Are you planner pooped?

Techo’d out? Do you need to rekindle your love of journaling without all the baggage of elaborate notebook systems and accessories?

Join us in October for the Composition Book Challenge! The goal of the challenge is to reconnect with the real purpose of journaling, using a limited selection of simple tools and supplies.

How to Participate

  1. Gather your composition book. The one you already own is perfect.

  2. Gather the three kinds of supplies you'll use for the duration (ex: gel pens, washi, watercolor).

  3. Journal in your composition book for 7 or 31 days in October.

Bonus: post your pages, supply capsule, and/or your reflections on Instagram using the hashtag:

#CompositionBookChallenge2024

Posting online is not a requirement! You can participate in the challenge without ever taking a photo of your composition book. The hashtag is for us to build community with other journal keepers.

What the challenge is:

Founded in 2022 by @mylasteureka and @hannahmadeit on Instagram, this challenge is a fun way to get “back to basics” with a classic composition notebook and a small selection of supplies, and build community with other journal-keepers.

The challenge uses composition books because they are inexpensive and readily available anywhere. You probably have one sitting on a shelf right now. It’s okay if you’ve already used some pages and abandoned it. The point of this challenge is not to buy new things - it is to reconnect with what you love about journaling, by embracing limits and simplicity, and not being precious with our tools.

You are encouraged to use a “capsule” of three categories of supplies for the duration of the challenge. This helps reduce the overwhelm and decision paralysis that gets between us and our journaling practice.

Example supply capsules could include:

  • stickers, washi tape, and fountain pens

  • watercolor, pencils, and markers

  • gel pens, rub-on transfers, and label tape

  • ballpoint pens, crayons, and India ink

  • any other combination you can imagine from what you already have on hand!

Ephemera you may collect during your day, like receipts, mail, or packaging, are always allowed and do not use up a spot in your capsule.

Your journal pages can be entirely writing, entirely visual art, or any ratio of the two.You can participate in the challenge for seven days, or all 31 days in October. Your pages can be entirely private, or you can share some or all of what you create online.

What the challenge is not:

This challenge is not meant to promote buying new supplies. Everything you already own will work perfectly.

In a hobby that frequently puts the focus on what we own over what we make (especially at a time when planner systems for the next year are going on sale), this challenge is an opportunity to take a break from consumption in favor of creation. You are invited to "shop your stash" for everything you need.

Recommended Inspiration

See you in October!

Be sure to follow @HannahMadeIt on Instagram to get updates on giveaways and other exciting news before and during the challenge.