new year, new notebook
That brand-new-notebook feeling—have they made a candle scent of this yet?
When we collectively pressed pause on everything last year, I started using a paper planner again as the days began to blur together and I found myself needing to create some definition.
I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the tactile, analog experience of writing it all down, sometimes with fancy pens and adding stickers. A friend had recommended bullet journaling to me, and at first glance the system of setting up all the personalized productivity methods and trackers seemed like it would be a bit much, but I gave it a try and ended up customizing some things to make it more my speed. And eventually I settled into a good just-write-it-down rhythm. There’s something about putting pen to paper that’s a tiny bit magical and I had mostly taken a break from it since some things are easier to plan out digitally. I still use those things too, but I’m pretty sure my quarantine-fueled new level of obsession with notebooks and journaling will be sticking around.
Along with bullet journaling, I’ve also been journaling-journaling more too. I used to joke that when I did journal, it seemed to only be when I was feeling extra moody and/or broody, and if someone were to find and read it they’d think I was one sad sack for sure. But these days I’ve been including a little bit of everything and anything that comes to mind, and also trying to be more intentional about jotting down bits of gratitude too (apparently that is supposed to be a helpful thing to do, I’m hearing?) Plus I can’t resist adding in some artful touches here, some washi tape there, making the whole thing a nice little creative outlet tucked into my days. So, here’s to new ways of recording and processing it all. I’ve got my new bullet journal for the new year all ready to go, and here’s hoping that the arrival of 2021 will bring some better stories with it. Here’s to that first-blank-page kind of feeling, and to starting new notebooks, even when you already have like six others.
