How To Start A Bullet Journal In 2022

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WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE UP BULLET JOURNALING 

When I first stumbled across the idea of bullet journaling, I thought it was silly.

Sure, it looked cool, but who really had time for all that creative nonsense?

Yet, something about the concept called to me.

I had tried too many times to purchase and fill planners, only to forget about their existence a mere week later. 

So I figured I’d give the “new fad” a try. It couldn’t hurt. 

So I scrolled through amazon until I found the perfect notebook, in my favorite shade, ordered a slew of markers that wouldn’t easily bleed through the pages, and waited. 

Well, the notebook arrived, so I took to Pinterest in search of motivation for my little blank book. 

I created a plan and filled out the journal.

It took over a week to get started and another week to finally get the book put together enough to start tracking my habits and goals.

Slowly, but surely I began to use the little book daily, and you know what I found? 

I LOVED IT!

It was actually fun, and I certainly didn’t find the time it took to create artful pages tedious or a waste of time. 

In fact, I looked forward to creating new art and organization systems to fill the journal’s waiting pages.

It was soothing and a great addition to my morning routine. 

HOW CREATING A BULLET JOURNAL CAN HELP KEEP YOU ORGANIZED

Now, what is exactly is a bullet journal, and how can it keep you organized? 

A bullet journal is a creative way to keep your tasks, goals, habits, and your overall life on track. Much like a planner, it houses tasks, deadlines, and goals. 

Though I find with my bullet journal, I can dive more in-depth with my goals and tracking my habits.

It’s blank slates, and that’s what makes the bullet journals so enjoyable; they are entirely customizable, which means you can tailor them to your exact needs! 

Some of the many benefits to creating a bullet journal are,

• (As previously mentioned) It will help you stay organized!
• It can provide a great creative outlet!
• It’s the best of both worlds! Bullet journals aren’t just planners; they are also journals! 
• Aids in tracking your accomplishments!

Now, there are many wonderful pages to include in your bullet journal, and we will be going over a few of the main pages today. 

SUPPLIES FOR STARTING YOUR BULLET JOURNAL

Before you get started, it is essential to select a journal that is right for you!

One thing that sets bullet journals apart from regular journals is the tiny black dots lining the pages.

This provides a clear way to map the space as you create content for each page. 

HERE is the journal I use, which is great for beginners, but there are so many options on Amazon. 

You will also need some fun pens, highlighters, and markers! And if you’re looking to get more creative, some colored pencils and watercolors. 

Another item that makes a huge difference, is having a good ruler!

Having straight lines in your journal will make all the difference. 

“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan. “

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

GETTING YOUR BULLET JOURNAL STARTED 

Now that we have the proper supplies, it is time to dive in and start creating!

I find it helpful to develop a plan for my bullet journal before even starting on it. 

Before starting, be sure to brainstorm and jot your down your ideas. Decide which pages you would like where.

Planning ahead will help keep the best aesthetic possible for your journal. 

CREATING A KEY FOR YOUR BULLET JOURNAL 

One of the first pages to create when starting your bullet journal is the Key.

Creating a Key for your journal is vital to keeping your journal neat and easy to follow. 

Things you might want to include in your Key,

• Tasks
• Completed
• Canceled
• Appointment 
• Event
• Important
• Idea

Decide which Items you will need a short-handed version of and create symbols you feel fit each item. 

BULLET JOURNAL INDEX

Like with any good book, your bullet journal should contain an Index!

Having a clear map of your book will help you more speedily locate pages as your journal fills in. 

As you can see, mine is not quite finished yet.

JOURNAL YEARLY CALENDAR SPREAD 

Similarly to a planner, one ought to create a yearly overview calendar.

It can be as straightforward or as artsy as you would like!

I try to keep mine relatively simple since it is not a page I use regularly but do occasionally refer back to.

MONTHLY/WEEKLY CALENDAR SPREAD 

Even more critical than the yearly calendar is making sure you have a weekly/monthly calendar where you can distribute tasks and better keep track of your goals and the progress you have made along the way. 

Again, these pages can be as decadent or as plain as you would like! They just need to be functional. 

FUN BULLET JOURNAL EXTRAS 

Some of my favorite pages from my journal happen to be creative little extras! There are just so many options! 

You might try including things like,

• Habit tracker
• Mood tracker
• Goal log
• Cover pages 
• Future log
• Bucket list
• Reading list
• Journal pages
• Inspiration quotes
• Movie lists

The list can go on and on! Select which pages fit your style and begin creating! 

“Time is a created thing. To say “I don’t have time” is to say “I don’t want to.”

~ Lao Tzu

CONCLUSION 

If you have been thinking about starting a bullet journal and putting it off, I challenge you to take the leap and just do it!

Try it out; see what you think! 

Not super into the whole art thing?

That’s okay too. Keep it simple by purchasing premade pages or stickers and pasting them into your journal! 

It’s crazy what a well-organized planner can do for your life, and it’s even more rewarding when you get to create each page. 

Just be sure to stick with it, as with any habit, consistency is key!

If you’re looking for more resources for setting goals and achieving your best life, be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay current on future articles and to receive our FREE 5-day Mind Reboot Camp email series! 

What interests you the most about bullet journaling? Let me know in the comments below! 

Have a bright day!