turn. One very old notebook might get repurposed into a smaller journal. Another, a Muji Pocketnote, has nice pages but doesn’t lay flat, making it uncomfortable to write in. I also have a beautiful Cinnamoroll notebook that I think might be perfect for horizontal weekly spreads. I’m curious to hear your thoughts on how to use it!
Crafting a traveler’s notebook
Recently, I've been having fun making traveler’s notebook-style covers. I created one a few weeks ago and still need to decorate it and make inserts. The process was so much fun, and I’m excited to see how it evolves. Would you like to see videos about this?
Other special journals
Some journals hold special meaning. For example, my husband gifted me a notebook from New York that I love so much I’m hesitant to use it. Another journal, filled with daily and weekly prompts, is perfect for random creative bursts. My sister also found a My Neighbor Totoro planner, and we both loved it! I'm very eager to start using that one.
Organizing and planning my projects
Since December, I have been using a planner dedicated to work and projects. It has plenty of space to organize tasks and track progress. It has been incredibly helpful, and I am definitely going to keep using it this coming year.
Planning for 2025
My thoughts and ideas are still evolving. I am excited to explore new ways to use my notebooks and planners, and I would love to hear your suggestions. Let me know if you would like updates on how I’m using these journals throughout the year!
Thank you for reading, and happy journaling!
📼 In this video
(I linked some similar notebooks to the ones I show, they are not exactly the same so please read all descriptions carefully before buying. Others were bought in person and I couldn't find them online. Some of the links in this description are affiliate.)
- Muji undated weekly planner
- Mini Happy Planner
- Muji (month calendars and lined)
- Muji Pocketnote
- Curiouser & Curiouser notebook
- Happy Planner (classic dashboard layout)
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