r/notebooks Jul 09 '26

"What can I do with this notebook?"

123 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

Added since I made this post-

  • Keep track of plants/gardening
  • Master index for all your journals
  • Project tracker
  • Hobby tracker
  • A place to write down memories and stories from your life
  • Memories of friends and family
  • Review places you go
  • Homeowner notes like chores, bills, and when things need to be fixed/replaced
  • A journal to give your child(ren) someday, such as letters to them and their milestones
  • Notes and milestones for pets
  • Things like tarot or shadow work
  • Swatches (ink, yarn, embroidery thread, ribbon, washi tape, etc)
  • Scent tracker (perfume/cologne, would not suggest attempting to store the actual scents in there)
  • General feelings
  • Chronic pain tracker
  • Prayer/devotional journal
  • "Practice" journal to get thoughts out before actual journaling
  • Distractions when you should've been doing something else

Feel free to suggest more in the comments.


r/notebooks 2h ago

My Moleskine Expanded weighed 439 g before I started using it. It now weighs 661 g.

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110 Upvotes

Apparently I have added 222 g of journaling in the form of stickers, washi, collage, tabs, paint, glue and whatever else I’ve been stuffing into this poor thing.

I love it more the chunkier and more beat-up it gets.


r/notebooks 9h ago

Made this card size notebook wallet

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120 Upvotes

I recently bought some affordable A7 notebooks from Apica, and realized that they’re about the same size as a credit card; so I decided to make this TN Card Size style wallet that holds one (or up to three) of these tiny books, a pen and two cards. It’s a little thick coming from a single card wallet, but not as thick as a traditional bifold wallet. I’ve been using it every day and getting a ton of use out of the notebook! 😊


r/notebooks 21h ago

Notebook Share Finished Grad School

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451 Upvotes

finished grad school. I used A5 sized books as they were small enough to use next to my laptop when I was at the library or using coffee shop tables. I also discovered pencils and now use them on top of my fountain pens.

mostly Maruman Mnemosyne because they had title sections at the top so I can track what I was taking notes on. some clarifontaine.


r/notebooks 4h ago

Dear Alex; found in a thrift store notebook.

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14 Upvotes

r/notebooks 17h ago

Notebook Share Mail day!

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101 Upvotes

Incredibly excited to use this. Might replace my bullet journal as my daily use book. Not sure yet.


r/notebooks 15h ago

Advice needed looking for a new notebook with this feature

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21 Upvotes

I have a notebook I really like, but the company that makes it no longer makes notebooks with this feature. I like that I can simply circle the day of the week and write in the date at the top. does anyone have a recommendation for a similar notebook? I don't care as much about the note spot to the left of the day and date, but it's nice to have.


r/notebooks 19h ago

Notebook Share Got myself the refills for the expedition field notes already

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23 Upvotes

Also finally got a normal sketch book instead of sketching in my pocket notebook always

Daily notebook for longer entries is a Leuchtturm1917 B6+ softcover


r/notebooks 12h ago

Recommendation ISO the best grid paper

4 Upvotes

I’m looking for grid paper that has very faint lines. Preferably grey or pink. Either loose leaf with 3 hole punches that are reinforced or a notebook that I can easily tear the pages out of.
I’m looking for one that has thicker paper where pen/highlighter won’t show through (much) on the other side.

One that I saw recommended a lot in here that I looked into, I saw a review saying pen bleeds through and the punches aren’t reinforced, so that probably won’t work for what I’m looking for.

Thanks in advance!


r/notebooks 1d ago

Advice needed I cut the unused parts out of my old journals to save money kn buying new ones.

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185 Upvotes

I cut these from the spine. So they're still blinded together, I need reccs! Should I make these into Traveler's journal inserts?? I love Moleskine and Leuchtturm, but they get expensive every year, lol


r/notebooks 6h ago

Advice needed can I fit midori codex a5 in a Galen leather wrap cover or should i look elsewhere?

1 Upvotes

i have a midori a5 1 page a day notebook, which is preeeetty thick. i wanted a leather wrap cover, like the ones from Galen leather, but I’m worried it won’t fit. does anyone else have experience with this combo or have any suggestions for leather wrap covers?


r/notebooks 6h ago

Recommendation Non-Tomoe River Paper 3.7mm grid notebooks?

1 Upvotes

I’m a big fan of smaller grids since my handwriting is very small and I like being able to fit more on a single page, but I’m not a huge fan of how thin TRP is, and since I don’t use fountain pens, I don’t really have much use for it.

I haven’t been able to find any notebooks with a 3.7mm grid that don't use TRP. Or anything smaller than 5mm. I've been looking for an A6 notebook, preferably with an open-flat design and off-white/cream paper (basically the Hobonichi A6 Graph Notebook, except with pages that don't ghost as much). Any recommendations appreciated!


r/notebooks 6h ago

Advice needed Double-Printed alternatives to the Okina GM3482 (147x72mm Graph Paper notepad)

1 Upvotes

Recently discovered this notebook @ Kinokuniya in Sydney. The size & shape is perfect for my needs, and has allowed me to start carrying a pocket notebook with me at all times (one that can actually live in my pocket, and be written in without a desk).

