My everyday notebooks
I have stacks of notebooks stored in a cupboard above my desk. Most are full, some are still waiting for their turn, and quite a few are in use, whether they have a dedicated purpose or a vaguer ‘course notes and miscellaneous projects’ role. One even works mostly as a reference tool, holding details of past pricing calculations.
But these are the notebooks that keep me (reasonably) organised and help me keep up with my routines:
1. Planner
This is my second year using Notem’s weekly journal. I am very specific about what I want in a planner: a two-page weekly layout, with days of the week on one side and space for notes on the other, and with the same amount of space for every day of the week (I work and play every day and weekends need as much space for both as Monday to Friday.) I use the days side to mark appointments and events (work, job and personal) and to pencil out a daily plan (sometimes). The notes page is where I list the things I need to work on that week.
I occasionally supplement my planner with sheets from an undated monthly calendar bloc, and also use an online calendar, but the paper version is essential.
2. ‘Notes’ notebook
I use one of my own A5 French link stitch notebooks for work-related notes. This covers pretty much anything: brainstorming, blog post drafts, to-do lists, notes from calls… anything I need to keep a note of or work out with pencil on paper. This notebook opens flat, making it very practical for both note-taking and keeping to hand as a reference or when typing up notes.
I have an additional, slim notebook I carry with me to work at the library. One side has job-related information, and the other is for my own thoughts and bits of writing I do during quiet times and breaks on a shift.
3. ‘One line a day’ journal
I’m into the last year of this 5-year volume. I’ve occasionally written a day late, and once missed a day without noticing, resulting in a dating chaos, but this is a habit I have been keeping to since 2019. It actually has space for a few lines rather than just one, which is just enough for a short summary of what mattered that day, or an overview of how I’m feeling.
I do have another journal, which I only pick up when I feel the need to get my feelings out onto paper more extensively.
4. Miniature book
I use one of my early miniature book experiments when I travel. It works as a substitute for my one line a day journal, as one page is just the right size for one entry, and for other notes when I’m on the move. It saves me carrying my regular journal and notebooks. It is light and easy to pack, and it feels like a special treat to write in it.
This is it. In my regular office job days I also used to carry a small, slim notebook in my bag, full of shopping and to-do lists, as well as the odd shot of inspiration, but I no longer have a need for one.
Finding the set of notebooks, journals and planners that fit your daily needs can require a little trial and error. We all work differently, and need more of less flexibility in the containers of our thoughts. I am naturally messy, so I don’t keep boundaries too tight, with spillover books for everything when I need them. But this gentle structure allows me to be just organised enough for me, while still leaving space for another, special notebook when the right project comes along…
Building your own notebook team
Do you use/need a paper planner? If so do you need extra pages for plans and notes, monthly or weekly spreads, or one large daily page? Will it live on your desk, or will you be carrying it with you? Have a look at the layouts and sizes available in different brands, and trial them with your own DIY versions, in different sizes, to see which you like best.
When do you take notes, and for what purpose? For a week or two, keep track of when you reach for pen and paper, and look back at your existing notebooks. Is your current system working for you, or do you need different notebooks for different categories? Consider size, paper type and format (blank pages, lines, dots): what would work best for each category?
Do you journal, or would you like to try? Think about when, where, how often or how much you want to journal, and what kind of format would work best for you. Perhaps a simple exercise book will make it less intimidating, or perhaps the most luxurious hardbound book with ribbon marker is what you need to entice you to write. Find what works for your journaling habit.
Starting with any notebooks stored unused (we all have them, no judgement here!) try your new system, and tweak anything to fit. Then buy more stationery as required (permission granted).
