Planning My 2025 Reading Journal 📖 🧠 Mind Map With Me

[@michaelabradham8828]

Maybe include everything you want with no care of how many pages it would take? It would give you a better idea of how many pages you would need in the future and you could always spilt 2025 into two a&o notebooks?

[@bethandbeyond1]

You're my favorite! 😘

[@deborahmcatee1015]

I agree. There's no good reason to restrict yourself to one notebook, or avoid starting a new year in an existing reading notebook (heresy, I know).

[@GothicWiccan61]

Sterling ink 500 paged travelers size notebook. It’ll be enough space for ALL of your layouts and then some. That’s my vote. It’s tomoe river paper as well.

[@bethandbeyond1]

It's definitely on my list. I use a Common Planner for my every day carry, so I already love the brand. (PS - Love your handle.)

[@MainerChick]

Yes adding a bubble to the end of your index to color code the genre would be great. I started a creative reading journal in A5 & should have watched this 1st. I like the idea of the tip ins & outs. And that you're using a standard size for it.

[@bethandbeyond1]

Oh, I love my TN. Highly recommend!

[@sheryllowery8162]

I like the “more impactful” separate genre tracker idea. I loved seeing all of your book journals. Thanks for another great video. Can’t wait to see your 2025 theme.

[@bethandbeyond1]

Thanks! Right now I don't think I'll add genre to index, but it's still evolving in my noggin'.

[@SakuraLatteMoon]

Your READING JOURNALS are My Fav so Far!!!!! ThankYOU!!!!!!! .....This will be my first "reading Journal" yr... but ive always randomly added lists of series i like and want to finish in diff notebooks.... I think i want a Master Large Notebook to keep all my series Trackers and Tracking in.... while inside the reading journal i'll be content with the title/book cover....... that was my lil idea lol ;D

[@kristyann5815]

I had the same struggle with the alphabet challenge so I switched it to just listing the first book of each letter I read. I already had an index listing all my books so this worked for me You inspired me to use a TN size for my reading journal this year 💜

[@bethandbeyond1]

Huzzah for the TN!!

[@tiffanymorningstar7008]

I never thought of mapping it out. Made first one last year and hopped for the best. Thank you for pointing out something so simple

[@bethandbeyond1]

I hope it helps! This was my first year to analyze them all. It was a great exercise.

[@savingswith_uncafecito]

I also did the bookshelf once upon a time. Alas, I am so over it. Although I did see another KZbinr make one but with pictures for her audio books only, I read a lot of audiobooks so I am contemplating it (she said she wanted them as trophies). I loved your idea of mapping out what I do and don’t like. Great Idea!

[@bethandbeyond1]

RIP, the bookshelf. 🤣🤣 I do a lot of audiobooks these days as well. My heightened menopause ADHD has gravitated to more audio than physical this year.

[@angelblackhart4029]

After watching this, I want to outline my own reading journal as well as join the community for the read-along! I am finishing my B.S. this year (graduating in December!!!) and I am looking forward to having time to read more! I miss it!

[@bethandbeyond1]

First of all, huge congrats on finishing the degree! We would love to have you in the readalong. I can say that keeping a reading journal has been wholly rewarding. Highly recommend!

[@angelblackhart4029]

@@bethandbeyond1 thank you so much!!!

[@carlee3958]

I'm planning to do dutch doors for my index so that might be another consideration instead of a flip out so you don't have to add extra bulk? I do my index by month, though and I call it a Year at a Glance. I second what someone else said about combining the genre tracker with the log and just color code it. I do this with reading format instead of genre, but I am thinking of adding genre colors and then letters (P, A, E) for format into my squares for my book challenge spread. And on the key, I will have a space to put the final count for the end of the year. I am thinking of changing the format to type this next year (novel, manga, webcomic, light novel, etc.). I also read a lot of manga so I'm thinking of combining my manga series trackers with the corresponding anime tracker. Like for specific series, have a dual line with the books on one and movies/episodes/arcs on another line. I keep all my recommendations, release radar, and tbr on Goodreads so I don't have to take up space in my journal. I will have a spread at the end of books I plan to have on my # books to read in the coming year.

