r/notebooks 13d ago

"What can I do with this notebook?"

107 Upvotes

This is a pretty common question in subs like this. Either someone received a new notebook as a gift, or they couldn't help themselves from buying a new one, or they have a partially used notebook they want to fill.

Or they're trying to figure out what to do with the massive stack they've accumulated after years of "I'll find a use for this" and allowing that as justification to keep buying more... Ahem.

Beyond the normal "Just write in it, use it as a diary," here's some ideas on what you could do with an unused or unfinished notebook:

  • Commonplace / zibaldone journal
  • Brain dump / soliloquy journal
  • Quotes / lyrics / poetry
  • Media / entertainment tracker (Movies, tv shows, games, etc)
  • Bullet journal (method for a DIY daily planner, get started here)
  • To-do lists
  • All kinds of lists (e.g., "lists of 100" like "100 things you saw this week")
  • Gratitude
  • Grievances (the opposite of gratitude, what bothered you today)
  • Idea notebook
  • Quick thoughts
  • Art (Sketches / drawings / zentangles)
  • Dream log
  • The Artist's Way Morning Pages
  • Travel journal
  • Things you've learned
  • Bucket list / goals
  • Unsent letters
  • Dedicated handwriting practice
  • RPG journaling (there's games you can find online for it and r/Solo_Roleplaying)
  • Food or drink tracker, such as keeping track of teas you've tried
  • Things you overheard that are worth remembering
  • People you meet
  • Funny facts
  • Gaming journal
  • Language practice

Feel free to suggest more in the comments.


r/notebooks 4h ago

Notebook I just bought

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138 Upvotes

Hey, first time poster here. But I have to share.

I’m not usually an impulsive buyer or anything. Much less something I don’t know what I’d use it for. But I just found the most gorgeous notebook ever and for only 9€ too. Even though it’s not the type of journal I’d usually prefer.

So, here’s the beauty. I absolutely love the artstyle on this.

Now I just gotta figure out what I’m going to be using it for. 😅

Thanks for reading.
Have a nice day/night. :)


r/notebooks 3h ago

Notebook Share I Couldn't resist buy it

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37 Upvotes

r/notebooks 4h ago

Notebook Identification

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22 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone can help me identify the small notebook that Kalinda Sharma uses in The Good Wife. I’ve done a ton of research and it seems like other people have tried to figure it out, but none of the notebooks that people find look right to me. It’s an orange notebook (I think leather or faux leather) with a blue ribbon bookmark and orange elastic closing strap. There is a distinct white logo on the back - it looks like a loose circle shape with a design inside?
Attaching photos here… can anyone identify this? Thank you in advance!!


r/notebooks 6h ago

Field Report Midori MD (cost effective) alternative = Muji / A5 / 6mm / 30 pages threadbound

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27 Upvotes

***Edit: Apparantly this notebook isn’t good with fountain pens!!!***

I found this in a UK Muji store. Super cheap at £1.50 for 30 pages and honestly the paper quality is on par with Midori MD in my opinion. Actually maybe better (for me anyway) as my Uni Signo 307 used to skip on Midori, but doesn’t on this paper. Muji’s also suits me better because the ruled lines are 6mm (whereas Midori’s are 7mm). This Muji paper is also made in Japan like the Midori paper.

One note however, this quality of paper is only found in these 30 page notebooks. The paper quality differs if buying the 80 page notebooks from Muji (that paper is too smooth for my liking, it doesn’t have the “tooth” quality I look for).


r/notebooks 2h ago

Notebook Share 5 years of journaling

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12 Upvotes

not the one to share 10 notebooks a year (which is totally cool tho), but my handwriting is small and unfortunately my preferred notebook size is the one that doesn't fit in the bags and is as heavy as a brick. still, 5 years, so many changes inside of me captured in these. especially loving my nuuna (on the second pic), this journal is so strong!!


r/notebooks 9h ago

Notebook Share New notebook, cover, and pens

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35 Upvotes

Fabric cover along with its pvc cover. And new pens too which is penbbs series, 470 autumn, 456 niangao and 495 niangao, the notebook is paperideas pd 3.0


r/notebooks 5h ago

Recommendation Best 5-Year Journal/Diary

2 Upvotes

My Hobonichi 5-Year Techo is at its last year this 2026. I’m hoping to get another 5-year journal/diary for 2027 to 2032. I’m thinking of getting another Hobonichi 5-Year Techo, but I’m also open to try other brands. What do you use and recommend?


r/notebooks 10h ago

Fountain-pen-friendly pocket notebook (numbered dot-grid pages)

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10 Upvotes

r/notebooks 2h ago

Recommendation Notebook Size?!

