Your choice of book is a very personal decision. I suggest that you to go to Barnes and Noble and/or do a Google search for journals and look at the wide selection available to see if one calls to you.

You may feel overwhelmed when you see the array of books. It can be hard to pick one, but that’s a good problem to have. Besides, nobody said you’re limited to just one! Having empty books awaiting your words can feel exciting and motivating to continue writing.

I’ve written in spiral-bound and flat-lying journals of different sizes.

I now use Leuchtturm1917 Medium A5 (~5.75in by 8.25in) hard cover with plain paper. You can choose lined, dotted, square, or plain paper.

Unfortunately, all their paper selections are not available for all of the colors. I may have bought the last purple, plain paper books they made, forcing me to resort to buying some dotted paper books on eBay!

I love the different cover colors, the index, and the numbered pages in a Leuchtturm book. It stays flat when open, and I don’t get a lot of bleed-through on the pages even when I use my fountain pens. I like to decorate the cover to be in keeping with something in my life or a daily reminder of how I want to feel.

The hardest part of starting any new activity is the STARTING. To combat resistance, you can simply think “I want to write today.” It doesn’t matter how much or little you write. The important thing is to actually write something. Do it again tomorrow and the day after that. Keep going until you’ve made it a habit.

Remember: Writing is a creative act that sparks more creativity!

Hi, Blair! Thanks for the note.

I really loved the idea of the decorated planners that are so popular now. I even bought one and tried it.

I soon discovered that it made me feel pressured to do things in a certain way but didn’t make me feel any more creative.

Even worse, making a decorated planner actually hampered my productivity! In the time I was applying stickers or trying to draw something, I could have finished an actual thing on my to-do list!

I also prefer the auditory reminders and searchability that I get from digital tools.

My organization system consists of:
* 7 color-coded calendars in iCal
* a monthly planner note in Evernote with a list of things I hope to accomplish. These monthly notes are saved in a notebook named Planner.
* a daily to-do template in Evernote where I list the 3-5 most important things to do in a day. The Daily Notes are in a notebook named Daily Notes. I can search my lists back to 2012!

I set reminders in Evernotes when I want to follow-up with someone or take some other action. Although Evernote reminds me visually, I connected Evernote to my iCal with the Cronofy Evernote connector. That way, I can put reminders on Evernotes and have them show up and signal me via audio on my calendar. This part of my system allows me to use Evernote as my Client Relationship Manager (CRM).

I almost always handwrite my journal entries using a variety of special ballpoint, rollerball, and fountain pens. The journal is the store place for my THOUGHTS. Sometimes those thoughts even end up in blog articles!

Thanks again for the good conversation!

Karen

Hi, Shaina! Thanks for the terrific comment! I find it so interesting to learn how people create their journals.

I’ve used journal prompts for some entries. I also currently keep journals specifically for daily gratitude lists and my (too infrequent) music practice.

You’re the first person I’ve known who uses a Rocketbook. I’ve never even seen one! I love the idea of making my words being searchable, but I don’t want to erase the physical record of them. I’ve thought about getting a hand scanner for this purpose. Maybe I’ll do that at some point.

I used a variety of books before settling onto Moleskines for 10 years and switching to Leuchhturm1917 books in October 2017. The paper quality for both is almost identical. Leuchhturm1917 wins for its array of colors in vibrant colors.

Thanks again for the good discussion!

Karen

Hi, Denice! Since we have much in common, I might have guessed you’d be a long-time journal keeper! 🙂

I, too, read DIARY OF ANNE FRANK in my youth. I wish that I been like you and started writing my thoughts at that time. It sounds like we do much of the same things in our books.

Michael Palin also wrote his diaries (which were fascinating reading) in top-spiral books, so you’re in good company there as well!

I’ve read a number of articles that indicate that handwriting a journal is a better experience than typing it. Hand writing stimulates different parts of your brain and allows your emotional state and creativity to be revealed. I remember one particular day when I was at the height of frustration over a neighbor’s constantly barking dog. The energy on my angrily-written entry in ALL CAPS and lots of !!!!! leaps off the page and grabs me today in a way that a typed entry never could!

Thanks for the wonderful discussion, and keep writing in that journal!

Karen

You mention taking pictures of your notebook to put in Evernote. Have you heard of the Rocketbook notebook? It’s designed to scan into Evernote. But it’s a reusable notebook! With specific pens you can then wipe off with a damp cloth. No, I don’t work for them, ha! I just have one and love it.