35 Ideas To Fill Your Empty Notebooks
Any journal can be a source of endless possibilities if you have the right empty notebook ideas. That empty notebook on your shelf isn’t just collecting dust—it’s waiting to become something meaningful.
Whether you’re looking for a creative outlet, a way to stay organized, or a personal project, there are so many ideas to fill empty notebooks and make them truly yours. The options are as versatile as you want them to be.
But of course, when you have too many possibilities, it can be hard to decide on just one idea. To make things easier, we’ve rounded up 35 inspiring suggestions. Your notebook’s potential is limitless—ready to explore it?
There are so many beautiful journals out there that it feels almost impossible to stick to just one at a time. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself drawn to gorgeous covers, smooth pages, and the endless possibilities each new notebook promises.
And once they’ve found their way to your shelves, those blank notebooks start calling to you, asking to be filled with creativity, organization, and inspiration. Sound familiar? If so, you’re in the right place!
I’ve got some exciting news for you—there’s no reason your notebook collection needs to gather dust. Instead, it can become your secret weapon for bringing order, inspiration, and a bit of fun into your life.
Here, I’ve compiled 35 creative, practical, and fun ideas on how to fill your empty notebooks so you can transform them into something uniquely yours. These ideas will help you unlock the full potential of every notebook you own.
At the end of the post, you’ll also find some FREE printables to help bring these ideas to life. Whether you’re looking for book journal templates, habit trackers, or gratitude pages, you’ll find plenty of goodies.
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Stationery Recommendations
I can’t share with you ideas for empty journals without sharing a few stationer recommendations. After all, you’ll need some supplies to bring these ideas to life.
So let’s look at some stationery that I think you’ll love.
- Journals. Of course, if you’re here, you already have some blank notebooks. But in case you’re looking for some more, a few of my favorite brands are Archer and Olive (use code MASHA10 for 10% OFF) and Scribbles That Matter (get 10% OFF with code SAVE10), which all come with beautiful cover designs and colors!
- Fineliners. Fineliners are the perfect pen to create anything in any journal, from drawing grids to adding doodles. I recommend trying Sakura Pigma Micron pens for their high quality. The set comes with pens of different nib sizes, so you can use a variety of line thicknesses.
- Markers. If you like color, you’ll need some colorful markers for your pages. The choice depends on what type of colors you like, but I’d recommend trying Crayola Super Tips, since they come in many colors and can also be used for brush lettering. My favorite ones are Zebra Mildliners because of their beautiful colors.
- Brush Pens. In case you want to add some brush lettering, you’ll need brush pens. For smaller tips, I’d recommend Tombow Fudenosuke, and for larger tips and more colors, try Tombow Dual Brush Pen.
There are plenty more different supplies you can use, like stickers, stamps, or washi tapes. But then this will just be a post about stationery.
So, let’s stop on this and go back to sharing some ideas for your blank journals.
35 Ideas To Fill Your Empty Notebooks
Colelcting journklas is a whole hobby separate from using them, for sure! Said the person who’s house mostly decorated by my Archer and Olive notebook collections.
But with the world of stationery now being so full of stunning design and great quality, it’s easy to get a bit lost in your shopping.
Whether shopping or gifts brought to you here, your journals can actually serve a function as well, so I gathered 35 ideas for you to get your creativity juices flowing.
Use one of them, or maybe use these ideas to come up with something new and unique for you!
- Daily Journal
Capture your thoughts, moods, or daily highlights. This practice helps you gain clarity and reflect on your experiences while building the habit of writing regularly.
The more you write, the better you understand yourself. And it helps you improve your handwriting as well!
- Gratitude Journal
Dedicate a page each day to listing things you’re grateful for. It’s an excellent way to keep a positive mindset and appreciate the little joys in life.
There are many different ways you can do it, from writing as line or maybe doodling something, so you can really play around and explore your creativity as well.
- Goal Tracker
Try using your journal to build and achieve your goals. Goal setting is not an easy thing to do, so giving it more thought and dedicating a whole journal to it could be beneficial.
Outline your short-term and long-term goals. Track your progress by breaking them into actionable steps and checking them off as you complete them.
