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Chocolate Musings

Set your goals - make the plans - artfully create your life - live it beautifully. Grab the good chocolate and find your muse.

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Home » Get Organized & Start Planning » Start Planning Here » Page 2

Fall Bullet Journal Theme Ideas

September 7, 2021 Leave a Comment

Fall Bullet Journal Theme Ideas + Collection & Color Scheme Ideas | ChocolateMusings.com

Autumn is in the air, with crisp air settling in and color-changing leaves on the horizon in the upper hemisphere! With it comes caramel apples, pumpkins, spiced lattes, and sweater weather. And, of course, it’s time to decorate your bullet journal for fall! If you’re looking for fall bullet journal theme ideas, get out your pen & notebook. I’m excited to share with you this list of fabulous autumn bullet journal theme ideas.

In addition to bullet journal theme ideas for fall, I also compiled a list of bullet journal collection ideas & color schemes to try for the autumn season.

Look for my Halloween-specific bullet journal theme ideas as well!

Table of contents

  • First on the Fall Bullet Journal Theme Ideas: Leaves & Trees!
  • Second on the list for Fall Bullet Journal Theme Ideas: Apples!
  • More Fall Food Theme Inspiration:
  • Happening in the Fall
  • Fall Outdoor Fun Bullet Journal Inspiration
  • Night Sky
  • Warm & Cozy Fall Bullet Journal Theme Ideas
  • Enhance Your Fall Bullet Journal Theme – Fall Collections
  • Clothing & Accessories
  • Fall Self-Care Practices
  • Food
  • Things to Do in the Fall:
  • Holiday Preparedness
  • Journaling
  • Sports
  • Color Inspiration for your Fall Bullet Journal
  • Fall Bullet Journal Themes Inspiration & Ideas

First on the Fall Bullet Journal Theme Ideas: Leaves & Trees!

I can’t write about fall theme ideas in your bullet journal without mentioning fall foliage and all the leaves shapes.

It seems that nearly every year, I do a colored leaf-themed bullet journal in the Fall. I’m not mad, but I am surprised. Fall really is my favorite season! I went back through all of my journals to find fall 2018, and I have a gap between the end of one book, August 2018 and November 2018. Oh well! I guess I make up for it by having two in 2017.

September 2017 – Fall leaves weekly – still one of my favorite spreads, and it makes me want to use more colored pencils.

November 2017 – Aspen Forest Welcome Page

November 2019 – with bright colors and semi-dutch door feel on the monthly. Maybe I should try this again. I really like the effect.

September 2020 – Acrylic markers blended from green leaves to fall colors for a beautiful effect.

  • Leaf Wreaths
  • Leaves falling
  • Leaf Piles
  • Multi-Colored Leaves
  • Quaking Aspen Forest
  • Tree Branches

I feel like Forrest Gump. I could go on and on. By the way, if you like puns, ‘leaf’ is an excellent start to a pun-tastic fall bullet journal theme. I’ll just ‘leaf’ that idea right there. I’m sure you could blow me away with all your colorful puns. Don’t let these ideas dry up. I really should stop now.

Suppose you’re looking for more ideas for an autumn theme. Keep reading. I promise there are so many good ideas.

Journal Page - I love how these acrylic markers blend & create a bright, functional journaling page in my bullet journal | ChocolateMusings.com
November Bullet Journal Set-up Fall Inspiration | ChocolateMusings.com #fall #leaves #bulletjournal
Autumn leaves sketch for the weekly planner spread in my bullet journal. I can't get enough of September and Fall.
Fall Minimal Weekly Inspiration | ChocolateMusings.com #bujo #bulletjournal #weeklyspread
Fall Bullet Journal Planning - Monthly Log | ChocolateMusings.com #bujo #bulletjournal #monthlyplanner
Fall Bullet Journal Planning - Cut Page Border | ChocolateMusings.com #bujo #bulletjournal #monthlyplanner
Close up of the color changing leaves for my September Plan With Me in my Bullet Journal - Color blends done with acrylic markers on the monthly log & September Cover Page in my Bullet Journal | ChocolateMusings.com
Bullet Journal Ideas: Idea Tree Instead of Brain Dump | ChocolateMusings.com #braindump #bulletjournal #ideas

Second on the list for Fall Bullet Journal Theme Ideas: Apples!

Of course, you are free to choose your theme but remember you don’t have to include only images of apples. For instance, a few years ago, I created a bullet journal spread with signposts and apple buckets as though I was in an apple orchard.

  • Apple Orchard
  • Apples
  • Apple Pie
  • Candied Apples
  • Caramel Apples

In fact, here are some apple-related brain dump page names. Because I love to name my brain dump pages something other than ‘brain dump.’

  • Fill the Orchard / Fill the Bucket
  • Orchard of Thoughts
  • Apple Bucket
  • No Bad Apples
  • Ripe Thoughts
  • Thoughts for the Picking
  • Wooden Directional Signs Weekly Bullet Journal Layout - Fun, whimsical signs point the direction to each day of the week, leaving plenty of space for appointments, to-dos and notes. | ChocolateMusings.com
  • Apple orchard weekly bullet journal theme - fun, easy and adaptable to your style. | ChocolateMusings.com

More Fall Food Theme Inspiration:

  • Apple Cider
  • Candy
  • Candy Corn
  • Caramel
  • Cinnamon
  • Coffee
  • Comfort Food
  • Corn on the Cob
  • County Fair Foods
  • Food
  • Mason Jars
  • Oktoberfest
  • Popcorn
  • Pumpkin
  • Pumpkin Pie
  • S’Mores
  • Spiced Lattes & Pumpkin Spiced Lattes
  • Cups of Hot Tea or Spiced Cider
  • Vegetables
  • Wine Bottles
Fall Minimal Weekly Inspiration | ChocolateMusings.com #bujo #bulletjournal #weeklyspread

Happening in the Fall

  • Back to School
  • Football
  • Gratitude
  • Halloween
  • Harvest

Find some easy to doodle Halloween headers in this post, or check out how to create mummy-wrapped text in this post. If back to school is on your calendar, check out these back-to-school doodles.

Gratitude Wall for November Instagram Challenge | ChocolateMusings.com #gratitudewall #bulletjournal #bujo #grateful
August Welcome Page School Building - Watercolor old fashioned school with a big bell | ChocolateMusings.com
How to Draw Mummy Text great for bullet journaling & planner headers video tutorial with complete step-by-step walk-through
6 Fun & Easy Back-to-School Doodles for your Bullet Journal or Planner | ChocolateMusings.com #doodles #howtodraw

Fall Outdoor Fun Bullet Journal Inspiration

My family used to attend a local ‘witches night out’ around Halloween. We loved the crafts & food and witch costumes! They sponsored a fun run, as well! If you’re into running, look for any themed half-marathon or runs in your area and do them as a family.

