Whether you’re starting a new notebook, or looking for a way to fill up the empty pages in your old one, it’s always good to have thought-provoking ideas to prompt your imagination. The list below is a jumping off point for creative thinking when you’re in need of inspiration. These are some important things to write in notebooks when you are free.
- Write down your name
- Where are you from?
- Where do you live now?
- How old are you?
- What is your occupation? Your dream job? Your hobby?
- Favorite book/movie/song ever and why? Least favorite and why?
- Favorite person(s) of all time and why (can include fictional characters)? Least favorite and why?
Lists
Lists are great to write down in notebooks. I know that because I’m one of the few people who doesn’t have OCD, and you should listen to everything I say because we only have a short time on this Earth and the best way to make that short time feel meaningful is to do what random strangers tell you.
The first kind of list is a “To-Do List,” which reminds you of things you need to do. These lists are useful because they plan out your day, week or month before it even happens. But don’t stick strictly with To-Do Lists; mix it up by also writing “To-Don’t List” which will remind you of things NOT to do (strangling your neighbor’s cat).
The second type of list is an “I’m Done With This List” (IDWTTL), which reminds you of things you have done so that when someone asks if you’ve done something important, like performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a dying child, or putting your socks in the hamper instead of leaving them on the floor where they get all crusty and stinky, then you can look at your list and say “Yes! Done! I did it!” This way people will think highly of you and may one day even invite you over for Thanksgiving dinner.
Things you’re thankful for
Now that you have your trusty notebook at the ready, get started with the following practical and fun ideas for how to use it.
- Things you’re thankful for.
When I’m feeling down and out, I like to make a list of everything in my life that I’m grateful for. It helps me feel happier by getting me in touch with all the good things around me. You can add pictures along with your lists for added visual interest—for example, include a picture of your favorite drink or place to relax if you’re thankful for those things in particular.
- Lists of lists.
If making lists is what makes you happy (it is one of my guilty pleasures), then why not make a list of everything else you’d like to do on a daily basis? Try writing down all the different types of lists you’d like to keep track of in your notebook (a diary, a bucket list, grocery items etc.) and keep them organized by dedicating a different page or section to each type. And voila! Now you have plenty of ideas about what else to write into that empty notebook staring back at you from across the room.
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Things you’re worried about.
- Write a list of things you’re worried about.
You don’t need to be afraid of putting down your worries on paper, or of how they’ll look in front of you once they’re there. You might think the act of writing them down will stress you out even more, but the opposite is true: getting those swirling thoughts out of your brain and into something concrete will make them seem less overwhelming and easier to tackle. Plus, looking at your worries objectively—instead of just worrying about them inside your head—can help you think through them more clearly.
- For each thing on the list, write a possible solution for it.
It’s easy to feel trapped by our biggest fears and anxieties, but seeing even one way out (even if that way is far from certain) can be enough to shift us from panic mode into problem-solving mode. Try not to get too carried away with creating solutions; just focus on coming up with one reasonable next step for each issue right now, however small that step might seem compared to the scope of the problem as a whole.
- If necessary, write about why this particular worry is important for you right now in this moment in time—and why it isn’t worth spending more energy than it deserves worrying about at all.
Sometimes we have problems that we know are going to be around for awhile, so we can’t necessarily do much about them other than acknowledge their existence and move on with our lives in spite of them (for instance: if you’re worried about someone close to you being sick or dying). This may sound callous or unsympathetic until you realize that “moving on” doesn’t mean forgetting or ignoring these situations; instead allow yourself the freedom to feel what comes naturally while also focusing on what matters most right now: living your life as well as possible despite whatever difficulties may arise along the way…and there will always be difficulties along the way!
Dreams and goals.
Long-term goals, short-term goals, goals for each year, month, week, and even day should all be written down in your notebook. And if you want to take it another step further, you can list daily goals by the hour (to stay on top of time management).
Your bucket list.
A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you die. They can be as simple as “learn how to tie my shoes” or as complex as “become the youngest person to win an Oscar for Best Director.” You must know the things to write when you are bored.
Your bucket list should include things you want to experience, see, do, try, create, and accomplish. It can also include parts of yourself that you want to grow or improve on. For example: if your goal is to work on being better at public speaking, you might list something like “give a speech in front of 20 people without vomiting in my mouth” or “deliver a presentation without having an anxiety attack afterwards.”
Things you want to do again.
- A place to visit again.
Is there a spot you visited that you’ve been thinking about returning to? If so, writing it down might fuel your desire to book another trip! If you already have photos of the location or postcards from the area, stick them in your journal as inspiration.
