Last Updated: 14 April, 2021
Having a new notebook is a fantastic feeling, until you come to write on the first page. An empty notebook has so much potential, what will you fill the pages with.
Of course, the first page is no different to any other page in the book, but for some reason it can feel daunting. If you feel blocked to start using a notebook, here are some ideas to get started.
Ideas for the first page of a new notebook
- Copy in a headline from today’s news (get it from a newspaper or website)
- Write a list of wishes
- Leave it blank (I often do this as the first page of a journal is often bound differently so is less comfortable to write on)
- Write a list of things you are grateful for
- Stick in a photograph or picture of yourself
- Explain the notebook theme and why you chose it
- Complete a questionnaire about yourself e.g. weight, height, where you live
- Explain the people who you may mention in the book e.g. family tree, groups by association like work, list any abbreviations you use to refer to people such as initials
- Add your contact details (just in case you leave it somewhere)
- Write a prayer, mediation or affirmation, something that describes your current spiritual outlook
- Leave it blank so you can add a review or synopsis of the notebook once you’ve filled it
- Stick in a year summary calendar (potentially useful if you use a blank notebook instead of a dated one)
- Stick in a favourite picture
- Keep a store of useful information e.g. frequently used telephone numbers
- Write a summary of your goals or your mission statement
- Explain how you got the notebook e.g. gift from friend, bought on holiday
- Keep a list e.g. books read, countries visited
- Write a greeting to the book, possibly including an agreement about when, where and how you’ll use it
- Explain the notebooks purpose e.g. dream journal, to capture ideas while travelling
- Write a summary of your current situation e.g. where you live, job, relationships
- Write your feelings about the notebook and what you hope it will contain
- Copy in a favourite poem or lyric
- Write in a favourite quote
- More ideas for the first page of a journal, inspired by the comments on this post
BONUS: If you’re writing a specific pandemic journal you could start with
- a description of Covid-19
- when and how you first heard about the virus
- a map showing how it has spread around the world
- why you want to keep a pandemic journal
- a history of how the pandemic started
Ideas if you don’t like your first page
What if you write the wrong thing? What if your writing is messy? What if you decide you want to use the notebook for a different purpose? These all feel valid when you’re sitting in front of notebook, but when you really think about it, it is just a notebook. There are lots of things you can do if you decide you don’t like what you did on the first page.
- tear the page out (but first think about if you really want to remove it)
- cover the page with a picture so you can’t see what is underneath
- stick the page to the preceeding page
- annotate the page with a description of why you no longer like it
- decorate the page e.g. coloured patterns, stickers
- write a new first page and stick it over the top
Your ideas for the first page of a journal
Thank you to everyone who has written a comment sharing what you do on the first page. There are many great ideas that I haven’t considered and I love the variety; some are written as inspiration at the start of the journal, others are factual and others provide a comparison of yourself over time.
So if you are feeling daunted, here are more ideas on what to do with the first page:
- List of goals or the things you are aiming to achieve – from emilytealady
- List of quotes
- List of writing prompts
- Write a paragraph explaining the purpose of the journal
- Favourite quote
- Summary of your life so far
- Quote lyrics to a song that relates to the journal
- Create a collage to visualise your intention for the journal – from Christina
- Date started and finished the journal – from Emma
- Write something personal and tear out the page – from AH
- Sign the page each time you write in the journal
- Add a picture of yourself, friends and family
- Write about your feelings about yourself, the things you love and the key people in your life
- Dedicate the book to your self-discovery process – from Nancy Andres
- Introduce yourself.
At the moment, I don’t see the first page as any different to the rest of the journal. Although I usually make an effort to write neater. However, I do like the idea of writing something at the start of every journal so you can compare how you’ve changed and developed over time.
What do you do on the first page of a journal? Do you do anything special? Have you done this consistently over time? Have you every wanted to remove or redo a first page?
Frequently asked questions
What is so important about the first page?
Truthfully there is nothing important about the first page, it is just the same as any other page in the journal. However, it is a page that you could see often when you open the book so you might want to do something you’ll enjoy seeing. Or it can be a useful reference place if there are things you’d like to track over several books.
Do I need to do something special on the first page?
