My Stationery Life

So, how did everyone do on Hobonichi Day? Did you score the planners you wanted? I ended up with my setup for next year — the A5 Avec and the A5 Days-Free. (I actually picked up another system for something else, but I’ll save that for a future post.)

But what I really wanted to talk about today is something a little different: index cards.

A Brief History

The last time I used index cards in any serious way, I was 18 and working my first job at a law firm. Despite computers (and yes, even the internet!) being around, my boss insisted on tracking clients with index cards in a big box — very Rolodex-style. If you don’t know what a Rolodex is, please sweep me off the floor and deposit me directly into the trash can.

Even before that, index cards were part of my life. I kept a little card catalog for my personal library, noting down every title and author. At school, I remember having to write facts on index cards for history projects and then turn them in as part of the grade.

Present Day

These days? They’re basically retired. I’ve got a stack sitting on my utility cart and in the last two years I’ve used them twice:

• once as Hebrew aleph-bet flashcards
• once as a last-minute homemade greeting card

And that’s it.

It’s not that I dislike analog tools — I actually prefer them most of the time. I’m a big believer in keeping things tactile when possible. But the truth is, index cards feel optional now. If I need to jot something down and stick it somewhere, I grab a sticky note. If I want to track my books, there are plenty of apps. If I need flashcards, my commonplace book or a digital app does the trick. And if I forget a greeting card again, Canva (or a quick trip to the store) is probably a better solution.

The Future

I don’t mean for this to sound like a eulogy for index cards. Plenty of people still swear by them, and that’s great! For me, though, they may be one of those tools I’ve outgrown. I’ll always have fond memories of shuffling through a box of handwritten cards, but I think it’s time to admit: I’ve moved on.

I’ve heard a lot of praise about Midori notebooks for a long time, but I've never actually picked one up. The reviews generally said the same things:

1. They lay flat
2. The paper is incredibly smooth and durable
3. They are budget-friendly (say, more so than Leuchtturms and Moleskines

I’ve used both of those brands plenty of times, so I wanted to see if Midori could live up to the hype.

Minimalism at Its Best

The beauty of Midori notebooks is the simplicity. The company even boasts that the first page is the cover: same paper, no frills, no endpaper under the cover. The entire design is meant to prioritize the comfort of writing, and the company absolutely delivers on that promise.

Midori offers a range of sizes, including A4, A5, A6, A7, and B6 slim, so there’s an option whether you prefer a large canvas for big ideas or something pocket-sized for quick notes. The notebooks also come in three formats—lined, blank, and grid—so you can choose the style that best suits your writing or sketching needs. Personally, I prefer lined, but it’s nice to have options.

Each notebook includes a single ribbon bookmark sewn into the spine, which adds a nice touch, though it is incredibly delicate (and I do mean delicate—more on that in a second). As a fun bonus, Midori also includes a small set of stickers: one labeled IDEA, one labeled DIARY, and a third with spaces for Volume, Start, Finish, and From the Library Of details. You can use them to organize your notebooks, or—like me—you can admire them briefly and then forget they exist.

My First Midori Notebook

Last fall, on a whim, I picked up an A6-sized Midori MD notebook from a bookstore in Ann Arbor. I have been working on this Tarot tracking project, and the size and format seemed perfect for what I needed.

I expected to like it, but didn't expect to immediately love it!

• The notebook lays completely flat, just like advertised.
• The paper is buttery smooth. My pen absolutely flew across the page.
• The ribbon bookmark? Yeah, it’s delicate. I learned quickly not to tug on it too much or it will pop right off.

Here's one interesting detail: Midori’s lined paper has a thicker horizontal line in the middle of each page. This lets you split your pages if you want. I used it this way for a few weeks since I didn’t need a full page per day at first. Eventually, I switched to filling out full pages, but the dividing line never bothered me either way.

That Ultra-Minimalist Cover, Though

I love this minimalist notebook, but I also put my notebooks through a lot. After a couple of days, the edges of my Midori started fraying and curling. If you’re gentle with your notebooks, this might not be a problem. If you’re like me and toss them into bags, stack them under other books, and generally treat them like a well-loved paperback, you’re going to need a cover.

Luckily, Midori makes clear and paper covers, so I grabbed a pink paper cover for my A6. Problem solved!

I Already Bought Another One

I wound up filling my A6 pretty quickly and switched to my Hobonichi Weeks for tracking the Tarot project. But I loved the Midori notebook so much that I bought an A5 version with a matching cover for another project I have planned.

I’m also very tempted to pick up a B6 slim, but unfortunately, JetPens doesn’t have covers for that size. I may have to check Etsy, which is where I’ve sourced my Weeks covers before.

Final Thoughts: Believe the Hype

If you’re looking for a minimalist, no-fuss notebook with phenomenal paper quality, Midori MD notebooks are absolutely worth a try. They hold up well, they make writing feel effortless, and they’re a great alternative to pricier brands. Just be prepared to grab a cover if you’re even a little rough on your notebooks.