My Notebook Ecosystem

During my teen years, I was an avid stationery and notebook collector. I would store them in the drawers of my desk and bookshelf, only admiring them because they were "too beautiful to be used".

A shift occurred around the time my Brooklyn apartment had a bedbug infestation. Material possessions were now things I had to parse through, throw into the dryer, and examine with extra precision before the extermination process. I felt weighed down by my belongings, which threw sentimentality out the window.

Naturally, I still feel sentimental about some belongings, but I've started valuing items more for their functionality these days.

I can safely say that I no longer hoard notebooks; instead, I find myself needing to purchase notebooks because I've run out of pages in my existing ones. At this moment in time, I have four notebooks that I have designated for different purposes.

Daily Journal

This notebook is one that I tend to replenish the fastest. I typically finish a notebook every 2 to 3 months, depending on the number of pages and the size of each page. I used to get Ana Tomy's Trio Book since I could refill the pages, which felt more economical and eco-friendly. However, since moving to Jersey, I have no brand loyalty and have been using whatever notebook piques my interest enough for me to open my wallet. This month's notebook is from the John Proctor is the Villain merch store, which I'm glad I got before watching the show.

In my daily journal, I brain dump everything that is in my head onto the page. From rehashing the previous day's events to weighing the pros and cons of a decision, this journal holds the contents of my mind. Since the pandemic, I've started journaling every day, and the habit stuck.

I have journaled pretty much every day, preferably in the morning to start my day with a clear mind – a practice I picked up when doing The Artist Way in 2024. In The Artist Way, it is recommended to write 3 whole pages upon waking up, but lately I haven't been strict with myself in that regard and prefer to journal after a satisfying and hearty breakfast.

Planner

For the past few years, I've been using Ana Tomy's Wirebound notebooks for my planner, as I enjoyed customizing the pages and reusing the cover. This year, I opted to use the Innisfree x Ana Tomy notebook that I received for free after a particularly large purchase with them last year.

In my planner, I have:

• Monthly bingo: A fun way to hit my goals. I typically add a mix of professional, personal, and fun goals.
• Monthly habit tracker: It's satisfying to tick a habit at the end of the day and visualize the habits that I've incorporated throughout the month. I also include the number of times I use any subscriptions or memberships, such as Masterclass or my IFC membership.
• Month overview: I track the phases of my cycle and my daily workouts.
• Week overview: I note down any appointments, events, and social engagements to view my week at a glance. It's also a great way to plan out my workout routine for the week.
• Weekly reflections: Every Monday, I write down things I'm grateful for, any wins, and to-do lists for the week.

This is a system that I've been finetuning for the past few years and have gotten to a point where this is embedded in my daily routine. It's a fun way for me to keep track of my year, especially with my weekly wins list, so that I can reflect on the things I've accomplished with ease at the end of the year.

Check-in Diary

This is a relatively new addition to my notebook ecosystem. It started with The Self Hug's The Self-Reflection journal that the lovely Sophia Charles gifted me!

I wanted a structured way of checking in on myself upon moving to a new country that I could also look back on easily, that didn't involve reading my journal. In The Self-Reflection journal, there were prompts as such:

• Waking up, you feel...
• Self-care tracker that was a checklist of self-care acts, which included drink enough water, exercise, eat healthy etc.
• Priorities list
• 3 things you are grateful for today
• The most exciting thing you look forward to today
• 3 wonderful experiences you had today
• Your hope for tomorrow is...

Since completing the Self-Reflection journal, I got a dotted Moleskine notebook to keep up this daily practice. I've modified it to suit my needs, as follows:

• Waking up, I feel...
• Priorities list
• The most exciting thing I look forward to today
• To-do list for the day
• What I'm looking forward to tomorrow
• High/Low/Grateful
  • High: a win or moment of joy, no matter how big or small
  • Low: an inconvenience or unpleasant moment
  • Grateful: one thing I'm grateful for

This check-in diary allows me to organize the things I want to do for the day into two sections: priority and to-do. It allows me to map out how feasible it is to do the things I want and/or need to do in a day. Noting down one thing I look forward to today is also a way of adding brightness to the day, even if I have nothing planned. It adds a sense of excitement and broadens my perspective on what excites me.

The high/low/grateful list is something I do to reflect on the previous day, since I mainly journal and use my notebooks in the morning. It's always nice to note down things that brought a smile to my face, and I typically struggle to come up with a "low", which gives me perspective on how my day went.

All-purpose Learning Notebook

Last but not least, I use a Midori Notebook with grid pages as a catch-all for notes on the various things I'm learning. There's no system for this; my notes are documented chronologically.

I bring this with me to workshops and lectures because I learn best by writing down notes. Lately, I've been experimenting with creating mind maps to link the statistics, observations, and trend analysis that I come across for a macro view of the digital landscape. I'm still toying with the idea of writing regular trend pieces on this blog, so we'll see!

My notebook ecosystem has evolved over the years. I started with two notebooks in 2020 to four notebooks in 2025, which I find great pleasure in having. I'm already on the hunt for a 2026 planner, so if you have any recommendations, please send them my way!