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Notebooks: you either love them or love to hate them. No matter which category you fall under, you certainly have a bunch of them lying around on your desk, shelf, or library. They are just collecting dust, tempting you to throw them away in every cleaning session.
Leaving them to take space as useless props isn’t a solution, either. So, what to do with empty notebooks? Even if you doubt it, there is so much potential to these blank pages!
Notebooks are not just for journaling and keeping notes. They are not meant to be used in a specific way. In this article, we will explore how you can unleash your creativity to transform them into whatever you like.
Let’s see how you can repurpose your untouched notebooks. One of these creative ideas will eventually stick and maybe help you change how you view your notebooks forever.
Why Do I Have So Many Empty Notebooks?
One thing is for sure. You cannot allow your collection of empty journals to grow. So, before we explore what to do with empty notebooks, we will try to address the matter at its root.
Let’s go over some potential scenarios that could have led to the great amassing of unused paper supplies.
Firstly, you could be the type of person who cannot resist a pretty cover design. However, the first step to preventing the notebook hoarding situation is to stop buying new ones. Accept that you already have plenty to work with and that they basically all serve the same purpose.
If you are anything like me, you are the type that hesitates to even begin writing inside your notebooks. There is nothing like the great terror of sullying your new buy. What type of pen should I use? How should I organize it?
Eventually, I do use them for a couple of pages, then decide I have messed up and shove them in the library. Then, I go for a new one, hoping it will inspire me to do better.
If you have identified yourself in these scenarios, don’t fret. Even if your notebooks are slightly used, there are ways to give them new life and a chance to shine!
25 Creative Ideas To Repurpose Your Empty Notebooks
Reduce the waste and unleash your creativity with these ideas for repurposing your blank pages:
1. Thoughts Journal
I am quite a forgetful person. My brain processes many thoughts at a time. So, when something important pops up, it will likely disappear from my head forever unless I write it down.
If you also have a busy mind, you must have a ton of random thoughts pop up at times when you cannot process them. Keeping a notebook around for writing them down will help you remember everything while also taking some burden off your mind.
2. Progress Tracking Tool
If you appreciate the art of setting successful goals, you know the importance of tracking your progress. Tracking your progress in a notebook will provide a visual reminder that will help you stay committed to your goal.
It will also help you assess your strengths and weaknesses, evaluate the effectiveness of your methods, and map out your future steps. It will serve as a reminder of how far you have come, allowing you to appreciate your efforts and celebrate your milestones.
3. Shopping list
Turning an empty notebook into a shopping list can make your life a lot easier if you ask. Going around your house minutes before your grocery run to remember what you have run out of is neither effective nor stress-free.
Instead, every time you notice a missing item or remember something you would like to buy, jot it down in your notebook, and you are done!
4. Manifesting Diary
Keeping a manifestation diary can revolutionize the way you invite the things you want in your life. According to the practices you use, you can customize your diary to match your needs.
For example, you can use your diary as a vision board of the things and life experiences you are manifesting. You can make collages of inspiring photos, write detailed descriptions, or draw by hand.
Otherwise, you can track the steps you are taking toward actualizing your manifestations, note down the messages you receive from the universe, and the setbacks you come across. You can really use your diary in whatever way you like best!
5. Gratitude Journal
One of the best empty notebook ideas is to turn them into gratitude journals. Crafting a daily gratitude practice can become a valuable tool for inviting more joy, hope, and satisfaction into your life.
You can write down your gratitude list as you drink your morning coffee or as you wrap up your day. Write everything you consider a blessing in your life, no matter how small.
By being consistent in your practice, you will shift your focus away from your worries and towards the more important things in life. You will also have something to look at when you are feeling low or when you believe life is being unfair to you.
6. Brain Dumb Journal
You can turn your empty notebooks into brain-dumb journals. Whenever you are lost in a maze of tangled thoughts or are struggling with a decision, you can take to your notebook to deposit what’s in your head.
