One of my favorite things to do at the start of a new year is to reevaluate my notebook system and refresh it. Likewise, one of the questions I get the most is, “What notebooks do you use and how do you use them?” So here is my 2026 notebook ecosystem. After much thought and finessing, this system is currently working best for me—plus there are some nice-to-have notebooks I’d like to try this year. Most of these notebooks are Leuchtturm1917, but this isn’t sponsored. I’ve tried many notebooks over the years (including rings and Hobonichi), and they’re still just my favorite.
My Seasonal Bullet Journal
Notebook: Leuchtturm1917 B6+ hardcover in dotted grid
My tried-and-true journaling method returns for its third year, and to be honest, I’m not changing too much—it’s just working so well for me. (Will share that full setup very soon!) This is my everyday carry, my daily journal, my long-form journal, my planner, my productivity tool—all of it. I love it so much.
My Year Book
Notebook: Leuchtturm1917 B6+ softcover in dotted grid
This is where I keep all the high-level events, projects, collections, and trackers across all my notebooks, in one place for the year. I don’t like combining my personal bullet journal and my work notebook for many reasons, but it’s nice to see certain calendar events in one place. I plan on using the back section for collection pages, mental inventory, brain dumps, and maybe even a little commonplacing. I had a Hobonichi for my year book in 2025, but decided to switch back to L1917 for 2026.
My Work Notebook
Notebook: Leuchtturm1917 wallet-size hardcover weekly planner in dotted grid
As mentioned, I like to keep my work notes and personal notes separate, and for 2026, I will be doing so in Leuchtturm1917’s newest wallet-size weekly planner. (Ad: gifted) The size and layout are very similar to the popular Hobonichi Weeks, so it’s nice to have those features available in my favorite notebook brand. Previously, I kept a bullet journal as my work notebook, but I barely used all the pages (I mostly just used it as a weekly to-do list), so not having to set up a work notebook going forward is a nice treat. I’m very much looking forward to this!
My Pocket Notes
Notebooks: Leuchtturm1917 A6 hardcover in dotted grid. Smythson Panama pocket notebook.
This little notebook is my inbox, or at least, that’s the intention. I admit I haven’t kept up with it much this year, but in 2026, I would like to make an effort to reach for my phone’s Notes app less and this little guy more. Previously, I used a Smythson pocket notebook, but I’m thinking the ruled pages left me uninspired, so I’m switching to a L1917 notebook and seeing if that helps!
Bonus Notebooks
My Reading Journal from Papier. Technically, it is a notebook I already use, just not often. In 2025, I published my own book, so I didn’t read as many books as I usually would. I hope to read a little more again in 2026.
My Commonplace Journal from Leuchtturm1917. I’ve wanted to start a commonplace journal for some time now, but I’m just not sure which notebook I would like to use for it yet. It’s down to my Year Book or this, but I hope to decide before the end of the year.
That’s my notebook system for 2026! If you have any questions, let me know in the comments. Follow me on Threads, Instagram, and Ko-fi for more journaling posts in 2026, too.
