Empty notebook ideas – 37 Fun & Creative Ways To Use Blank Notebooks and Journals

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Looking for ways to use a blank notebooks? Here are 37 fun & creative notebook ideas to finally get those cute journals in good use.

I don’t know about you, but I have SO many journals and SO many blank notebooks I have purchased but never used. 

And on top of all those, I have blank journals with the first page (or two) filled out and after those pages… nothing.

So why not start using them and create 

• a dedicated happiness journal
• an own journal for all those new ideas you have
• a bullet journal
• a travel journal
• an art journal
• a creative writing journal
• a spiritual journal
• a dream diary
• a vision journal
• a language journal
• a notebook for event planning
• or personal growth diary… 

There are SO many different ways you can use a blank notebook.

An empty notebook can be a powerful tool when it comes to getting things done. Not only can it help you stay organized, but it can also be used for a variety of different purposes. Whether you’re looking to start a new project or just want to have a place to document your thoughts and ideas, you can finally start using all those empty journals you have lying around.

So, what to do with an empty notebook? In case you’re not sure where to start, here are 37 different ways you can use an empty notebook.

1. Braindump

An empty notebook can be a great place to document your thoughts and ideas.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or have too many things on your plate, take a few minutes to write down everything going through your head on those blank pages to clear your head.

This will help you focus, but it can also be a helpful way to track your progress over time.

2. Vision Board – “My dream life.”

You can also use an empty notebook to create a vision board and write down every detail your dream life would entail.

What would your perfect day look like? How much money would you have in your dream life? What kind of job would you have? What would your ideal partner be like? Write down everything that comes to mind.

To have a dedicated journal just for your dreams can be a fantastic way to stay motivated and focused on what you want to achieve in life.

3. Bucket lists

Another way to utilize empty notebooks is to keep track of your bucket lists – a list of things you want to do before a certain age or during your life. Whether you’re looking to travel the world or try new experiences, a bucket list can help you keep track of all those things you want to do.

And bucket lists are not just those big things you want to do before you die. They can also include things you want to learn or try in the short-term as well, like

• New things you want to learn this year
• Experiences you want to have
• Places you want to visit
• Restaurants you want to try
• Foods you want to learn how to cook
• Books you want to read
• Summer bucket list/winter bucket list/autumn bucket list/spring bucket list

A bucket list is such a cool idea to start expanding your experiences and knowledge and seeing everything the world offers.

4. Trackers

If you’re looking for a way to stay on top of your productivity, health, mood, or finances, why not have a journal track your new habits? You can use trackers to monitor things like your sleep, your workouts, or your budget. 

Create different trackers and logs on each blank page and start seeing progress in all areas of your life. You might notice that they can help you keep yourself accountable and on track. 

5. Gratitude journal

Keeping a gratitude journal is a beautiful way to focus on the positive things in your life and increase your overall happiness.

Just write down a few things you’re grateful for each day, and you’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll feel.

6. Goal planner

If you’re looking for a way to achieve your goals, an empty notebook can be just what you need to start. You can use it as a place to track your progress, brainstorm ideas, and set new goals. 

Tip: Print out a printable calendar instead of writing the dates to save time and use it in your notebook to create a plan with a timeline.

7. Perpetual daily to-do list

If you’re constantly struggling to keep track of your to-do list, you can use your blank journal as a perpetual to-do list.

You can use it as a place to write down all the things you need to do each day and then check them off as you go. So no need for to-do lists scattered all over your desk – just use your blank notebook!

8. A map of your life

Mapping your life from when you were born to the present day can be a powerful exercise.

You can use an empty notebook as a place to document all the different high and low points of your life, meaningful events, and the people who have played a role in your life. You can also reflect on your life and see how far you’ve come.

9. Home management planner

Another notebook idea is to create a home management planner.

If you’re looking for a way to organize your home life, you could create a home management planner using your blank notebook. You can use it as a place to track your daily tasks, monthly bills, and cleaning schedule.

This can be a great way to stay on top of things and keep your home running smoothly.

10. Travel planner

If you’re a traveler at heart, an empty notebook can be just what you need to plan your next trip, dream for future trips, and document your adventures.

You can use it as a place to track your budget, make packing lists and collect travel tips – restaurants to try, places to see, things to do. 

