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Bullet Journaling 101: Best Tips for Beginners

January 12, 2022 · In: Habits and Routines

Last Updated on August 4, 2022

If you’re like most people, you probably have a lot of things on your plate. You may feel overwhelmed as you’re constantly juggling tasks and trying to keep track of everything. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to organize all of that information in one place? Well, there is!

basics of bullet journaling

If you’re looking for a way to organize your life, a bullet journal may be the answer. A Bullet journal system is a method of organization that combines a notebook and bullet points. It is a fantastic way to keep track of your thoughts, tasks, to-do list, and goals; and can be used for everything from tracking your workouts to keeping track of your grocery list.

This is bullet journaling 101 my friend. We will discuss how to start a bullet journal in a very simple way, with a simple explanation of the planning system typically used, what you need for your first bullet journal, and other helpful tips for the bullet journal novice.

If you click on a link and then make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Let’s get started!

What is Bullet Journaling?

Bullet journaling is a method of organization that combines a notebook and bullet points. It was created by Ryder Carroll, who describes bullet journaling as “a mindfulness practice disguised as a productivity system.”

It has gained popularity in recent years and is now seen as a way to journal and keep track of personal tasks all in one place. Many bullet journalers use their notebooks as a way to track their daily tasks, take notes during meetings and classes, create monthly or weekly calendars, keep to-do lists for work projects, and much more. There are even bullet journal self-care memberships that offer a variety of related tools, resources, and community engagement.

Bullet journaling is the perfect solution for people who have trouble keeping organized or on top of things because it is a very flexible and customizable system. You can use bullet journaling to create your own system that works for you and your needs instead of having to fit into someone else’s idea of organization.

How Does Bullet Journaling Work?

how does bullet journaling work?

The basic premise of bullet journaling is to use a notebook as your “central place” for everything. You can create different sections in your bullet journal for various purposes, such as:

  • To-do list
  • Monthly calendar
  • Weekly planner
  • Notes and ideas
  • Goals and resolutions
  • Habit tracking
  • Brainstorming

Each time you have a task or an idea, you would bullet point it in your notebook. You can use different symbols and colors to help categorize and organize your information.

For example, if you have a task that needs to be completed by the end of the day, you might bullet point it with an asterisk (*). If you bullet points a task that needs to be completed by the end of the week, you might use a bullet point and circle it.

What bullet journal supplies do you need?

You can customize your bullet journal to work for you, but there are a few supplies that are needed in order to keep everything organized. For now, all you really need is a notebook and pen.

But if you want to have extras like stickers or washi tape, go ahead! Eventually you might want to invest in some nice pens or colorful highlighters in order to keep your bullet journal looking nice.

What are the basic steps for starting a bullet journal?

When you first start a bullet journal, the best thing that you can do is just jump right in! Don’t worry too much about what you’re going to do with it. The main idea when you first start is to just get your thoughts out and organized in a way that works for you. Here are some steps to follow:

1. Decide on a journal – First decide what kind of notebook or journal you want to use for your bullet journal. Some people like having a big, hardcover journal so they can flip the pages around and write bigger. Other people prefer the convenience of a smaller notebook, so they can carry it around everywhere with them.

2. Get your supplies – Next you need to get your supplies ready! You will need a pen or pencil, highlighters or colorful pens (optional), stickers, washi tape, page flags, etc. to help personalize your journal and make it a nice place to be.

3. Start a Key – A key is not a “must-have”, but it can help you learn what symbol means what as you get started with the bullet journaling system.

4. Bullet point everything – The first step to starting a bullet journal is to start! You can bullet point anything you want in your notebook, from to-do lists to monthly calendars to quotes that inspire you.

5. Add color – Why not add some color? Even though the traditional bullet journal is plain and simple with only black ink, there’s nothing stopping you from using colorful highlighters or pens to add some pizzazz to your journal.

Now that you have a quick overview of what a bullet journaling 101 system involves, let’s take a closer look at each of these.

