my notebook secrets revealed 📑

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my notebook secrets revealed 📑

a quick peek into all the notebooks I currently use & inspiration to start your own imperfect stack of notebooks

April Edwards

Sep 12, 2025

At the risk of you all thinking I am a bit frivolous, I decided to do a notebook stack tour.

This is a quick peek into all the notebooks I currently use. I will share some links, resources, and notes that were not in the video.

Hopefully this sparks you to start your own imperfect stack of super helpful notebooks. 😁

📨Send to a friend that loves lists & notes!

[note: this post is NOT sponsored, I just want to share what I'm using and how]

My Digital Organization -

Here is a look into how I organize things digitally. My life is layered and there is always a lot going on, so digital organization is super helpful for me as well.

{If there isn’t a plan, I’ll probably make one anyway… just for fun.😉}

My Digital Organization System

Writing/Homeschool Notebook -

I do have binders and digital organization for these areas but this is my messy lists of what I am currently working on.

I have a shut down ritual for both my jobs. Anytime I am done writing or teaching I clean up the area and then write a few notes about what I need to do tomorrow.

It is a kindness to my future self.

The next day when I show up to write or teach I can glance over my notes and I know what tasks need to be done and where to start.

If you peeked in my notebook you would find: posts to edit, SEO and tags to add, or papers to grade, history lessons to plan, and notes on Literature lessons to do that week.

Here is more on that process: Making Progress in Your Writing

Idea Notebook -

I kept coming up with ideas to put into another book while writing my first book: Subtle Resistance - Practical Tips to Live Deliberately & Avoid Overwhelm. To keep focused, I got this cute Idea Notebook and jotted down anything that popped in my mind.

It became a landing place for story ideas, tips, and practical things to include in my next book. I am still adding ideas there for now.

My writing process: Writing Tips: Capturing Ideas

Bullet Journal -

I have been using the Bullet Journal Method for over 8 years. It has given purpose to my random lists, post-its, and phone notes.

Usually my weekly spread includes stickers, a color theme, and detailed notes. But during busy seasons it’s simple and compact.

{Spontaneity is great, but have you tried writing it down first? 🤣}

Resources:

Bullet Journaling & The Weekly Review - my detailed post
How to Bullet Journal - the 4min. video that started my Bujo habit
Scribbles That Matter are my absolute favorite notebooks to use for my Bullet Journal. They look so amazing on my shelf all completed and labeled! {My favorite: B5 / Dotted / 120gsm / in Bottle Green 📗}

Personal Journal / Morning Pages -

This journal is often like a best friend, therapist, and confidant.

Taking 15 minutes with this notebook makes a huge difference in my outlook and ability to cope.

I have learned that when I am feeling overwhelmed it often comes from frustrations that I haven’t put into words yet.

My journal helps me be honest and move forward with small action steps.

Check out this embarrassing story and what I discovered: Feeling Like a Weirdo - Journaling in Public

Church Notebook -

I like to take notes to remember what I have learned. This applies to all areas of my life but especially church because I am there often.

I even have a special pencil pouch full of my favorite highlighters, pens, and washi tape.

I love a “fill in the blank”, main takeaways, and Hebrew/Greek translations of specific words in verses discussed.

{Yes, I am constantly in full nerd mode! 😜}

Watercolor Sketchbook -

This is one of my newer hobbies that I started last year. I don’t try to create life-like stuff, I enjoy the cartoon and kid-ish style.

It’s just something I do for me and it is fun. 😁

Resource:

Andrea Nelson has been an amazing source of inspiration for me!
- Check out her TikTok and YouTube channels.

Drawing & Nature Sketchbook -

More on this topic coming soon!!

But for now I will just note that I am learning how to draw in new ways.

{😉spoiler: I am terrible at it…}

I am enjoying working through these books:

Commonplace Notebook -

Someday I will probably create a digital system where I could search up specific topics or phrases. But I just can’t get away from the ascetic of writing with a nice pen in a beautiful notebook.

I enjoy looking over my underlines and highlights in a hardback book then rewriting them in my Commonplace book.

This process keeps the ideas in my memory longer and gives me a myriad of ideas for my own writing.

More about that here: My Commonplace - Notes On Learning

Meal Planning Notebook & Clipboard -

This notebook is the most utilitarian and boing of them all but my family appreciates the creativity and time I take here. I often thumb through a cookbook or browse my online folders to gather ideas.

I try to save myself from decision fatigue by doing the thinking all at once.

About every week or two I clean out the fridge, make a grocery list, and do my meal planning (not always in that order).

Check out my free planning pages in my book guide (p.28-31).
also lot of meal planning ideas in Chapter 8 of Subtle Resistance

💙 Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video.

I would love to hear from you!

🖊️Are you more of a digital note-taker, a paper person, or a mix of both?

✏️Do you have a favorite pen, notebook, or journaling tool you can’t live without?

Update:

After these type of posts got so much attention and positive feedback, it sparked a fun creative project for me! 😁
My online course will give you direction without adding more noise to your life. I’ll walk you through the exact steps to build a Personal Curriculum that actually fits your busy schedule (including some roadblocks that will keep you stuck). Full of simple steps, helpful PDFs, and space to learn at your pace.