  • At the Farm/Barnyard
  • Camping
  • Cookouts
  • Corn Maze
  • County Fair Silhouette/Outlines
  • County Fair Rides & Prizes
  • Farmer’s Market
  • Hay Bales
  • Hot Air Balloons (found on my whimsical travel theme post)
  • Pumpkin Patches (here’s a pumpkin themed weekly spread.) I don’t know about you, but sometimes I like to create my page and then add doodles later. That’s essentially what I did with that spread – substitute the pumpkins for other doodles and change it out all year.
  • Scarecrow (you could even go all out and do the Wizard of Oz!)
Bright fun watercolor hot air balloons - weekly bullet journal layout travel themed | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #weekly #watercolor
Planet Balloon Weekly Layout With Planet Orbits | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #bujo #space #weekly
August Welcome Page School Building - Watercolor old fashioned school with a big bell | ChocolateMusings.com
Watercolor Farm Theme & Quote - Welcome August - Bullet Journal Welcome Page | ChocolateMusings.com
Fall Minimal Weekly Inspiration | ChocolateMusings.com #bujo #bulletjournal #weeklyspread
Weekly Horizontal Bullet Journal with mini-time blocking and cute pumpkin doodles

Night Sky

  • Cabin in Woods with Smoke
  • Full Moon
  • Harvest Moon
  • Moon Cycles
  • Night Sky
  • Stars
  • Tree Silhouettes
  • Witch across a moon
  • Cat sitting on a fence in front of the moon

Moons and galaxies are some of my favorite things to paint outside of my bullet journal. I’ve seen a lot of moon phase layouts as well. Some use glistening glittery paint. Others are just outlines of each shape. Whatever you choose, I’m sure a moon theme would be spectacular.

  • Watercolor Moon & Forest Painting | ChocolateMusings.com
  • Full moon above the trees watercolor painting | ChocolateMusings.com
  • Watercolor Moon Painting with galaxy background | ChocolateMusings.com
  • Weekly Bullet Journal Spread - Moon Cycles - Watercolor Painted with Crayola Markers- fun and simple weekly spread and layout | ChocolateMusings.com
  • Nighttime Sky with Moon and Stars Hand Painted Watercolor Greeting Card | ChocolateMusings.com #watercolor #moon #nightsky

Warm & Cozy Fall Bullet Journal Theme Ideas

  • Candles
  • Cooking
  • Firewood
  • Flannel
  • Knitting
  • Plaid
  • Movie Nights
  • Sweaters
  • Tea Lights
  • Warm & cozy
Argyle Sweater Bullet Journal Cover Page | ChocolateMusings.com

Enhance Your Fall Bullet Journal Theme – Fall Collections

Beyond The theme in your Bullet Journal for fall, here are some great ideas for collections to include during the fall months.

Clothing & Accessories

  • Bag Wishlist
  • Bags I have
  • Clothing Size Lists for Family
  • Coats I Own
  • Fall Outfits
  • Ideal Outfit
  • Sweaters I Own (list colors/patterns)

Keeping a list of clothing items that you currently own sounds like a great way enhance the nostalgia when you flip back through your bullet journal. When you start including snapshots of your life, it brings a sense of who you are at that very moment and keeps that time as a memory. It’s not just about schedules and to-do lists. It’s recording a snippet of your life. At least, that’s how I use my creative planner.

Fall Self-Care Practices

  • Bath Bombs to Try
  • Self-Care List
  • Favorite Shops
  • Favorite Coffee Houses/Diners
  • Things that Motivate You

I know during the fall, life gets busier, schedules take over, and sometimes self-care suffers. Make a list of what you do to make yourself happy in the fall and winter months. Make sure to carry this list through winter to help prevent feeling glum.

Food

  • Bulk Cooking Ideas
  • Fall recipes
  • Favorite fall foods
  • Hot Drinks to Try
  • Restaurant Meal Menus

Here’s a post on recipe tracking – especially when you get a new fall recipe book!

Try New Recipes - Bullet Journal Tracker

Things to Do in the Fall:

  • Fall Bucket List
  • Family Hikes
  • Local Fall Activities Map With Dates/Times
  • Local Farmers Markets
  • Night Sky Tracker
  • Knitting Plans
  • Places to see fall leaves
  • TV Show Tracker
  • TV Time Tracker

If you’re looking for more things to do and celebrate during the fall season, be sure to check out my random holiday list. Select a few miscellaneous holidays and celebrate in fun, interesting ways. I also find fun fall bullet journal theme ideas hidden in the list of random holidays.

Holiday Preparedness

  • Cold Weather Travel Packing List
  • Decoration List
  • Decorations to Replace
  • Family Records for Health, Dental & Medical
  • Holiday Planning Ideas
  • Tools I Own (or your significant other – maybe you found the perfect gift!)

Sorry to tell you, but the holidays are on our doorstep. Now is a great time to make some lists in your bullet journal of things you need for the holidays. Get prepared early so that you can enjoy the upcoming season!

Journaling

  • Favorite Fall Memories
  • Past Halloween Costumes for you or your kids

I love to keep a list of past fun in my book. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a list of all your kid’s yearly Halloween costumes? The thing with this type of list is that you don’t have to sit down and compile it all at once. Add to it as you remember or as Facebook memories remind you. I can’t believe that I’m going to thank Facebook for something, but here we go, thanks Facebook for the memories!

Sports

  • Football dream team
  • Football Tracker
  • Soccer

I know I’m missing more sports-related trackers during the fall. What other fall sports would you track in your bullet journal?

Color Inspiration for your Fall Bullet Journal

  • Oranges, reds, purples
  • Tans, browns, and yellows
  • Deep reds like burgundy
  • Transitions from green to yellow to red and finally purple

I love the color of mulled cider and cinnamon. There are more than one reasons why I love fall, and the colors don’t disappoint. I adore the rich, vibrant colors associated with fall foliage and the autumn season.

From bright orange pumpkins to the deep rustic orange of mulled cider. Golden yellow, tan, and brown present their rich, flavorful hues during the fall months. Dark Reds like burgundy paired with dark purples lend comfort and a sense of warmth.

  • Journal Page - I love how these acrylic markers blend & create a bright, functional journaling page in my bullet journal | ChocolateMusings.com
  • Fall Bullet Journal Welcome Page - November Bullet Journal Set Up | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #plannerinspiration #bujo #welcomepage
  • Autumn leaves sketch for the weekly planner spread in my bullet journal. I can't get enough of September and Fall.

Fall Bullet Journal Themes Inspiration & Ideas

I hope this list of fall bullet journal theme ideas turned on the idea factory in your head. I can’t wait to see what you create. If you use any of these themes, I’d love to see them! Tag me on Instagram @ChocoalateMusingsCreates #myplannermuse

  • Fall Watercolor Leaves - Fall Bullet Journal Theme Ideas + Collection & Color Scheme Ideas | ChocolateMusings.com
  • Fall Bullet Journal Theme Ideas + Collection & Color Scheme Ideas | ChocolateMusings.com
  • Fall Bullet Journal Theme Ideas | ChocolateMusings.com

No Matter Which Notebook I use – You’ll Always Find These Supplies Close at Hand

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Filed Under: Blog, Get Organized & Start Planning, Planner Theme Ideas, Start Planning Here Tagged: #BuJo, Bullet Journal, bullet journal themes, fall, themes

5 Tips to Get Back to Bullet Journaling

August 10, 2021 Leave a Comment

5 Tips to Return to Bullet Journaling and Create a Useful, Functional Planner - tips for starting fresh when it's been a while | ChocolateMusings.com

Are you trying to get back to bullet journaling after a long absence? Me too. I want to get back into it, and know that I need to, because it was the only method of keeping a planner (aka my life together) that’s ever worked. So to give you ideas for jumping back into bullet journaling. I’ll include the things I do to ‘get back on the wagon’ after an absence, no matter how long.