11. Recipe journal & meal planning

You can use your notebook as a place to write down your favorite recipes, plan out your weekly menus and make grocery lists. You might even notice that meal planning and having a recipe bank can save you a lot of time and money. 

12. Fitness journal – Workouts, calorie intake & progress

A blank notebook works well if you want to start a fitness journal where you can track your workouts and the food you eat, and your progress.

You can also add inspiring quotes and affirmations and write down your feelings about your journey. 

13. Sketchbook for doodles or drawings

An empty notebook can be a great place to start a sketchbook if you’re an artist or creative type.

Whether you’re new at drawing and want to practice, or you want a place to document your ideas, works in progress, and finished pieces, or even if you just want a place to doodle, a blank journal is a great option.

14. Hobby journal

Keeping a hobby journal is an excellent idea; if you have a hobby that needs a place to track the different projects you’re working on, collect thoughts and track your progress.

Whether you love gardening or crafting, this can be a fun way to stay organized and inspired when it comes to your hobbies. 

15. Song lyrics

Have you ever heard a great song with meaningful lyrics and then later wanted to remember them but can’t recall what the song was even called, nevertheless the lyrics? You might have just found an excellent usage for your blank notebook.

16. Quotes

Quotes are also great to have on hand for later reference, but usually, people just write them down on scraps of paper which can get easily lost. A notebook is a better place to keep all your favorite quotes in one spot.

So the next time you have a birthday card to write, and you want to add a meaningful quote, you’ll have a bunch of them to choose from.

17. Random thoughts

It’s not uncommon for people to have random thoughts throughout the day that they want to remember but don’t necessarily want to write down in a journal.

If this sounds like you, then a blank notebook is perfect for capturing all your random thoughts. You can revisit them later when you have more time to think about them or forget about them.

18. Dream journal

If you like to keep track of your dreams, an empty notebook is perfect for starting a dream journal. This can be a fun way to document your dreams and try to interpret their meaning.

Dreams can become a source of inspiration, so it might be worth writing them down. Keep the notebook next to your bed and when you wake up, write it down if you remember something about your dreams.

This will be a great way to log some subconscious ideas you might have, but it can also be a fun way to look back on your dreams over time.

19. To don’t lists – “maybe one day”.

We all know that to-do lists are great for getting things done, but sometimes it’s helpful to have a list of things you DON’T want to do.

This can be especially helpful if you have a lot of tasks to get done and you find yourself feeling overwhelmed.

An empty notebook is a perfect place to write down all these ideas you choose NOT to do to get them out of your mind. And if one day you have some extra free time at hand, you can check out if some of these “to don’ts” should actually become “to-dos.”

20. Time log

If you’re looking for a way to better manage your time, keeping a time log might be what you’re looking for.

And you don’t need any fancy tools or apps to do that. A plain old empty notebook is a perfect place to track how you spend your time each day. You can use it to track how long you work on each task, how much time you spend on leisure activities, and how much time you spend on things like sleep, cooking, and eating.

Doing this can help you identify where you might need to make changes in order to better manage your time.

21. Business plan

If you’re dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur or in the early stages of starting your own business, an empty notebook can be a great place to draft your business plan.

You can organize your thoughts and develop a plan for how you want your business to operate. You can also use it to track your progress and revise your plan as needed.

22. Blogging planner

If you’re a blogger, you can use an empty notebook to start planning your blog content, track your blog post ideas, and keep yourself organized when creating new content.

You can also use it to track your monthly blog stats and other blogging milestones.

23. Book reading – lists, ideas, and reviews

If you LOVE reading, use a notebook as a reading journal.

You can keep track of what you’ve read, what you thought of the book, and any ideas or notes you had while reading it.

24. Bullet journaling

A bullet journal is a great way to keep track of your to-dos, goals, and daily thoughts in one place. And what’s great about it is that you can really make it your own by deciding which sections to include and how to layout the pages.

If you’re interested in trying bullet journaling, an empty dot grid notebook is the perfect place to start.

25. Note-taking for online courses

If you’re taking online courses, using a blank notebook might be just what you need to write down the date, the course name, the topic, and any notes or ideas you have and keep track of what you’re learning.

Having all the things you’ve learned in one place can also be helpful when you need to review the information later on.

