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Ready to transform your life one habit at a time?
Imagine a companion that not only encourages accountability but also turns goal-setting and productivity into an adventure of self-discovery.
Whether your aims include meditating, improving sleep quality, financial management, or boosting your daily water intake, documenting your journey offers a vivid snapshot of your personal evolution.
Among the diverse methods available for habit tracking, the bullet journal distinguishes itself with its unparalleled adaptability and creative potential.
We’ve carefully selected 49 Bullet Journal Habit Tracker Ideas & Examples to ignite your creativity and assist in tailoring your tracking to fit your unique needs and interests.
Our collection ranges from the streamlined DHG Monthly Habit Tracker to the enchantingly detailed Gingerbread-Themed Habit Tracker, and the indispensable Pet Care Habit Tracker, ensuring there’s a perfect match for everyone.
Experience the delight of vibrant colors with the Colorful Habit Tracker, seek tranquility in the precision of the Moon-themed Habit Tracker, or tap into your magical side with the Hogwarts-Inspired Habit Tracker.
Each concept offers a glimpse into the myriad ways you can visualize your progress and commitment, whether through the blossoming design of the Pink Flower Habit Tracker or the meticulous organization of the Square and Grid Habit Tracker.
Dive into our curated selection and find the ideal habit tracker that resonates with your personal aspirations.
Remember, every entry you make is a step forward towards becoming the version of yourself you’ve always dreamt of.
Key Benefits of Habit Tracking Journaling
But before we get to our list, we want to share with you some of the benefits of habit tracking:
Accountability. Keeping a habit tracker helps you develop your sense of accountability. Whenever you don’t accomplish a task or habit you promised yourself to fulfill, it makes you feel a little guilty. Thus, you try your best to achieve it the next time.
Goal-setting. Habit trackers improve your goal-setting abilities, too. It is true that there are specific goal-setting planners you can use to focus on achieving your goals, but a habit tracker is a good tool in general to help you break down the tasks you need to master in order to achieve them.
Motivation. Habit trackers allow you to see your progress on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. If you have long-term goals, you can even create one that is designed to depict your yearly accomplishments. And whenever you look at that progress, you feel more inspired and motivated to continue your habit development.
Productivity. Motivation is what keeps us going, and helps us maintain our productivity. Whenever you look at your planner or tracker, you feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that you’ve been doing things according to plan. That can give you the motivation to be more active and consistent in doing your daily habits and tasks.
Self-development. Bullet journalists and writers agree that one of the best ways to practice self-care and self-development is through habit tracking. You get to know yourself better and understand what you are best and worst at. Habit tracking helps you define your strengths and weaknesses.
These are only a few of the many advantages of having a habit tracker in your journal. Now let’s check out our list of habit tracker ideas you can use!
If you’re looking for a calendar-format habit tracker for major habits, you might want to give our monthly tracker a try. It allows you to track up to four habits for a particular month and comes in a muted pastel color scheme.
Each habit calendar features encircled dates that you can mark with a check or an X. You can also fill them in with colored markers to indicate you’ve done the habit for the day. A section at the bottom of the page allows you to write down important notes and reminders.
Tired of complicated habit trackers? We’ve got you covered with our minimalist template that’s specifically designed to be easy to use without sacrificing the functionality of an effective habit tracker.
This teal-themed template provides space for keeping track of eight habits over seven days. The tracker has a Sunday start.
More importantly, this tracker has a section for writing observations and reflections about your routine (e.g., which habits worked and which need improvement).
3. Three Time Periods Habit Tracker
What makes this habit tracker template unique is the division of morning, workday, and night habits—three time periods that you can further organize via color-coding. You can use various colors if you prefer to come up with your own beautiful design.
4. Butterfly Habit Tracker
With this journal template, you can include as many as 10 habits. If your journal notebook is big, you can even add more habits at the bottom. Then, you can customize it by pasting cuttings like the butterflies in the example, according to your preference.
5. Another Minimalist Habit Tracker
This is a great minimalist bullet journal habit tracker and sleep tracker (or any tracker you may want to put on the other side of the notebook, for that matter). It is perfect for a dotted notebook, as the dots can serve as your guide when tracking.
6. Weekly Habit Tracker
This is another great habit tracker for minimalistic bullet journal users. The dates are even divided on a weekly basis, making your habits easier to track. In addition to being simple to use, it is also not very time-consuming to create.
7. Graph Habit Tracker
Try out this template if you want to keep your habit, mood, and sleep trackers all in one place. According to the creator of this tracker, it is perfect for those with self-destructive tendencies and sleep problems.
8. Three-in-One Habit Tracker
This design comes complete with daily, weekly, and monthly habit trackers. It even has an affirmations schedule and space for notes. The way the space is used is just so adorable, plus you can put a lot of elements on one page.
9. Mandala Habit Tracker
This circular, mandala-like habit tracker is perfect for those who are practicing Zen-related habits. Mandalas are known to increase focus and attention, and reduce stress and tension. However, this template can also be useful for anyone who simply wants a circular habit tracker.
10. Pink Flower Habit Tracker
Here we have a minimalist habit tracker that is perfect for those who love flowers. You can also change the design if you want to, but can still keep the boxes, which you can highlight, shade, or color.
11. Meditation Habit Tracker
This template is specifically intended for your meditation habit. It can be useful if you want your trackers for each habit to be on separate pages. You can track 10 habits—one per page—so you’ll have a better (and wider) view of your progress. This is recommended if you have a journal notebook with many pages.
12. Beauty Routine Habit Tracker
This is a tracker for your beauty and skin care routine, as well as your reading and knowledge habits. It is a great way to keep tabs on the positive habits you are trying to integrate into your life.
13. Pink & Floral Graph Habit Tracker
We personally like this tracker because of the graphs and simplicity. It is an excellent template to use if you want to see correlations between your habits and mood. It is also very clean, and has a lot of space where you can add notes.
14. Savings & Spending Habit Tracker
This is another saving and spending habits tracker, albeit a bit more detailed than the previous one. It separates your savings from your spending, and even has values for your target savings. There is also space for notes where you can write reminders about the things you decide to buy.
15. Sleep, Work, Study, and Exercise Tracker
This habit tracker may take a while to create, but it is easy to use once done. You just have to highlight the days you did a habit, and you’re set. But don’t forget to use color-coding so you don’t get lost when you are reviewing different habits.
16. Piano Lessons Habit Tracker
Here we have a habit tracker in landscape layout. In the example it is being used as a piano tracker, but it can be a good template for just about any kind of habit. It can even serve as a general tracker where you can list all of your habits.
17. Baby’s Height and Weight Tracker
This example is designed for moms who want to keep track of their newborns. It has height and weight elements on one page, and a record of the baby’s teeth on the other. If you want, you can even track your baby’s sleep and food or milk intake.
18. Baby’s Feeding and Sleep Log
Here is another template specifically for the mommies out there. This design helps you keep track of your baby’s feedings and sleep. It is printable, so you can have as many copies as you want.
19. Pet Care Habit Tracker
This is a habit tracker for your pet—since pets need good self-care habits too! This tracker will be most useful for those who take pet care very seriously.
20. Another Pet Care Habit Tracker
Here’s another pet care habit tracker for you and your favorite animal. As you can see, this is actually a planner with a habit tracker, which will come in handy if you want to track your pets’ progress in a variety of categories.
21. Square and Grid Habit Tracker
This habit tracker is great for those who like geometric lines and illusions. It is a combination of a habit tracker and a mood tracker, and looks absolutely beautiful when the month is done (assuming, of course, that you have accomplished most of your goals).
22. Simple Habit Tracker
There’s something about this habit tracker that is so refreshing to the eyes. It’s probably the combination of black and pastel colors on white paper, plus the habit names written in a floating style. Whatever it is, you can try this format on your next bullet journal spread.
23. Moon-themed Habit Tracker
If you are following marthasjournal on Instagram, you probably know that she is one of the most popular bullet journalists at the moment. This moon-themed habit tracker is just so calm and peaceful, it will inspire you to meet your habit goals every day.
24. Cloudy Habit Tracker
This is another design from marthasjournal, and is laid out in calendar form per habit. The design is what makes the difference. You can customize this template with cut-outs from your used magazines or art papers at home.
25. Flower-themed Monthly Habit Tracker
It’s no mystery why the lovely designs from marthasjournal are some of our favorites. This particular habit tracker is flower-themed, and includes eight categories. If you are in the mood to do some artwork, you can even use the next page to include eight more habits.
Are you a fun and playful person? Then this habit tracker design and template might just suit you. It also has a mood tracker format that you can copy into your bullet journal notebook.
