5 Easy Reading & Book Tracker Ideas for Your Journal

[@solar1913]

The last two are more for me. While I love looking at the books statistics spread of people I hate being taunted by my « failure » to read as much as I want😅. So a simple book shelf gives a bit of satisfaction/accomplishment without the angst of productivity tracking… have enough of that at work. It did give me the idea of doing one for my TBR (actual physical books I own). I could kinda reproduce the actual placement so I can find them easily on the tracker bookshelf. My book journal is more of a long term journal because I don’t read enough for monthly statistics.

[@ErinSmith]

That's such a good idea, keeping track of your physical TBR!

[@Haffina]

I love that you put in the dimensions of the layouts!

[@ErinSmith]

I gotta help you out where I can Jen! 💕 should I start adding these to Plan With Me videos too?

[@Haffina]

@@ErinSmith absolutely! Huge help for those using similar sized journals

[@karenseitz2328]

My favorite layout is the bookshelf. It's cute and functional at the same time. I love your videos Erin.

[@ErinSmith]

Thank you so much Karen! I love when cute things can be functional too 🥰

[@carolynsomers9512]

So helpful! Realistic setups to start a first time reading journal. I wasn’t looking for tons of data pages. Thanks!

[@ErinSmith]

I’m so glad I could help! 🥰 happy journaling!

[@juliangelus]

Thank you so much for this, especially the dimensions of the layouts. I'm currently having to remake my 2024 reading journal. It was a bit of a comedy of errors, I grabbed my cat to stop him throwing up a furball on it and knocked over a huge glass of pepsi instead. It's absolutely ruined, hence the starting again. I've simplified things, started it from April 1 and added a list of the books I've read so far. Just need to decide now whether to carry over my A-Z books and my filled in bingo squares. Great video as always

[@ErinSmith]

I’m so sorry for your journal loss 😭 as a fellow Pepsi-while-journaling fan, that sounds all too real to me! I hope your new journal has a better survival rate!

[@msjrscurlock]

OMG this was so helpful. I am really new to Bujo and reading journaling Do you have a video should how to do the monthly setup with the count out of the dots. I tried to setup a guide but not sure how to use but this made more sense to me. Thanks so much

[@ErinSmith]

It’s not something I usually mention in videos, but I had a lot of positive feedback on this one so I’m going to start incorporating the dot measurements in everything going forward! I likely won’t draw out a separate example page for everything like I did here but hopefully mentioning the dot grid spacing and maybe popping it on the screen as text will help! 🥰🥰

[@checktheherbsbaby]

Love how you put in your videos the number of dots while doing the spreads! So helpful!❤

[@KellyRossouw]

Some really great ideas! Still need to make myself a book shelfie :P Probably one of my favourites!

[@ErinSmith]

Thanks Kelly! They're so much fun to set up!

[@PurpleCeders910]

This is so helpful! Thank you so much for sharing this! I’m excited to try a couple of them! The first one and the last one are very intriguing to me!

[@AkairoAoihonoSama]

The bookcase one is so pretty❤

[@ErinSmith]

It's so much fun to use, too! ❤

[@EnabiSeira]

I like all of them, but I can't print the covers, so the list with ratings and data is the one that won me. I love how the bookself spreads look when they are full. It's so nice to see a full bookself even if drawn ☺

[@nataliev1249]

Never have I ever been so fast to an upload! 😂

[@ErinSmith]

Thank you for the support, you lovely speedy soul! 🥰

[@monikamatuszak549]

It's great that you've written all the dimensions ❤ I use some of these spreads - the bookshelf (printed), page with covers, and a table with some data. ❤

[@ErinSmith]

Do you use them for different things Monika? It’s so satisfying seeing them all laid out 😍

[@JadeReads_2023]

Thank You Erin for these great ideas. I have tried the virtual bookshelf before in a previous bullet journal for my reading but I couldn't keep on top of it. I am intrigued to try the Book cover ideas this year in my new bullet journal so I will keep you posted on that! I also liked the list of the number of books list idea so I might give that one a go too.

[@jennifergentry144]

I so loved this video. I just easily bored using the same trackers over and over so this is perfect for me. Thank you!

