my honest notebook ecosystem
as someone who’s been journaling for over 15 years <3
Yeah, I know. The term almost feels made up — what even is a journal ecosystem?
When I first heard the term, I was skeptical, thinking it was just a new phrase for the chronically online over-consumers. Until I realized I actually have my own journal ecosystem, and I’ve been tweaking and perfecting it for years.
However, I think the term captures the everyday mess and lifecycle of planning and note taking and learning and creating and living through writing and documentation.
Journaling as a process that’s alive. As a practice that’s living and breathing and evolving alongside you.
(I feel like this could be it’s own section in my post: how to become your version of cool girl)
I think we all have our own version of a journal ecosystem. And they kind of become what they need to be for us. Sometimes messy, always changing, somewhat organized, and hopefully cute too?
What’s your journal/notebook setup like? I’m so curious!
I’ve been journaling since before I turned 10, and as I’ve grown my journaling process has too. Here’s a glimpse into my journal evolution:
2010 ✿ At the very beginning and for the first 10 or so years, I was just using whatever journals I had been gifted or maybe purchased from the dollar store. Mostly ruled for even writing but at about twelve I was gifted a blank paged A4 sketchbook and I cherished it.
2020 ✿ I stumbled into a Stationery store and picked up a blank page Midori notebook and realized what I’d been missing in terms of paper quality. I loved this one! But it only came in white and I was missing some colour.
2021 ✿ I found and fell in love with Leuchtturm’s classic notebook and their colours. I proceeded to buy these for the next 5 years, always gravitating towards the blank pages for my preferred use <3 They make for a cool notebook stack.
2024 ✿ I found and fell in love with the system of Traveler’s Notebook and soon purchased from my fave local stationery store, Soul Paper.
I think I’ve finally found a consistent system that works for me — using both Leuchtturm and TN notebooks.
Why Leuchtturm?
I love their blank pages
The coloured covers are so cute
Getting them consistently over the years makes for a cute journal collection
Back cover folders for loose paper clippings and souvenirs
Why Traveler’s Notebook?
I love the customizable setup
Adding charms makes your journal look cute as hell
Cheap repurchasing of inserts
One notebook for one subject (can mix and match in the leather cover)
it’s so quick and satisfying to complete a notebook insert!
my current setup:
It’s taken me a while to figure out the notebook/journaling system that works for me, and I trust it will evolve and change even more as time goes on.
But I LOVE my current setup, so I’m going to share it with you for inspiration. I’d absolutely love to see / hear about yours, too.
Here’s my stack:
✿ traveler’s notebook: rotation of four inserts: weekly/monthly planner, miscellaneous notes, knitting journal, and recipe book
✿ Leuchtturm personal journal: more diary-like, documenting daily life, long journaling sessions, travels, epiphanies, brain-dump rants, etc
✿ Hilroy A5 ruled notebook for school and related notes
✿ mini 4x4 sketchbook for creative scribbles and sketches
Here’s my extras:
✿ Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen. The way this writes is a dream. Perfect for scribbling notes and brainstorm doodling.
✿ Sharpie Brand S-Gel pen. My favourite pen to have lying around.
That’s it! It’s simple and adaptable, and ensures I don’t have too many notebooks lying around.
my traveler’s notebook setup:
I have an insert for miscellaneous notes, one for my monthly/weekly calendar, one for recipes, and one for knitting project notes. I like to interchange which ones I’m carrying around in the leather cover — I love that flexibility of TN!
the recipe book:
the miscellaneous notebook:
the weekly/monthly planner:
past setups:
If you liked this, you might like:
I hope you enjoyed this week’s cozy post about my current notebook ecosystem.
Catch ya in the next one!
Leuchtturm really do do the best notebooks, also a fellow fan. I recently got their 5 year journal which is nice to have, just writing down some highlights or stories from each day.
Thanks for sharing your set up, the recipe book is so cute and the miscellaneous one is really interesting, especially how it can contain separate ideas and drawings that mingle together.
My set up:
A5 MD Notebook with clear cover and a postcard on the front to make it pretty, for daily journaling pretty layouts.
Midori B6 weekly planner for scheduling.
Various sketchbooks and specific notebooks for different interests, and a cheap EDC notebook for capturing thoughts.
Next year, I want to add a 5 year diary!
Have you ever tried out a structured notebook, like Hobonichi, or those ones with prompts already written in?