I know I’ve neglected this blog and so many other things, including my planner and bullet journal. But I knew I had to give myself time. It is time to adjust to the new reality in my life and time to form all the changes in my life. Because heaven knows I’m burnt out.

If you’re trying to get back in the swing of things after a long unintended break, we are in the same boat. I believe everyone will agree that the past 12 months have been life-altering in some way, form, or fashion. For me, I became the sole income earner in our household. My husband lost his job early in April, and boy has it been a struggle for me.

Table of contents

  • Give Credit Where Credit Is Due
  • When You Get Back to Bullet Journaling
  • #1 – Go Back to the Beginning, The Basics
    • How to do it:
  • #2 – Review and Eliminate – Include Just the Essentials
  • #3 – Add Pages or Trackers Back in Slowly
  • #4 – Make Your Bullet Journal Convenient to Use
  • #5 – Craving Something? Include It.
  • Tip #6 – Review (Bonus Tip!)
  • Conclusion

Give Credit Where Credit Is Due

Let’s stop for a minute, and I have to say kudos to you. Yes, you, the one reading this post. Kudos to you for holding your head high and taking that next step when you don’t feel like you can go on. Good job for making it this far in whatever struggle you’re going through. Because I feel it, the struggle is physical, emotional, spiritual, all the -als. (is money an -al word? If not, it should be!) All of this nonsense has hit us in our wallets, too.

I crave something consistent in my life. I yearn for some element that I know I control no matter what. Then it came to me. I wanted this before I started bullet journaling. It’s the same feeling! I need to return to my roots when I discovered this method. The process and implementation may change, but the fundamental approach is there.

I decided to include a page called “Give Credit Where Credit is Due” in my bullet journal this year. It’s a page where I write down the good things that I do and often write them off as ‘luck’ or try to downplay accomplishments.

Give yourself credit where credit is due - Journal Page in my bullet journal to recognize achievements both big and small. | ChocolateMusings.com

When You Get Back to Bullet Journaling

Your bullet journal might not look like it did when you left. Meaning, you might not need to include the same things you did before quarantine, and our lives were turned upside down. That’s when I get overwhelmed and don’t know what I need to do. Here are some tips to help you get back to bullet journaling – modified now to fit your current needs.

#1 – Go Back to the Beginning, The Basics

Start over. Start again. That’s my first tip to get back into bullet journaling when you’ve lost the momentum for a while. Remember when you first started with your planner – what did that feel like? What were your ambitions and intentions? Even if the method changes, your overall purpose might be the same.

For instance, for me, I have a few items on my weekly schedule. But I have many to-dos, and I love to record the random thoughts and my past experiences. I also use my bullet journal as a creative outlet. None of those things have changed for me.

So the way I carry out the bullet journal might be a little different, but I intend to do the same thing with it that I started.

How to do it:

Take an inventory of the reason behind your bullet journal. Have your basic needs changed? What do you need to track?

P.s. Don’t feel guilty for starting a new book. Chances are you have an empty notebook in a drawer or shelf calling your name. Use the opportunity for a fresh start.

#2 – Review and Eliminate – Include Just the Essentials

New year, new bullet journal setup for 2021 - Index Page Organization with Washi Tape | ChocolateMusings.com

If you haven’t done so already, make a list of the things you need to track. Review your list and make sure that you do not include items just for the sake of including them. If you did them in the past, great. You don’t have to do them now if they don’t fit your current needs.

I’ve learned over the past year that when I feel overwhelmed, I have to eliminate anything that isn’t necessary. So if you used to track 20 habits every day, and now the idea of monitoring that many habits seem entirely overwhelming – stop. If you feel compelled to track habits, start with one or two or even the top three. Ease back into it. Make them habits you will work on. After all, tracking habits is a habit as well.

Take Away: Your bullet journal should never be overwhelming. It should absorb all of those to-dos, those thoughts, those schedules running amok in your brain and give a central place to maintain them. That gives me a sense of relief, and I hope it does for you, too.

If you don’t feel relief and instead feel stressed when using your notebook, well, then it might be time to change the way you’re using it. Eliminate the things that stress you out. Streamline your process. Focus on using the book to your advantage instead of creating an obstacle.

#3 – Add Pages or Trackers Back in Slowly

Once you’ve figured out which essentials you need to track or include in your bullet journal, start adding the other items back in, one by one. Add a new habit next month—experiment with making adjustments to your bullet journal to help you get back into it.

Remember: if it doesn’t feel like it’s working and it feels more like you’re fighting with your journal, don’t do it.

#4 – Make Your Bullet Journal Convenient to Use

November Thankful welcome page in my bullet journal - heart wreath with watercolor | ChocolateMusings.com

If you have to dig around for your bullet journal, chances are you won’t use it. An essential part of getting back to bullet journaling is to make it convenient. Set it out at night, so it’s the first thing you see in the morning. Review your to-dos, review your schedule. Make your planner a part of your plan. Nothing will ever help you if you don’t use it. So make it convenient to use.

#5 – Craving Something? Include It.

Alright, you’ve now done some heavy elimination in your quest to get back to using your bullet journal. You started at the beginning, revamped the reason for using this hunk of paper in your purse. You’ve reviewed the reasons why you want to get back to bullet journaling and eliminated every unessential thing (and maybe added in a few items).

Now you’re itching to add some fun back in. Do it! Don’t try to limit yourself if you feel like you want to include it in your notebook. This sort of craving isn’t going to add pounds to your hips. But it is going to add joy to your planner. If you can’t tell by reading my blog or watching my YouTube channel, I don’t use my bullet journal for function only. Don’t get me wrong, it’s functional for keeping track of the things I want, but it is a lot of fun. I know I wouldn’t have stuck with something so long if it weren’t fun.

Make sure you include the fun things that you crave. Live life, thrive! Don’t just survive.

Tip #6 – Review (Bonus Tip!)

Goal Assessment - take time to review your intentions and see how things measured up to your expectations | ChocolateMusings.com

Lastly, here’s a bonus tip. Review what you are doing. Make a record of the new things you tried and rate them or evaluate how they served you. Add a short note of what you’d like to change, improve or include for the next month. You can even make these notes throughout the month, so your review is effortless when planning the next period or month. Allow your bullet journal to be dynamic and to change with your needs. Get back to the way you need your bullet journal to be and let it conform to your life instead of you conforming to it.