By externalizing your thoughts, you can view them more clearly and from a different perspective. You don’t have to make it pretty or care for structure and grammatical correctness – just load everything off.
7. Goal Setting
Turn one of your empty notebooks into a goals journal to supercharge your ambitions, whether they’re personal or professional.
Begin by listing your short-term and long-term goals, then break them into bite-sized, actionable steps. This notebook enables you to strategically monitor your progress, celebrate milestones, and adjust goals when necessary.
8. Daily To-Do Lists
Whether you like a strict schedule or prefer a more relaxed take, creating a daily to-do list can help you set priorities and get things done. There is nothing wrong with creating a checklist, but there are many more things you can do instead.
You can try the planning method of productivity influencer Ali Abdaal. Time-blocking daily planning with a twist, which focuses on flexibility and has a refreshing “less is more” approach.
Otherwise, you can spice your to-do list up with a challenge. Years ago, I stumbled upon this video of photographer, filmmaker, and YouTuber Peter McKinnon. He discovers the method of “8 critical tasks.”
These tasks, no matter how small or big, need to be completed by the end of the day. Each day completed successfully is counted into your streak. If you miss even one critical task, you lose your streak and have to start over!
9. Daily/Weekly/Monthly Planner
Some planners have a preset layout to help you organize your day/week/month more effectively. Yet, I always found that the boxed areas take away some of my creativity and limit the things I could be using my planner for.
You can use one of your empty notebooks, instead, to shape your own planners the way you want them. You can note down your daily intentions, emotions, inspirational quotes, or anything you are missing from a typical planner.
10. Sketchbook
Let your creativity run wild and become a kid all over again with this empty notebook idea. You don’t have to buy fancy and expensive art supplies to express your talent. Allow your imagination to fill the empty pages without the restrictions of perfectionism.
You can use the notebook as your practice sketchbook to keep track of your progress, make improvements to your techniques, and refine your personal style. You can also carry your notebook around to gather inspiration from nature or people going about their lives.
11. Doodling Notebook
If you are the type to doodle when you speak on the phone, ponder over something, or feel anxious, this one is for you. You no longer have to fill the house with random cutouts of pages, napkins, or post-it notes.
By gathering all your doodles in one place, you will end up with your own private collections. It will be fun to see what your brain is downloading and go over some old designs.
12. Crafts Book
If you are an artsy person but not quite a fan of painting, you can still put your empty notebooks to good use. There are several ways you can go for it. Either use it to take notes during a large crafts project or make it the project itself.
You can decorate its pages, make collages, craft origami, and then glue them inside. There are no limits to what you can turn your craft book into. Make it your personal art collection, or turn it into a heartfelt, personal gift.
13. Recommendations Notebook
When something catches my eye, whether it is a book, a movie poster, or a restaurant, I want to note it down, take a picture of it, or save it on my phone. The next thing that happens is that I completely forget about it.
Starting a recommendations notebook where you keep organized lists of things you want to see, do, eat, or read can make sure nothing gets lost.
14. Date Ideas Lists
This empty notebook idea will come very handy for my indecisive friends out there. Being asked to decide where to go for a date or a friend’s gathering is a real-life nightmare for me.
Instead, you can use an empty notebook to write down some ideas for these meetups ahead of time. This way, you will be better prepared.
Yet, the most important perk of this idea is that it will allow you to become more creative, change things up a bit, and try new things with your loved ones or friends. You can even make this a game where you randomly get to pick one of the ideas.
15. Affirmations Notebook
Using affirmations is a powerful method to reprogram your perception of life and yourself and change your inner dialogue. Writing down your daily affirmations can become a self-loving ritual.
Every time you need a boost of confidence or a drop of positivity during your day, you can go through your affirmations.
16. Inner Dialogue Notebook
Noticing the voice of your inner critic is the very first step to changing it. By developing a habit of noting down snippets of our inner dialogue, you become more aware of it.