27. Black and Yellow Habit Tracker
If you are a fan of the combination of black and yellow, you will likely appreciate this template. It’s simple yet fancy, and very appealing. If you happen to like any other color instead of yellow, then that’s perfectly fine too, since black works well with any color.
28. Printable Two Designs Habit Tracker
This printable habit tracker by Savanna Williams is available on Etsy.com, and provides a nice dose of variety. There is a vertical version and a circular one. If you purchase it, you’ll get a copy in four sizes—letter, half-letter, A4, and A5.
29. Flower-themed Printable Habit Tracker
This lovely, printable habit tracker from Anna Galiano is available on Etsy.com in A5 and half-letter size. It has all the essentials of a habit tracker, such as the month and date, and a space where you can write the habits you want to monitor.
30. High-Contrast Tracker
If you prefer a high-contrast spread, you might try something like this example. You can track up to 10 habits, using pre-assigned symbols for each one. It also comes with trackers for steps and fluid intake.
You can use neon highlighters or markers against a black background to represent days when you’ve accomplished an activity.
31. Take the Cake
In this scrumptious example, the owner drew slices of different cakes to represent each day of the month. She then colored in each slice, using the colors she had assigned the different habits she’s tracking.
32. All Colors of the Light Spectrum
Tired of minimalist spreads? If you love to see an explosion of colors in your bullet journal, here’s a habit tracker example that incorporates every color of the rainbow.
33. Fuzzy Wuzzies
This spread features more subtle colors. It allows you to track up to five habits, and each one is represented by a cute caterpillar.
34. Gorgeously Illustrated Habit Tracker
Get more inspired to perform your daily habits with this gorgeous, hand-drawn spread. The tracker page features mini-calendars with headers in shades of blue and green. Providing visual interest on this page is an underwater theme created using brush pens and fineliners.
35. Cacti Spread
Here is another colorful example of a habit tracker. As you can see, this one has desert scenes, with succulents and sand dunes as the feature images.
36. The “Envelope System”
Incorporating tactile elements is a great way to create a unique and eye-catching habit tracker page. In this example, the owner created tiny felt envelopes and placed mini-calendars within. Each envelope represents a habit that the owner wishes to track.
37. Watercolor Tracker
This habit tracker features a watercolor silhouette of a city skyline. There are calendar boxes for tracking up to six habits. Just use markers or highlighters to fill in each box, representing that you’ve accomplished a habit on a particular day. If you are into watercolors, you might want to try this kind of tracker for your next habit tracker spread.
38. Golden Hearts Habit Tracker
Metallic gel pens produce a stunning effect when used in black-paged bullet journals, as shown in this example. There are three habits being tracked in this spread. Each one is written in calligraphy, serving as vertical headers. Once a habit has been accomplished, a heart is placed on the row corresponding to the date.
39. Green-and-Orange Color Scheme
This habit tracker uses brush pens in orange and green tones to create a gingham effect in each habit calendar. Each colored square within the calendar represents a day when the owner has performed a habit.
40. All That Matters Most
This habit tracker from creator @leftyartlover features a beautifully illustrated two-page layout. The trackers are drawn as part of the overall artwork. For example, the window is the tracker for the owner’s workout routine, the painting is the vitamin-intake tracker, and the bottom of the bed is a month-long sleep log. Pretty clever, isn’t it?
41. Yuletide Habit Tracker
This tracker features a seasonal theme, and there is enough space to track a multitude of habits. However, for the greatest chance at success, it is recommended to track no more than 10 habits at a time.
42. Gingerbread-Themed Habit Tracker
Looking for more hand-drawn examples? If you’re artistically gifted and have sufficient time to make a hand-drawn habit tracker, then this tasty example might serve as inspiration.
43. Inspired by Honey
This tracker is inspired by honey, which is considered to be nature’s liquid gold. The bright colors of this tracker make it fitting for a spring-themed spread.
44. Sweet and Simple Theme
Here’s a figure-skating theme that you might try for your own bullet journal tracker page. This tracker’s charming design belies its power to motivate and encourage the owner to stay on track with their chosen good habits.
45. Gingham-Themed Tracker
In this example, the owner of the bullet journal tracks their reading, workout, and self-care habits. The background of this tracker takes inspiration from gingham cloth. The two-color, checked pattern evokes a cozy atmosphere, such as during the fall season.
46. Hogwarts-Inspired Habit Tracker
Here’s a habit tracker that takes inspiration from the wizarding world of Harry Potter. The hand-drawn, striped scarves are filled in with specific colors, indicating the days a habit has been accomplished.
The colors represent each of Hogwarts’ houses: red for Gryffindor, green for Slytherin, yellow for Hufflepuff, and blue for Ravenclaw.
47. Tracker for Health Habits
This tracker pays tribute to the moon and keeps track of your healthy habits. The spread is decorated with scraps of printed magenta paper, Kraft paper, stickers, and doodles drawn by the journal’s owner.
48. Halloween-Themed Habit Tracker
If you’re looking for a Halloween-themed tracker, here’s a minimalist example with just the right amount of creepy and spooky. This tracker has sufficient space to log 12 habits.
49. Grayscale Tracker
This minimalist tracker features a two-page spread, with different habits grouped according to category. For example, you’ll notice that training habits are divided into different activities and focus areas. The spread also has areas on the right-hand side to keep track of events for the month.
Conclusion
Habit tracking is one of the best ways to help you know which areas in your life need a bit of work and improvement. At the same time, it allows you to reevaluate your choices and eliminate the things in your life you no longer think are worth spending time on.
Personalizing your bullet journal habit trackers is also a great way to stay motivated and on track to follow through. There are many kinds of bullet journal supplies that you can use to enhance the look of your habit trackers.
If you want to live an organized yet interesting lifestyle, we suggest adding a habit tracker to your bullet journal and also a bullet journal index.
There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.
Looking for awesome idea journals?
Wonderful ideas often come in like a sudden flood that catches us unprepared.
As much as we’d like to trust our ability to recall these thoughts later, chances are there’ll be details that get unintentionally omitted.
Sometimes there are so many ideas churning around in our heads that we simply need abrain dump.
An idea journal ensures that you’ll be able to keep all of those great thoughts in one place (or clear space in your head if it’s a brain dump you need). Moreover, you’ll be able to access them whenever you need them.
But with so many options available these days, it can be challenging to find the best journal for your needs.
Fortunately, we’ve done the hard work for you.
Today, we’re reviewing seven of the best journals you can use to track the great ideas that come to you throughout the day.
Hopefully our recommendations will help you make an informed decision when it comes time to buy your next journal.
Our Picks for the Best Idea Journals
Don’t have time to read the entire review? Then check out this table for a quick review:
Quick Tips for Choosing the Best Journal for Your Ideas
Regardless of your preference for ruled, blank, or grid pages, you’ll need a reliable journal that is available any time an idea springs up. Here are some tips to make sure that you get the right journal.
Take note of the craftsmanship. You need a reliable repository for your thoughts when they come, and choosing a well-crafted journal ensures that it holds up better to daily handling.
Get a journal with high-quality paper. Thicker, high-quality journal paper can accommodate most types of pens, as well as collages, paint, and other embellishments.
Get the right size for your journaling needs. Your journal should be easily within reach so you can jot down ideas that come to you at any time. It should be conveniently sized to fit in your bag (or, if you’re working in the field, in your pocket).
Choose a design that resonates with you. The overall aesthetics of your journal should be something that inspires you to write, sketch, paint, or draft your ideas on its pages.
Let’s take a look at today’s journals!
7 Best Idea Journals to Track Your Great Thoughts in 2022
Each journal from this company has been manufactured by artisans using high-quality materials. You’ll immediately notice the careful attention to detail that went into creating your journal.
The vintage design is aesthetically pleasing and the journal’s overall quality makes it an ideal gift for both beginner and seasoned journal enthusiasts.
Top-grain buffalo leather makes this journal very durable. Furthermore, its recycled cotton paper provides the ideal writing surface for jotting down thoughts.
The paper itself is also impressive, as it can accommodate any writing tool. Even fountain pens will not bleed through the pages.
One more thing to note about this journal is the manufacturer’s dedication to customer service. When you purchase a journal, it comes with a note encouraging the buyer to contact the manufacturer for any issues they encounter with their purchase.
The journal also comes with a one-year warranty.
If you need a well-made, high-quality, giftable option, we highly recommend this journal.
PROS
Durable.
Visually appealing design.
Cotton paper ensures ink does not bleed through the pages.
Comes with a one-year replacement warranty.
CONS
At 1.28 pounds, it can be a bit hefty for some people.
If your ideas usually come in visual form or if you use different art media to capture your ideas, Leda A5 Sketchbook from Leda is worth considering.
