If you’re a lover of stationery we’re willing to bet you have a secret stash of ‘too beautiful to use’ notebooks somewhere. Now’s the time to let them shine. Here are several ways to actually use your best notebooks and show them some love rather than let them languish in a drawer.
1. A Could-do list notebook
Here at The Simple Things, we don’t believe in ‘to-do lists’ but we are big fans of ‘could-do lists’. In fact, we print one at the front of each and every issue. Beautiful notebooks are just made for Could-do lists - notes about things you might like to do, things that bring joy, allow you to enjoy the moment and mark the passing of the seasons. Ours are relevant to the month of the year, but yours could be weekly or even daily. They could be themed by subject rather than seasonally. Or they could be relevant to particular times in your life - perhaps a travel Could-do list or one for planning a party or days out with friends. The main thing to remember is they should be pressure free. You don’t need to tick them off; you don’t actually need to ‘do’ any of them. It’s all about the planning and dreaming.
2. Bullet journalling
Bullet journalling has been around for many a year and is a pleasing way of keeping track of everything in your life using symbols to denote appointments, tasks and notes. Many people make them more of a craft project, using beautiful letters, doodles and illustrations to make them a visual record of everything going on in their lives.
3. Personal almanac
Almanacs are a collection of (usually) meteorological or astronomical data to help farmers, sailors and their ilk in day-to-day life. They might include sunrise and sunset hours, tide times, or agricultural information. You can create your own almanac by using a notebook to collate information that’s specific to you and your area. Maybe what time to catch the best sunsets in September, good dark places to go stargazing in meteorite showers, when the tide is far out enough for sandcastles at your local beach (and where to get the best ice creams, too).
4. Nature journals
This one’s almanac-adjacent, but more specific. You’re simply noting down all the changes in nature you see in the same spot, every day or every week over a year. By the end of the year you’ll have a complete record of when the snowdrops peek out, when the first swifts can be seen, when blackberries are ripe, and so on.
5. Morning pages
Great for writers and other creatives or anyone who just needs to clear their heads, this writing practice invented by Julia Cameron in ‘The Artist’s Way’ simply means getting up each morning and writing three stream-of-consciousness pages before doing anything else. The idea is to clear space in your head ready for the day but every now and then your semi-conscious mind produces something surprisingly good.
6. Reading record
Quite simply, a notebook in which to record everything you read. Never again will you struggle for inspiration when someone asks if you can recommend anything good, and never again will you get halfway through an Agatha Christie before realising you’ve already read the blinking thing and remember who dunnit.
7. Food and friends notes
Can’t remember if you did your lamb navarin the last time Bryan and Sarah came for dinner? Feel like you’re sure Laura and Kate loved that salad you did two summers ago but can’t for the life of you remember what was in it? Keep a record of every meal you cooked, for whom and where you found the recipe and you’ll feel like the hostess with the mostess. Plus it’s a lovely thing to look back on and remember all those happy times around your table.
8. Positivity pages
Sometimes it’s just nice to have something to lift your spirits in dark times. Keep a journal of ‘gratitude’ ie things you are grateful for, or simply add happy memories, things that made you smile or funny stories you’ve read about or been told. Then when you’re having a down day you can dip in for a dose of positivity.
9. Dream diary
Whether you believe in dream interpretation or are simply interested in the way your mind works while you snooze, keeping a diary of dreams next to your bed so you can write them down before you forget them can be a fascinating exercise. (And saves you boring other people with them, too!)
10. Commonplace book
A commonplace book is a notebook used to record favourite quotes, excerpts from books and letters, poems and proverbs, wise sayings and song lyrics. They can be collated on a theme or you can simply note down anything that ‘speaks to you’ for a bit of inspiration whenever you need it. You can read all about them in our feature ‘Chapter and Verse’ by Miranda Mills in our October issue, or in Miranda’s book ‘The Country Commonplace Book’ (Batsford).
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