No. Your journal is your journal and you do what you want on the first page and every other page. One way of getting around seeing the first page each time you open the book is to use a bookmark to take you to the next blank page.
Do I need to do the same thing in every notebook?
No. Again, these are your books and you do what every you want. You could do something similar in the front of each book you use for the same intention, for example if you have a gardening journal start each book with a picture of your garden now. Or you can do something different in each journal, this gives you the opportunity to decide which you enjoy the most and to adapt as you grow. Or can do nothing and just start writing.
I usually write a list of things I am aiming to achieve. I like these ideas. I definitely want to start writing a journal again.
For me, I found that leaving the 1st 3-5 pages blank for any and all interesting ideas/quotes/prompts/etc… is helpful so I never run out of journal entry ideas.
On the first page of my journal, I write a little introductory paragraph, that mostly talks about what my journal is for, and I know this may seem immature, but I always write a warning about reading my journal. If you would do that, make sure to make it directed to the reader, that way, incase someone was actually snooping, they might feel guilty, and put it back. Finally, I write some basic information about me, like my name, DOB, and address. On the back of that page, I start of by my favourite quote, and I list down my… Read more »
Hi! I have a blank notebook and I haven’t write anything in there. I love to write but I dont have any idea what should I write.
It is very close to the new year so I am going to make a resolution to keep a journal as a documentation of events that I feel are important.As of the new year I’m going to a new school (I am a 7th grader), so I felt this was a good time to start a serious and honest journal. I loved so many of your ideas and I have decided to make a quick summary of my life so far and add in a list of goals for my 13th year. I also thought it would be cool to… Read more »
I do a simple collage on the first page, with pictures from magazines, to visualise my intention for the notebook. I also use inspirational quotes, and key words 🙂
Hi Kate, I just found your list on Pinterest. I have several types of journals that I write in as and when I have something of interest or bugging me. Your ideas for a first page are both different and usable to me. I think I will be using more than one idea on the first few pages of my very new (It hasn’t arrived yet) first-time bullet journal. Thank you for your inspiration!!
Hi Kate…
Thank you for all your journaling ideas. Great ideas, btw.
Hey, I started a closed FB group called Barefoot Journaling Chronicles last year April 21, 2015 with a charter membership of 5…now running 224. We share all kinds of creative ideas for journaling, scrapbooking, and short story writing. We would love it if any of you reading this would like to join us. Just send a request and I’ll welcome you in! 🙂
Blessings,
~Evon Robinson
Hi, this is a lovely post.
I always worry I will make notebooks look messy, so always end up with a pile of empty ones on my desk!
If I do ever have the courage to start one I often just put my name in nice handwriting and the date I started writing in the notebook. I sometimes leave a space to write the day I filled up all the pages too.
This is a great list! For me, I always reserve the front page for something special, but it ends up staying like that for years =/ Thanks for sharing. =]
[…] 23 Ideas For The First Page Of Your Journal […]
This is an awesome list. I’ve written a similar post on my blog about journal prompts. Feel free to check it out! http://ahscribbles.com/the-next-13-pages-of-your-journal/
I haven’t started yet, but have been contemplating it. My concern is depending on what I write, what if someone else reads it. Sometimes it’s better to not have “evidence” of your thoughts. And in what tense do you write in it. I suppose any tense you want. But am I to assume someone will eventually read it…. like after I’m dead, or if a boyfriend or friend stumble upon it and end up reading some of it. And then that goes back to the beginning, what if I write terrible things about them or something and they read it.… Read more »
For my journal, I just wrote ‘Sincerely’ very large in the center, and every time I write something inside I sign the first page. It looks really cool with all the different utensils, and I’ve noticed that my signatures change over time!
I always start my new journals with the same lyric from “Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks: “And the days go by, like a strand in the wind, in the web that is my own, I begin again…”
Two Days Per Page Planning Notebook
[…] ttle introductory paragraph, that mostly talks about what my journal is for, and […]
For my cover and first page of my Journal, I put pictures of me, friends, family, quotes, lyrics, bands, feelings I feel about myself or who I believe I am ( my bad habits and flaws and everything else) etc. everything and anything I loved or the people I have in my life at the time when I start my journal. That way by the time I finish it I could see what changed in my life over the time or if I changed at all.