[@bethandbeyond1]

I need to get better at plugging things into Goodreads and tagging them. I love that read enough Manga to consider special layouts to accommodate that specific genre.

[@HotTeaAndHardcovers]

This channel was my inspiration for moving to a travelers notebook as a reading journal next year, this is super helpful for my planner/journal mapping for next year!

[@bethandbeyond1]

That's awesome!

[@sarahl.7277]

How about using a Library Card for a genre tracker? That way you do not use up extra space. You could put it in with the other one.

[@emilyelizabethbooklover]

I just found your channel through this video and I absolutely love the way you do your reading journal! 😊 I love the idea of a theme for the whole year and you’ve inspired me to do fairytales for 2025. I can’t wait to see more from you! ❤️ Also maybe you could have the beginning trackers in one journal and the monthly layouts in another that way you can have plenty of space to continue in the next year.

[@bethandbeyond1]

Oh thank you! I hope you have a ball with the fairy tales.

[@myrnatraylor3234]

Thanks, Beth: This is really interesting! I will offer two points: 1. For new information that you want to track, decide whether you prefer to see it aggregated (if yes, put it in the index) or not (then put it on the review pages). For example, I put "HB/lib" ("hardback/library") right under the star rating where I write my review, because I don't need to know how many of the year's books were borrowed, just where I can find a title if I want it again. 2. For DNFs on your backlist page, if you don't want to have to look for a different marker, make an "X" or dashed lines in the bubble instead of filling it in completely. Someone on YT also mentioned a "DNF Graveyard"-which I'm going to add in 2025-and that's where you can give those details (percentage read; why dropped; etc.) that you want to record. Oh, one other thing: I keep a temperature chart of genres, each of which has its own color. It's pretty, and easy to see where I've spent most of my reading time.

[@bethandbeyond1]

@@myrnatraylor3234 Hi Myrna! I love all of these ideas. Keep your eyes peeled. I bet I use at least one of them. 🖤

[@thebrashbookshelf]

I use a 192 page A5 journal which lasts me a year. For my index I set aside the amount of space I need for how many books I read each year with a bit extra just in case, plus 26 for a header for each letter, then I pencil everything in. At the end of the year I pen it all in and do the headers so the index is nice and full. I keep a small statistics page that sums up how many books each month were library or owned, ebook or audio or physical, and what genres, and then totals for the year. I just make it part of an end of month ritual to finish writing my reviews for the month, fill in my stats, and check through my other yearly spreads, then fill in my tbr for the next month. I’m looking forward to seeing your setup! ❤

[@bethandbeyond1]

I love that you go back and pen in later. I don't think I can commit to that, but I love that you do it!

[@elliesnotes]

I absolutely love your journal! It's so beautiful and well organized for what you need which is fantastic. I am not sure I could make it in a travelers for a reading journal as I am a full review writer for the books I read but I think your set up is so gorgeous!

[@bethandbeyond1]

Thank you so much!

[@teresas.5848]

Maybe combine the genre tracker with the log, and color code by genre, with a tip-in key?

[@bethandbeyond1]

Hmmm? That gives me another angle to consider. Thanks!

[@charmedvenuss]

Ive been keeping a "gaming journal" in the same size archer and olive and you have given me a lot to think about! haha

[@bethandbeyond1]

I love that you have a gaming journal. It’s cool that some of this crosses over.

[@sarasmith3676]

For your genre tracker, you could add it to the back of your 12 stories lists. You have that in a pocket in the front of your notebook so it wouldn't be adding anything you don't already have. Plus, if you decide you don't like it, it's on the back, you wouldn't have to look at it again. I would have to track on the index to make sure I hadn't skipped a book, but that's just me! Another thing to look at may be what StoryGraph already puts together for you as far as your statistics are concerned. For example, I see you tracking whether or not you read anything every day. If you are keeping up with StoryGraph, they have stats showing pages read in a day. I'm not suggesting color-coding or anything like that. Just saying that they might have stats you would like.

