My 9-year test drive with this notebook

I’ve used the Midori Traveler’s Notebook for nearly a decade—and it’s still part of my system. Over the years, I’ve tested different formats, layouts, and notebook styles, from bullet journaling to brain dumps, and eventually landed on a simple one-day-per-page approach. Along the way, I also realized it was time to stop hoarding half-used notebooks and start using them intentionally. The whole process reminded me: the best system is the one that fits your real life—not some idealized version of it.

So while part of this email is paying homage to a trusted notebook partner of 9+ years, it’s also a good reminder that sometimes simpler is better.

Why This Still Matters

We chase the perfect tool—and sometimes forget to ask if it’s perfect for us. That was me in 2015, diving into the Traveler’s Notebook because it looked flexible, tactile, and customizable. And it was.

But nine years later, I’ve realized the real reason it’s lasted so long in my system isn’t the aesthetics or the layout options. It’s because I adapted it to fit me. Not the other way around. This little leather-bound sidekick evolved with me—from rigid structures to a more fluid, forgiving approach that’s really simple - leather bound, paper inside, and a pen.

This Week’s Favorite

How I Use It Now

After years of trying different daily setups, I landed on a low-friction journaling/planning approach that works:

• One dated page per day for tasks, goals, or notes

• A blank facing page for free-form ideas, brainstorming, or random thoughts

• A numbered index in the front to log anything worth referencing later

What changed recently is how I finally dealt with my collection of “abandoned” notebooks. I had a stack—some with only a few pages used. Instead of letting them gather dust or guilt, I started using them. Now I treat them as daily journals until they’re filled. Not ideal? Maybe. But progress beats perfection.

Some other tools and tricks I’ve folded into my system:

• A mix of hand-sewn watercolor inserts when I travel (just a few pages for sketches or color)

• Larger format journals at home, but always defaulting to a more portable size I’ll actually carry without going overboard

• Bullet journal elements like task dots and simple indexing—no overcomplication

The biggest lesson: don’t let a fancy setup keep you from using what you’ve got. Test, adjust, repeat.

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