2 Upvotes

Hello. I need a notebook the same size as this Hobinichi Planner in this video -

https://youtube.com/shorts/d_Ovia6uPMA?si=YZypnRLtIw2LY-oU

Help pls 😭😭


r/notebooks 52m ago

Anyone using Tomoe River Loose Leaf to Journal?

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Upvotes

r/notebooks 1h ago

Advice needed Looking for a cheap notebook the size of a kindle

Upvotes

Think field notes but a bit bigger, preferably blank or dot grid, and available in bulk!


r/notebooks 1h ago

Looking for a cheap notebook the size of a kindle

Upvotes

Think field notes but a bit bigger, preferably blank or dot grid, and available in bulk!


r/notebooks 1d ago

Notebook Share my new journal decorations!

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66 Upvotes

not sure if this is the right place to share, but i just finished decorating the front and back of my next journal. it’s my absolute favorite part of starting a fresh one :)


r/notebooks 14h ago

Advice needed Do Nitoms Stalogy notebooks bleed like this?

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7 Upvotes

I bought a Nitoms Stalogy A5 notebook and was so excited to use it as my diary only to find out that it bleeds like this. There's also feathering present. I wrote with my Jinhao 100 and Jinhao ink. Does Nitoms Stalogy work with a good ink? I want to really love this notebook and work with it.


r/notebooks 1d ago

Plant-based/'cactus leather' cover

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45 Upvotes

Not easy to find a nice vegan cover.

I just got this one and I'm really happy with it!


r/notebooks 23h ago

Advice needed I can’t write without a reason

29 Upvotes

While this may sound like yet another ‘what do I write about?’ posts, hear me out. I’ve just purchased some of these 60 page Cahier notebooks and I’m determined to use them. The problem is I admitted to myself a number of years ago that I’m not one of these people who can write freely, for the sake of writing. I’ve tried the personal diary approach, but my entries are all essentially the same and incredibly dull.

To that end I came to the conclusion that the only way I’ll be able to regularly fill even a 60 page notebook is to use them as tools… as something I absolutely couldn’t do without (like a carpenter without a hammer), but herein lies another hurdle; I don’t have those reasons. I don’t have a reason to make a notebook essential to my day to day life.

Why bother is the obvious question, but I have this ever-nagging itch and intense desire to write in a notebook. It’s therapeutic. It’s cathartic. I need to do it. I’ve watched more YouTube videos on ‘filling your notebooks’ than is healthy, and none of them work for me.

So here I am - a flightless bird that thinks it’s an eagle. I have a need but can’t see the outlet.


r/notebooks 18h ago

Advice needed Do Paul McGrath leather covers go well with any A5 paper?

3 Upvotes

I feel like this company as well as Paper Republic have this business model where only their own papers work with their notebook covers. I'm new to journaling so right now I'm just looking around for what I'd like. So far, I like the look of Paul McGrath leather covers and from what I'm reading, they seem to be better quality compared to PR.

But yeah, would any paper I find work with Paul McGraths leather covers?

Thanks!


r/notebooks 1d ago

I’m so happy with how my journal turned out 💚

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285 Upvotes

My first green journal (even though it’s my favorite color!!) and I’m so pleased with how even the stitching ended up being :)


r/notebooks 1d ago

Advice needed Need help finding clear notebook cover

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11 Upvotes

This is currently my favorite notebook. Reasons: My Pilot G-2 barely ghosts, its soft cover, and the cover is a thick paper (wipeable).

The only issue is I’ve only found it with this pattern, so I bought multiple, but I want to be able to decorate the cover. I cannot for the life of me find a clear/plastic/vinyl cover for it. It measures 8.5 inches by 5 1/8 inches. I do not need a perfect fit!

What would you guys recommend?

Or have you seen this notebook in a different pattern?

Thanks!!!


r/notebooks 13h ago

Advice needed Husband is travelling to US what to buy for someone how is addicted to stationery and notebooks

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1 Upvotes

r/notebooks 1d ago

Advice needed Style Name for Noted by Post It

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10 Upvotes

I tripped and fell into the Noted by Post It collection, especially the 5.5" x 10" spiral-bound notebooks with a hybrid type dot grid. Can anyone tell me what kind of style this is and where I could find a similar layout?

The Noted collection has gone through a few iterations and I cant reliably find a source. I tried all the online tricks to find this style and nothing quite matches. TIA!


r/notebooks 1d ago

Leuchtturm haul

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33 Upvotes

r/notebooks 1d ago

Made a cover for my current notebook

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21 Upvotes

r/notebooks 1d ago

Advice needed B5 planner

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28 Upvotes

Hello friends, I am thinking about moving from my Travelers notebook to a larger format for work next year and am looking for a little advice and some recommendations. I would like to find a soft cover, horizontal, weekly planner. What I would really love is just the Travelers Notebook one but im B5. Any help would be greatly appreciated.