I’ve been reading more lately, and honestly, that makes me so happy. For a while, I was struggling with ebooks. I’d open up a book on my phone, start reading, and then somehow—almost without noticing—I’d find myself out of the app. At first, I thought, “Am I just distracted? Is my focus shot?” But that wasn’t really it.

What actually happened was, I’d read something that sparked something in me. Maybe an idea would click, or I’d just feel inspired, and immediately, I’d want to share it. So, naturally, I’d hop over to Threads or Facebook, start typing, and, well… there goes my reading session—the scroll takes over and I forget ALL about my book.

Ebooks have annotation features, and I tried using them. But for me, it just felt too much like an “app.” It took me right out of the experience. I realized I’m someone who genuinely loves a physical book. Highlighters, underlines, jotting notes in the margins, circling words that jump out at me—I want to touch the page, not just tap a screen. I even love a good dog-eared page, folding it down when something really matters.

Creating My Own Hybrid Reading Ritual

I realized if I wanted to really enjoy reading again, I needed a different approach. That’s when I came up with a super simple solution: a reading journal. Let me show you what I mean. I just grabbed an ordinary notebook—nothing fancy—and this has become my reading journal. It’s not just for one book. I know I’ll have a whole stack of these eventually, and I’m actually excited for that.

The first couple of pages in the journal are my index. For each new book, I write down the title, so it’s easy to find later. Right now, I have notes from “Finding Me” by Viola Davis at the front.

How I Use My Reading Journal

Whenever I start a new book, I jot down the title, the author, when I started reading it, and—my favorite part—the purpose. I like seeing that at the very top. As soon as I start a new book, I just start a new page, write the title right at the top, and I have a little system worked out—a legend that helps me organize my thoughts.

So, for example, I have icons or symbols for things that resonate, things that feel important, dots that connect for me, stuff I want to research or learn more about, things I might want to share, more personal reflections, and pages or sections I want to revisit. As I’m reading, I keep this journal open with my pen ready. I’ll jot down the page number and whatever idea or thought comes up for me. It keeps me present and in my book instead of wandering off somewhere on my phone.

Staying With the Story Instead of Scrolling Away

Having this journal has really changed the game for me. I’m not bouncing out of my book to share something online, only to get lost in the scroll. I actually thought the problem was notifications, but that wasn’t it—I usually have my phone on Do Not Disturb. What pulled me away was wanting to share what I learned—I process information by sharing it or teaching it. That’s just how my brain works.

But the problem was, once I left my book to share something, I was gone. Hard to get back into the flow. With my reading journal right there, I can capture the thoughts and feelings in the moment. Later, if I want to share those ideas, I can do it from a more grounded place, not just as a quick reaction.

Why This Feels So Good For Me

If you’re a person who loves holding a real book, but you also like the convenience of ebooks, this little notebook creates the perfect bridge between the two. I honestly wish I’d started this years ago. It’s just so much more satisfying.

I might start talking more about the books I’m reading—not official reviews, just sharing what comes up for me. I used to have a book club, and I miss it deeply. There’s something about talking through what I’ve read that helps me anchor the information. Plus, with my reading journal, I can read several books at once and not feel lost.

This little system of mine? Absolutely clutch. It’s changed the way I read and remember. 10 out of 10—highly recommend.