- Habit Tracker
Having good small habits is really the key to success and leading a better life, so why not dedicate a journal specifically to that?
Create a grid to monitor habits you want to build or break. It’s a visual tool to keep you accountable and motivated as you develop better routines.
- Planner or a Bullet Journal
Turn your notebook into a DIY planner with monthly layouts, weekly spreads, and to-do lists. Personalize it to suit your lifestyle and minimize wasted pages.
And yes, I am pushing you to try a Bullet Journal! But even if not that you can always create a pre-made style planner, especially if you’re using printables.
- Memory Log
Use your notebook to document favorite memories, from vacations to everyday moments. You can even add small photos, ticket stubs, or drawings for keepsakes.
And it doesn’t have to be only about your travels or exciting things, keep memories of random things that made you smile or delicious coffee you had that day. It’s all about you remembering all the lovely moments of your life.
- Travel Journal
Having a travel journal can be an incredibly helpful idea, allowing you to plan the trips stress-free.
You can also jot down highlights, funny encounters, and new discoveries. Add sketches or postcards to create a lasting souvenir from your travels.
- Sketchbook
Explore your artistic side by using your notebook for doodles, practice sketches, or fully developed masterpieces. It’s a great way to relax and spark creativity.
- Book Journal
If you’re an avid reader, you might like this idea and the wide variety of pages you can create for your reading habits.
Record the books you read, your ratings, and notes on plotlines or quotes. This is perfect for tracking your reading goals and reflecting on what you’ve learned.
- Recipe Book
Use your beautiful notebooks to collect your favorite recipes, family secrets, or experimental dishes. Include notes on how you tweak each recipe to make it your own.
- Fitness Tracker
Starting a health and wellness journey can be hard, so having a notebook to cheer for you and keep you motivated might be exactly what you need!
Track your workouts, meals, and progress toward fitness goals. Seeing your gains over time can be incredibly rewarding.
- Dream Journal
Write down your dreams as soon as you wake up. This can help you uncover patterns, interpret symbols, or simply entertain your curious mind.
- Brain Dump
Use your notebook to offload random thoughts, ideas, or worries cluttering your head. It’s great for stress relief and mental clarity.
- Financial Budget
Managing your finances, especially in the modern world of consumption, subscriptions and credit cards is an especially hard challenge.
Use your notebook to track income, expenses, savings, and investments. A written budget helps visualize your financial health and stay disciplined.
- Celebration Journal
Dedicate your notebook to documenting life’s victories, big or small. Whether it’s a promotion, a personal breakthrough, or simply nailing a recipe you’ve been trying, write it down!
Add details about how you felt, who celebrated with you, and what made the moment special. Over time, it becomes a joyful reminder of how far you’ve come and all the reasons you have to celebrate.
- Hobby Journal
Dedicate your notebook to documenting progress in a hobby, like gardening, knitting, or a musical instrument. Include tips, notes, and small victories.
- Bucket List
Bucket lists are a fun way to ensure that you always do all the things that bring joy to your life.
Write down everything you want to do, see, or experience in life. Leave space to add details, such as dates achieved, reflections, or tips for the next year.
- Project Planner
Whether it’s planning an event or a home renovation, use your notebook to sketch timelines, to-dos, and ideas. Keeping everything in one place is a lifesaver.
- Learning Notebook
Use it to take notes while learning something new—whether it’s a language, coding, or a crafting skill. Include lessons, vocabulary, or important rules.
- Meal Planner
Staying on top of your food consumption is hard, I know I’m always overwhelmed when I have to come up with. a healthy dinner on the spot.
Plan your meals weekly or monthly. This saves time and money and eliminates the “What’s for dinner?” dilemma.
- Music Playlist Journal
Keep track of songs or albums that impact you deeply or are tied to memories. Jot down lyrics that hit home and create soundtracks for your moments.
Or maybe just create a playlist for different times of the year.
- Mood Tracker
Dedicate each day to charting how you feel. Over time, look for trends and triggers to better understand your emotional well-being.
- Nature Journal
If you are a nature kinda person, maybe his is a fun idea for you to try.
