I've wanted to start journaling for years. Every tech journalist I know seems to have that one physical notebook where they jot down ideas, half-formed thoughts, or just vent about a rough day and I always envied that.
My problem was never motivation, but rather friction. The moment I needed a pen, a charger, my phone and a notebook all within reach, I'd just... open a Notes app instead and call it a day. So when this smart notebook showed up at my desk, I wasn't expecting it to be the thing that finally got me to put pen to paper. But here we are.
Everything I Need, in One Place (Or Notebook?)
The thing that hooked me wasn't the novelty of a "smart" notebook. It was how little it asked of me to actually sit down and write. Flip it open and there's a full charging cable built right into the spine, with Lightning, USB-C and Micro-USB tips fanned out.
So my phone and other devices are charging the moment I open the notebook, without me having to dig through a bag for a cable. There's also a wireless charging pad built into the cover itself, so if I just want to set my phone down face-up and forget about it, that works too.
As someone who's mildly ADHD-coded when it comes to focus, this mattered more than I expected. I didn't have to break my train of thought to go find a charger, hunt for a pen, or deal with a dying phone mid-entry.
Clipped to the side is a small, detachable USB pen drive (16 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB depending on the version), which honestly feels more like a small flex than a necessity. But I like that it's there.
Then, tucked into the organiser sleeve, is a bendable LED reading light and this ended up mattering more to my new journaling habit than I expected. Most of my "let me actually write something" moments happen late at night, after work, when the overhead lights are off and I don't want to turn on anything harsh.
Being able to just bend this little light into position and start writing removed one more excuse I would've otherwise used to talk myself out of it.
Not to mention that you also get some card slots and storage, as well as a bendable phone stand, which is super cool for when I decide to practice some Spanish in the middle of journaling.
Underneath all of this is a proper 8,000mAh power bank, which is what actually powers the wireless pad and built-in cables. And yes, it can genuinely keep my phone and earbuds topped up through a writing session without me needing to reach for anything else.
So, everything I needed was already sitting in front of me, in one object, which meant nothing pulled me out of the actual act of writing.
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A Gimmick That Actually Solved My Problem
I think the honest answer is that this notebook removed decision fatigue from journaling. I didn't have to decide whether to bring a charger, whether my phone had enough battery, or whether I had a pen nearby.
It was all just already there, built into the one object I was picking up anyway. For someone who's spent years typing everything and only ever journaling in short-lived bursts, that convenience turned out to be exactly the nudge I needed.
Is it a little bit of a gimmick? Sure, part of me still finds it funny that my notebook has more charging ports than some of my actual PD chargers.
But if you've been meaning to start journaling and keep getting derailed by the same small frictions I did, having everything genuinely in one place might be the push you didn't know you needed either.
You can also check out our dedicated Instagram video for the smart notebook:
To buy this smart notebook and also come across more such interesting gadgets, take a look at the dedicated Beebom Gadgets Instagram Store.
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