Travelers Notebook Setup for Bullet Journal Lovers

Journaling is a great way to bring conscious intention to your day. I have been doing this for years using the Bullet Journal system! It is so great, but I have learned that travelers notebooks may be even better! They allow you to have separate signatures or sections of your journal that can stay in your journal for longer or shorter depending on your needs! They are so much more customizable! This is why I now use a Travelers Notebook with a bullet journal inside.

Here is a video to explain in more detail.

Bullet Journals

Are good at

1. keeping everything you need all in one notebook

2. being small and streamlined to fit into purses/bags

3. going with the flow, not having too defined of structure for daily use

4. Archiving your thoughts and actions all in one book at a time.

5. Staying open to the page you are working on

But… They lack

1. the ability to keep information accessible daily for long periods of time

2. They can lack character in design depending on the style of journal you use

What Travelers Notebooks are Great At

Are good at

1. separating sections of your life from one another (Example: Work, Finances, Magical, Creative Projects)

2. Allowing customized signature replacement as needed. (working at different speeds)

3. adding character and a more personalized feel to your daily planning

4. Organizing everything you need to plan and reference daily in one “book”

But… They lack

1. sleekness. They are a bit bulkier.

2. Definitive time definition. Signatures ebb and flow and are not defined by a certain time range unless you do so with intention.

3. They may not stay open to the page you want due to the nature of their construction

My Hybrid System

I have a bullet journal in my travelers notebook. This means I have the best of both worlds! But I must address the side effects of this. The drawbacks come mainly from the bulkiness of the journal. However I am still able to fit this chunky monkey in my purse, so all is right with the world.

I also use bulldog clips to keep my journal open to whatever page I am currently working on. And while I like the freewheeling timelessness of the signatures in this travelers notebook, I do put dates on my signatures, and when I complete them I archive them in specialized books for each category of signature.

Here are my Signatures

Magic Book of Shadows /Shadow Work Signature

My Magical Book of Shadows Signature

In this signature I do my daily shadow work, journaling, meditation thoughts and spiritual research. The collage is made from magazine cutouts a usual. The paper base is craft paper from an elementary school! I am just about to finish up this signature, So I will need to make a new one soon.

I already have made the book that I will keep my Magic Signatures in, This means that my magical thoughts will be able to be archived over longer periods of time in a separate book! So, I can have my Magic book with me and another part of it at home If I would like to! ULTIMATE FREEDOOM!!!

I plan to decorate a new cover page every time i make a new signature so that I can define the time i was working in my book of shadows by images that inspired me at the time.

Scrap Paper/Placeholder

This is just some scrap paper and it doesn’t necessitate a photo!

Abundance, Business and Solar Plexus

This is a simple signature made from printer paper.

Sewing Projects

A Signature just for my sewing projects! What Texture!

This is a place I can store all of my past sewing projects, notes about pattern alterations, my measurements over time etc. I sew sooo much that it is important for me to have a space to write all my notes down. Also since I live in a smaller house I end up sewing by hand on the couch in the evenings, so having my daily book with me makes note taking super easy!

In the video I flip through some pages in this signature and you can see that I make a lot of notes even just about easy projects! I make a lot of scrunchies out of scrap fabric, so it is nice to have a sheet with all the dimensions of what I need available when I have some scraps to work with.

Daily Journal

My Meditation Journal Signature

This is a journal for my daily thoughts and memories! I generally write positive things in this book, and events and things that trigger me in my shadow work journal instead.

I do not work in this journal every day, but I am thinking of making it my gratitude journal as well. This will save me space in my bullet journal as well since I am currently writing my gratitude in there.

Bullet Journal

This is a simple picture for a simple item. My Bullet Journal. As you can see in the video i have this journal attached at the very back of the travelers notebook, and while i had to trim this particular journal down on the side, it fits perfectly in my journal! Now I get the best of both worlds!

I used to go through a bullet journal every 6 months, now I go through a bullet journal every year or so because I use the signatures so much that I just have my to do lists in my bullet journal!

All together,

I am so happy I found this system and I really hope that this helps you bullet journalers out there that are tired of writing down the same information over and over again journal to journal! Or those of you who may want to organize spiritual practices separate from your work planner! This may be a solution to your problem!

And so it is!

With much love,

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