I love notebooks. It’s either I have a million different ones or none at all. Currently, I have so many different notebooks and it’s exhausting. I also love making lists, and I will make a list on whatever is around me.
Lists help with be more organized, boost productivity, etc. But they don’t always have to be so serious.
Benefits of writing lists:
Ways to Use a Blank Notebook
Bullet Journal – I love bullet journaling and use it most of the time. Bullet Journal can be done is so many different ways. When I first heard about bullet journalling I felt like I was doing it wrong. I saw all these gorgeous bullet journal designs all over social media and mine never looked as pretty as theirs.
Master List – I really didn’t think too much about this one until I was working on organizing my life. I love having a notebook that has everything in one spot. This has helped my ADHD and anxiety so much because when I start to get overwhelmed I have this notebook that has a checklist for everything in my life. I have a both a paper and digital version.
To Do Lists – this can be things you need or want to do daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, seasonally, yearly. I know having everything broken down like this for me has helped with my ADHD and decision making fatigue. (I did not use an empty journal to write all these because I would have gone crazy, but I did purchase one off Etsy)
Skin Care Routine – having this written down and the order. You can also keep track of the products you have, products you want to try.
Skin Care Tools – list out all the skin care tools that you have along with how often you should use it, how long, any important details you want to include. I know I can’t keep track of it all so having it written down helps me. I use a notecard instead of a notebook.
Cleaning List – this can be either what days and times you should be cleaning things or it can be a record of when the last time you did such things. I try to do big cleaning things like the sheets and blanket the same time every month. I do the 15th because it’s the same day I water my plants. Please don’t ask me why I can associate these 2 things together because I have no idea.
Podcasts – any notes or thoughts during or after the podcasts.
Books/Shows/Podcasts – you want to read/watch/listen. This could also be a list of books/shows/podcasts that you recommend. I know when people ask me for book recommendations I freeze because I love to read and there are so many. I ended up creating an amazon list in my storefront of books I recommend. Or if they have Goodreads or Storygraph I friend them on there.
Book Journal – thoughts on books that you have read.
Show Journal – keep track of what you have seen
Restaurants to try – I wish I kept a list of places to try, but when I really think about it would I try them. I have my favorites and I’m a very predictable person.
Vision board – all the big goals that you want to accomplish. can be written, drawn, cut – whatever works for you.
Goals – if a vision board isn’t your thing. Use each category from a vision board and write out your goals. You can create a notebook for each category if you want or put everything in one.
Journal Prompts – I have so many journal prompt ideas saved in Pinterest. I could probably fill a notebook up with just the questions. Lately, my journal has also become my to do list and I don’t like that.
Budget list – this can have both expenses and income along with your financial goals. I have a composite notebook that I use for finances. I have finances Friday because I get paid on Friday, and I pay the next weeks bills. I also review my credit cards for any charges I don’t recognize. I’ll write it down so next week I can see if it got resolved. I also use an app to track how I am spending money. Then I compare it to 50/30/20 budget I am attempting. at the end of the month, I look over everything and write out 1 thing I did well, 1 thing I could improve on, 1 thing I did bad on, 1 thing that could come up in the next week/month/etc. (pretty much a SWOT analysis) I write this down so I can visually see improvement or doing worst on.
Positive Affirmations – I like to write them until I really feel or believe them.
Workout Journal/ Log – writing down your workouts and the weights that you did if it was strength training. Any running times/ speeds that I want to track.
Running Log – just like a workout log but keeping track only of your runs. the front couple of pages can be your personal best (PB) records or your goals so you always see them and know what you’re working towards.
Ways to move your body – thinking of ways that you can move your body that’s not considered “exercise” for example – arm circle, raising arms up and down, trying to reach your toes, etc. when I was a trainer because told me all the time these aren’t workouts. youre moving your body, right! it’s a workout. (I will fight people on this topic)
things I like about yourself – my therapist had me to this when I first started seeing her. I really struggle with self love and appreciating what my body can and does do for me. somedays it was really tough but she told me to start functionally thinking about what my body does for me. I like that I was about to walk to get fridge, etc.
Meal plan/ Food Journal – if you want to keep track of what you are eating then having a specific journal is perfect for an unused notebook. if you have a 3 or 5 column notebook around you can combine like things together. (Meal plan, food you actually eat, grocery list, food inventory can all be in one place)
Grocery list – having one place where you keep this list is ideal. It doesn’t have to be a physical notebook either. I use my notes app on my phone, and share so if one of us is at the grocery store we know what to pick up.