26. Journaling prompts

If you’re looking for inspiration for your journaling, using prompts can be great to get started.

There are tons of different prompts out there, just choose a topic and use your blank notebook to start writing.

You can also come up with your own prompts based on what you’re interested in or what’s going on in your life.

27. Guest book for home

Why not use your empty notebook as a guest book in your home? Guest books don’t have to be just for weddings and parties.

You can place the notebook/guest book on the table where your guests can write their name, the date, and a few words if they want to when they visit.

This can be a fantastic way to collect memories from your guests and have something to look back on later.

28. All kinds of lists

From grocery lists and movies you’ve watched to ideas for a new business and books you want to read, writing down lists is a fun way to keep track of everything and stay organized and productive.

Here are a few ideas of lists you can write:

• Grocery lists
• Things you’ve bought for yourself with the date you bought them and the price
• A list of books you want to read or have read
• A list of movies you’ve watched and what you thought of them
• Playlists
• Places you’ve visited
• A list of recipes you want to try

29. Prayer journal & bible study

Another excellent usage for an empty notebook is to use it as a prayer journal or bible study notebook.

Log what you’ve studied and when and write down your favorite scriptures and your thoughts and reflections on them.

This way, you can keep track of your spiritual growth and progress – all in one place.

30. Morning pages journal

Have you heard about the morning pages?

They’re an excellent way to start your day and can be done in your notebook. The idea is to write 3 pages of whatever comes to mind first thing in the morning.

The morning pages were invented by Julia Cameron and introduced in her book The Artists Way, and the general idea is to get all of your thoughts and ideas out onto paper so you can start your day with a clear mind.

31. Lettering practice

If you’d like to start learning hand lettering, your notebook as a practice journal can be just what you need to improve your skills.

You can try out different fonts, layouts, and styles and see what works best for you. This is also a great place to test pens and brushes to see what you like best.

32. Party planning / wedding planning

If you’re planning a big party or a wedding, you can use one of your notebooks to plan everything out to ensure you don’t forget anything.

You can write down the date of the party, who’s invited, what food and drinks you’ll be serving, what type of decorations you want and any other essential details, and keep the notebook with you so you can always refer to it.

33. Mind mapping

Mind mapping is a terrific tool to brainstorm and develop new ideas.

You can use your notebook to map out your ideas by drawing circles or lines connecting related ideas and writing down any thoughts or details that come to mind. It’s a great way to organize your thoughts and see how different concepts are related.

34. Things you purchased -journal

If you want to be more mindful of your spending, keeping a notebook where you write down what you purchased, the date, and the price can be beneficial.

This can also help you track your expenses and see where you might be able to save money.

And by “things you purchased,” I mean things that stay in your life for a longer time: clothes, jewelry, home decoration items, books… 

And whenever you’re decluttering, refer back to this notebook and cross over the item.

We rarely remember the exact year we purchased a shirt or some home decoration item. This way, you do not have to remember, and it saves you time when you need to go through your stuff.

35. Plan a project

If you have a big project you’re working on, using your notebook to plan everything out can be really helpful.

You can write down the date you want to start and finish, what you need to do each day, what supplies you’ll need, and other essential details.

Dedicate the whole notebook for a project or use the notebook for all different projects – bigger and smaller ones – you have during each year.

36. 5-year plan

Making a 5-year plan can be really helpful in seeing where you want to be and what you need to do to get there.

You can use your notebook to write down your goals for each year, how you break them down into monthly and weekly goals, and the steps you need to take.

This can help keep you on track and motivated as you work towards your long-term goals.

37. Routine planner

If you’re looking for more structure in your life, using a notebook to plan out your routines can be really helpful. You can write down what time you wake up, what time you eat breakfast, when and what you study, what time you work out, and any other essential details.

Remember to also write down the routine you currently have, how you could change it, and the ideal routine you’d like to have in place.

Ideas of routines:

• Morning routine
• Evening routine
• Workout routine
• Daily routine
• Weekly routine
• Workday/workweek routines
• Meal planning/cooking routines
• Routine for chores and errands
• Self-care routine

Conclusion

It’s time to get creative with your notebook! Whether you’re looking for a way to keep track of goal planning, party details, or mind mapping ideas, the possibilities and fantastic ideas are endless. I hope this list inspires you to start filling up your own blank notebooks today!

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