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Peek Inside a Journal | Elizabeth Ghekiere of ElizabethJournals

Last updated on April 12th, 2022 • Peek inside a Journal

I get so inspired looking inside of other people’s journals.

Elizabeth Ghekiere is the creative spark behind ElizabethJournals.com where she provides organizational tips and tricks, bullet journaling inspiration, and tools for a positive lifestyle

Elizabeth also helps people by working with them to design custom planners to get exactly what they want in the pages they use to make life easier, and provides tons of free resources on her vibrant Pinterest boards.

In this interview, Elizabeth gives us a behind the scenes glimpse at how she approaches her personal journaling practice.

Elizabeth Ghekiere of Elizabeth Journals holding a journal in front of her face

When did you start journaling? 

I started journaling in college in response to becoming overwhelmed with my workload and hating any other journal I tried. In my search for a good planner, I came across the bullet journal, and I loved how custom it was. 

How has journaling impacted you? What has it meant to you? 

My journal has impacted me in SO many ways. Personally, it has allowed me to feel accomplished and keep on track of my tasks while also giving me an awesome creative outlet. However, it also impacted me by giving me business opportunities and really being why ElizabethJournals exists today!

Tell us about your personal setup? What type of journal and tools do you use? 

My set-up has changed so much throughout the years; however, I generally stick to the same set-up these days. Currently, I use a sage-colored Leuchtturm1917 dotted A5 size.  The pens that I use the most in my notebook at Sakura paint pens and Faber Castel PITT artist pens; however, I am known to incorporate paint, my poooli printer, and washi tape from time to time.

My intro pages vary each year, but this year I included a key page, calendex, wishlist, running to-do, houseplant wishlist (I also have a houseplant YouTube, ElizabethPlants!), a few habit trackers, bill and subscription trackers, and a self-care menu. Additionally, I have a few business ideas and planner pages in the back. I generally neglect these intro and business pages, but I do wish I was better about them. 

Then I keep a pretty simple set-up each month with a themed cover page and matching weeklies. I keep each week on one page to make my life as simple as possible. 

When do you find time to journal? 

I used to check in on my journal more regularly; however, I have fallen out of the habit more recently. Generally, I try to check in on it at least once a week and leave it open on my desk or with my laptop at all times. Creating the spreads is a more significant challenge, and I tend to lean towards simple, quick, and colorful so that I can do it last minute when I realize that we are in a new month and I’ve run out of pages. Finding time is honestly the most challenging part more me these days and is pushing me to simplify (which is probably for the best). 

Do you go back through old journals? How often do you review? 

No, I do not generally review old journals unless I am looking for something specific. I find myself going to old journals to use the empty pages to sketch ideas, or if I am looking for a note, I know I scribbled somewhere in an old notebook, but this is not a frequent occurrence. 

What advice do you have for people just getting started? 

My advice for bujo newbies is to keep it simple and take it no more than one month at a time. My biggest mistake, in the beginning, was trying to go too hard too soon. I tried to use every layout under the sun and create an entire year’s worth of pages before I even started. This left me with a lot of stress, wasted paper/notebooks, overwhelm, and discouragement. I found that I hated all the trackers, never used half the pages, and honestly, I got so sick of the layouts so quickly that I ended up restarting like four times. 

So, I highly recommend you take it slow, forgive mistakes, try new things in small increments, and test simple layouts before trying complex layouts.

Where can people connect with you to learn more?

If I or my journal sounds interesting to you at all, the best places to check me out are ElizabethJournals.com, Instagram (@elizabethjournals), or Pinterest (@elizabethjournals)!

My biggest mistake in the beginning was trying to go too hard too soon. As a bujo newbie, keep it simple.

Elizabeth GHekiere

About Cathy Hutchison

Cathy Hutchison helps people get more joy, meaning, and freedom in a world of demands through the practice of visual journaling.

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Cathy helps people banish overwhelm,
boost creativity 🎨
and reconnect with their ♥️
through visual journaling. 🖌
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CathyHutchison | VisualJournal
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I realized that now that I'm a grown up I could just buy it. 

On Amazon. 

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I love learning about the authentic fascinations o I love learning about the authentic fascinations of the people in my world. The obscure hobbies they love. The ideas they just can't stop thinking about. The things they pour time (and money) into for no reason except that it gives them joy .

As you jump into 2023, I highly recommend purchasing a #notebook that you can take with you everywhere to feed this part of your life . Write down your inspirations. Capture ideas. Develop thoughts by reviewing them periodically. (And definitely scribble doodles in the margins--that's an important part.)

Engaging a #journaling practice--whatever that looks like for you--can give space for the quirky, beautiful, creative part of you to grow. And as it turns out, #visualthinking in a #journal is my personal, random fascination.

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I just did my 2022 annual review—a practice I le I just did my 2022 annual review—a practice I learned from @michalroots . 

As one part of this, I wrote the sentences that jumped out at me from my 2022 journals as I went page by page. It left me with a sense of what the year was about and gave me an appreciation for the incredible beauty of friends, creativity, inspiration, and big ideas. 

I also looked at my vision board to see what happened, and what didn’t. For the things that didn’t happen, I gave some heart time to figure out the level that I actually want them (and learned it was low.) The things that happened had a lot of desire behind them. (It was an interesting thing to observe.) 

If you want to take Michal’s course, DM him for the link. I found it a valuable process that I will continue going forward.
#journaling #yourvisualjournal #artjournaling #bulletjournal #bujoinspiration
Do you create a #visionboard each year? The latest Do you create a #visionboard each year? The latest post at YourVisualJournal.com dives into how to create one in your journal. #journaling #artjournaling
Happy thanksgiving 🍁 Happy thanksgiving 🍁
Brush markers make my heart happy. #brushmarker #t Brush markers make my heart happy. #brushmarker #tombowdualbrushpens #bulletjournal #bujo #yourvisualjournal
Brush markers are easy to use, and putting a few d Brush markers are easy to use, and putting a few doodles at the bottom of your todo list makes it more engaging for your brain. This whole thing was quick to draw. (Mostly circles, a rectangle, and a few lines.) Coloring in with #brushmarkers was fast and easy. 

#yourvisualjournal #bulletjournal #artjournaling #sketchnotes #tombowdualbrushpens
Artistry is a practice. 🎨 Creating some magic i Artistry is a practice. 🎨 Creating some magic in my journal with my #tombow brush markers #artjournal #yourvisualjournal #bulletjournal
While I love color, the power of a simple black an While I love color, the power of a simple black and white spread is delightful to me. #brushmarker #tombow
I was never the kid who drew all the time, but aft I was never the kid who drew all the time, but after 15 years of visual journaling I've fallen in love with cartoons. #yourvisualjournal #artjournaling #cartoons
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Disclosures

Some links on this site are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The author receives a  small (really small) commission if you happen to buy something.  Funds are used to support journaling supplies & four crazy sweet Aussies who bark for treats every time I come in the door. (To be fair, I have a pattern of giving in to them.) I write about all kinds of journaling, and if Bullet Journaling is your thing, I’m here to support you. But if you want to go deep, go to the original source–Ryder Carroll, who created the system, and started it all at bulletjournal.com. I use the method daily which is why I started writing about it here.
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