How to Use Pinterest (or Notion) to Organize Your Reading Life

Key Takeaways

• Pinterest is perfect for readers who like to sort books by aesthetic or theme.
• Notion is great for organizing data like reading goals, tags, and custom lists.
• Both platforms help track progress, improve consistency, and boost motivation.
• You can use them together or choose one that fits your style best.
• Organizing your reading life helps reduce overwhelm and increases enjoyment.

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Why You Need a System to Organize Your Reading Life

Reading should feel like a joy, not a task. But if you’ve ever:

• Forgotten which books you’ve finished
• Bought the same book twice
• Lost track of your reading goals
  —then it’s time for a system.

Organizing your reading life doesn’t mean creating strict rules. It means giving your reading habits a simple structure that makes it easier to enjoy books fully. Systems like Pinterest and Notion help with this in different ways:

• Pinterest helps you collect and sort book inspiration visually.
• Notion works like a digital reading journal or custom library.

Both tools support your efforts to read more often and with more purpose. You’ll also better remember what you read.📚 Want to build better reading habits first? Check out How to Achieve Your 2025 Reading Goals.

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Getting Started with Pinterest as a Visual Reading Log

If you think Pinterest is only for home decor and recipes, think again. Pinterest is a powerful tool for book lovers.

Here’s how to start:

• Create boards: Try titles like “TBR 2025,” “Books by Mood,” or “Books With a Twist.”
• Pin book covers: Use images from publishers, online bookstores, or aesthetic edits.
• Add captions: Note when you finished it, your rating, or why you saved it.
• Reorganize anytime: Move pins between boards based on your updated reading lists.

Great board ideas:

• Cozy Fall Reads
• Book Club Picks
• Audiobooks That Help Me Sleep
• Books That Made Me Cry

Want a visual reading ritual? Try this guide on Reading Rituals That Help You Unwind and Focus.

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Creating a Digital Bookshelf with Notion

Notion is a workspace app that’s flexible, clean, and customizable. With it, you can create a digital library that works how you want.

Start with a simple layout:

Field	Description
Title	Book name
Author	Who wrote it
Genre	Fiction, nonfiction, fantasy, etc.
Format	Audiobook, ebook, paperback
Tags	Mood, pace, age group
Status	TBR, Reading, Finished

You can also:

• Upload book covers
• Use checkboxes to track completions
• Add filter views like “5-star reads” or “Books under 300 pages”

Explore more tools in The Top Reading Apps and Tech Tools for Book Lovers

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Planning Your Reading Goals with Custom Templates

Pinterest helps you dream big; Notion helps you get there.

Use Pinterest to pin:

• Monthly challenges
• Genre prompts
• Seasonal themes (e.g., summer beach reads)

In Notion, build:

• A table for yearly goals
• A calendar view for reading slots
• Progress bars to show books completed vs. planned

Focus on flexible goals like:

• "Read 3 books this month"
• "Finish 1 memoir this quarter"
• "Try a new genre"

Need help carving out reading time? Read How to Find Time for Daily Reading in a Busy Life.

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Organizing Book Club Reads or Buddy Reads

Reading with others? Use Pinterest and Notion to keep everyone on the same page.

Pinterest:

• Make shared boards with your book club
• Add polls for next book choices
• Pin discussion questions or quotes

Notion:

• Track group reads with timelines
• Assign pages or chapters for weekly meetings
• Log member notes and reactions

If you're just starting a club, read this Guide to Starting a Book Club With Friends.

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Visual Sorting: Mood Boards, Aesthetic Themes & Genres

Pinterest thrives on visuals. Use that to your advantage by creating boards based on:

• Mood: Sad, uplifting, mysterious
• Genre: Sci-fi, poetry, fantasy
• Setting: Winter books, seaside stories
• Vibe: Cozy, dark academia, cottagecore

In Notion, add “Mood” or “Vibe” as a tag. Then use filters or gallery views to sort by these categories. You’ll be able to quickly find a book that matches your current energy.

Curious about how readers organize by visuals? Read Color-Coded Bookshelves – Why It’s Trendy and How To Do It.

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Combining Pinterest + Notion for a Full Reading Dashboard

Want the best of both worlds? Try using Pinterest and Notion together:

• Browse Pinterest for inspiration
• Save pins to “Books to Read” board
• Transfer titles to Notion to track progress
• Check them off once you’ve read them

Example combo:

• Pinterest board: “Books About Time Travel”
• Notion page: Includes reading status, notes, and quotes

External tools to try:

• Free Notion Reading Template
• Pinterest Reading Journal Ideas

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Staying Consistent: Making Organization a Habit

Even the best system is useless if you never use it. So here’s how to stick with it:

• Update your boards or Notion once a week
• Set reminders on your phone or calendar
• Make it part of your wind-down routine
• Keep it low-pressure: This is for you, not performance

If you’re trying to increase how much you read, this article might help: How to Read More Books Throughout the Year

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