Prayer/ Spiritual/ Sermon Log – whatever you want to track. It can be a list of people or things you are praying for. Sermon Notes from each week. whatever you want to log. it can be meditations or thing you thought about during a meditation that you didn’t want to forget. tarot/oracle card spreads along with thoughts & feelings.
Six Word Story – It’s from Page Flutter where each day you come up a 6 word story. This sounds super fun, but right now I don’t need anything else on my to do list. This would be great creativity. I’m kinda thinking I might try this before I start writing for my blog posts. Give me motivation, spark, creativity to get started.
Hiking Log – where did you hike? how long was it? see anything interesting? did you like? would you recommend? I had a travel notebook that I wanted to use for my hiking log because I am doing some hiking challenges this year. The notebook wasn’t exactly what I wanted so my friend made me stickers to put over and write what I wanted. Now… I just need to use the thing.
Bucket Lists – places you want to go, things you want to do or see. it can also be 101 in 1001 things, seasonal, quarterly, monthly.
Reverse Bucket List – never heard of a reverse list? me either until recently. It’s where you write down all the things you have done. Sometimes it can feel like you have accomplished enough or done enough or haven’t done anything. Writing this down makes you remember the things you have done and to keep your eyes focused on yourself.
Blog Ideas – I wish I had a specific notebook for this, but I don’t. I write them down whenever I think of them.
gift ideas – when people ask what to do you want for your birthday does your mind go blank? No, just me. I have now created a list notebook on my phone so when someone asks I can share it with them. I also have the same thing in my amazon storefront.
list of things to do – I like to do this on the weekends because I assign it with a pomorodo round. having a set time to get things done. I will also use this same notebook for brain dumps.
Birthday & anniversaries – I relay on social media for this but I remember my mom had a giant book growing up with everyone’s bday and anniversary.
home repair/diy updates – This can be a notebook of things you want to do with your space, you have already done and the date, a list of paint colors you use, dimensions of the house & each room.
gratitude list – write one thing every day that you are grateful for.
Tasks that I have been putting off – having a spot of everything you have been putting off can be pretty intimidating, but at least there are all in one place. When you are feeling adventurous, do one thing off your list. In my experience, it turned out to be easier than I thought.
Craft Journal – Keep track of your craft projects. Each page is a different craft that I am working on with any notes. For example, I am working on a temperature blanket and keep track of where I left off, and how many stitches on a certain row. I also have a lot of half finished projects that I keep records in there as well.
300 Challenge – I saw this on tiktok where you write out 300 things that you want to accomplish, on who you want to become, or have in your life. You write out all 300 things and each day you read them. Then one year later you go back and mark off what you accomplished or came true. I think it was Steve Harvey who brought it up on his show. I have done this and it’s really hard. It took me several days if not weeks to get to 300 because I wanted to be very intentional. I also find it hard not to mark things off that I have accomplished. Some of things on my list are things that no longer resonate with me, so I took a highlighter and marked through them. I made a key with different highlighter colors mean something different.
Manifestation Journal – You could say the above is a manifestation journal and some don’t. There is a manifestation that I want to do sometime. It’s the 3×33 manifestation – you write what you want to manifest 3 times for 33 days.
Lists of 100 (or 101) – If you haven’t seen the 101 things in 1001 days I highly recommend it. Check out the Day Zero Project. I personally like creating this more than resolutions because it’s longer than a year and can be deeper goals.
Dream Diary – If you are interested in finding the meaning of your dreams? Then I recommend a dream diary you write down your dreams. Keep a small notebook & pen by your bedside to be able to write everything down when you wake up. I think this would be pretty cool to do, but sometimes I don’t think I REALLY want to know what my dreams mean.
Sketchbook – Sketchbooks came in a variety of different styles and sizes. I personally love the square sketchbook. I am currently using that for my digital notebooks on goodreads.
Celebrate Successes – I am not a person that celebrate daily successes very well.
Affirmations – Affirmations can be an incredible tool to change your thoughts and mindset. I struggle with doing affirmations constantly. I do have a few that I use pretty consistently. When I am hiking and it’s a big hill or steps, I tell myself I can do tough things. Another I say but I am don’t completely believe yet is I am Enough.
Another option is writing a variety of different affirmations on a notecard and place where you constantly look. For me, I have a notecard by my skin care products. So while I’m washing my face, I can read the affirmations. Check out some positive affirmations.