Its 130 gsm paper can accommodate pens, charcoal, markers, pencil, and watercolors. The sketchbook/journal contains 160 beige-toned pages and the paper is tear-proof.
It also lies flat, making it easy to work on the pages and making it easy to scan images.
A pocket at the back of the journal provides space for keeping loose pages and even your phone. The high-quality, protective, soft cover keeps your ideas intact. You’ll feel confident carrying this journal in all weather conditions.
This journal allows you to unleash your artistic ideas, helps you keep track of them afterwards, and keeps them safe from the elements.
PROS
Thick paper can accommodate most art media.
Protective cover keeps pages safe from the elements.
Lies flat for easier drawing and scanning.
Pocket stores loose pages and small items.
CONS
Some people find that the binding splits after several pages of use.
3. Best Value for Money: DSTELIN Soft Cover Spiral Notebook
If you need a compact and affordable notebook that can accommodate your awesome ideas, DSTELIN Soft Cover Spiral Notebook is the best value for your money.
This lightweight journal is ideal for keeping track of your thoughts while on the go.
It comes with unlined paper and the pages are thick enough to accommodate lists, collages, drawings, and scrapbooking.
This is also a great option for introducing children to the art of idea journaling.
This journal is the best value for money if you’re looking for a straightforward journal that does its job recording and preserving your awesome ideas.
PROS
Very affordable.
Pages can accommodate sketches and other artistic works.
Compact size makes it ideal to take anywhere.
CONS
Cover is not sturdy enough to provide protection for the pages within.
4. Best Basic Hardcover Notebook: Leuchtturm 1917 Ruled Hardcover Notebook
Looking for a classic hardcover journal? Leuchtturm has long been a well-recognized brand that manufactures high-quality journal notebooks.
The Leuchtturm 1917 Ruled Hardcover Notebook is a classic staple and is the perfect journal for keeping track of your ideas. There are 24 colors to choose from, and you don’t need to worry about losing your place within the notebook, as its pages are numbered. Furthermore, a cross-referencing system is included for easy retrieval of your thoughts.
This journal has 249 pages and its dot-grid layout easily accommodates your personal system for journaling. The 80 gsm paper can also accommodate most types of pens.
PROS
Has over 20 color choices.
Durable.
Cross-referencing system provides easy retrieval of notes.
CONS
Some people find the paper to be very thin.
5. Best for All-Weather Use: Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Top Spiral Notebook
The Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Top Spiral Notebook is primarily intended for people whose professions take them out into the field in any type of terrain or weather conditions.
It is also a wonderful journal for when your ideas pop up unexpectedly.
This journal’s cover is made with Polydura material, which provides a tough outer shell that protects the notes within. Not only is it designed to withstand water, it also repels sweat, mud, and grease. And its small size makes it portable and easy to store in your pocket.
Regardless of the weather, having this notebook ensures that you’ll have somewhere to jot down your greatest ideas.
PROS
Very durable.
Its size makes it very portable.
Can be used in different weather and environmental conditions.
CONS
Only pencil works on the pages when they are wet.
6. Best for Travelers: Moleskine Traveller’s Journal
Moleskine Traveller’s Journal is the best choice if you’re looking for a journal in which to record your ideas as you pursue your passion for travel.
Whether you’re recording life-changing insights or a straightforward to-do list while you’re on the road, this is the journal you want to reach for.
This journal is crafted with a hard cover to protect what you’ve written within. It also comes with a couple of ribbon bookmarks and tabbed pages to provide ease in accessing your notes.
The journal contains 400 pages of 70 gsm acid-free paper.
Accompanying themed stickers make it possible to customize your entries.
PROS
Contains 400 pages for more spaces to write down your ideas.
Tabs allow for easy retrieval of your notes.
Stickers provide extra customization.
CONS
The paper may be too thin to accommodate writing tools other than a ball-point pen.
Looking for a journal to give as a gift to a loved one? You might want to consider Beechmore Ruled Notebook.
The Beechmore Ruled Notebook provides a luxurious journal writing experience and is handcrafted from vegan leather.
Its 120 gsm paper provides a smooth writing surface and accommodates most writing implements, including fountain pens. It contains 160 ruled pages, which is sufficient for many weeks of journaling.
There are six available colors and the journal comes with an elastic closure and a color-coordinated ribbon bookmark that adds elegance to its overall appearance.
This is the perfect giftable journal. It comes packaged with tissue paper and an elegant box.
PROS
Luxurious journaling experience.
Thick paper.
Comes in elegant packaging.
CONS
Does not lie flat easily.
Final Thoughts on Idea Journals
There you have it—our in-depth review of the best journals to keep track of your life-changing ideas.
The idea journals featured today are the best in their respective categories. Overall, today’s best choice is the KomalC Handmade Leather Journal. It has earned praise for its craftsmanship, durability, paper quality, and overall aesthetic design.
Meanwhile, here are more resources you might be interested in:
There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.
Few of life’s great activities are more stimulating to the imagination than traveling. So, travel experiences naturally inspire journal writing.
In fact, one of the best ways to capture your memories is to create a daily habit where you jot down your thoughts about events of the day, the people you’ve met, and the amazing sights you’ve seen.
So with that in mind, in this article we provide 45 travel journal prompts that can help spark your imagination. But first, let’s answer a specific question that you might have.
Why Should You Use Travel Journal Prompts?
Journaling is a mentally freeing practice. For travelers, it’s great for inspiration, for sharing information with others, and for looking back on your trips and having a chronicle of what you did.
You can just spontaneously pick up your journal and sprawl down thoughts of the moment across page after page, or you might prefer some more structured ways of journaling.
However you approach it, journal writing can be a highly rewarding method of documenting your experiences and expressing your views and ideas. Seeing your inner life mirrored on the pages of your journal makes it a naturally effective self-development tool.
When it comes to traveling, journal prompts can be sentences or phrases designed to trigger inspiration to pursue topics for journal writing.
Writing prompts like those on the list below can remind you of a meaningful experience at a particular place or time that you will enjoy writing about. The prompts can cause you to go down paths in your writing that you might not otherwise have taken.
An exploratory range of journaling prompts can provide a veritable travel guide through your memories, and expose your psychological and emotional responses to so many travel experiences as well as others that might not have been previously accessible to you at such internal depths.
These prompts are designed to lead the thinker to provide life lessons in different ways. That activity can strengthen the agility of the mind and the ability to reach solutions and more ideally manage one’s personal happiness — the ultimate inner destination in journaling.
45 Travel Journal Prompts
There are journaling prompts to help trigger thought streams for writing on just about any topic you can name. There are also endless numbers of useful generic journal writing prompts available on the world wide web.
But, for help generating journal writing topics specific to traveling, here are some prompts tailored to lead into writing on your adventures:
One of the most amazing places I’ve ever been was ________.
One of the most exciting things I’ve ever seen was ________.
When I was travelling through ________, on my way to ________, I was fascinated by ________.
I once spent what I thought would be a relaxing vacation in ________.
It’s considered risky to go there, but visiting ________ was an extraordinary experience.
I’ll never forget the feeling of standing at the edge of ________.
It was shocking to see right before my eyes, ________.
All around me, there were ________.
It was an epic adventure going to ________.
I was frightened at the thought of it, but I’m very glad I ________.
Few things have given me as big an adrenalin rush as ________.
It seems crazy looking back on it now, but we ________
One of the most breathtaking sights I’ve ever seen was ________.
One of the times I was most lost was in ________.
Being in ________ was a true culture shock.
Navigating the subway in _____ was an strange odyssey.
Many of the locals were skeptical of foreign travelers at ________.
One of my favorite beaches is the U.S. is ________.
When I went to ________ during the annual ________ event, and it was unbelievable.
There are so many incredible museums and galleries in ________.
One of my favorite museums in the world is the ________ in ________ (city).
I didn’t speak the language, but fortunately many people in ________ speak English.
I was most impressed with the vastness of ________.
The many stunning statues added to the special atmosphere of ________ (city).
The wildest public party scene I’ve ever seen was definitely in ________ (city).
Seeing such deep poverty juxtaposed to such conspicuous wealth shocked the senses.
The whole area of ________ (region) was teeming with wildlife.
The customs of social interaction in ________ (city) required me to ________.
It was surreal staring into the gaping mouth of the cave.
The people of ________ were so welcoming and charming.
The panorama had a mystical quality.
the desert stretched as far as the eye could see.
Suddenly, for the first time, I beheld a ________ in the wild.
There’s nothing really quite like gazing out over the ocean.
Crossing the border at ________ is its own adventure.