Fabulous list for the first page of a new journal or notebook. I dedicate the book to my self-discovery process. Journal writing is an exceptional self-care tool! Thanks for sharing.
Nancy Andres
I have always liked introducing myself every time I start a new journal so when I look back at all of my journals together, I can see how my view of myself changed from the very 1st page!
These are all great ideas! 🙂
I am reading the comments . Everyone is leaving the first pages blank. It’s a good idea, but I don’t like doing it. I write in my journals every day, and for each day I start with a page, where I write the date and than leave it blank. So at the end of the day I can write there a quote or song lyrics that talks about how my day was, or what I was thinking about. It really makes me feel free:D Sorry for my English, it’s not perfect. But in my opinion nothing on this world is… Read more »
I have a small book that I started about 6 years ago and every now and then I open it and on whichever page it opens at, I write how I feel that day, or just a general outpouring of my feelings. Some pages are just drawing, some just writing, some have paint etc. The book just fills organically if you like. There is no start and no finish, just random parts of my life – if that makes sense! I have realised that is it really my ‘angry’ book as it always seems to be when I am down… Read more »
I’m so happy I discovered this list… I was actually on your 15 Different Journals to Keep list! I tend to leave the first few pages of my journals blank. Horrendous hand writing, and a snoopy family are usually to blame, but I see a couple of these are perfect to counteract those problems! Thanks a million and a half! (:
Lovely post!
[…] Not sure what to do on the first blank page of your new journal? Try one of these […]
I love these ideas. I will use them, no question, but it has also inspired me to make an inspiration page of my own listing some of these and other ideas as well. Thank you!
Or just write out the year really neatly
Details Of The Wild One Day Planner Notebook
[…] journal is for, and I know this may seem immature, but I always write a warning […]
Love your list! I agree that keeping entries simple is often better. I recently published a journal to make journaling easier.
I usually leave my first page blank and I don’t know why I do that but I’ve always done that. For my regular journaling, as part of my daily or on the days I journal I should say, I add a word of the day and the meaning. I just look up random words that sound interesting on the internet and jot it down. Sometimes I also share the biggest headlines that catch my attention of that day. I pick random days to list the price of gas on that particular day as well. I don’t think I have a… Read more »
Hello. Recently I’ve started including a passport photograph of myself. I typically spend 3 to 4 months in a journal and my hairstyles change, my look changes so I put a photo in. Also included are my Bible verse for the year (the journal isn’t for religious purposes but the verse usually encourages me and I like to see it often). I may have a quote that has caught my mind beofre starting it so will include that and then I fill in as I like or just leave it with the things I’ve mentioned. Started daily (very loose use… Read more »
I just started my very first journal. On my first page I just wrote a list of journaling ideas to reflect back on, but for my first entry I wrote a list of wishes for myself. I wrote them similar to the way I would write wishes to a newly married couple or a new born baby. I think I will use the first couple of pages for inspirational quotes. Thank You for the suggestions!
I leave the first page open for any quotes I could easily come about finding in which might be of my liking or relate to my journals content. For the next page, couple of pages, or just the vary back of the first one I might put in a simple sort of like, if you will, table of contents or descriptive like state for/of each section of my journal as so I can easily find where I wrote or stopped writing of a certain time or thing. That way I can go back and either add to it, used the/that… Read more »
I always put my full name the beginning entry date and the last entry date.
Then I fill it with current favorite family pictures, stickers, cut out coloring’s i’ve done.
sometimes the kids have gotten ahold of it and drawn a picture or scribbled so I draw a heart around it and the date their name and age. 🙂
Not sure why but I’ve always done it this way through all my journals starting in 1989.
I always draw my favorite scenes or animals on that first page so I always feel inspired when I open my book.
i just write it normally, well i do make sure it’s neat [like the rest of my journal] but i don’t write anything special.
like or reply if you do the same
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I write a warning for snoopers and just write the nam eof my diary (you can name it) on the first page!
This is such a Huge Help ! Its 2021 and I have decided that I might actually start and finish a journal ..Wish me luck. I have mostly used the (to me) romantic leather wrap type and as they can be a bit wobbly I glue down a good firm piece of card stock to just toughen it up, the back I leave so Its my 3rd page I’m having to sort out 🙂
Thanks for the great ideas.