- A book or movie you want to read or watch again.
Are there any books or films you want to revisit? Jot them down and get your hands on a copy (whether at the library, through streaming services, or new from a bookstore). Remember: It’s always worth rereading an old favorite! This may be the things to write in notebooks.
- A craft project to do again.
Do you have a project from your past that you’d like to revisit? Maybe it’s something as simple as sewing a bookmark for yourself (or for someone who needs one) or creating handmade invitations for an upcoming party—whatever it is, write it down and get crafty!
- A trip you want to take again.
Whether it’s a vacation spot or a journey elsewhere, there are plenty of places in life we love visiting over and over! No matter where that special spot is—maybe even close to home—write about the experience in your journal and keep track of the details that make it so memorable for you. This can be helpful if you want to return some day—or share tips with friends who might like traveling there too!
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- A person to see again
There are people in our lives who are always fun (and sometimes necessary) parts of our journeys—whether they’re friends we see regularly or family members we only visit occasionally … And then there are those rare gems whom we may not get together with very often but still treasure their friendship because each time together is so valuable! These people deserve plenty of thought space in our journals too! So this may be the things to do in notebook.
Things you learn each day
Write down what you learned each day. It’s an easy way to keep track of your progress and accomplishments, and can give you a positive mindset since you’re able to show others all the things that you learned in a given time frame. It’s also a quick way to collect your thoughts and look back at what you accomplished that day so you can get an idea on what to write in empty notebook.
If we’re talking about writing things down, it goes without saying that there are plenty of interesting facts out there waiting for you to discover and write about! Most people end up discovering new things every day, whether they’re as simple as “cats have whiskers on their front paws too!” or more complex like “X-rays were discovered by accident when Wilhelm Röntgen was experimenting with cathode rays in 1845.
Quotes and lyrics (Things to write in Notebooks)
Quotes and lyrics can be an amazing way to remember significant memories from your life. It could be a song you used to listen to on repeat before your first kiss, or a quote from the novel that changed your entire worldview. Whether it’s inspirational or just meaningful, adding these sayings to your notebook will help you hold on to what you love. We can also add it in the list of things to write in notebooks.
If you’re unsure of where to find quotes and lyrics, here are some wonderful places and things to write in notebooks:
- The internet
- Your brain
What went well each day (Things to do with notebook)
In your notes, jot down the things that went well and the things that didn’t go so well. At first glance this may seem like a way of looking inwards and reflecting on yourself but it’s also an important way to learn about yourself. By scrutinizing both the good and bad you can use your knowledge to improve yourself if necessary.
It’s always a great idea to write something positive before you go to bed each night, this helps you sleep better and makes you feel more positive going into the next day! So you can add this things to do in notebook.
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Stories/memories from your past that deserve a written record
Keeping a running list of all the funny, embarrassing, and occasionally tragic stories from your past is useful for the following reasons of what to do with notebooks:
- You never know which anecdotes your grandkids will love to hear at bedtime.
- Writing down a story from your past can help you process it in a new way and understand yourself better.
- If you keep retelling a story that happened when you were nine to everyone in your life, writing it down is an easy way to remember it forever so that you don’t have to say it out loud again (and again… and again…).
- It’s nice to have something so personal written down permanently, rather than just floating around your head or on Facebook (where it could be deleted if the servers crash).
What you enjoy about life in general – your favorite things!
Take some time to think of your favorite things in life. It can be anything, from food to people to places. Here are some examples of things to write in notebooks
- Food you like
- Music you like
- Books and magazines you like
- Movies and TV shows you like
- Hobbies that make you happy
- People that make you happy – family, friends, coworkers, celebrities (that’s right, I know Jake Gyllenhaal is my boyfriend)
- Places that make you happy – home, work/school, vacation destinations
Writing something down in a notebook can help make it more lasting and important to you, so use this to create a journal you’ll want to keep up with!
You can go through your journal at the end of each day, and write down things you learned, or things that stood out to you. If there is an idea you want to try out, jot it down in your notebook so that you won’t forget it. You can also note anything surprising that happened during the day – this will help your journal reflect a balanced view of the world. So you may know things to write in notebooks when you feel bored.
Keeping a journal is also beneficial if your mind tends to wander, or if you have trouble concentrating on one thing at a time. Writing in your journal helps remind you what’s important and what matters most to you, which makes it easier for you to focus on those things and stay grounded in reality!
If there are goals or projects you want to accomplish during the week (or month), having this all laid out for yourself in writing is helpful. It helps make sure that everything gets done when it’s supposed to – and how easy would it be to lose track without having some sort of plan written down and know what to do with empty notebook?