Chapter 1: Getting Ready for a New Journal

As summer approaches, it's the perfect time to prepare a fresh seasonal journal. Before the first week arrives, I like to engage in several preparatory tasks to ensure my journal is ready for use. While you can utilize any notebook for this purpose, keep in mind that creating or printing planner spreads might require additional time compared to my suggested durations. For those interested in a summer journal similar to the one featured in my visuals and videos, I offer planner spreads and journal prompts in various sizes through:

ArtyZen 2024 Workbooks, Planners, and Journals

Books designed to help you savor moments and create beautifully.

Setup Fundamentals: 5–10 Minutes

If you're short on time, simply highlight the months of the season on the main calendar and add the Sundays or Mondays to the quarterly spread. This can be done in under a minute.

If you have a bit more time, consider doing some spine yoga:

Gently press down on the spine at the midway point, as well as at the quarters and eighths on either side. For instance, in these journals, that would be pages 60, 45, 15, and then 75, 90, and 105.

Defining the Season:

Typically, summer includes June, July, and August, but you might opt for July, August, and September if you prefer to segment the year starting from January.

Add Days of the Week:

To orient yourself within each spread, note the date for a specific day of the week on the quarter spread, monthly spreads, and weekly layouts. I usually choose either Sunday or Monday.

Divide Your Journal Into Thirds:

By marking pages 63 and 92, you can allocate 15 prompts to each segment (the first prompt of each set will be on pages 32, 63, and 92).

Crafty Setup: 20–30 Minutes

Enhance your journal with aesthetic and practical elements by utilizing washi tapes or attractive papers for navigation tabs. I like to incorporate tabs for:

• Guides page
• Year Ahead Calendar
• Quarter Spread
• Three Months
• Seven Weeks (with 13 weeks over 7 pages)
• Journal Days

Tip: Insert a ruler through the center of the tape rolls to visualize their arrangement.

After placing the initial three tabs, I space the remaining monthly tabs apart at the bottom. This allows space for weekly and journal page tabs to fit beneath their respective month tabs.

Although my journal entries may sometimes stray from their designated sections, that's perfectly fine. A slight deviation is still mostly on course, if you catch my drift.

Artsy Setup: 5 Minutes or More

One of the first enjoyable tasks I like to undertake is creating my seasonal color palette. I select a few colors that resonate with the season and quickly sketch “bouquets” to evaluate their compatibility. I can also test washi tapes to see how they complement these colors.

If I’m in a creative mood, I might use this palette for a mandala on the next page or a small illustration in the quarterly spread.

How-To Video

For those who prefer to follow along in (mostly) real time, here's a helpful video:

The first video, "Summer Journal Setup: Basic, Crafty, and Artsy Ways to Set Up a New Journal," provides various creative approaches to establishing your journal, showcasing techniques that can be completed in just a few minutes.

Other Fun Elements:

Once I've established the basics, I often start transferring content from my Spring Journal.

Future Log: Events, Tasks, and Mini Calendars

Symbol Key: For Events, Tasks, Habits, and Notes

If you're uncertain about how to format these elements right away, consider using pencils, erasable markers, or sticky notes. You can also experiment with different keys and finalize them once you identify a system that works for you.

Quarterly Spread: Project Breakdown

The complete version of this section will need to wait until the weekend, as it requires more extensive planning. For now, I’ve included some post-its with general ideas so I can continue brainstorming throughout the week.

I also utilize a symbol key for the days and weeks of the month, marked under the word "dance" on the peach-colored post-it on the left page. Full weeks are represented by lines, while days are indicated by dots. This simple guide aids in organizing my projects and determining how many tasks I can fit into each month.

Monthly Habit & Practice Trackers

With a busy schedule, I've found that my sanity relies on what I call check-star charts. If I dedicate 2–5 minutes to an activity, I check it off; if I do more, I add a star. This provides a straightforward method to track and reward consistency.

Initially, I made numerous errors in this process, so it might be wise to use a scrap piece of paper to experiment before finalizing your approach. Once you've established a system, you can align the new journal with the old one and begin migrating your tracked items.

Perfection can hinder progress, especially in my journal setup, which I've always wanted to perfect before day one. However, I’ve realized that all I truly need are some basic outlines and a little help in keeping my place. A flawless plan often allows no room for real life, which is precisely what I wish to document within these pages.

So grab some paper and let your creativity flow! I hope you find as much joy in this process as I do!

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This summer, I will be adjusting the format of journal sessions. Meditation will now be a separate component, allowing journaling sessions to remain around 30 minutes, with additional mindful reminders throughout the art, writing, and crafting segments.