I get asked a lot about what type of journaling I do, which notebooks I use, and how I stay consistent. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about this myself, and I realized I have a little flow that’s evolved over time. It’s a way of journaling, planning, and getting creative that works for me. I call it Journablend™, and in this post, I want to introduce you to it, show you how I use it, and share how you might find your own flow too.

I’ve always loved journaling, planning, and getting creative with paper. Over the years, my notebooks have looked a little different depending on what I needed most at the time. Sometimes they were mostly planners with neat lists and schedules, other times they became more like journals full of reflections and thoughts, and quite often they’ve turned into messy, beautiful collections of stickers, drawings, and pretty bits of paper I couldn’t resist keeping.

For a long time, though, I thought I had to find the perfect way of doing it all – one planner that could hold everything, or one system that would keep me both organized and creative at the same time. I kept trying to make one style of notebook do it all, and honestly, that felt overwhelming.

Eventually, I realized I didn’t have to fit myself into just one way of doing things. I don’t have to be only a planner person, or only a journaler, or only a papercrafter. I can blend them all together. And when I finally gave myself permission to do that, to mix the practical with the creative, the structured with the messy, that’s when everything started to flow.

What Is Journablend?

That’s really where Journablend came from. It’s simply my way of describing the mix of journaling, planning, and creativity that feels natural and meaningful to me. Some days it’s mostly lists and plans, other days it’s words and reflections, and sometimes it’s scraps of paper, pockets, and quotes. And that mix changes and evolves with me.

For me, Journablend isn’t about doing things “right” or sticking to a system, it’s about creating a flow that feels supportive, fun, and nourishing. It’s that balance of planning and reflecting, organizing and creating, that makes me want to keep showing up to my notebooks day after day.

The Blend Flow

At the heart of Journablend is something I call The Blend Flow. It’s simply the way different notebooks and practices flow together in my day. Instead of forcing everything into one journal, I let each notebook have its own role, and they naturally feed into each other.

Here’s what my Blend Flow looks like right now:

1. My Dated Planner
   This is my anchor. I use it to track appointments, recurring tasks, and deadlines on a yearly and monthly basis. Each week I do a little reset – look at what’s coming up, do a brain dump, and sketch out a rough plan. I check in with this planner a couple of times a day, so I always know what’s on the horizon.
2. My Daily BlendBook
   A simple lined notebook, but it’s where most of the action happens. Each day I jot down my to-dos, log what happens, capture ideas, write out thoughts and feelings, and sometimes add a bit of collage or a cute heading. It’s my blend of planning, journaling, and everyday life, all in one place.
3. My Mini BlendBook
   This is my creative happy place. A small notebook I cover front to back, then fill with themed spreads using ephemera, pockets, fussy cuts, quotes, and collage. It’s less about documenting daily life and more about creating something that feels meaningful, beautiful, or just fun. I dip into this during the week when I want to slow down, play with paper, and nourish myself creatively.
4. My Wellness Logbook
   At the end of the day, I spend a little time in my Perimenopause Logbook – a guided journal that helps me check in on my health and wellbeing. It’s a small, calming ritual that closes out my day with reflection and care.

The B.L.E.N.D. Acronym

Of course, even with the best of intentions, staying consistent with journaling can be tricky. Over the years, I’ve fallen off more than once! That’s why I use a simple reminder that always helps me get back into the flow: B.L.E.N.D.

• B – Braindump
  When I don’t know where to start, I just get everything out of my head and onto paper. It clears mental clutter and makes space for what matters.
• L – List
  If I do nothing else, I make a list. A to-do list, a gratitude list, a list of ideas – it doesn’t matter. Lists are the backbone of my Daily BlendBook and keep me grounded.
• E – Engage
  Consistency happens when I open my notebook. Engaging with my planner and Daily BlendBook each day, even for a few minutes, keeps the habit alive.
• N – Nourish
  This is where journaling becomes more than tasks. It’s where I support my wellbeing, process emotions, capture memories, set intentions, and create. My Mini BlendBook fits here too, because creative play is one of my favorite forms of self-care.
• D – Daily
  The final piece: showing up. Daily doesn’t mean perfect. It means making journaling a natural rhythm in my life rather than a chore, and a simple way to capture the moments of my day as they happen.

B.L.E.N.D. is what helps me stay consistent and make journaling meaningful.

What is a BlendBook?

You’ve probably noticed I keep mentioning my Daily BlendBook and Mini BlendBook. So what exactly is a BlendBook?

A BlendBook is simply my name for the kind of notebook I use in Journablend. It’s any journal where I blend together what I need and love most. Sometimes that’s daily writing and lists. Sometimes it’s themed creative spreads. Sometimes it’s both.

BlendBooks can be big or small, simple or decorated, practical or playful. The only “rule” is that they bring together the parts of journaling, planning, and creativity that matter to you.

Creating Your Own Blend Flow

This is just my flow. Yours might look completely different, and that’s the beauty of Journablend. Maybe you only need two notebooks: a planner and a journal. Maybe you’d love to add an art sketchbook, or a dedicated gratitude journal. Or maybe you prefer to keep everything in one single notebook.

The invitation is simple:

✨ Think about the roles you want your notebooks to play.
✨ Let them flow together in a way that supports your life.
✨ And most of all, make it yours.

For me, Journablend has taken away the pressure of doing journaling the “right” way. Instead, it’s given me a flexible, creative practice that keeps me organized, helps me process life, and gives me space to play.

If you’d like a little reminder to keep on hand, I’ve created some free Journablend Quick Guides you can download and tuck into your journal or keep on your desk. They’re perfect for inspiration when you’re feeling stuck or want a quick refresh of The Blend Flow. You’ll find them waiting in the Planner Lovers Resource Library.

How would you shape your own Blend Flow? I’d love to know!

Happy journaling 💛