Conclusion

I hope these tips can help you get back to bullet journaling and make the most of those blank pages so you thrive, not just survive.

Tumbitiri Meri Notebook Review - Dark Numbers on each page | ChocolateMusings.com #productreview #notebookreview #bulletjournal
  • Why Use a Future Log (in the middle of the year)
  • Starting Over in the Middle of the Year
  • 2021 Bullet Journal Set Up
  • Essential Handlettering Supplies for Beginners
  • What is Bullet Journaling – The Basics + Infographic
  • How to Set Up a Habit Tracker in your Planner
  • Product & Book Reviews
  • August 2021 Plan With Me – Start Fresh at Any Time

No Matter Which Notebook I use – You’ll Always Find These Supplies Close at Hand

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Filed Under: Blog, Bullet Journal, featured, Find Your Happy, Get Organized & Start Planning, Journal Prompts & Ideas, Start Planning Here Tagged: begin again, bullet journaling, habits, tips

What to Do if Bullet Journaling Feels Overwhelming?

November 12, 2020 Leave a Comment

What to do if you love bullet journaling but it feels overwhelming? 3 Tips to Try Right Now | ChocolateMusings.com


Post Contents

  • What to do if Bullet Journaling starts feeling overwhelming?
  • Recognize the Problem
  • What Creates Overwhelm for You? Tip #1 – Determine What You Need
    • Ask yourself:
  • Tip # 2 Manage the Overwhelm, Take a Vacation from your Bullet Journal!
  • Habit-Making Recommendations
  • Tip #3 Create Only the Minimum Amount Required
    • Eliminate Overwhelm: Pare Down to Only What You Absolutely Need In Your Bullet Journal
  • Let Your Bullet Journal Adapt to Your Life
  • Inspiration to Keep Going

What to do if Bullet Journaling starts feeling overwhelming?

3 Tips to Try Right Now to OVercome Bullet Journal Overwhelm | ChocoalteMusings.com

Do you feel overwhelmed with bullet journaling? Did this process previously work for you, but now it feels like a burden? Do you avoid your bullet journal? Have you returned to your old method of trying to remember everything or sticky notes and long to go back to when your bullet journal worked for you and when it contained the details of your life, so you didn’t feel so ragged?

Yup. Me too. A couple of months ago, it all just felt like too much. And I stopped doing anything that helped me feel put together, organized, or productive. I didn’t stop these things intentionally. It just happened because, at the time, everything felt overwhelming.

Recognize the Problem

Going through this pandemic and the trials associated with it have genuinely increased the overwhelm in my life. My husband lost his job early on during the year, and it’s been challenging to cope with all the other changes. The tipping point I think for me was when our cat of 18 years died suddenly, followed almost immediately by my husband losing out on an opportunity that we both wanted very badly.

I decided to take a little break from everything I could in my life. Social media, bullet journaling, and even art took a backseat to the menial day-to-day tasks as I worked through my grief on many levels. In the past, I’d use my bullet journal to write and help organize my thoughts and art to create a safe place for my mind. I couldn’t do the norm this time around, and that was ok. I knew I’d be back.

Sometimes to find happiness, you have to experience sorrow. Sometimes to know how to rebuild the calm in your life, you have to experience the chaos. I knew that’s what I was doing. I knew that the method I was doing wasn’t working throughout the pandemic and beyond, so I needed to figure out what needed to change.

What Creates Overwhelm for You? Tip #1 – Determine What You Need

3 Tips to Overcome Bullet Journal Overwhelm and how to Overcome it - Tip #1 - What do you really need from your bullet journal? | ChocolateMusings.com

Stop and take a minute, here. What’s creating overwhelm in your life? Why did you decide to read this article?

Ask yourself:

What do you need from your bullet journal?

What are you trying to do with your bullet journal that isn’t working?

There are times where I need intricately drawn or painted spreads and times I need minimal layouts. If you’re overwhelmed with your bullet journal, it’s a signal to change it up.

Listen to yourself. Don’t force yourself to keep doing something just because you’ve always done it.

Tip # 2 Manage the Overwhelm, Take a Vacation from your Bullet Journal!

Tip #2 - Take a Vacation from Your Bullet Journal - But have a return ticket scheduled | ChocolateMusings.com

Do you need a break from bullet journaling but don’t want to stop forever?

Here’s a tip: don’t break the habit and think you can come back to it whenever you want, you need to prepare the way to return. I know that’s how I break most of my good habits (see the posts in my health journey adventure).

Instead, call it a vacation. That’s how I take time away from a habit but mentally knowing that I’ll return to it. If you call it a vacation it helps your mind feel like it’s returning from a break rather than ‘falling off the wagon’.

It’s ok to give yourself a vacation. I promise. If you’re not using it anyway, and your bullet journal is overwhelming you, take a break, but set up a return date and an expectation when you return.

For instance, I will give myself a week (or a month) from my bullet journal and jot down the ‘vacation dates’ on a sticky note and post it on the front of my bullet journal. Writing down the commitment is especially important. And if you end up taking more time than you intended, call it an extended vacation.

Habit-Making Recommendations

Here are some books I’ve read on organizing, decluttering, and habits. I’d love a recommendation and add it to my list. Let me know if you have more to add in the comments below.  

 

Tip #3 Create Only the Minimum Amount Required

Tip # 3 Return to the Minimum Required in your Bullet Journal - Eliminate all unnecessary lists, to dos, records, allow yourself to breathe and realize what is really important to you | ChocolateMusings.com

If you’re struggling with motivation and overwhelm in your bullet journal, return to the minimum amount you can do. For instance, I decided to create a simple welcome page, a vertical calendar page to track events and day-specific to-dos, and a habit tracker page. To focus on being thankful, I added a one-line gratitude journal as well. It was the perfect mix of keeping track of life with a little whimsy.

  • November Thankful welcome page in my bullet journal - heart wreath with watercolor | ChocolateMusings.com
    Welcome Page
  • November vertical calendar log - minimal bullet journal spreads | ChocolateMusings.com
    Monthly Log
  • November Habits & Thankful Line Per day - Minimal Bullet Journal Use | ChocolateMusings.com
    One Line Per Day & Habit Tracker

A comparison from the typical spreads I created in my bullet journal vs. when I pared it down this month:

Typical Month:

  • 2 -Page Welcome Spread in Watercolor
  • 2-Page Monthly Calendar
  • Monthly To-Dos
  • Habit Tracker
  • 2-Page Spreads for Each Week
  • Brain Dump
  • One-Line Per Day
  • Productivity Tracker
  • Journal Page

Pared Down Month:

  • Welcome Spread (simple)
  • Monthly Log
  • One Line Per Day
  • Habit Tracker

** I could have eliminated the welcome spread, one line per day & habit tracker and kept only the monthly calendar, but they made me happy and I decided could keep up with them.

