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.

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.

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: