For years, I carried a large yearly planner for lesson plans, grocery lists, calendars, and the approximately 4,000 other things teacher moms are expected to remember. I would deck it out for each season with Washi Tape, covering the edges to make each page reflect the season.
I loved it but then I started preparing to take students on an EF Tour to Spain.
I wanted something small enough to carry everywhere but organized enough to hold itineraries, confirmations, notes, flight information, and all the daily details I might need while navigating Spain with a group of students. My regular journal suddenly felt enormous.
Enter my Harris Tweed traveler’s journal.
Why a Traveler’s Journal Works for Teacher Life
What started as a solution for international travel quickly became my everyday teacher planner and bullet journal.
The size is just right. My traveler’s journal fits easily into my purse, school bag, or backpack. I can actually have it with me when I need it instead of leaving a beautiful but enormous planner sitting on my desk.
It adapts to whatever I need. A traveler’s notebook holds separate inserts, so I can essentially build my own planner. One notebook can be for school, another for personal lists, and another for travel. When one fills up, I replace that insert instead of the entire journal.
It’s perfect for bullet journaling. Even though they're amazing, I don't utilize elaborate weekly spreads or color-coded systems that become another item on my to-do list. A simple bullet journal setup lets me keep running lists, schedules, notes, and reminders in whatever format makes sense that week. I'm a huge fan of Carroll's X-ing out method.
It's surprisingly affordable. Instead of buying a new premium planner every year, I keep the cover and replace inexpensive notebook inserts as needed. Even better, I'm not locked into one planner layout for an entire school year.
From Spain to the Classroom
I originally bought my traveler’s journal because I needed a better way to stay organized while traveling internationally with students. Instead, I accidentally found a planning system that works better for my everyday life.
It’s small, flexible, inexpensive, and adaptable enough to move from lesson planning to grocery lists to international travel without missing a beat.
And the Harris Tweed cover makes something extremely practical feel just a little special.
For a teacher whose life changes dramatically from one season of the academic calendar to the next, that flexibility might be my favorite feature of all and I still get to jazz it all up with the Washi tape.
Here's a list of all of my favorite Traveler's Journal items:
Pen Holder and File Folder Accessories
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