Eliminate Overwhelm: Pare Down to Only What You Absolutely Need In Your Bullet Journal

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, choose what you absolutely need and use that for a month. Hint: after the first week of the month, if you’re craving a missing part of your bullet journal, absolutely add it back in! There is nothing that says that you have to continue doing (or not doing) what you start the month doing.

Going back to the basics is the best way to see how my bullet journal needs to evolve for the next season of my life. If you let your bullet journal grow with your seasons of life, you’ll find the value of your bullet journal amplifies. This is one reason why I’ve stuck with bullet journaling for so long.

Here’s a post on how you can create a one-line per day spread. (And how to use it!)

Let Your Bullet Journal Adapt to Your Life

Stop the overwhelm and adapt your bullet journal to work with you instead of work against your current season of life. I feel the most overwhelmed is when I’m not using the tools in my life, and I insist that I have to use them the way I’ve always done.

Allow yourself to make a shift in the way you plan and carry out your tasks when you get them done. We’ve all gone through a significant change in the last few months. Adaptation is critical, and it certainly is necessary to eliminate overwhelm.

So if something in your bullet journal feels overwhelming, that’s a clue to change what you’re doing. Make a change. It’s ok, I promise. The system is not rigid. It was never designed to be rigid.

Inspiration to Keep Going

I hope you found some inspiration to adapt your bullet journal to your current season in life. I think you’ll find more peace and eliminate more overwhelm in your bullet journal if you give yourself a temporary vacation, reset to the minimum, and let your bullet journal adapt to your life. Don’t do what everyone else is doing. Make this tool work for you.

No Matter Which Notebook I use – You’ll Always Find These Supplies Close at Hand

3 Tips to Overcome Bullet Journal Overwhelm | ChocoalteMusings.com

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Filed Under: Blog, Bullet Journal, Find Your Happy, Get Inspired, Get Organized & Start Planning, Habits, Journal Prompts & Ideas, My Muses (My Favorites & Inspiration), Start Planning Here Tagged: Bullet Journal, bullet journaling, habit tracking, habits, journal prompts, starting your bullet journal

Beginner Supplies for Bullet Journaling

January 16, 2020 Leave a Comment

Favorite Beginner Bullet Journal Supplies + Why | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #supplies #favoritesupplies
Bullet Journal Supplies Explained: Resources for Beginners + Beyond - Choose the Supplies You Need + Why | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #bulletjournaling #supplies #artsupplies

What are the best beginner supplies for bullet journaling? I’ve compiled a list of my favorite supplies for bullet journaling (and WHY!). Beginner or not, this list is sure to get you going.

If you just started bullet journaling or lettering (or would like to start and don’t know what you need), you’ve come to the right place.

I don’t care what time of year it is, whether the first of the year has passed or if you’re well into spring, summer, or the leaves are starting to turn preparing for winter. Anytime is a good time to start your bullet journal or lettering journey. You don’t have to wait for the perfect day to start.

Table of contents

  • Looking for Handlettering Supplies?
    • Are you interested in Handlettering?
  • What Basic/Beginner Supplies do I Need for Bullet Journaling?
  • Know Your ‘Why’
    • Why do you want to bullet journal?
  • Some Reasons to Start a Bullet Journal
  • The Most Basic Beginner Supply for Bullet Journaling: The Notebook
    • Scribbles That Matter A5 Dot-Grid Notebook
    • Could you Use a Sketchbook?
    • Pens – Another Essential Basic Tool for Bullet Journalers
      • Other pens I like:
  • Bullet Journaling + Fountain Pens
    • Want to Learn More About Fountain Pens?
    • Pencil
    • Erasers
    • Rulers
    • Correction Tape:
      • Why Not Whiteout?
    • Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens
    • Other Brush Markers I Love:
    • Tombow Dual Brush Pens
    • Water Pens
    • Watercolor Paint
    • Crayola Markers
      • Features of Crayola Markers:
    • Colored Pencils
    • Micron Pens
    • Washi Tape
    • Zebra Mildliner Markers
  • Getting Started – All the Essentials
  • What Are Your Favorites?
  • In case you missed it

Looking for Handlettering Supplies?

Are you interested in Handlettering?

Head to this post on getting started with handlettering. I break down all the supplies and what they do. And detail which supplies are best for beginner letterers on up to intermediate users and beyond.

What Basic/Beginner Supplies do I Need for Bullet Journaling?

Honestly, you need just a notebook and a pen. Because bullet journaling is about simply recording your days & to-dos. Find out more about the basics of bullet journaling in this post. You can also learn about the original intent of the bullet journal system here. You can see that I deviate significantly from the original creator’s basic use of the notebook.

If your intent is to be more artsy in your bullet journal, start a sketch diary, doodle book, or something geared toward the more artistic variation of Bullet Journaling – I can help you with that.

Know Your ‘Why’

Why do you want to bullet journal?

First, it’s essential to know why you want to start using this hobby/productivity tool. Knowing what you want to try or practice will determine what type of supplies you choose.

Pro Tip: you probably have several supplies around your house – gather what you do have and start with those.

Remember – you don’t have to get each one of these to start bullet journaling. Try something for a while, and then add to your supplies when you want to try something new.

Some Reasons to Start a Bullet Journal

I created a list below of reasons to start & use a bullet journal. Most people will select multiple items from the list so you don’t have to narrow it down (this is in no way comprehensive – it’s merely to get you thinking about what you want to do).

  1. Do you want to organize your day-to-day schedule?
  2. Do you want to start adding some creativity to your life?
  3. Create a collection of inspiring quotes
  4. Do you want to track miscellaneous things in your life, such as budget, dreams, sleep, period/mood tracking, books read?
  5. Include Church Doodles or self-care & motivational practices?
  6. Start or Continue your Lettering Practice?
  7. Doodle Practice
  8. Journal & Record Keeping

I use my bullet journal for every single one of those things on that list. I feel that including a bit of art/creativity regularly in my life has brought me out of the dark ages of my life.

The Most Basic Beginner Supply for Bullet Journaling: The Notebook

Scribbles That Matter A5 Dot-Grid Notebook

Monthly Calendar - Favorite Supplies | ChocolateMusings.com #creativeplanning #bulletjournal #monthly

There are a lot of other notebooks out there that would work just fine for writing and recording thoughts. I use Scribbles That Matter because it holds up to all the markers & art I throw at it. I’ve personally tested about 15 of them (so far) and I’m very pleased with the paper in this notebook.

  • A5 is a portable size, and the dot grid allows me to turn my book horizontal or vertical and work form a grid.
  • Dots are non-obtrusive and provide a guide without getting in the way.
  • The 160 gsm paper in the Scribbles That Matter notebook holds up to nearly everything.
  • Accessible – available on Amazon, so I can get the order quickly with a Prime Membership.

Could you Use a Sketchbook?

If you want to start a sketchbook, blank pages might be more your speed. Canson has a mixed media book in 8.5×5.5 and the pages hold up to a variety of uses, including watercolor. I love the dot grid in my notebooks because I can draw straight lines and create planning spreads in addition to art in my notebook.

Target also has an inexpensive wire-bound notebook that I like which puts up with most techniques and has a good number of pages.