[@ErinSmith]

I’m so glad I could help! 🥰

[@faithbwire9164]

Lovely lovely lovely

[@MeowMyselfandI]

So many neat ideas! I currently use the book cover version for what I've read this year and the bookshelf layout for my physically owned TBR. Trying to shame myself into buying fewer books by seeing all of the unread ones in my journal haha I colour them in after I've read them so I can also see how I'm doing with reading what I own 🥰

[@ErinSmith]

I love the idea of keeping a record of the books you own! Do you find it does motivate you to prioritise reading them? 😍

[@MeowMyselfandI]

@@ErinSmith It definitely feels super satisfying to colour them in! I do keep being seduced by newer books from the library though 😅 If I don't buy them then it feels okay lol It totally helps though to know which books I have since sometimes I forget. I also deliberately only left 1 shelf available for more books to try to stop me from buying too many more

[@ErinSmith]

Oooh yes the library is a seductive place, I totally relate to that! I think your strategy is solid!

[@lio6063]

Loved the video ❤ Do you plan on making a video about series trackers?

[@ErinSmith]

Maybe! I’m not too sure yet - they’re a particularly difficult one to come up with ideas for! I do have the one I’m using featured in my 2024 reading journal setup video though, if you’re looking for ideas 🥰

[@RusKms]

So many great ideas! And such a thorough breakdown of how to do them. Inspiring and interesting Erin, as always!

[@ErinSmith]

Thanks Leah! Trying to be ✨thorough✨ haha

[@ChantelleArts]

These are so cute, I love all these ideas ☺☺

[@ErinSmith]

Thanks Chantelle, I’m so glad! 🥰

[@karenannemaddox5794]

Hi Erin, how do you get the book covers to print? Where do you get them? Have been trying to find out since January. Thank you.

[@ErinSmith]

The ones in this video I saved from Goodreads and printed on my regular home printer but usually I do this: kzbin.infotVl2_EljjWE?feature=share

[@Littletwirl11]

What pen do you use to mark your rubber stamps?

[@ErinSmith]

Any water-based marker will work - I prefer brush tips, mostly because it’s quicker 🤣 so a Tombow dual brush pen or a Tombow Fudenosuke is usually my go-to, but acrylic paint markers work really well too!

[@idamantashi8529]

How do you make a sticker from a book page? I probably read all those books in a year instead of a month, but I would love to have a small page on my monthly. Thanks.

[@ErinSmith]

For this video, I just saved all the book covers from Goodreads, sized them in Microsoft Word and printed them on sticker paper because I wanted to do a lot at once. For my usual reading journal, I use an HP sprocket - I have a Short about that, I’ll link it for you here 🥰 kzbin.infotVl2_EljjWE?feature=share

[@KimonDidIt]

What kind of marker do you use to ink your stamps?

[@ErinSmith]

I have tried lots and they all seem to work really well! The Tombow dual brush pen and Fudenosukes both do the job, any kind of paint marker works really well too - but I do find it easier and faster if the pen has a brush tip!

[@niccime2278]

They are all lovely but I personally would go for tracker 4. Because when I have the cover printed out I see no need to write the title and author down again. I can read them on the print. I do no audiobooks because I do not feel this is really reading (no offense to people who see it differently!!!), so the format tracking makes no great sense for me too. It is Kindle or Paperback.

[@ErinSmith]

That’s fair Nicci - I have thought the same thing about the book covers sometimes, like am I doubling up? But as I get closer to 40 and my eyesight degrades I find it helpful having a larger version I can read easily 🤣 ahh aging! How fun!

[@niccime2278]

@@ErinSmith okay, that is a point 😂 reading an annoying book lately I just realised that tracker 4 would not be enough for me. I would need to add some information WHY I loved or hated a book. I think the reason is good to remember.

[@KCRileyGyer]

What are the dimensions of the little printed book covers?

[@ErinSmith]

3.5cm tall by 2.5cm wide, so they match up with the dot grid at 7 spaces/8 dots tall and 5 spaces/6 dots wide.

[@KCRileyGyer]

@@ErinSmith nice. Thank you so much for letting me know 💙🇦🇺