________ is one of those areas where finding edible food becomes a major focus.
The pictures of it can’t portray the immensity of ________.
Spending time out on the water was a highlight of the journey.
There was so much to see, it was hard to decide where to start.
Hiking in the ________ mountains was an especially satisfying challenge.
Standing beneath that massive, powerful waterfall was thrilling.
Exploring ________ revealed wonders all around us.
Being in ________ was very different than I expected.
If I could go back to only one destination, I think it would be ________.
For unforgettable music, food, and atmosphere, ________ is the perfect spot.
Final Thoughts on Travel Journal Prompts
Memories of travel often grow even more significant over time and can be deeply satisfying to write about.
Writing prompts that are specific to travel experience afford you a vast array of journaling options any time you want to pick up your journal and start writing.
Moreover, maintaining a journal can be a great way to re-live your fondest travel memories. Many years after a trip, you can review a travel journal to remember the sights, sounds, and people you’ve met.
And if you’re looking for more prompts, be sure to check out these articles:
There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.
If you’re in a hurry and just want to know what the best daily personal journal and notebook is, then we recommend BestSelf Co. The SELF Journal – Daily Planner as the best choice.
Are you looking to make positive changes in 2024? Most of us like to begin each new year with a few goals in mind that can enrich our lives. Unfortunately, for many of us, the motivation we feel in January begins to fizzle as time goes on, and we lose sight of those goals.
A good journal will keep you motivated and encourage your personal growth journey. So with that in mind, here are the 20 best daily journals and journaling notebooks on the market.
Our Picks for Best Journal Notebooks
Don’t have time to read the entire journal notebook review? Then check out this table for a quick review…
The Benefits of Journal Writing
At first, jotting down our thoughts, goals, and challenges to overcome may seem like a trivial endeavor. But studies have shown that journal writing is beneficial for our brains and overall well-being.
Journal writing is a proven stress reducer, as the simple act of laying out our fears and perceived hurdles can free our minds from negative thoughts.
Many people find that putting their goals and aspirations on paper provides a more tangible, attainable goal when compared to simple thoughts, which are much easier to ignore than permanent ink.
For many of us, having a set schedule is crucial to getting things done. Journal writing is no exception.
You’ll find it easier to write—and to remember to do so—if you adhere to a journal writing schedule. For instance, making time in the morning to lay out the day’s agenda can make goals more attainable.
Conversely, you may find it easier to do your journal writing at the end of the day. As you lay out your daily accomplishments, it can give you a sense of pride, seeing tangible evidence of your successes of the day.
Finally, just as the choice of journal notebook is a highly personal one, so is your writing schedule. You can write daily, or less often if you find the idea of daily writing to be daunting.
Once you get into the habit of journal writing, the process will become easier. You’ll find that the habit becomes ingrained—part of your daily routine.
The right type of journal can help you foster discipline and be a stepping stone to other healthy habits that can improve your life.
What Should I Look for in a Journal?
Any notebook can be used as a journal. Getting specialized journals like the ones on this page are more about having guidance to prompt your daily writing.
Journaling is a personal endeavor. Some people prefer the freedom that comes from a blank journal but others need guidance or writing prompts.
Many people find it difficult to achieve the discipline needed to journal regularly. So those who have trouble focusing or remembering to write may find success with pre-formatted journals, rather than blank notebooks.
Even a simple motivational quote can provide an extra boost of inspiration and help you develop a habit of writing. Some journal notebooks feature quotes followed by a section where you can respond to the daily message, and this is a feature I find immensely beneficial.
Above all, you’ll find the most success with a journal notebook that inspires you and nudges you towards writing down your thoughts every day.
As you sort through the plethora of available notebook options in order to find the perfect tool for your needs, you’ll discover that journal notebooks come in every color of the rainbow and every size imaginable.
Types and Features of Journal Notebooks
Journals and notebooks come in myriad sizes to meet a variety of user needs.
Some are small enough to fit in your pocket, while others are the perfect size for a backpack or purse.
If portability isn’t a concern, you can opt for a large, hardcover journal. These can be constructed of letter-size paper, about 8 by 11 inches, and some are even larger.
Journals can be constructed with soft or hard covers, and are available in a variety of page counts, but most journal notebooks average around 200 pages.
Many journals are outfitted with integrated elastic straps or fabric ribbons you can use to mark your page, giving you quick access without rifling through the notebook.
Keep your ideal journal features and goals in mind as you search for the perfect one. The following twenty journals are very different, but each one is designed to improve your life and lead you toward positive life choices and healthy habits.
20 Best Journal Notebooks for Personal Development
1. Best Overall Choice: BestSelf Co. The SELF Journal – Daily Planner
BestSelf Co. The SELF Journal – Daily Planner is the best overall journal. It offers the perfect balance between allowing users to keep track of goals, time management, and gratitude.
This journal offers a 13-week program that is backed by science and developed by entrepreneurs and is ideal for men who aren’t quite sure where to start when it comes to journaling or have a hard time sticking with the practice.
The scientific structure of this journal includes space to record your morning and evening gratitude, your goals for the day, a 6am-9pm hourly schedule for each day and lots of clean space for notes.
This journal is a great tool for success because it presents men with an outline to simply fill in the details. It is especially helpful for those who are looking to improve their accountability, track their progress toward both short and long-term goals, and who want to see their results.
This journal offers spreads that are daily, weekly, and monthly to help men organize their lives with as much detail as needed. And, because this journal is not dated, it isn’t necessary to write in it every day.
The hard cover is wrapped in canvas and includes thick paper that’s durable enough for fountain pens. It also comes with a durable fabric bookmark.
PROS
Undated, so can be started at any time
The layout is backed by science to be effective in helping people achieve goals
Durable
CONS
Created to be used for 13 weeks, which is the amount of time one typically needs to achieve a goal–but some users may need longer, depending on the goal
Some find this journal to be geared toward business goals only
The lines in this journal are too light for some to see clearly
If your ideal journal is one that gives you free rein and flexibility, then the classic Moleskine Journal Notebook is a no-brainer.
No matter the subject matter or length of your written reflection, this journal notebook can accommodate you. Consisting of 240 blank, lined pages and measuring 8.2 x 5.2 x 1 inches, the large Moleskine Journal Notebook is conveniently portable.
The Moleskine Journal Notebook helps you foster your creativity in a way that many other journal notebooks cannot. The notebook’s blank pages are an open canvas where you can free write, draw, make goal lists, and reflect on disappointments—the choice is yours!
The Moleskine company boasts a rich history, crafting durable and attractive notebooks since 1997.
The quintessential “little black book,” today’s Moleskines are designed with a timeless look, harking back centuries, which makes these journal notebooks a staple among writers from all walks of life, from novelists to journal writers.
A top seller, the basic Large Ruled Moleskine Journal Notebook features a cardboard-bound cover with rounded corners, an elastic closure, an attached dark violet ribbon bookmark, and an expandable inner pocket. The notebook’s thick, acid-free pages stand up to most types of ink with no bleeding through.
PROS
Well-constructed with a classic look
Fits easily in your purse, messenger bag, or even large pockets
Allows for writing freedom and flexibility
Warm page color is relaxing and inviting
CONS
Cover is cardboard bound and less durable than its hardcover counterparts
Not designed for specific goal-setting
3. Best Value for the Money: C.R. Gibson Brown Bonded Leather Journal
This beautiful journal has a cover made from genuine European bonded leather, a matching ribbon marker, and a gusseted storage pocket, giving it the look of a luxury journal that costs twice as much.
With a generous number of lined pages, Smyth sewn binding, and an elastic closure, this journal is a great value for the money.
The C.R. Gibson Brown Bonded Leather Journal measures 5 x 8.2 inches, so it’s the perfect size for a purse or laptop bag. It has 240 lined pages, with 32 lines per page. The cover is made of brown bonded leather, with an elastic strap to hold the journal closed.
The journal has Smyth sewn binding, so it lays flat as you write. The ribbon marker helps you stay organized, and it also has a gusseted pocket on the rear cover to hold notes and cards.
PROS
Bonded leather cover
Good size for convenience and portability
Matching ribbon marker and elastic band look attractive
Rear pocket holds loose items
240 pages lasts for a while
Lined pages for organization and lists
CONS
Pages are thin and some inks may bleed through
No pen loop
4. Most Budget-Friendly: AmazonBasics Classic Lined Notebook
AmazonBasics is known for their functional, affordable products, and this notebook is no exception. It’s a simple, useful, compact notebook with a generous 240 pages, gusseted pocket, and convenient elastic band.
The cover is a classic black, suitable for any work or school environment, and it’s offered at an extremely reasonable price. What more could you ask for?