Botanical Garden Illustration Inspired by Emily Dickinson Museum Garden for Skillshare Class | ChocolateMusings.com #flower #watercolor #painting

Pro Tip: The paper in a sketchbook or mixed media book isn’t as smooth as a majority of the dot grid notebooks – be aware of this when using your markers, particularly, your dual brush pens.

You don’t have to use a bound notebook if you prefer a 3-ring binder or disc-bound notebook – there’s a whole world of possibilities out there for you to explore.

I’ll review notebooks from time to time, so check out my list of reviews here!

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Pens – Another Essential Basic Tool for Bullet Journalers

  • All the things - Journal Page with Paint Bucket Splash | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #journaling
  • Paint drip weekly view bullet journal page | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #weekly

Beyond a pen & notebook, everything else is just extra. But I never said I was a minimalist bullet journalist. I love creative planning and discovering bullet journaling was the catalyst for reigniting my passion for creativity.

My personal favorite pens are Papermate Ink Joy

  • I love them because they come in a variety of colors
  • The ink dries quickly
  • Available online or in many different stores

Other pens I like:

  • Energel (.5 & .7 mm)
  • Papermate Flair Pens

Do you crave more simplicity? Ballpoint pens work just fine.

Bullet Journaling + Fountain Pens

Seeds of Thought Brain Dump Page - Simple Floral Border | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #braindump #floral #linedrawing

Some people like to pair bullet journaling with fountain pens. I have several fountain pens – but lean more to the doodling & marker usage rather than fountain pen use in my books.

However, if you wanted to try fountain pens for the first time, start with these:

  • Pilot Metro Pop Medium Nib
  • Pilot Metro Pop Fine Nib

Both of these will need replacement cartridges.

Want to try a fillable fountain pen? Try this Noodler’s Konrad Fillable demo pen then choose your ink. (Demo means it has a clear barrel and you can see the ink in the pen.)

Want to Learn More About Fountain Pens?

Like most products related to Creative Planning or Bullet journaling, fountain pens are a rabbit hole of options. If you want to learn more about fountain pens, I say go to the experts.

Goulet Pen Company is a great place to start. From what I’ve seen, they provide a lot of insight, guidance, and have a lot of information available for newbies and beyond.

Pencil

Bookcase line drawing - Bullet Journal Reading Collection | ChocolateMusings.com #reading #goals #books #booktracker

Pencils are a perfect beginner (+beyond) supply for bullet journaling.

I like to sketch my calendar & artwork in pencil first and typically use this mechanical pencil by Papermate or this Energize Pencil by Pentel. I prefer the .5mm, but I know most people prefer the .7mm lead.

But if you are diving in and doing a minimal bullet journal without creating calendars or doodles, you can carry just a pen and your notebook.

Erasers

If you’re using a pencil to sketch or do work prior to finishing with a pen, you’ll need an eraser. I go through erasers like crazy (that’s partially why I like Papermate pencils – because they have a bigger eraser than other pencils).

  • Pentel Plastic Eraser – my favorite & go-to eraser.
  • Papermate White Pearl Eraser
  • Clic Erase – Retractable Eraser

Rulers

I’ve been drawing for years and need a ruler even though the pages have a grid to follow – I use a ruler every day for ease & to soothe my perfectionist tendencies (although I usually still mess it up).

I love the 6” cork-backed ruler by Westcott. If you’re using a dot-grid notebook, you’ll need a ruler that measures centimeters and millimeters (as most dot-grid notebooks are spaced with 5mm dots). Westcott also has this amazing protractor ruler. Any ruler should work and there are some flexible options on the market as well.

You can store your ruler in the back pocket of your notebook, so you have it with you all the time. Just don’t forget where you put it and tear apart your office/house two to three times before finding it. #truestory #oops #thatreallyhappened

If you want to include circles in your book – hands down my favorite circle maker is the Helix circle maker. I bought three (so I could have backups) when I thought I lost mine.

I also have their 12″ helix ruler for making bigger circles.

Check out these posts for making circles in your bullet journal:

  • Circle Measurements
  • Loose Circle Wreaths

Correction Tape:

  • Books Read Bullet Journal Collection + Handlettering | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #collection #books #handlettering
  • Art Supply Watercolor: White Out Tape Watercolor Painting | ChocolateMusings.com #gears #artsupply #watercolor
  • Art Supply Watercolor: White Out Tape Watercolor Painting | ChocolateMusings.com #gears #artsupply #watercolor

Because mistakes happen. No matter what, once you add ink to the page, you’ll smear or screw up in some way. Use your correction tape enough to fix the mistake or smear and move on.

One time I got a whole box of the Tombow correction tape at Costco. But I also order online (yes, I use it A LOT). Many brands would work, but I like the tape track Tombow has because I don’t have to spend a lot of time fixing it if the tape jumps off the track. I also find that it stays taut and doesn’t need wound up.

Why Not Whiteout?

If you want to ruin your life and the lives of everyone around you, go ahead and use whiteout from a bottle.

If you can’t tell, I am not a fan of white-out. It takes too long to dry and never seems to work just right. It may come back from my copy center days – where people would use whiteout and not let it dry thoroughly (you think it’s dry, but it’s NOT!) and then lay their painted pages on the copier glass or run it through the feeder

After they leave, I spent the rest of the day (or the rest of my life – whichever) scrubbing at the glass & feeder rolls to get that dang white-out off. Yep, pretty sure that’s where my passion against whiteout comes from and curse you if you ever do that to a copy shop.

Ok, I’ll put away my soapbox now. Just don’t get involved with whiteout from a bottle. It’s not worth it.

Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens

Planning Goals in my Bullet Journal | ChocolateMusings.com #goals #goalplanning #planning #lettering #handlettering
  • Dual pack of Hard & Soft Tip in black ink – Great for beginners to start learning the thick and thin strokes of handlettering.
  • Comes in a multi-color pack (hard-tip only)

My favorites are the hard-tip markers. I feel like I have more control over them. Even though I recommend these markers for beginners, they are STILL my favorite brush pen. Great for creating headers in your bullet journal or for church doodles.

Other Brush Markers I Love:

  • Sharpie Brush Pens (these aren’t your typical bleed-through paper Sharpies) and the brush tip is good for beginners. If you want to start with color brush tips (rather than just black – these are a good option).
  • Pentel Sign Touch Brush Pens – easy to use and a great range of intense colors, it also has surprising flexibility in the tip of the pen & writes very well.

Tombow Dual Brush Pens

  • Fall Tombow Dual Brush Pen Colors | ChocolateMusings.com #fallcolors #dualbrushpens #tombow
  • Brush Marker Samples | ChocolateMusings.com #dualbrushpens #brushpen #markers
  • Weekly Polaroid & Camera Bullet Journal Spread | ChocolateMusings.com #weeklyspread #weekly #bulletjournal

Get 96 Colors at once or start with smaller packs. Here are a few of their smaller packs:

  • Bright 10-Pack
  • Primary 10-Pack
  • Secondary 10-Pack
  • Galaxy 10-Pack
  • Grayscale 10-Pack
  • Landscape 10-Pack

I would say the Bright & Primary packs would be my top picks for starting with these markers. You can use them to add color to your planner/notes or step up your lettering game.