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1 Easy to Use Stencil Set for Dotted Journals - Time Saving Planner Accessories/Supplies Kit Makes Creating Layouts Easy - Incl. Bullet Point Checklists, Daily/Weekly/Monthly Calendars Easy to Use Stencil Set for Dotted Journals - Time Saving Planner Accessories/Supplies Kit Makes... $13.99 Buy on Amazon
2 Journal with Purpose: Over 1000 motifs, alphabets and icons to personalize your bullet or dot journal Journal with Purpose: Over 1000 motifs, alphabets and icons to personalize your bullet or dot... $13.69 Buy on Amazon
3 Alohaster HPSIZEE Aesthetic Cute Highlighters Mild Assorted Colors With Soft Chisel Tip, No Bleed Dry Fast Easy to Hold, for Journal Bible Planner Notes School Office Supplies, 6 Pack - Youth Alohaster HPSIZEE Aesthetic Cute Highlighters Mild Assorted Colors With Soft Chisel Tip, No Bleed... $7.99 Buy on Amazon
4 Essentials Planner Stickers for Dotted Journals (Set of 550+ stickers. Great for bullet journaling, weekly planners, and notebooks) Essentials Planner Stickers for Dotted Journals (Set of 550+ stickers. Great for bullet journaling,... $5.95 Buy on Amazon

How to Start Bullet Journaling

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The first step in starting a bullet journal is to get a notebook and a pen. It doesn’t have to be anything special; just a blank notebook with basic pages will work fine. You can find bullet journals and notebooks designed explicitly for bullet journaling but unnecessary. It doesn’t have to have a more complicated layout, and as a beginner, you probably don’t want that.

Once you have a notebook, the next step is to create an index. This is just a list of all the sections in your notebook and what page they are on. This will help you keep track of where everything is located in your notebook and make it easier to find a particular page later.

After creating an index, the next step is to create a key for your bullet points. This will list all the different types of bullets you use in your journal and what they mean.

For example:

. (dot) – Task

* (asterisk) – Important Event

o (open circle) – Event

– (dash) – Notes

> (arrow) – Started

→(directional arrow) – Migrated

X (cross) – Completed

Once you have created a key, the next step is to create sections in your journal. This can be from monthly calendars and weekly planners to to-do lists or project pages. The possibilities are endless! Be creative with it, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different layouts and styles.

Every time you create a new section, make sure to update your index, so it’s easy to find later on.

The last step is to start using your journal! You can use it for anything from keeping track of events or appointments, making lists (to-do lists, grocery lists, shopping lists, etc.), taking notes during meetings or lectures, and more!

Bullet Journaling 101

bullet journaling 101

Using your bullet journal is just as easy as creating it. All you have to do is use the bullets listed in your key to indicate what type of information it is. For example, if you have a task that needs to be completed, put a dot next. If it’s just a note, put a dash next to it. And if an event has been finished, put a cross next to it.

In this video, Ryder Carroll, the creator of the bullet journal method, explains how to use his system to track your life in one notebook. He covers everything from setting up an index and key to creating monthly and weekly calendars, to-do lists, and more.

Watch the video below to learn how you can use this method yourself!

That’s basically all there is to bullet journaling. It may seem like a lot of work upfront, but once you get started, you’ll find that it’s actually relatively easy. You can even use your bullet journal as a diary or personal organizer if you want.

The best part about this type of journaling is there are no rules. It’s entirely up to you how detailed or simple you make your entries.

How to Maintain Your Bullet Journal

The first step in maintaining your journal is to update it every day, or at least once a week. This will ensure that all the information is up-to-date and accurate. Be sure to check your calendar for any upcoming events or events that may have taken place since your last update and add any new tasks or notes.

If you find that you can’t update your journal every day, don’t worry! You can carry over unfinished tasks to the next day (or week). Just be sure to indicate in some way that the task is still active.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you don’t have to use your bullet journal every day. If you’re too busy, take a break for a week or two and then start back up again when you have more time. The most important thing is to be consistent with it to become an effective tool for organization and productivity.

Promptly Journals - Journaling Made Easy!

Final Thoughts: Bullet Journaling 101

The bullet journaling method is a popular and effective way to track your tasks, events, and appointments. It is a great way to organize your life, but you can also use it for creative purposes. You can use different colors and fonts to create decorative headers and dividers or add images and sketches to your bullet journal pages. The sky’s the limit when you are using a bullet journal.

A bullet journal can be an outlet for being more mindful and creative than just a productivity system. You can use it to keep track of your daily routines, express gratitude, or set goals. If you want an easy way to be more organized and productive while also mindful and creative, a bullet journal is for you!

bullet journaling 101 - best tips

By: Candi · In: Habits and Routines

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