Digital journaling vs Notebook journaling

I use a Remarkable 2 for journaling and organization. Within it, I’ve created a dedicated folder for my daily journal and a separate folder for Gratitude journaling, where I record at least three things I’m grateful for each day. I’ve found that typing feels less reflective than writing by hand, so I exclusively journal with the stylus. Over time, the Remarkable 2 has become my diary, gratitude journal, and even a replacement for my Franklin Planner, thanks to its excellent daily planning features.

Recently, I began exploring the experience of journaling in a traditional notebook to compare it with digital journaling. I discovered the German brand Leuchtturm1917, which receives consistently strong reviews. Their notebooks come in different paper weights—80 g/m² and 120 g/m². The 80 g paper is lighter but can show ghosting, while the 120 g paper is thicker and generally preferred. I was also surprised to learn that dotted pages are more popular than lined ones. On the Remarkable 2, I prefer lined templates since the dots are faint, but dotted paper offers flexibility for layouts, diagrams, and creative structures.

After some research and watching several reviews, I purchased a Leuchtturm1917 A5 notebook with 120 g dotted paper. The A5 size feels like a medium-sized book and works well for journaling. Getting started with a physical notebook required more decisions—choosing the size, paper weight, and ruling style—but I’ve found the dotted format surprisingly versatile. Writing on the right-hand page feels smoother, while the left side can be slightly raised at the corner.

There are several features I appreciate about the Leuchtturm notebook:

• Numbered pages and a table of contents at the front, which make it easy to organize and reference special entries.
• Excellent paper and binding quality, which give the notebook a premium feel.
• The option to pair it with a Leuchtturm pen, which I purchased to compare with my usual pens. I wanted to see whether investing in a $25 ballpoint offered a noticeable improvement over standard pens.

Writing in a notebook feels different from using the Remarkable 2. I wouldn’t say one is better than the other—they each have unique strengths. The Remarkable 2 offers clear advantages such as cloud backup and the ability to erase mistakes instantly, while the notebook is more compact and provides a tactile, traditional writing experience. At the moment, I’m journaling in both: the notebook for Gratitude entries and the Remarkable 2 for my daily journal. After several months, I’ll decide which format suits me best.

I’d love to hear from others who use both a digital notebook like the Remarkable 2 and a traditional notebook. What has your experience been? What pros and cons have you found, and which do you prefer?