Pro Tip: Use Tombow Dual Brush Markers only on smooth paper – any paper that is rough or has a ‘tooth’ will eventually damage the tip of your brush and fray the end.

Water Pens

Waterpen + Bullet Journaling | ChocolateMusings.com #watercolor #waterpen #bulletjournal

Water pens are useful for blending waterbased markers like Tombow Dual Brush pens or Karin Markers and provides quick, mess-free watercolor painting – it acts as the water & the brush.

Pro Tip: be careful how much you blend/add water to markers in your book, it’s the only thing that I’ve found bleeds through in every book.

Watercolor Paint

  • Watercolor Paint Swatch | ChocolateMusings.com #watercolor #paintswatch
  • Paul Ruben Shimmer Watercolor Paint Swatch | ChocolateMusings.com #watercolor #paintswatch

I started watercolor painting in my bullet journal. I’d never tried watercolor before I started bullet journaling and fell in love with it. Use watercolor when you want to add additional art & painting to your planner. Make sure to test your pages to see if they will withstand watercolor.

There are so many kinds of watercolor paints. I use mostly watercolor cakes when painting in my journal (not liquid from a squeeze bottle).

I started with the cheap sets from Michaels and have tried many others since then. It’s kind of a personal preference, but if you want to try watercoloring – start with inexpensive pans and go on from there.

Currently, I use a variety of watercolor paints – but my favorite shimmer paints are Paul Ruben Watercolor.

To use watercolor paint, you’ll either need to use a water pen or brush and water. I also watercolor with Crayola makers + a brush pen or brush and water.

Want to know how I watercolor with markers in my planner? Here’s the post explaining how I do it.

Crayola Markers

  • Floral Line Drawing Habit Tracker - Bullet Journal | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #habittracker #flower #floral #illustration
  • Gratitude Quote Bullet Journal Page - Watercolored with Crayola Markers | ChocolateMusings.com #gratitude #watercolor #bulletjournal
  • Bookcase Bullet Journal Book Tracker | ChocolateMusings.com #booktracker #bulletjournal #crayola #watercolor
  • Beach Sign Welcome Page - Watercolor Painted with Crayola Markers | ChocolateMusings.com #welcomepage #bulletjournal #watercolor #crayola
  • Bullet Journal Weekly Banner With Crayola Markers | ChocolateMusings.com #weeklyspread #bulletjournal
  • Crayola Marker Color Variety | ChocolateMusings.com #crayola #crayolaart
  • Crayola Marker Bouquet - Bullet Journaling Supplies | ChocolateMusings.com #crayola #bulletjournal

There are so many plusses for Crayola Markers. Yes, those markers you thought you left behind in elementary school. They’re back (actually never left) and they’re awesome. I personally like the super tips (they’re the smaller markers – but the bigger barrel size works great too.)

100 Pack | 50 Pack | 20 Pack | Metallic

Features of Crayola Markers:

  • Inexpensive
  • Available in many local stores
  • Cones in many different package sizes
  • Dries quickly
  • Waterbased – can blend colors
  • Can use for lettering (yep! you read that right!)

Colored Pencils

Another blast from your elementary school past. Colored pencils are great for blending & they don’t bleed through your pages.

  • Range of choices (I was gifted the Prisma Color colored pencil pack, but you can use Crayola or other brands)
  • Inexpensive options
  • Available online or locally
  • Doesn’t bleed through

Micron Pens

Lettering Style Variations Bullet Journal Weekly Spread | ChocolateMusings.com #weekly #bulletjournal #lettering #handlettering

When outlining my calendars or doodles I usually reach for a Micron pen. They come in a variety of point sizes and the ink dries quickly. My favorite sizes are the 02/.30mm or 03/.35mm.

Washi Tape

Some people go overboard with washi tape. I decided to find a few favorites and just use them – so I chose a color scheme. I use to mark the edges of essential pages I need to refer to over and over again, such as the start of a month, a monthly calendar or an important collection.

  • My Favorite Pattern Washi Tape
  • Favorite Overall Washi Tape (I buy this by the pack because I like the black and white stripes so much)
  • Skinny Washi Tape – I use the micro washi tape for very thin borders or columns

Zebra Mildliner Markers

  • Mildliner Marker Fan | ChocolateMusings.com #mildliner #midliner #marker
  • Weekly Bullet Journal Task Tracker | ChocolateMusings.com #weeklytracker #bulletjournal
  • Minimal Weekly Timeblock View - Bullet Journal | ChocolateMusings.com #minimalweekly #weekly #bulletjournal
  • Mildliner Weekly Spread with Paint Splotches | ChocolateMusings.com #weekly #bulletjournal #weeklyspread

I see this all the time in various Facebook groups & other forums. It’s not MID liner it’s MILD liner. You’re welcome (you’ll thank me later).

MILD – meaning the colors are mild. It took me a while before I decided to buy these chisel-edge markers. They are great for highlighting and creating spots of color in your book. The colors are not so intense so you can write over them or use them as highlighters.

Pro Tip: I find that the Papermate Inkjoy pens + the Mildliners work well with each other. They come in a variety of colors and are available online & in many stores.

Zebra just came out with some dual brush markers geared more towards handlettering, but I haven’t tested those out yet. If you’ve tried, them I’d love to know how they compare with other brush markers.

Bullet Journal Supplies - the ins and outs of all the popular Bullet Journaling Supplies | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #supplies #creativity

Getting Started – All the Essentials

I hope this has helped you decide what you need to get started and see what kinds of supplies are the most popular. Remember that you don’t need all of them to start.

A simple notebook & pen will get you started bullet journaling. Add in the items you want to try and build up from there. Don’t get everything at once – you won’t need it, and you need time to decide what you want to try or focus on.

What Are Your Favorites?

Do you have any favorite creative supplies? I don’t care if they are on my list or not, I’d love to know what your go-to supplies are & what you love about them. Leave me a comment below!

In case you missed it

Here’s my post on Staring Handlettering – I break down all the supplies you’ve probably seen around on Instagram and what they do + what is best for beginner letterers on up to intermediate users and beyond.

Want to start doodling flowers? Here’s my post on floral doodle & reference books. Or try out these other posts related to Bullet Journaling.

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Filed Under: Blog, Bullet Journal, featured, Get Creative, Get Inspired, Get Organized & Start Planning, My Muses (My Favorites & Inspiration), Product & Book Reviews, Start Handlettering Here, Start Planning Here Tagged: beginner supplies, beginning a bullet journal, Bullet Journal, how to begin, supplies

What is Bullet Journaling – The Basics + Infographic

January 5, 2020 4 Comments

What is bullet journaling - Basics + Infographic | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournalbasics #bulletjournal #bujo

Bullet Journaling – what is it? Is bullet journaling a journal or a list of things to do? Yes.