Observe your surroundings and take notes on plants, animals, or weather. It’s great for outdoor explorers or anyone who loves connecting with nature.
- Prayer or Reflection Journal
Self reflection is an important step for your mental health and self awareness and is definitely something that helps you step by step become a better version of yourself.
Write prayers, intentions, or meditative thoughts. A reflective space lets you observe your spiritual and emotional growth.
- Self-Care Planner
Map out routines, activities, and goals that help you feel rested and rejuvenated. This keeps self-care on your priority list.
- Podcast or Movie Log
Write down reviewed podcasts, movies, or TV shows. Summarize your thoughts and recommendations for friends.
- Quotes Collection
Dedicate a notebook for inspirational quotes or sayings. Write down who said them and why they resonate with you.
Thsi can really become a very strong inspirations journal, an it’s a fantastic way to work of your hand lettering skills if you want to get more creative.
- Kids’ Memory Book
Track funny things your kids say, milestones, or family moments you cherish. They’ll treasure this when they grow up.
- Vision Board on Paper
Rather than posters, sketch or write your dreams and ideal life in your notebook. It’s portable and serves as a constant reminder of your aspirations.
It will also be interesting to see this journal once it’s all full and realise how your vision for your life has been changing.
- Holiday Planning Notebook
Plan your next getaway with precision and creativity by dedicating a notebook to holiday planning. Use it to sketch your itinerary, jot down must-visit spots, budget, packing lists, or even doodle a little map of your destination.
Having everything in one place ensures no detail gets misplaced, and flipping through your plans can give you a delightful sense of excitement leading up to the trip.
- Work Journal
Transform your notebook into a productivity powerhouse by using it to manage work-related tasks. Log your projects, create daily to-do lists, brainstorm ideas, and track your achievements.
By keeping everything organized in one place, you stay focused and can chart your growth in your professional life.
- List Journal
If you love the satisfaction of crossing things off, a list journal is your jam. Use it to create all kinds of lists—books to read, movies to watch, goals to achieve, or new recipes to try.
A notebook full of lists is not only fun to create and update but also helps you stay organized and inspired.
- Wedding Journal
Planning a wedding can feel overwhelming, but a wedding notebook can help you capture all the details in one spot. Jot down ideas for venues, themes, guest lists, and even sketches of your dream dress or table settings.
It’s the ultimate tool to break things down step-by-step, reducing stress and making the process more enjoyable.
- Pen Pal Journal
For those who love connecting with others, dedicate a notebook to pen pal correspondence. Keep track of your letters sent and received, brainstorm topics to write about, and even attach little snippets like pressed flowers or photos as keepsakes.
It’s a heartwarming way to make and document meaningful long-distance friendships.
- Swatch Notebook
Use your notebook as a swatch binder. Test and record your paints, markers, washi tapes, or makeup shades on its pages. Label each swatch for easy reference, and it becomes a colorful catalog of all your supplies, making future projects or purchases much easier to plan.
And there you go, here are just 35 different ideas for you to try on your wonderful notebook collection.
Free Printables
If you’re not sure which one of these ideas works for you, a great way to try it out is to use a printable and see if you like using these pages.
Thankfully, a lot of these ideas already have printable pages in the Resources Vault.
If you don’t have access yet, you can always sign up in the form below.
Once you confirm your subscription, you’ll get the password to get 50+ free Bullet Journal printables, stickers, and worksheets to use right away.
If you’ve never used printables before, be sure to check my post How To Use Printables In Your Bullet Journal.
It’s pretty basic, and you can find all the supplies you need in my post Supplies For Using Bullet Journal Printables.
More Resources
Are you looking for some more ideas or general tutorials on fun things to do with your notebooks? I’ve got you covered!
Check out these blog posts next:
- 50 Ideas To Fill Your Empty Notebook
- How To Doodle For Beginners For Fun And Mindfulness
- 25+ Inspirational Self Care Bullet Journal Page Ideas
>>> How will you be using your empty notebooks? Share with us in the comments!
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And remember: Keep Bullet Journaling, and Don’t Be A Blob!
