(A Simple System for Intentional Living)

I’m usually a firm believer that less is more but at this point in my life there’s not much I can do about the number of thoughts and ideas that float through my brain in a single day, so I’ve learned to accept it. I used to think a planner was suitable for organizing my daily life and schedule. I’d spend at least 2 hours every new year in the Target stationary aisle searching for the perfect planner that met all my bare minimums. Truth was I was settling and just like many of us in an unsatisfying relationship, years would pass before I would realize it. But all it took was one seed of intention to grow something new or in this case one notebook. Until suddenly one turned into five and I had officially built my own journal ecosystem.

What Is a Journal Ecosystem?

If it has yet to hit your Tik Tok algorithm, a journal ecosystem is a collection of notebooks that each serve a different purpose. Just think of being back in high school or college, you had several notebooks that you took to school but used only one for each subject. It helped you stay organized, know where to find your notes, and make the best upmost use of each one.. Aside from reducing mental clutter and increasing self awareness, I’ve found I’ve gotten better at doing the things I say I’m going to do.

Why One Journal Wasn’t Enough

Ironically enough having one journal, or one planner in my case made my dreams and ideas feel like too much to manage. I knew I also needed space to jot down daily mundane things like my brain dumps (and I dump often) and track habits and goals for my bigger passion projects.

The 5 Pieces of my Journal Ecosystem

1. The Hopes & Dreams Journal

The one that started it all. I thought the cover was absolutely beautiful and I had to give it a purpose bigger than just a diary I’d forget to fill in. I’ve written down the things I want to accomplish for myself as well as reflections from time to time when I’ve achieved a goal or experienced a major life event.
For: long term goals, short term goals, values, reflections, bucket lists

2. The Junk Journal

A newer concept that has changed my daily life honestly. In 2025 I officially said goodbye to classic planners and gave myself the creative freedom to design my months and weeks as I please, so no more half empty planners that cost me $20+ dollars. I will admit I found this “3 subject” notebook at Walgreens that has a college ruled paper, dotted paper, and blank white pages. I’ve been unable to find another that truly compares. The next journal comes close.
For: yearly, monthly, and weekly spreads, habit tracking, budgeting

3. The Personal Brand Journal

There’s no concept too big or too small, it all deserves a home. Surely not all my ideas may come to fruition or they may end up transforming into something else but seeing the progress is equally as beautiful as seeing it through to completion. This one also has subjects and includes lined and dotted pages.
For: passion projects, brainstorming, content ideas

4. The Work Journal

I like to keep my work life separate from my personal life as much as possible so this journal is strictly for work tasks. I like making a “week of” page to jot to dos at the beginning of the week and then make a fresh list every Friday to know what’s left for the following Monday.
For: work tasks, meeting notes

5. The Learning Journal

The newest addition to the family since I’ve started my personal curriculum. I pride myself in being a lifelong learner even after finishing my degree and want to hold onto what I learn. Also I’m just a nerd…
For: notes on what I’m learning

How to Create Your Own Journal Ecosystem

Step 1: Think about an aspect of your life that feels overwhelming. Maybe its emotions you need to process, goals you need to break down, creativity you want to flow, etc. What part of your life is speaking to you most right now? What thoughts are taking up space in your mind?

Examples: cooking at home, fitness journey, processing grief, motherhood

Step 2: Try writing about that one thing for a bit. How often do you find yourself writing about it? What do the entries look like? Is it daily or weekly? Is it emotional or is it messy?

Step 3: Create a new journal only when friction appears. Friction is when too much feels mixed together, you’re flipping pages often, you have trouble finding something or you don’t know where something belongs. You’ll know!

Step 4: Name your journals by their purpose. So instead of basing it off the color or design it can be for daily life, memory keeping, creative life, etc.

Step 5: Accept that your ecosystem is never “done”! It can grow, shrink, merge, and split and that’s okay, that’s what allows it to evolve with you and your life. Its your journey <3

Who May Benefit from a Journal Ecosystem

If you’re looking to go analog in 2026 then this is could be the ecosystem for you. As a multipassionate creative and mother, this system allows me to compartmentalize my thoughts and goals in a way that pushes me to accomplish more. What started as just a home for my podcast planning before I launched has turned into tool that has supported me through so many phases of my life. The best part about it is its as if I’m holding all my growth and evolution in my hands.

So the simple answer to who many benefit from a journal ecosystem is ANYONE. But especially creatives, multipassionates, mothers, type a b and c’s, and those who are always growing.

How to Create a Journal Ecosystem