The AmazonBasics Classic Lined Notebook measures 5 x 8.25 inches, so it’s compact and portable. It has 240 lined pages, with 30 light grey lines per page. Pages are made from acid-fee, archival quality paper, and resist damage from light and air.
The notebook has a rigid, cardboard cover so you can use it as a writing surface, thread-bound binding, and an expandable inner pocket for notes and cards. It has a sewn-in full length ribbon marker, and an elastic band for closure.
PROS
Classic black cover goes anywhere
Compact size perfect for portability and travel
240 acid-free lined pages
Ribbon marker and elastic closure for convenience
Inner pocket stores loose notes
Affordable price
CONS
Not very durable
Cover may rub color onto other items
5. Best Journal for Women: Erin Condren’s Dot Grid Journal
If you are looking for a good women’s journal, a diary, or something to serve as a day planner, or even as a contact book, the Erin Condren’s Dot Grid Journal is an ideal option to consider.
This is a dot grid journal, which comes in handy for making quick bullet points, whether they be daily events or just quick reminders.
That said, if you choose, you can also go with lined pages. You could choose to use the dotted pages as a way to draw some really cool geometric art pieces.
The pages are all 5 x 8 inches, with the cover being just a bit larger, making it an ideal size to fit in a small purse or in a small drawer, but large enough to write down all of your most important thoughts and reminders.
Keep in mind that the type of paper used in the Erin Condren’s Dot Grid Journal is 80# (120 GSM), which means that it is fairly thick and durable.
The pages feature stitched binding to ensure that they stay in place. They won’t easily tear out of the journal, always a big factor as many notepads and journals often feature weak binding.
What’s also pretty neat about Erin Condren’s Dot Grid Journal is that you can choose to have the cover personalized; you can choose to have your name written in foil on it, thus really making it yours, although this will cost a little extra. The journal itself comes in at around $20.
PROS
Compact size
Good binding
Tough pages
Choose from lined or dotted pages
Optional cover personalization
Reasonable price
CONS
Not ideal for writing large journal entries
6. Best Small-Sized Journal: Passport Travelers Notebook
There’s just something about travel that inspires the writer and diarist in all of us. It’s irresistible to want to record the day’s sights, thoughts, activities, and impressions, so that you can relive them later.
But travel requires a journal that is small, light, and rugged, so that it can keep you company on all your adventures, without weighing you down. This traveler’s notebook from Sovereign-Gear is perfect, with a rugged cover made of real leather, a classic design, and a size that is perfectly portable.
The Passport Travelers Notebook measures just 5.4 x 4.3 inches, the size of a passport. The cover is made of real leather, treated to allow scuffs to be rubbed away. This cover will last a lifetime, and, to be honest, a few scuffs might only increase the rugged charm of the notebook.
The notebook stays securely closed with a durable leather tie, and it has a PVC storage pocket for keeping loose items safe and secure. It also has beautiful decorative toggles and a bookmark that shows your love of travel and adventure.
The notebook comes with a handsome pen and has a hidden pen loop to keep your pen safe at hand no matter where you are. This notebook is refillable, so it really will last a lifetime.
It comes with three quality paper packs, including cream-colored unlined paper, cream-colored lined paper, and brown plain craft paper. This journal takes Midori-style refills and accessories, so it can be customized and expanded as needed.
Sovereign-Gear makes journals that are ethically sourced and fairly traded. They donate a portion of their profits to Afrinspire, to help support communities in East Africa.
PROS
Makes an excellent gift for a travel-lover or for yourself
Genuine crazy horse leather cover will last a lifetime
Cover is treated to reduce scuffs
Refillable and reusable
Compact size perfect for travel
Has a clear PVC pocket for storage of loose items
Cover ties closed for secure travel and storage
Handsome toggles and bookmark
Comes with an attractive pen
Comes with three types of page inserts
Sustainably sourced and fairly traded
Profits benefit families in Africa
CONS
Pen loop is small if you prefer thicker pens
Included pen is not refillable
7. Best Planner to Accomplish Your #1 Goal in 100 Days: The Freedom Journal
If you struggle with productivity and time management, then The Freedom Journal may be the ideal tool for your needs. You can get your life back on track using the simple and clear prompts laid out in The Freedom Journal.
Perfect for anyone with a single large goal they would like to accomplish in the immediate future, The Freedom Journal doubles as a self-help book.
Whether you’re working for a promotion, seeking to achieve greater financial stability, or want to improve your social life, The Freedom Journal can help you accomplish your goals.
It comes with a money-back guarantee and guides you towards your goal from day one while helping you learn how to avoid distractions and stop procrastinating.
The principles of The Freedom Journal are based on science, and you’ll learn how to set and achieve goals according to the SMART system. Using the prompts laid out in this journal notebook, you’re encouraged to set goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound.
The SMART system is designed to put your goals in a simple, digestible format that seems almost easy rather than daunting.
Along with writing prompts, advice, and motivational text designed to lead you to your number one goal, The Freedom Journal also includes 10-day sprints so that you can accomplish micro-goals.
You’ll also be able to identify problem areas in your life that may need adjustment thanks to the journal’s quarterly reviews.
It sounds like a no-brainer, but writing down your goals is the first step towards accomplishing them. You can think more deeply and analyze your moves in an objective manner with help from The Freedom Journal.
This journal notebook measures 10 x 7 x 1 inches, and you can use the attached elastic straps to mark your place.
In addition, The Freedom Journal is perfect for your modern, mobile lifestyle. Every journal purchased comes with access to a private Facebook group where you can connect with your peers. An audiobook, mobile app, and PDF are also included with The Freedom Journal.
PROS
Hardcover, and non-dated, so you can begin it at any time
Well-constructed and durable
Encourages accountability and focus
Keeps you motivated and helps you set a realistic time-frame for achievement
Simple layout, with separate sections for day and night goal review
Smartphone integration with the corresponding app and fillable PDF
CONS
Contains a large amount of text as opposed to blank writing pages
Rigid format
Has a $39 price tag, which is on the high end for journal notebooks
8. Most Stylish and Customizable Notebook: Erin Condren’s Coiled Notebook
If you can’t rest until you have The Perfect Notebook, and none of them are just right, you can always create your own perfect notebook with Erin Condren’s coiled notebooks.
These notebooks allow you to choose your own cover from dozens of existing designs and themes, or make your own. You can choose the layout, choose the coil, even add accessories and make it your own. It’s the perfect choice for your own notebook, or for a thoughtful gift for the hard-to-please diarist in your life.
Erin Condren’s Coiled Notebooks come in two sizes, and allow you to choose from a huge range of beautiful cover designs with different cover options, or upload your own artwork to make your own custom cover.
You could also upgrade to a re-usable cover, and even build a cover collection for all your notebook needs.
The notebooks have rich, 80# paper that is beautiful to write on, and you can choose from classic college-ruled lined pages, a productivity layout with college ruled lines and a functional checklist, a blank sketchbook layout, or a dot grid layout.
The pages are micro-perforated, so it’s easy to cleanly remove used pages. You can also choose to customize the color of your coil, making it platinum (included), or gold, rose, or black for an additional charge.
Every notebook comes with a free sticker sheet, with fun matching sticky notes and tabs to help you stay organized.
Erin Condren also includes a wide range of notebook accessories, including re-usable and swappable covers, a range of sticker sheets, and even snap-in “dashboards.”
These snap-in dashboards can be added to any Erin Condren coiled notebook, and are designed to add more functionality to your notebook, with to-do list and checkbox list dashboards, planner dashboards, and even dashboards specifically designed to help you track your wellness, plan for travel, or manage busy life as a teacher.
Stickers, dashboards, and other accessories are all coordinated to match your notebook cover or theme, and fit into any Erin Condren notebook or planner.
The coiled notebook from Erin Condren gives you endless options for customization and personalization, so you can finally find the perfect notebook that has everything you need, and nothing you don’t.
PROS
Huge range of existing covers or make your own
Optional accessory of re-usable covers that can be transferred to new notebooks
Choose different page layouts for your needs
Comes with an included sticker sheet
Can customize your coil color if you choose
Add optional accessories like sticker sheets, dashboards, planner bags, reusable covers, and more
High-quality paper
CONS
If you choose a lot of accessories and customization, the costs can add up quickly
9. Best Digital Reusable Notebook: Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook
Rocketbook is the leading name in digital reusable notebooks, because not only do their notebooks have a smooth, intuitive, paper-like writing experience, but their innovative technologies bring notebooks into a whole new generation.
With the companion Rocketbook app, you can not only scan your pages and store them in a huge range of cloud storage options, but you can also add them to popular apps like Evernote and Trello, or share them as pdfs or jpgs.