You will notice some recurring tropes of thoughts and make it easier for you to challenge them. This way, you can turn your empty notebook into a handy tool for your healing journey.
17. Money Planner
Having a weekly/monthly money plan and tracking down your expenses makes a big difference in both your mentality and your spending habits.
For starters, it gives you a sense of control that lifts a big chunk of worries off your shoulders. It also allows you more flexibility to allocate your money to the things that matter most to you.
18. Important Memories Notebook
Turning an empty notebook into an “Important Memory Notebook” is all about preserving significant moments and preventing them from fading away over time. By documenting cherished memories, you create a personal archive of your life’s journey.
This dedicated space allows you to go through these moments, invoking feelings of nostalgia and personal growth. It’s an incredibly meaningful practice that helps you cherish and share your life experiences, connecting you to your past while shaping your future.
19. Travel Planner
Travel planning can quickly become chaotic and hectic. Centralizing all your travel-related notes in one place can make the process a lot smoother.
In your travel planning notebook, you can jot down ideas for future trips and create an organized space for destination wish lists, activity plans, and budgeting ideas.
20. Housekeeping Tracking
Maintaining a clean and organized home can be a real challenge. To make housekeeping more manageable, you can repurpose an empty notebook into a housekeeping tracking tool. Create a checklist of daily, weekly, or monthly tasks to ensure you don’t overlook anything.
You can categorize your housekeeping duties, from laundry and vacuuming to grocery shopping and bill payments. As you complete each task, proudly check it off your list.
21. Bucket Lists
Everyone has a list of things they want to experience or achieve in their lifetime. Why not use one of your empty notebooks to create your bucket list?
This dedicated space is perfect for exploring your wildest dreams, from skydiving to traveling the world and mastering a new language. No one said you need to go small!
Our minds are filled with limiting beliefs. This bucket list notebook can serve as a tangible reminder of your dreams, a source of inspiration, and a tool to keep your life’s aspirations well-organized, ensuring they become realities.
22. Casual Magic Notebook
I was introduced to the concept of *casual magic* by sweet YouTuber Jade Bowler. In one of her videos, she explains casual magic as discovering beauty in the mundane every day.
Our lives consist of simple and routine moments. Waiting for our lives to become exceptional to experience happiness will leave you feeling numb and unsatisfied most of the time.
So, grab one of your empty notebooks and keep a record of every time you notice a beautiful yet simple detail weaved into your daily routine that made you smile. With time, you’ll notice that these blissful moments are too important to miss.
23. Hobby Journal
Hobbies are a fantastic way to unwind and nurture your creativity. Your empty notebook can become a hobby journal dedicated to a specific pastime.
Whether you’re into painting, knitting, or baking, use your journal to record your progress, note down tips and tricks, and keep track of your projects.
24. Healing Diary
The healing journey is often a rollercoaster, filled with joyful and sad moments, achievements, and setbacks. And they are all equally important to lead us to our destination.
Use your empty notebook as a healing diary to document your experiences, emotional states, and personal growth. Writing about your challenges, triumphs, and self-reflection can be incredibly therapeutic.
It helps you release emotions, gain clarity, and chart your path toward healing and self-improvement.
25. Creative Writing Book
If you’re an aspiring writer or simply enjoy creative writing, your empty notebook is the perfect canvas for your stories. Use it to draft short stories, poetry, or even work on that novel you’ve been dreaming of.
It will serve as a space to gather and organize your inspiration, hone your writing skills, and explore your style and interests.
What To Do With Empty Notebooks: A Conclusion
This wraps up 25 creative ideas for turning your empty notebooks into organizational tools, canvases for your art, or aids in your personal growth journey. As you see, the question of “what to do with empty notebooks” has limitless answers.
Do not wait for those notebooks on your shelf to wither – they are meant for big things. Grab your pens and employ your creativity to jazz them up into handy companions.
