Use 60/40 When One Column Matters More
A two-column journal page often works better when the columns are not equal.
The useful split is usually around 60/40. Not because the ruler needs to be perfect. Because the page needs a clear priority.
Give the main side more room
The 60 side is the main side. Give it the part of the page that carries the entry: the longer writing block, the photo area, the timeline, the daily record, the study notes, or the part you expect to revisit first.
The 40 side is the support side. Use it for context, follow-ups, small lists, reminders, captions, materials, side notes, links, questions, or anything that helps the main content without competing with it.
Do not worship the measurement
This is the difference between layout and decoration. A 60/40 split tells the eye what to read first.
Equal columns can look tidy, but they also create a problem: both sides ask for the same amount of attention. That works only when both columns truly have equal jobs.
If one side is the story and the other side is the backup information, 50/50 makes the backup feel louder than it should.
Ask the priority question first
Before drawing two columns, ask one question: which side is responsible for the page?
If the answer is obvious, do not force symmetry. Make that side wider.
Keep the support side useful
The 60 side can stay quiet and spacious. It does not need to be packed just because it is larger. The extra width gives handwriting, photos, timelines, and longer notes room to breathe.
The 40 side should feel useful, not leftover. Keep it organized with smaller modules: a short checklist, a context box, a follow-up area, a tiny caption space, or a few anchor marks.
One side carries the main content. One side supports it.
Images are original hand-drawn journal layout mockups, not screenshots of an app UI. Use this as a page-structure habit for journals, planners, study notes, project logs, or digital notebooks.