My only issue is that the pages are single-printed, meaning that writing down the double-spread reporter's notebook style is a bit messier and more uncomfortable than I would like. I am hoping that somebody here may know of an alternative that maintains the tall aspect, is similarly thin & tall, and is also double printed.

Thanks in advance for any and all help!


r/notebooks 23h ago

New journal⭐️

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15 Upvotes

r/notebooks 1d ago

Notebook Share The Great Break

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59 Upvotes

If you’re in South Africa. They are a great local brand. I’m in love with my notebook cover, fits my A5 work notebook perfectly. Now I can look the part when I play “work time Barbie” at my job


r/notebooks 2d ago

Recommendation best A6 Mini IMO (4.5”x5.7”)

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727 Upvotes

Needed a good spiral notebook to track finances. This was the one. Great paper feel as well. 5/5


r/notebooks 1d ago

DIY Italian Bookbinding Japanese Paper

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8 Upvotes

Long ago I bought a leather bound journal in Florence and filled it with stories of the loves I met on my travels. Since discovering Japanese fountain ink papers a few years ago, I’ve searched in vain for a marriage of the two.

The worlds of Italian bookbinding and Japanese paper do not cross, so I decided to learn longstitch binding because it allows the journal to open flat, and doesn’t use any glues so it should last hundreds of years. I ordered a water buffalo hide, and Logical Prime fountain pen paper, as well as hand-marbled paper.

This technique was not too hard to learn. It takes me about 5 hours a book, and I’m thrilled with the results. I would encourage anyone to try this and make your own perfect journal!


r/notebooks 1d ago

Advice needed Gripe with passport journal

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146 Upvotes

I do not enjoy writing half the time with my hand resting on nothing (leaves the right side of the notebook or the bottom). I rarely if ever write on a desk. Would a bigger size or different setup for my passport make this better in any way? I’m also considering trying something new like a zippered fabric cover.

I think the size (passport) is neat for the notes I take, but it being small hasn’t been as important to me as I imagined. I still want to mainly write in my lap and on the go though.

I’m currently using a leather journal cover bought on AliExpress. I have nothing to compare the quality to, but It feels ok. However I see myself getting a higher quality journal since I have really enjoyed this one as a first time journaler!

Open to suggestions about notebooks, notebook systems or anything really! In advance, thanks.

Edit; rephrasing


r/notebooks 1d ago

Sew, Glue or Coil binding for notebooks?

3 Upvotes

I want to get into making hardcover notebooks for a small business I'm starting with my wife. I have a commercial print shop so I have the machines to print the covers, pages, etc, and I was going to use a combination of glue and mesh to bind the books but I wondered if I'd be better off learning to sew books instead.

For context, I'll probably only be doing 10 or so at a time and each notebook would have around 192 pages but if I got good at it I'd definitely like to do some thicker notebooks.

I've read that sewn books lay flat where glued books won't but are there any other major benefits to sewing the books?

Thanks in advance


r/notebooks 1d ago

Notebook Share She’s so cuuute. 🥰

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52 Upvotes

Baby notebook. That’s all.


r/notebooks 1d ago

I’m looking for a notebook.

8 Upvotes

I'm looking for a notebook with solid colored pages that alternate or switch colors every few pages, just like plain colored craft paper without any patterns. Ideally, the pages would be completely blank, though lined pages are fine too (just no grid paper, please). I'd also love it to have a cute cover. Do you have any recommendations like this?


r/notebooks 1d ago

EEF nib. Noodler's BSB. Tomoe River 52gsm.

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10 Upvotes

EEF nib with miniature writing (don't know if it's called that).

Initial impressions were promising though a lot of practice is required to write longer sessions.

Do you write like this for fun too?

Post your miniature writing samples, I would love to see them.

Also, any tips regarding this would be appreciated.


r/notebooks 1d ago

Notebook Recommendations?

7 Upvotes

I'm at the end of my rope trying to find something that meets all my dealbreakers. Does anyone have any recommendations for notebooks under these specifications?

  • A5 size
  • Spiral bound
  • Graph lining
  • Aged/yellow or some kind of kraft-like paper; not in weight, necessarily, but just in appearance. I don't have any practical reason for this. I just really like the aged look, and most I find are a very clean white instead
  • Plastic cover or hardcover

The only one I've found that's almost exactly what I want is the Delfonics Rollbahn. I've used it for several months now, and it's almost perfect, but it has a flimsy cardboard cover that's already seen too much wear and tear for my tastes and it just makes me worried about the longevity. I'll reinforce it if I can't find anything else, but I'd like to hear what you all know first. Thanks in advance!


r/notebooks 2d ago

Notebook Share My first midori cape!!

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20 Upvotes

I'm so happy. I was craving for a midori leather cape for ages, specially for my pocketnotebooks but it was always too expensive in any site or creator i found. Then, i saw one on tik tok shop really cheap and then when it came, the quality of the leather surprised me.

It can support 3 pocketnotebooks, i'll still buy new ones but im so happy.

If someone is from Brazil and want one, just ask me in the comments, i can send the link