Make your notebook your own.

I really mean this. Take complete ownership of your notebook.

Those bullet journals online are beautiful and lovely, and I want to bullet journal sometimes. But I know from experimentation that it doesn’t work for me right now. I don’t want to spend that much time on the aesthetics.

I used to love the structure of planners like those from Franklin Covey and Day Designer. But those don’t work for me right now either. My digital calendar and task manager handle the day-to-day life stuff.

My notebook handles the ideas and freeform thinking and planning. Right now me needs my notebook to have less structure and less pressure. It is a place to just be and write and create.

Choose a notebook because it works for you, not because someone (or apparently everyone) else is using it.

Decorate your notebook, so it makes you happy when you see it.

Put things in your notebook for you – current you and future you but not past you.

Exercise

In your notebook, make a list of things you want to put in it. Take 2-3 minutes and write down everything that comes to mind.

Give yourself permission. Start a new notebook, decorate your cover, or begin a new page with something from your list. Take it and make it yours.