OCR allows Rocketbook to read your handwriting, so you can search for text within your digitized notes and stay organized.
With Rocketbook Beacon technology, you can even live-stream your pages to share with others, making remote collaboration and brainstorming a snap.
Rocketbook is a fantastic digital notebook for students, artists, diarists, or anyone who wants to share their ideas visually without sacrificing the convenience of natural, pen-to-paper writing, sketching, and drawing.
There are several different Rocketbook notebooks to choose from. The core of Rocketbook technology is that these notebooks have a classic pen and paper experience, and when you write on them with a Pilot Frixion pen, your writing adheres just like regular paper.
When your page is done, use the Rocketbook app to capture, store, share, or edit your pages. Then use water to erase your notebook, and the writing disappears like magic. Here’s a quick overview of Rocketbook notebook versions:
Comes in letter or executive size, with cover color options. It has 32-36 reusable pages, and you can choose lined pages or dot grid pages. It’s infinitely reusable, and comes with a pen and microfiber cloth for erasing.
Comes in letter or executive size with cover color options. It has 42 infinitely reusable pages, with a layout that has task lists, weekly planners, monthly calendars, OKR goal templates, idea lists, lined pages, and dot-grid pages. It comes with a pen.
Comes in standard or executive sizes with a wave cover design. Has 80 pages with a dot-grid pattern.
The acid-free, fine-grained paper is designed for a real paper feel, perfect for drawing and sketching, and the pages are erasable and reusable up to 5 times. This notebook “erases” when microwaved, so it can be erased and reused all at once, rather than page by page.
Comes in letter and executive sizes with a soft-touch imperial purple cover and stylish pewter binding. It has 140 acid-free, fine-grained dot grid pages.
This notebook is not reusable, so it works with any pen. It’s designed to allow you to have a traditional, non-reusable notebook with the convenience of the Rocketbook app storage and sharing features.
Measures 20.3 x 24.1 cm, with a colorful cover. It has 12 pages total: 8 bland pages designed for drawing and coloring, 2 dot-grid pages, and 2 lined pages. This Rocketbook is compatible with Crayola dry-erase products (and some other brands of dry-erase markers).
Rocketbooks are an incredible way to have the convenience and natural writing and drawing experience of a paper notebook, with the advanced ability to store, share, and collaborate offered by digital apps and tools.
The wide range of Rocketbook notebooks allows you to choose the perfect one for you or a friend. Their compatibility with the Pilot Frixion line is incredibly helpful, rather than developing a proprietary pen technology.
Frixion pens have all the versatility of standard pens, with a huge range of colors, inks, and point sizes. You can get Frixion highlighters, Frixion refillable pens, erasable markers, and any other features you expect in a pen.
PROS
Wide range of reusable notebooks for different purposes
Rocketbook app scans, reads, stores, edits, and shares your pages
Can be used to live-stream and collaborate remotely
Erases cleanly
Huge range of compatible pens with different colors and tips
Stylish and professional notebooks
More affordable than you might expect
CONS
OCR technology can be a bit unpredictable, and may not be able to “read” your handwriting if you have unusual handwriting or don’t press hard on the page
10. Best Journal for Your Travels: The Wanderings Grande Refillable Travel Notebook
This full grain 100% leather journal is ideal for those who are looking for the best quality journal.
The Wanderings Grande Refillable Travel Notebook looks and smells beautiful in addition to its authentic and expected leather feel. This notebook can be purchased once and used for a lifetime due to its durability and the available refill paper that can be purchased online.
The blank, unlined paper is 120 gsm, making it thick enough to handle fountain pens or paint without bleeding. It comes with 90 double sided sheets, giving you 180 pages to begin journaling with. However, these journals are very customizable, as there are refills available that are blank, lined, and dotted.
Unlike other notebooks or journals, these won’t fall apart, as they are carefully made to ensure quality. They are available in both small and medium sizes, so users can choose whichever size fits their journaling lifestyle best.
These journals are described as being classic, antique vintage, and rustic, making them something that will be in style for years to come.
This is a great high-quality notebook to be used for a variety of reasons, including recording your personal thoughts, writing down ideas, drawing, planning, creating to-do lists, writing poetry, or as a blank slate for anything else you could want.
PROS:
The dark brown genuine full-grain leather ages just like high-quality leather should
Comes with an elastic closure that doubles as a pen holder
Paper can withhold ink-heavy pens
CONS:
Expensive
Some find the leather to be too flimsy
Paper is too thick for some users
11. Best for Bullet Journaling: Essentials Dot Matrix Notebook
Bullet journaling is a great way to stay organized, move toward your goals, capture your experiences, and explore your creativity all at once. And dot matrix lined sheets are simply the only way to do it properly.
Dot matrix patterns allow you to create lists and checkboxes, write freeform, draw, design, and do it all in a way that looks organized and beautiful.
The Essentials Dot Matrix Notebook is a beautiful hardcover dot matrix journal that is letter-sized, measuring 8.2 x 11.6 inches.
The hard cover allows you to use it even when there isn’t a table or desk handy, making it a great choice for students and commuters, and its moisture- and stain-resistant for lasting good looks. It has a generous 192 pages, so it lasts for a long time.
The premium quality paper has a smooth finish that beautifully accepts pens and other media, and its acid-free and archival quality so you can keep your bullet journals for a lifetime.
It has a black satin ribbon bookmark, and an elastic band closure. There is also a back cover pocket to store loose notes, cards, and other items.
PROS
Light dot matrix pattern keeps you tidy without interfering with your designs
Durable hard cover has classic style
Satin ribbon marker and elastic closure look great and add convenience
Back pocket for extra storage
Acid free paper is archival quality
Generous number of pages
CONS
Some gel pens may bleed through
12. Best Journal with Refillable Pages: Poromo’s Refillable Leather Journal Notebook
This is the best journal for writing, as it offers the cleanest space for users to write as much as they want. It can also be used for drawing, traveling, and offers extra features to help users stay on top of their busy lives.
This stylish journal is helpful for many writing purposes, whether you want to record your thoughts and goals or you want to keep track of your appointments.
Poromo’s Refillable Leather Journal Notebook is made with high-quality, distressed cowhide leather, and includes a leather strap so users can keep it tightly closed, ensuring your important information is secure.
This journal is refillable, so you can keep the high-quality cover and add in pages as you need them. It also lays flat, allowing users to have more space on each page to write, draw, or record any type of information.
The pages are 6” by 9” and the cover includes an inside pocket and card slot. It initially comes with 100 sheets of plain, white paper, which can be added to at any time.
When ordering this journal, users also receive a pen and a pen holder. Because the securing strap is so long, users are able to keep multiple books of paper in this journal at a time.
PROS
The journal can be refilled with any type of paper of your choosing
The distressed leather improves with age
Great notebook for people who are looking for something simple to really personalize themselves
CONS
The pad of paper that comes with the journal is unlined, which does not suit everybody
Some find it cumbersome to have to unwrap the securing strap
Until you have used this journal enough to break in the leather, it can be stiff and refuse to stay flat while in use
13. Best Vintage Journal: Handmade Leather Journal with Thick Vintage Lokta Paper
How better to record and capture your own story, than in a notebook that already tells one? This notebook is hand made in Nepal by artisans practicing a 1,000 year old craft of making paper.
The journals are individually stitched and bound with genuine buffalo leather and thick, handmade vintage paper. This journal is eco-friendly, supports traditional handcrafts, and each one is unique. What better way to express your own uniqueness?
This paper is sustainably created by harvesting the bark of the bushes, rather than cutting down trees, and is naturally renewable, acid-free, not treated with chemicals, and is one of the world’s best handmade papers.
The papers are then roughly cut for imperfect, natural edges on each page, and hand bound in high quality real leather binding. The covers are hand-stitched, with a loop closure that is both useful and beautiful.
This journal measures 8 x 5.5 inches, and has 192 premium-quality blank pages. The real leather cover and acid-free paper ensure that this journal will last a lifetime.
PROS
Handmade and unique
Sustainably sourced
Supports native Nepalese crafts
Rugged and durable
Thick paper can be used for writing, drawing, or even watercolor
Convenient strap closure
CONS
14. Best Journal for Self-Improvement: The Five Minute Journal
What if you could improve yourself in just five minutes a day?
This daily guided journal does just that, with a format designed by psychologists to help boost your happiness and reduces loneliness, anxiety, and isolation. It’s amazing that a simple journal can do that, but over half a million people have benefitted from this daily journal.
The Five Minute Journal is structured with a morning and night-time section, to provide inspiration and motivation throughout the day.
