Do you switch notebooks when you need something new? Different size, different paper, etc? Or do you stick it out until the notebook is filled/it's the new year?

[u/CruzanSpiceLatte]

Anxiety is making me overthink, per usual. Just wondering what other folks do.

Since we have the freedom to start in any notebook, any time of year, it's very tempting to abandon my current bullet journal (started in September because I wanted to try an academic year in one book) and start up in a new notebook (sitting on my shelf, watching me) that I'll realistically never get to until next September if I fill up my current one.

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[u/Aggressive-Problem65]

I switch books all the time. Whatever works for me is what works, even if it changes a week or two years for now. My bullet journal is to help me, not for me to fill

[u/CruzanSpiceLatte → u/Aggressive-Problem65]

You're so right.

Why do I keep thinking I'll refer to these like an archive and need all the info to be "together"? lol. I have looked back on a journal like, twice.

[u/paperandwitchcraft]

I just switch notebooks whenever I fancy! Sometimes I feel like a different paper, different size... I never throw the part used ones away unless I genuinely hated them for whatever reason, then I just pick them back up at a later date. For example, I went from an A6 stalogy to an A5 160gsm as I had more free time to add some art as I went, then onto a standard Travelers notebook, and I've literally just picked my A6 up again this evening (the last date is in April of this year!)

I find it keeps it interesting this way and gives me the freedom to just play around and have fun in my notebooks, use different pens, switch sizes around etc all based on my current needs and wants.

Life is too short to not have fun in a notebook! It's only paper after all

[u/platysoup]

If you want an excuse to crack open a new notebook, you have my permission 😉

[u/xxxpinguinos]

I switch way too often as soon as I have any slight problem with one, and ooh another shiny one.

I think I’ve found a system that’s working for me but it actually doesn’t even use a book, but rather little notecards

[u/sekiri-nii → u/xxxpinguinos]

How does your note card system work? Do you have a resource guide you follow or did you just make up your own system?

[u/xxxpinguinos → u/sekiri-nii]

Well it’s pretty new so I’m still adjusting some things, but at the moment I basically just treat each card as if it were a bujo page. So no index or anything but I have cards for daily logs, monthly logs, future log, etc. I’ve been color coding them with a highlighter on the top too. I’ll try to remember later to take pics or something to send over

[u/ChaosFlameEmber]

A notebook lasts me a year and I don't switch. In case of craving something new, so always, I'll tweak my layouts, use another colour, that's enough for me. I have so many half finished notebooks for writing and drawing, I don't nead another heap for planning.

[u/Jaded_Raspberry8543]

Sticking to one might help track your thoughts and reduce overthinking.
I am switching from paper to digital journal.

[u/CruzanSpiceLatte → u/Jaded_Raspberry8543]

Very true! Thats why I’ve stuck with one so far in 2024 until September when I tried something new.

[u/Ok_Platypus_1901]

I thought my Hobonichi cousin would stop my need to switch because it really does have everything I need, but it hasn't! Started it in October and going back to bujo in a B6 slim travelers notebook for December. Not even gonna wait til the new year🤣

I figure since I touch my notebook daily, it should be something I enjoy touching. Why put limitations on this one small thing that makes me happy? Adulthood is hard enough.

I did decide to repurpose the cousin into an ink journal though, so I feel way less terrible about my decisions lol

[u/CruzanSpiceLatte → u/Ok_Platypus_1901]

I want to start my next notebook in Dec too 😬😬

[u/downtide]

I switch whenever. Sometimes because I dislike something about the book, eg paper quality, or sometimes just because I fancy a change. Sometimes I come back to a part-used book and finish it later, sometimes I don't.

[u/chocosweet]

I like to try different kind of paper so yes! Currently liking A6 for my personal bujo, would like to change B6 for my work bujo for 2025!

[u/PersimmonPristine → u/chocosweet]

I've been in a b6 for about 6 months. It's the perfect size. I wish it was more popular!

[u/CruzanSpiceLatte → u/PersimmonPristine]

B6 slim is the one I’m considering switching to 😬

[u/pixelpyoo]

I cut my pages for the month / week

[u/aodamo]

I try to avoid switching notebooks without reason but valid reasons are ultimately determined by me. I prefer for that to be when I'm running out of pages or approaching the calendar year, but I've also abandoned a notebook because of paper quality or because I really wanted pre-numbered pages and was happier for it both times.

This past year I've tried the travelers notebook system, which allows me to change smaller segments without affecting the rest. I'm not sure if yhe binding difference is an improvement or not, but I can say that having some of it be presuctured meets my current needs nicely.

[u/ruthlesslyFloral]

I have absolutely done so if the old one isn’t working, but I try not to just to use a new notebook. I learned the hard way not to buy spare notebooks lol

[u/trismerrigold]

I used to switch, because I tried different brands and sizes. At the moment, I am using A5 and as I had the wish to switch I decorated the front of my journal and I am trying to stick to it. But as said here in the comments, the journal should serve you. Good luck for your bujo-journey!

[u/Art-Impossible]

I stopped switching some time ago. Now I keep different journals for different collections. I have one for personal and professional tracking. Other for doodling junk journaling etc