Bullet Journal basics
I love stationery…. and I try, really hard, to be organised…. it doesn’t always work out!
Bullet journaling can be a great way to use a favourite notebook as a command centre to record all the things and make it pretty, if you’re the creative sort. If you’re not sure what a bullet journal is - read on!
Grab your favourite notebook and pen, and let's dive in!
First off, what the heck is a bullet journal?
The concept was created by Ryder Carroll as a way to organise his notes and thoughts. He showed his girlfriend and she thought it was so great that he needed to share it with others. There’s a dedicated Bujo website, method, books, courses etc. But below are the basics to get you started. In it’s simplest sense it’s a way of mindfully organising your life in one space with lots of options for customisation to make it work for you.
Gather Your Supplies
Before you begin, gather the essential supplies for bullet journaling:
- A quality notebook with dot grid, lined or blank pages
- Your favourite pens, such as fineliners, gel pens, or fountain pens
- Optional: Coloured markers, highlighters, washi tape, and stickers for decoration
Top tip: If you’d like a notebook that you can experiment in without fear of messing it up, consider a refillable style (oh wait, we have just the thing here…!! )
Set Up Your Key and Index
At the beginning of your bullet journal, create a key and index page to help you navigate and organise your entries:
- Key: Designate symbols to represent different types of tasks and events (e.g., ● for tasks, ○ for events, and ▲ for important deadlines).
- Index: Reserve a few pages at the front of your journal for indexing. As you add new entries, jot down their page numbers in the index for easy reference so you can find things quickly.
image credit: the petite planner
Create Future Logs and Monthly Spreads
Next, set up future logs and monthly spreads to plan ahead and track important dates and events:
- Future Log: Divide a double-page spread into six or twelve sections to represent future months. Use each section to record upcoming events, birthdays, and deadlines.
- Monthly Spread: Create a double-page spread for each month. Include a calendar overview, a monthly goals section, and space for tracking habits or tasks specific to that month.
Design Weekly and Daily Layouts
Now it's time to design your weekly and daily layouts for day-to-day planning:
- Weekly Layout: Dedicate one or two pages to each week. Include sections for each day of the week, along with space for to-do lists, appointments, and notes.
- Daily Layout: Customise your daily pages based on your needs and preferences. You can use a simple list format, time-blocking method, or incorporate sections for gratitude journaling, meal planning, or tracking habits.
Add Collections and Custom Pages
In addition to your core planning pages, consider adding collections and custom pages to your bullet journal:
- Collections: Create themed pages for tracking specific topics or interests, such as books to read, travel plans, fitness goals, or creative projects.
- Custom Pages: Design layouts for reflection, goal setting, mood tracking, or anything else that resonates with you. Personalise these pages to suit your lifestyle and aspirations.
Review and Adapt
As you start using your bullet journal, periodically review your layouts and adapt them to better suit your needs. Experiment with different styles, techniques, and page designs to find what works best for you. Remember, your bullet journal is a flexible system that can evolve over time to reflect your changing priorities and preferences. Don’t get too hung up on perfection - whilst there’s lots of beautiful content out there with not a pen stroke out of place, it doesn’t matter if you make a mistake. Life is imperfect!
Check out our dedicated Pinterest board on bullet journaling for plenty of ideas and inspiration.
If we’ve inspired you to start your own BuJo… let us know in the comments :)
Katie x
