A few days ago, I received my “rewards” for Cute Stickers Only‘s Enchanting Pens Kickstarter campaign. I hadn’t realized how much washi tape I’d purchased, and as I stared at all the rolls, I realized I didn’t know how I’d use them. That’s when it finally hit me that I don’t decorate my notebook anymore. OK, yes, I use binders now, but you know what I mean.
I don’t know how I’ve managed to not process that I only decorate 2 items across my binders. Now that I’m thinking about it, though, I have to add another item to my “biggest differences between binders and notebooks” mental list. It’s not just the ability to move, add, and remove pages that differentiates them.
Notebooks feel permanent; even though I rarely look back at their contents, I keep them. The paper in my binders feels temporary; once used, I recycle it, with a few exceptions.
I’m fairly certain it’s this difference that keeps me from decorating my binder pages. Why decorate something I’m going to get rid of? Why waste my stickers, washi tape, etc.? And, while I don’t disagree with this sentiment, I dislike the cause.
I need to fix this.
Options
So, I thought about my options:
- Go back to notebooks. Nope. Definitely not. Next.
- Try a hybrid system. Maybe, but I’m not sure what I’d migrate to a binder.
- Keep the binder pages. No, that would pile up really fast.
- Dedicate a binder to decorated paper. Also maybe, but with the same problem as #2.
- Deal with it. No, I don’t want to.
Steps
So, I have two options that are fairly similar. They boil down to the same steps:
- Determine what to move to — or start new in —a dedicated binder or a notebook.
- Decide between dedicated binder or new notebook.
- Choose the binder/notebook size.
- Develop layouts.
- Implement the new system.
Plans
I have some work ahead of me. And, of course, it hits right when i thought I had a good handle on my paper system. Everything I use regularly finally seemed to be working well.
I’ve already started my research into layouts thanks to YouTube. So far, the channels I’ve found most helpful are JashiiCorrin and Erin Smith. My current top contenders to add to the new binder or notebook include tracking when I last saw/talked to friends, an energy tracker to see if I can find any trends, and life gamification. Currently in consideration for migration are my currently inked and reading trackers.
Size will be harder to figure out. If I migrate my currently inked tracker, I’d be highly tempted to stick to A5, but I’m not sure I want a binder that big. Personal or bible size would be good, especially for a dedicated binder, since I already own several. B6 could also be nice, but I’d have to go with a notebook.
When it comes to implementing the system, I’m going to aim for the new year. That gives me a couple of months to figure out the details, and I can start the trackers at the start of the year, instead of the end.
Wish me luck with figuring this out, I’m probably going to need it. If you have recommendations for other YouTube channels or blogs you think I should check out, suggestions for what to include in my new binder or notebook, or anything else you want to share, let me know in the comments. And thanks in advance!
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