How to Start a Bullet Journal
Before I started Bullet Journaling in January, the idea of creating my own planner/notebook combo terrified me. Actually, it stayed that way until about week three. That’s not because it’s difficult (I assure you that it can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be), but because I’m such a perfectionist that I was nervous about messing up. It’s also a little daunting to sit in front of a blank notebook and then turn it into your organization life support system (or at least that’s how I use mine). Since I’ve gone through that fear to the “honeymoon” phase of perfectionism period and into the happy medium I’m in now - which means functional but cute, I’m going to share some tips, tricks, and ideas for entering the world of the Bullet Journal (or BUJO, as many call it). It’s easier than it looks!
Tip #1: Inspiration, inspiration, inspiration! At the end of December 2017 I had just finished my first semester at college and realized that my current planning system just wasn’t cutting it. I took to Pinterest and Instagram to look up ideas for how to personalize a Bullet Journal past the inventor’s, Ryder Carroll, format he publicized on his website. A few of my favorites on Instagram include @boho.berry (she’s got a blog and YouTube channel, too!) and @bujo.birdie (hard to believe I started following her when she had only 300 followers) because they both have very different styles that still appeal to me. Reposting pages like @minimalistbujo and @bulletjournalers also give you a wide variety of (almost) daily inspiration. Feel free to check out my account, @craftingclarity, too!
Tip #2: There’s no need to spend $20+ dollars on a fancy dotted or grid notebook when you’re not sure if a BUJO is right for you yet. My first notebook was $12 from Amazon and I personalized it with a sticker from RedBubble. I’ve completely filled it up in the last eight months so I’m starting with a Leuchtturm 1917 dotted hardcover A5 notebook for this fall. The perks of this one is that it lays flat when open, which makes it so much easier to write, refer to on a desk, and take pictures of. The truth is, the notebook isn’t the make or break part of this process, what you put in it matters more than the paper.
Tip #3: Use whatever kind of supplies you want! I started off with a Sharpie pen and Papermate Flair felt tips but now mainly use either my 01 and 08 Microns or the Pilot Precise V7 Rolling Ball in either fine or extra fine. I have a few Stabilo Pen 68 colors and I use those for wider writing. Occasionally I even use Crayola SuperTips. I also have friends who use gel or plain ball point pens, so it’s up to you! Use what you can write most comfortably with on the paper you have.
Tip #4: Mistakes happen, although they’re a little less likely to occur if you use a pencil and a ruler first. I suggest testing your pen on a separate sheet of paper beforehand to make sure you can erase over it without smudging. Don’t forget to let it dry! You can see in this picture that I didn’t do that. In the past I would have torn out the page but the Leuchtturm pages are numbered so I didn’t want to mess with them.
Tip #5: Try not to plan out your weeks or even months in advance. If you leave it one week at a time, there’s more flexibility to throw in a list page or other new necessity in between layouts. Plus, I’ve found my needs for a weekly spread have greatly changed throughout the months and if I’d gone ahead with my initial layout for a few months I’d have been in trouble come February. Instead, I add a spot next to my monthly and weekly spreads that say “coming up” or “up next” and put things like assignments or meetings in the coming weeks that get transferred every week they’re applicable.
Tip #6: Minimalist and cluttered/designed are the two very different sides of Bullet Journaling. I fall somewhere in the middle as I don’t use too many different colors in each spread or tape things in, but still do more than just black and white (for the most part, although I’m moving towards minimalistic styles now). Experimenting is the best way to figure out what you like.
Tip #7: Oversharing isn't a thing when it comes to Bullet Journals. Put everything in! I have a series of trackers in my monthly sections that document my physical and mental health as well as habits like amount of sleep or water I’ve had. I also have financial, workout, food, and weight pages. Some people even use their BUJO as a planner and diary. This is supposed to be convenient and useful for you, and that doesn’t happen if you’re scared to put something in.
I also wanted to explain the basic layout of my BUJO incase that helps inspire you! In both notebooks you can see that I have a title page (my calligraphy improved drastically in eight months so practice clearly makes perfect!), and a yearly calendar page. My old notebook has a “Books Read” section as well which I plan on cutting out and putting in the pocket of my new notebook. Then in my monthly I have a title page, a monthly calendar, a “Grateful For” page, health and habit trackers, and a finance page before my weekly spreads start. I’ll usually throw list pages in between those and a workout log goes in about every two months.
It may seem redundant, but I’ll say it again anyway. A Bullet Journal is meant to be the most efficient and helpful way for you to organize your schedule and life. What works for thousands of people on Instagram or Pinterest doesn’t have to work for you, but it might! Do what helps you the most and play around with things until it works! Good luck with your new BUJO!
You got this!
Clare
