Bullet Journaling. What is it and how can it benefit me? Well, unlike normal planners or calendars, a Bullet Journal is a method of journaling where the core structure of the journal is bullet points. You don’t purchase one, you make one. They don’t take long to structure, and one great thing about them is the freedom you have to make it exactly how you want it. The main point of bullet journaling is that you write quick notes instead of long sentences. This Bullet Journaling 101 post is great for anyone wanting to try it, as it’s full of tips and tricks to help you get started.
Is Bullet Journaling For Me?
Of course it is! Bullet journaling can be a great way to stay organized. It’s particularly popular with people who enjoy writing with a pen and paper, or people who love planners. If you also enjoy writing to-do lists or setting goals, bullet journaling would be great for you.
You Can Use Any Journal
Any journal can be used for bullet journaling, so if you have a favorite journal brand that’s great. A good thing to think about is the size of the journal, if it’s too big you’ll never want to take it anywhere. If it’s too small, you won’t be able to properly structure it. Another great thing to keep in mind is the quality of the journal. If you put more money into a well-made journal you’re way less likely to damage it or have pages falling out or ripping over time.
Keep The Notes Short
The whole point of bullet journaling is to keep everything minimal. Most people jot down in bullet points, and if they need to expound on their points they do so on the next page like in a diary. In order to keep your bullet journal as organized as possible, you need to keep your bullets short and sweet.
Use Symbols
What good is a page full of bullet points when you can’t tell without reading them if one point is a to-do for the day or if another point is a reminder? Well lucky for you we’ve got a great system to help with that. After you jot down your bullet point add a symbol at the beginning of your point to categorize it. Symbols like x, -, <, and > all mean different things that can help you keep your bullets organized.
Make It Unique
What fun is having your very own bullet journal if you can’t make it your own? Take some colored pencils, markers, watercolor, whatever you like and get creative on the pages of your journal. If you enjoy scrap-booking add stickers or appliques, there are no rules saying what you can and can’t include in your bullet journal.
Always Number Your Pages
Your Bullet Journal should start with an index, just like a book. It keeps everything nice and neat where you write a topic, then add the corresponding page number(s) to the topic to keep it all up to date. What good would your journal organization be if you didn’t number all of your pages for quick access? Don’t get overwhelmed, just number 10-20 pages at a time if that works best for you.
Now that we’ve gone over all the wonderful benefits of Bullet Journaling, here’s a list of products to help you get started!