Bullet Journaling is whatever you need it to be. I ran across this infographic from Quill.com and decided to share it with you.

It’s especially helpful if you’re just getting started in the world of Bullet Journaling – the graphic below generally breaks down the bullet journaling notebook into sections and how you can use them in your own notebook.

Other Resources:

Ryder Carroll – Founder of The Bullet Journal & The Bullet Journal Method you can also view his video on Journaling vs. Bullet Journaling

Is a Bullet Journal *Just* a Journal?

Yes. And no. Honestly, it’s what you want it to be.

If you’re like many people, you might have kept a journal at some point over the years. I know I have many half-filled notebooks recording the day-to-day minutia of my teenage angst. Some of these books have just one or two pages scrawled with the promise that I would write every day.

Maybe you recorded one during your pre-teen or teen years, working through all the emotions and developmental stages by putting pen to paper. Or perhaps you journaled at work as a way of monitoring your tasks or what you had to work on. Some recorded their achievements (I wish I would have done that so I had a record to reflect on!). Some people journal as adults, too, recording photos or other momentous events in their lives.

Whether you currently journal or haven’t recorded anything since your high school days, bullet journaling is a type of journal that appeals to a wide range of people – and you might want to try it out, too.

Is a Bullet Journal Just a Journal? Basic Bullet Journaling Questions answered to get you started #bulletjournal #bujo | ChocolateMusings.com

What is Bullet Journaling?

Initially developed to be a rapid logging system of things to do and what I’d call stream of conscious where you get all the thoughts of the things bogging down your mind onto paper so you can sort, edit, schedule, or eliminate the unnecessary items.

Bullet journaling’s definition has evolved into DYI calendar-life tracker-doodle book all in one. As you can tell, I’m not a purist to the bullet journal system.

Of course, you are free to use this system as you wish and how it benefits you the most. If you prefer to keep everything to a minimum, do that. If you need an artistic outlet, please, do that. (I’m a huge advocate for finding a creative outlet!)

Bullet Journaling – A Diverse Way to Manage Your Life

I would call bullet journaling a diverse way to manage your life. Whether you need to manage to-dos, include journaling of your thoughts, ideas, and passions, stay on track with your calendar & appointments, use it as a creative outlet, or a combination of all of the above – one notebook can suit your needs.

Not to be overdramatic, but I found that it’s changed my life. Really. There’s a reason why I started blogging about it.

Bullet journaling is a new type of recording that’s a more recent development. It has some easy tips and ways for you to get started. Want to take it on? This graphic may help break it down for you.

Bullet Journaling Basics: The Breakdown

Scroll through to the bottom. It’s worth it.

Productive Bullet Journal

How I use Bullet Journaling

Personally, I use bullet journaling to replace my planner, my sketchbook, the brain dump notebook (that I used to keep beside my bed to log all my thoughts so I could sleep), journal, and life reference book. It sounds like a lot, but it works for me, I keep my schedule organized, and it makes me happy. This is why I want to share it with you.

What Happens if Life Gets Busy?

Some seasons of my life are busier than others. When this happens, I’ll switch to a daily log as shown in the graphic to keep track of more items on my to-do list and I will minimize the amount of doodling and art I include in my planner. But most of the time, I create a weekly spread that covers two facing pages in my book.

I love adding collection pages to my notebook. One page I include all the time is my brain dump page. Don’t like the term brain dump? Here’s a list of alternate names for brain dump.

Starting your Bullet Journal

If you’re starting out, I would start with the minimum that you can do. Don’t overdo it.

Ask yourself: What do you need to organize in your life? Do you need to keep a strict schedule, or do you have a lot of ‘to-do’ items during the week? Is your life filled with appointments?

Start with the most significant issue in your life and use the bullet journal to see if it fills that need. At first, don’t add all the bells and whistles until you establish a habit of using your book and recording the items you need help with the most.

Then, when you feel comfortable using the system, add to it if needed. After you’ve fulfilled your basic needs and wand a creative outlet – turn to a blank page for doodles. Try your hand at creating some fun headers for the week or month. Start small initially, and do only what you want to do. Please don’t do what others (or even me!) tell you what they do solely to follow someone else. Find what you’re comfortable with, and use it to fulfill a need in your life.

P.S. If you missed starting in January for the first of the year – it’s ok. I have eight journals, and two began in January. Start where you are.

Why Do I Love Bullet Journaling?

Honestly, the reason why I love bullet journaling is that I can make it mine and the beauty is that you can make it yours, too. Once you’ve given it a chance, figure out how you can customize it even more to your needs. Then when you need to change it, change it. No need to buy a new planner if your needs change. Modify your pages or your workflow and forge on.

Don’t Be Afraid to Customize For YOUR Needs

After you’ve been bullet journaling for a while, you might discover that you dislike creating your monthly calendar each month? Solve that issue by printing a calendar or using a monthly log like in the infographic above. If you discover not long after you’ve started that you need to include a cleaning calendar to keep your house sparkly. Well, my friend, that’s easy, simply add those tasks to your book.

After a month or so, colors in all hues might be calling your name beyond those black and white pages. If this is the case, a whole world opens up with the flick of a page and the brush of a marker. Customize this bullet journal to be what you need it to be. Keep in mind that it may change month-to-month or week-to-week. Allow yourself the freedom to change.

Bullet Journaling – A Journey

I hope you’ve found some interesting information that helps answer your question “What is Bullet Journaling”. And I hope it’s enough to propel your curiosity to dip your little toe into this world. Come on in, the water is fine.

I’m excited for you to go on this journey. I’ll be glad to help you along that path. Find me on Instagram or add a comment below if you need guidance. Let’s go, my friend. Let’s go see where this journey leads.

Feel free to bookmark this page and save it until later. I have a whole list of posts all planned out to help answer your questions about bullet journaling. Check back often or better yet, sign up for my newsletter!

No Matter Which Notebook I use – You’ll Always Find These Supplies Close at Hand

Get Started Bullet Journaling with Some of My Favorite Supplies:

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Filed Under: Blog, Bullet Journal, Get Inspired, Get Organized & Start Planning, Start Planning Here Tagged: #BuJo, beginning a bullet journal, Bullet Journal, Bullet Journal Advice, bullet journaling, how to start bullet journaling, starting your bullet journal

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About Me


Hi! I'm Tricia, the creative behind ChocolateMusings.com, I know how it feels to lose your inner muse. After years of darkness (which I call the dark ages of my life), I found my inner muse hiding in the forgotten corners of my soul, I vowed never to lose sight of her again.

Bullet journaling helped reignite the passion for art and living life again while organizing my days. I also discovered modern calligraphy and watercolor. Since then, my use of the bullet journal system has evlolved and I call it 'creative planning'. Here on the blog, I show you how to use your planner to ignite your inner muse and explore creativity and art while staying beautifully organized and living a joyful life.

I invite you to grab some good chocolate and dive into my musings. Let’s ignite your inner muse.

Read more on the about me page. You can also find my policies and disclosures here.

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