I would always get inquiries on Instagram about the journals I use so I thought it would be helpful to put together a blog post about it and talk a little bit about my system, as well as the products I use. Maybe it can help out those who are just starting out with journaling or want more ideas on how to make the most of their supplies at home, specially if you’re the type who, like me, has an exorbitant fascination for notebooks. It’s time we put them to good use!
Of course, my system is just one of many ways. There are other styles to take inspiration from online. Once you read this, take what you think will work best for you. If you’re interested in any of the items I mention here, feel free to look them up too. Most of them are from local shops and I’m including links as well.
To start off, I’d like to take this opportunity to just highlight this one item that became one of my best companions for what seemed like the worst year of our lives! My experience using it last year was pretty amazing so I’m using its latest edition for this year. This item I’m talking about is the Let’s Be Explorers undated planner from Everyday Explorers Co.
LET’S BE EXPLORERS UNDATED PLANNER
Around this time last year, I shared here how I set up my Let’s Be Explorers Planner which you can read HERE. I had no idea how differently the year would turn out and for a time when planning things was close to impossible, I managed to fill up my Let’s Be Explorers Planner. From just a schedule book and task tracker, it evolved into a bullet diary, a tarot journal, a list keeper, budget tracker and a scrapbook of sorts.
I managed to take a quick flip through video of last year’s planner and in it you’ll see I’ve filled the daily boxes with highlights of how my day panned out instead of appointments. I also filled it with quotes from books or podcasts that resonated with me. Aside from writings, I taped notes from friends, drawings from kids, tags from things I bought online, Instax prints and, of course, stickers.
Flipping through my Let’s Be Explorers 2020 planner is such a joy that I may be having trouble parting with it. I still flip through it once in a while and see if there are spaces I can fill in with things or ideas from last year. At the same time, I am excited to fill the pages of this year’s planner. It’s slightly smaller and more compact that the previous one but like all of Everyday Explorers’ products, the simple but beautiful layout makes planning and goal setting so efficient. That’s a big part of why I love it.
To give you an idea, I use the Let’s Be Explorer planner to:
– Set weekly / monthly / quarterly goals
– Fix my schedule
– Create weekly to-do lists,
– Track monthly income and expenses
– Journal weekly tarot card pulls
Yep so many things in one book! I love that almost everything is in there. It really is like a companion. You can order this on www.everydayexplorers.ph and it comes with a set of stickers too!
CRAFT EASY A5 DOTTED NOTEBOOK
My second 2021 essential is mainly used for jotting down ideas and taking long notes. For this I use Craft Easy’s kraft covered dotted notebook. It’s simple and serves its purpose well.
To be specific, I use this notebook to:
– Write down notes from the courses and workshops I take online
– Sketch design ideas for logos, art projects, etc
– Plan kids activities
– Write down notes from books I’m reading
Occasionally, pages will be filled with my kids drawings because that’s something you simply can’t avoid 😛
These are available on Lazada and Shopee
MOLESKINE POCKET NOTEBOOK
If I have a bigger notebook for longer notes, I also have a much smaller notebook for jotting down quick notes. This pocket Moleskine is my on-the-go notebook which stays in my bag and comes with me everywhere. But because I don’t go anywhere much these days, it’s just on my desk or craft cart where I can easily grab it when I need to write something down right away.
You might be thinking, But can’t you just use a note app on your mobile device for that, Nica? That’s true. And I actually use Google Keep for random notes too. But I like to have a notebook handy for anything. You’ll never know when you’ll get into a situation when an important info has to be written down WHILE you are on a call but your kids are just too noisy to put the call on speaker mode so you can access your note app. Maybe it sounds unlikely but that has happened to me many times before. I just really find it helpful to have a small notebook with me everywhere for random note-taking.
To summarize, I use the small, handy notebook for:
– Writing down almost ANYTHING and EVERYTHING
You can buy Moleskine notebooks from www.thetravelclub.ph. Mine is a hardcover pocket-size classic in lime green, which I decorated with patches from Kikki.K. That elastic band on the notebook makes it ideal for lugging around in your purse or back pack. No need to worry about the pages getting crumpled or destroyed.
I did a Journaling Session with Moleskine and The Travel Club a few months back. Check it out HERE to get a closer look on their bestselling products!
TRAVELLER SIZE WEEKLY JOURNAL
Last but definitely not the least, and the one that gets most inquiry online is my weekly highlights journal. I have blogged about this several times in the past and have also conducted workshops on how to keep one. If my Let’s Be Explorers planner is my daily companion, my weekly journal is like my soul. It is my meditation. This is the space I visit once every seven days where I reflect on my life and the world around me, accompanied by images that inspire or remind me of special milestones or occasions.
My weekly journal is used for documenting
– Intentions for the year
– Weekly highlights
– Special events and experiences
– Personal and family milestones
– Photos and memorabilia
I’ve used many different brands in the past, but usually in this same travelers size. This one I’ve had for several years now which seems to be holding up wonderfully is called Quest Journal, Travel edition, from www.crazyaboutpaper.com. I have just been replacing the refills inside every six months.
And that’s it! Four notebooks with specific roles to play, not to be a burden and just complicate my life, but to help my everyday living a little more manageable and organized! I may have other notebooks on the side sometimes, for specific and short-term projects but throughout the year, these are my four main ones.
I hope this gives you more ideas on how you can make the most of your notebooks, planners or journals. Of course, your system has to work for YOUR OWN unique lifestyle but it’s good to try new things to get a clearer picture of what serves you best.
Happy New Year and happy journaling!
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