Daily prompts include gratitude, prioritizing the day, recording amazing things, sharing inspiring quotes, daily affirmations, and quiet self-reflection.
It may sound like a lot, but it takes just minutes, and is a tested and research-supported way to help experience more positive emotions every day. The journal measures 8.3 x 5.3 inches, and can be used during moments of thoughtfulness in the morning and evening, or throughout the day.
The sturdy hard cover design lets you use it even when there isn’t a desk or table nearby. The neutral color scheme and design creates a calm, restful backdrop for your thoughts and feelings. It has space for 6 months of daily reflections and includes powerful quotes to help motivate and inspire you.
PROS
Based on proven psychological research to help boost happiness
Format makes it easy to use in just minutes a day
Sophisticated, neutral design looks attractive and promotes calm thoughtfulness
Inspiring quotes and messages to provide motivation
Many people find the daily practice life-changing
CONS
Not designed for free-form journaling, but to support a daily positivity habit
15. Best Journal with Prompts: Q&A a Day: 5-Year Journal
This is a small journal, but it is best to use when it comes to engaging users to write every day. The journal actually spans a five year period, so users can watch their progress in a variety of areas in their lives advance with time.
The Q&A a Day: 5-Year Journal offers you a specific question about your life to answer each day for a year. Once the year is over, you return to the beginning of the book and start over.
After five years, you’re left with a five-year-long study of your life and growth, and a written reminder of how you were able to overcome challenges in the past.
This journal offers a thought-provoking question to answer every day of the year that often leads to greater self-awareness. This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to track your self-development through the years and see how far you’ve come.
This journal only requires users to write 2-3 sentences per day, so it isn’t a huge time commitment. Users find it to be a convenient size and unique in the sense that it makes you think about things that you possibly wouldn’t normally consider.
Users find these thought-provoking questions to be a great way to engage in some self-reflection every day.
PROS
Users love having the long-term memento of their lives
Small enough to carry around in your bag
Asks unique questions that make users think
CONS
Some find that the binding is a bit tight
There is the possibility that this journal can bring back bad memories in the future
Not a lot of space to write aside from answering the questions
16. Best for Creative & Visual Thinkers: Lemome Sketchbook
This is the best option for a graphic journal because the pages work well for sketching and drawing, as well as for note-taking. It comes in a timeless, simple, versatile design.
It comes with an elastic pen holder to ensure you always have a pen when you have an idea that you need to record.
The thick, premium paper holds up well, making it perfect to use for writing and drawing, no matter what kind of pen you are using. There are 90 sheets in this notebook, allowing users to have 180 pages to write on.
PROS
Perfect pages for sketching and drawing.
Ink does not bleed.
The cover has a nice leather feel.
CONS
The elastic band used to hold the notebook closed tends to come undone.
Paper and cover may separate from the binder.
Some people find there is not enough room to write on the pages.
17. Best Genuine Leather Journal: MOONSTER® Leather Journal
The company behind this product believes in making products that can benefit the world in some way. This notebook, along with all of their other products, is ethically sourced and fairly-trade certified.
This has an antique and vintage feel to it, with its leather-bound cover and creamy, textured, unlined paper. The paper is made from recycled cotton paper, making this a sustainable product. The cover is 100% hand-made from crazy-horse leather, which has a natural tan with oils added to preserve it.
However, this means that these notebooks vary in color, making no two journals exactly alike. Further, the leather gives this notebook a rich, earthy scent. The soft leather with a distressed finish will further improve with age, and will last for many years.
Writing in this journal is easy because the paper prevents ink from bleeding. The paper can handle a soft B pencil, a variety of different inks, and even watercolor. It comes with 240 blank pages measuring 7” x 5”, making it the perfect size to take with you on the go. This is the best leather-bound notebook.
PROS
Attractive and great for gifting.
Proceeds donated children in Africa.
Each leather notebook is unique.
CONS
Some users experience bleeding in the paper.
Cannot remove pages.
It does not lay completely flat, making it difficult to write on one side, depending on your dominant hand.
You can use one notebook per subject, and they are inexpensive, so you can easily buy a replacement if you run out of space. The wired spiral locks prevent snags from occurring in your bag.
These notebooks are college-ruled and have a three-hole punch so they can easily be put inside of a binder. You can distinguish which notebook you assign for which subject because of the variety of colored covers that come in this pack. The six colors include light pink, purple, yellow, light blue, green, and orange.
Each notebook contains 70 sheets of paper that can be written both on the front and back. This should be sufficient space for the notebook to last you for the duration of a course.
PROS
Great for students.
Won’t snag in your bag.
It comes in a variety of colors.
CONS
There is a large label on the front of the notebook.
The ink may bleed through pages.
The pages may tear out too easily.
19. Best Notebook for Laboratory Work: HVAC Premium National Laboratory Notebook
It is one of the best paper notebooks for work because it has carbonless pages for convenience and is sold at a reasonable price compared with lab notebooks sold in most school bookstores.
The brown cover is made of sturdy pressboard and has a stitched binding to ensure the pages are secure. Inside, this notebook has 100 4×4 quad carbonless numbered sets of white and yellow paper, so you always have a copy of what you’re writing.
The second sheet in each set is perforated for easy removal. This notebook also opens up flat, so writing in it is easy, regardless if you are right- or left-handed.
The fabric on the binding is water-resistant, protecting it from water or spills in the lab. The cardboard cover is also water-resistant. This journal even includes a table of contents and only has grid numbers and page numbers on the carbonless copy pages.
PROS
Best notebook for lab work.
It provides you with a carbonless copy of each page.
Reasonably priced.
CONS
The page divider in the back is difficult to remove.
Some find the writing to bleed or leak through pages.
Some find the carbon copy pages to be messy.
20. Best for Heavy-Duty, All-Weather Use: Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Top-Spiral Notebook
Their compact size and durability make them ideal for field notes. The pages have a unique moisture shield that allows you to write on them, regardless if the paper is wet or dry. You can easily use pencil, pen, or crayon on this paper.
This rugged writing surface was created almost 100 years ago to stand up to rugged weather elements. They come in a pack of three black 3″ x 5″ top-spiral notebooks, which are small enough to easily fit into your pocket and tough enough to survive rough conditions.
These notebooks have a non-glare gray paper that is easily legible, even in bright sunlight. The wire binding is resistant to impact and will not become misshapen.
The notebooks have a polydura cover that protects your notes from scratches and smears. These notebooks are recyclable as well, making them environmentally friendly.
PROS
Waterproof, great for outdoor use.
Small and convenient to carry into the field.
Heavy-duty.
CONS
Slightly expensive.
Some find these notebooks to be flimsy.
It cannot be submerged in water.
Final Thoughts on the Best Journal Notebooks
There you have it — twenty journals that are perfect for building a powerful habit. We did our best to provide you with specific “categories” you can use to purchase the journal that’s right for you.
So, if you’re stuck with “what” to get, then think about how you’d use the journal. If you’re someone who needs specific prompts, then I’d recommend checking out Q&A a Day Journal.
There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.
Have you ever wondered what’s written on the pages of a famous person’s journal?
In this post, you’ll be able to see some example pages from the notebooks of nine famous people who kept journals. These individuals lived in different eras and worked in different fields.
But their preserved notebooks recorded their thoughts. They allow us a glimpse into their lives and provide context for some of the most significant moments in history.
People have been writing in journals for more than a thousand years. One of the earliest recorded works that was akin to a diary was that of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, ruler of Rome in the second century AD!
But what is it, exactly, that compels us to keep diaries and journals?
The Benefits of Keeping a Journal
There are a host of benefits we can get from keeping a journal. These positive effects prompt us to grab a notebook and scribble down our ideas.
Some benefits include:
Helps reduce stress – Health experts agree that writing down your thoughts helps lower blood pressure and promotes proper functioning of the liver.
Sharpens memory – The hand–brain coordination required to write in your journal stimulates cognitive function.
Encourages achievement of goals – Journaling primes your brain to categorize things you write as important, prompting you to be more receptive to opportunities that bring fulfillment of your goals.
Improves mood – In addition to helping reduce stress, journaling improves well-being and promotes happiness.
Cultivates mindfulness – Journaling allows you to be in a state of mindfulness. It is easier to experience bliss while you’re immersed in writing your thoughts on paper.
Promotes good habits – You have to set aside time for journal writing, and this in itself is an exercise in discipline. A good habit can flow into other areas of your life. You may be pleasantly surprised at how this manifest.
Read on to check out some journals kept by history’s most famous people. We hope they inspire you to keep a journal yourself.
If there is one word used to describe Leonardo da Vinci, it is genius. He was well known as a master painter, architect, sculptor, and inventor, and his ideas were way ahead of their time.
