For those just getting started or returning to these habits after a long pause, this is a gentle guide for the thoughtful reader.
I’ll be setting up a table at an outdoor market where I’ll sell bookish things along with signed copies of my book.
The crowd will mostly be college students, and I have a feeling the annotation and journaling kits I created will be a favorite at the booth.
So in the spirit of generosity, and since I am anti-gatekeeping, I will share these resources with you all.
I think that one of the reasons journaling (and also annotating) are not practices that we often turn to is because we have made them too complicated.
But really, it’s not that deep.
Each practice can simply be what you want it to and therefore benefit your life in a way that feels unique to you.
So here is what you can put together to create your own simple kits for these helpful practices.
To start us off, here are my free printables that I created for the kits:
Annotating –
When I went to college I felt like my learning upleveled quickly and one of the reasons was the ability to annotate my textbooks. Because I was purchasing the book I was allowed to write, highlight, and add tabs at will. This gave me a new excitement to working through the material.
Later in my 20’s I found that underlining non-fiction put my personal growth journey on a faster trajectory.
I thrive when I have the ability to interact with information given to me.
For me this looks like: summarizing in notes, using tabs for interesting info, underlining powerful statements, and bracketing key paragraphs.
Lately I have also been annotating fiction novels and book club reads I am enjoying. I often find phrases that are meaningful to me or well written description that I want to note. I do not have anything color coded or specific to a type of annotation. I just grab a sticky tab and add it to the page near my underlines.
I try not to overthink it. 😜
Annotating Tips –
Mark up what matters to you.
Annotating is a way to talk back to the book and have a fun conversation with it. This is about noticing what grabs your attention.
What to Look For:
- Ideas that make you stop and think
- Quotes you want to remember
- Words/phrases that spark something
- A-ha moments or clear explanations
- Questions that pop up as you read
Add a sticky tab when:
- You think “this could help me later”
- You find a key idea or powerful truth
> Let your notes reflect your curiosity, your values & what you care about most.
In my annotating kits I included:
- aesthetic highlighters
- a pen
- sticky tabs (with fun color pallets like these)
- book marks
- reading tracker
my annotating pencil pouch at home also includes:
- Ticonderoga #2 pencils (they smell so good)
- a variety of pens with different ink colors
- sticky notes
- (all of the above list as well)
Journaling –
This practice has been a key for me throughout my life. I have written about it many times before. (check out this post)
When I overthink journaling I find that I get frustrated and feel weighed down by it. But it has the power to be magically transformative when I just show up to the blank page without expectations.
Letting my journaling time flow naturally means letting go of the finished result. I just embrace where I am and how I am doing in that moment.
Sometimes it is a bit scrapbooky with collected papers glued in and stickers added. At other times it is words only with emotional processing and ranting. Both are good and helpful to me. They are an honest reflection of where I am at that day.
I do not try to categorize, organize, or sort the contents of my journals. I simply turn to the next blank page, write the date and then do what feels right that day. My supplies used often reflect where I am and how much time I have.
Journaling Tips –
Journaling doesn’t have to be tidy or deep. It is your invitation to pause.
What to Write About:
- What’s on your mind right now?
- What are you feeling but haven’t said yet?
- What are you learning lately?
- A quote or idea you don’t want to forget
- A memory that surfaced today
- Something beautiful you noticed
Ideas to Try:
- Brain dump: Empty your head onto the page.
- One-sentence journal: Just a few words
- “What if” questions: Write out some wild ideas.
Remember:
- There’s no wrong way to journal.
- Spelling and grammar don’t matter.
- Doodle, add stickers, paste in receipts.
- Think, wonder, reflect, and be fully yourself.
In the journaling kits I added:
- scrapbooking paper
- stickers
- a pen and highlighter
- sticky notes
- book marks
- a thin “starter journal”
In my at home journaling basket I also have:
- glue sticks
- a variety of markers
- my favorite pens
- collected receipts, maps, and labels
- my favorite sticker books (Happy Planner stickers are the next level!)
- aesthetic sticky notes
Hopefully these lists inspire you to search your house for supplies you probably already own. 😉
I encourage you to start your own practices of annotating and journaling (or revive them with new ideas if they’ve been forgotten).
You can do this!
- Keep it simple.
- Be in the moment.
- Underline to show what grabbed your attention.
- Honesty creates the best moments of reflection.
Let your annotated books and your journals show the actual life you live and not a polished version of yourself.
This is just for you.
📝Don’t miss the free printables that I created!
I would love to hear your thoughts on this!
Please share in the comments if you enjoy annotating while you are reading and/or journaling.
I would love to hear more simple tips!
📖 Happy Journaling!
Looking for a book with some thoughtful journal prompts??
Check out my book: Subtle Resistance