[@bethandbeyond1]

I do keep stats in StoryGraph, but I don't love how it handles DNF'd books.

[@steph-reads-ish]

What I'm going to do for my genre tracker for next year is on the left side have the different genres and the top the months but when I log it it could look like 2 scy-fy 3 fantasy and so on. But if you are able to do bubbles next to the books read with certain colors for genres or a symbol for genre I think that'll look cool. 😊

[@bethandbeyond1]

Ok wait, I like that idea with the months. I'm still taking suggestions and crafting my plans, so we will see...

[@msstaceyf]

Why do you need to have just one book? Set it up in a way that makes you happy. If you need two notebooks, that’s okay. I also love the idea of a traditional TN with inserts. That way you can have one insert for the “front matter” and first lines, etc. Then as many inserts as you need to make it through the tear. Done and dusted 😊

[@bethandbeyond1]

I went back and watched my set up video for 2024 and I even said back then it would be a-okay if I needed two notebooks... and here I am second-guessing. Thanks for the reality check. ;)

[@chaoswithsusan]

As I watch all the beautiful reading journals that others create, it makes me feel like I'm the only person who just reads books and lists them. I think I'm having reading journal envy.

[@bethandbeyond1]

I'm already thinking about a more minimal style for 2026 (since I have now set up 2025). Do what's best for you!

[@chaoswithsusan]

@@bethandbeyond1 I'm impressed by those who write about character development and plots. I do good to remember to write down the title and author. lol. I just keep it simple.

[@marygillmarten6758]

I think a genre tracker is interesting, especially because I have two book clubs that read genres I'd never touch. I'll probably add one this year.

[@bethandbeyond1]

Thanks! I've been thinking and I might join a book club or a challenge. Who am I??

[@ibee244]

genre tracker: you were contemplating merging XTZ# together, do that and then you have 4th panel for genre tracker.

[@bethandbeyond1]

I could… maybe for 2026. 😉 2025 is set and ready to go.

[@kenwave]

I spy Witcher #9 on your release radar for 2025, it's on mine too :3

[@bethandbeyond1]

Ha! I've only read two, so I'm way behind... but, I still want it.

[@Amyduckie]

I can’t help thinking the Sterling Ink N1 notebook might be a good choice for you.

[@bethandbeyond1]

It’s definitely on the list if 2025 gets too crowded and I need to switch gears for 2026.

[@echojardini]

Adding a genre tracker to your index would probably require you to color code things, and you already said earlier in the video that including too many colors doesn't work for you. So maybe if you do a genre tracker it should have its own page?

[@bethandbeyond1]

Oh, the colors... such a struggle.

[@echojardini]

Paused the video to say that if it were me I would make the number of lines for each letter in the index directly proportional to the frequency of its use. I would rather a set up be logical than symmetrical (but symmetry is its own type of logic.. I just can't think of a better word than "logical") Also I very much relate to the education-reading-burnout

[@bethandbeyond1]

Oh yeah, that education-reading burnout is real. I'm still pondering lots of things on the set up -- love your logic!

[@briasoloable]

Maybe just list the books you read on reading log of maybe 100 spaces and your index/table of contents could contain all the pages you’ve created/included and the page numbers.

[@bethandbeyond1]

I’ve thought about this, but I really prefer them listed alphabetically.

[@rorie1326]

I feel like it makes more sense for you to ditch the index and do a book read(by date read not alphabetically) list instead where you could add more info including if you dnf it and genres.

[@bethandbeyond1]

Maybe, but I'm 100% attached to the alphabetical list.

[@belindaclemons6897]

What about a myths retelling readalong for 2025

[@bethandbeyond1]

I have a plan. That's not it, but I'll tuck it away as an idea for a future year.

[@deetee8100]

I love watching book journal set ups, but my journal is just plain lists. 😊

[@bethandbeyond1]

Hey... whatever works best for you! List away!