Many of his surviving works are currently displayed in prestigious museums and galleries all over the world.
In his lifetime, da Vinci kept notes about his ideas, inventions, and studies. Today, an estimated 7,000 pages from those journals survive.
The image featured here is a two-page spread from da Vinci’s Codex Leicester. The 72-page journal was purchased by Bill Gates in 1994.
Frida Kahlo was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. She was best known for her vibrant and uncompromising self-portraits. Frida’s works of art often had themes of death, human anatomy, and personal identity. Her diaries recorded her dreams and thoughts, and there are also poems found within the pages.
Frida’s diaries also served as her sketchbooks, which she used for some of her illustrations. See the example above, painted in brilliant colors.
Marie Curie was known as the “Mother of Modern Physics.” She and her husband, Pierre Curie, discovered polonium and radium. For this discovery and her research on radioactivity, Marie Curie became a two-time Nobel Peace Prize awardee.
This sample page from her journal details the research she did on the theory of radioactivity. This journal, along with several of her other personal effects, are recognized as national treasures.
The nature of her work caused Marie Curie’s body and personal belongings to become radioactive. She was also known to keep fragments of radioactive material in her pocket.
Marie Curie died from a type of anemia brought about by exposure to the radioactive elements she worked on. To prevent contamination, she was buried in a lead-lined coffin.
Her journals, although available for perusal, can only be viewed by someone wearing protective gear who has signed a liability waiver. The journals can be found in the Bibliotheque National in Paris, kept in lead-lined boxes.
Anne Frank is one of the most-discussed personalities from World War II. She gained fame posthumously, after the discovery and publication of her diary. It is said to have changed how the world looked at war.
Anne Frank was a Jewish teenager living in Amsterdam, Netherlands, when World War II broke out. She and her family hid from the Gestapo in a secret room in the building where Otto Frank, Anne’s father, worked.
After a few years spent hiding, the family was captured by the Gestapo. Anne and her sister were sent to Auschwitz. Unfortunately, Anne passed away a few months before Allied Forces liberated Auschwitz. Otto Frank was the lone survivor of the family.
Anne Frank’s diary was discovered in the building where they hid. It was given to Otto Frank, who published his daughter’s chronicles of their life in hiding.
Samuel Clemens, also known as Mark Twain, is the author who introduced us to Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer and allowed us to share in their adventures.
Mark Twain was a known journal-keeper during his lifetime, and favored pocket notebooks. He often started a new journal for every trip he took. He jotted down ideas, inspiration, and thoughts for upcoming stories.
Journals can tell us a lot about their keepers’ personalities. The above example is a names list for a story’s character. In this case, we catch a glimpse the humorous side of Mark Twain. Wouldn’t it be interesting to read a story of somebody named “Diphtheria Marsh” or “Dysentery Briggs?”
Charles Darwin introduced the world to the theory of natural selection, and his notebooks allow us a glimpse into how he processed his ideas.
In this sample page taken from one of his field journals, we see Charles Darwin’s depiction of a tree. This tree is meant to represent the genealogy of a particular species.
Emilié Davis lived in Philadelphia during the United States’ Civil War. During this period of unrest in the country, she kept a diary and recorded the events that transpired and affected her life as a free African-American woman.
Her written account paints a vivid picture of the lives of black people during this period in history. Davis recorded her daily activities, her feelings about the Battle of Gettysburg, and what happened during the Emancipation Proclamation. Her diaries even captured the emotional landscape of the country during and after President Lincoln’s death.
Charles Dodgson, an English writer who went by the pen name Lewis Carroll, gave the world Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. He was said to have been a diarist since he was 10 years old.
Several of the diaries from his adult years survived. The above example shows his diary entry from the first time he shared the story about the adventures of his well-beloved character, Alice.
Many of us wonder if famous people live their lives differently than we do. However, Thomas Edison’s diary demonstrates that this may not be the case.
In the summer of 1885, the great inventor was on a vacation, and during that time he kept a diary.
The entries were devoid of scientific topics. Instead, the diary recorded mundane events.
In the sample above, we can read that Edison was fretting about his smoking habit—of how it had deformed his upper lip into a Havana curl, and how he detested the “nicotinny” feeling it gave him.
This goes to show that a great inventor like Edison also had ordinary troubles to contend with, just like the rest of us.
Final Thoughts on Famous People Who Kept Journals
Journaling is a great practice to adopt. It does not require much effort, and has numerous benefits for our health and well-being.
We hope that these examples of famous people who kept journals inspire you to become a journal keeper as well.
One of the easiest journals to start is a gratitude journal. Take a few minutes to watch the video below on how you can use gratitude apps to make it easier for you.
And if you’re looking for more resources, you can check out to help you get started with a journaling habit:
There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.
If you spend any time on social media—especially sites like Instagram or Pinterest—you’ve probably come across pictures of bullet journals.
The neatly handwritten notes and carefully designed pages might seem difficult to replicate or too pretty to be useful, but I’ve found that a bullet journal is actually a simple and effective way to plan my day.
Created by New York-based designer Ryder Carroll, the bullet journal is an organizational notebook system that can keep track of anything you want in a coherent and easy-to-manage way. It can be a to-do list, a sketchbook, an event planner, an idea catcher, or whatever else you can think of.
In fact, bullet journals are often all-of-the above.
The bullet journal is meant to be a fast and customizable alternative to traditional journaling methods, which take a lot of time and effort. According to Carroll, a bullet journal is an “analog system for the digital age,” and all you need to get started is a pen and a notebook.
What are the Benefits of a Bullet Journal?
The whole premise of bullet journaling is that it is a fast and simple way to record your life, and it accomplishes this through what Carroll calls “rapid logging.” Rapid Logging is a simple note-taking language that will make journaling fast.
There are four parts to rapid logging:
topics
page numbers
short sentences,
bullets
By eliminating long sentences and paragraphs, you can take notes in just a few spare moments, and be done.
A bullet journal is completely customizable. If you want to write long sentences or decorate each page, there is nothing stopping you.
By combining ease of use and personalization, the bullet journal inspires both creativity and productivity while keeping everything organized.
How to Get Started with Bullet Journaling
Bullets
The most basic element of a bullet journal is, of course, the bullet. Bullets, which are written as short objective sentences, are essential to rapid logging.
There are three kinds of bullets:
Tasks are “to-do” items, such as “do laundry” or “take out trash,” and are represented by a dot.
Events are represented by a circle, and can be logged before (e.g., “Dad’s birthday”) or after they occur (e.g., “got the job”).
Finally, notes are represented by a dash. They can be any fact, thought, idea, or observation that you want to remember.
You can add on to bullets with signifiers, such as a star to mark priority or an exclamation point to mark your best ideas. I think it’s best to keep bullets simple in the beginning, though, so you can get used to the system.
Modules
After bullets come the modules. There are four basic modules in the bullet journaling system:
Index
Future log
Monthly log
Daily log
The index is where you will keep track of the rest of your pages by logging their titles and page numbers (always be sure to number your pages, because no entries in a bullet journal need to be consecutive). Check out these bullet journal index ideas to get you started!
The monthly and daily logs are where the bullet journal becomes especially useful. On the left side of your monthly log, write down every date and day of the week in a vertical line.
This is an overview of the whole month, and you can write down everything coming up next to the day it’s happening.
For example, if you have a meeting on Monday, September 15, your September log could read “15M Meeting.” Entries here should be as short as possible—you can add more detail in your daily log.
Finally, the daily log is for everyday use. You won’t record your daily logs ahead of time, because you don’t know how much space you’ll need until that day.
At the top of the page, write down the date, and then record your tasks, events, and notes throughout the day. If you don’t fill the page, just go on to the next day in the free space below.
Now, if you’re wondering what’s the best time to bullet journal, try making bullet journaling a part of your evening routine. Watch the video below to learn about the 9 evening routine habits of the world’s most successful people.
Who Would Be Interested in a Bullet Journal
Any and all of the above might mean a journal is right for you. Why not check out one of the different types of bullet journals below and see about making your own.
Where to Buy a Bullet Journal
Any journal can be a bullet journal, as long as it has the features that will meet your journaling needs.
If you’re just starting out with bullet journals, a Moleskin is a great option, as its blank pages are versatile and can accommodate lists, drawings, paragraphs, and calendars—just about everything you can think of.
Bullet journaling has changed the way I use my daily journal. I can just open up my notebook and see what needs to be done each day, what I’ve already completed, and the goals I’m tracking.
Every important date, task, and idea is stored in one place, and I can find what I want in a matter of seconds. No other journaling method I’ve used has been this effective!
For more bullet journal inspiration, be sure to check out these articles:
