Bullet journalling: your quick ‘how to’ guide

What exactly is a bullet journal?

A bullet journal (or BuJo for short) isn’t something that comes templated, with tables, grids, tabs and different sections already in place. It’s actually a blank or dot grid journal, so you can create something unique that works for you.

Bullet journalling can be highly functional and a great way to get organised and prioritise tasks. It’s also a place where you can express your creativity and produce something you’re proud of. It can be a valuable outlet for processing your thoughts and feelings, helping your own mental wellbeing. Or all of the above!

What will you use your bullet journal for?

• Keep a day-to-day or weekly diary, or monthly calendar.
• Write to-do lists for all the things going on in your life, that you can tick off as you go.
• Set and monitor goals, short and long-term.
• Be creative with space in your journal for simple doodling, sketching or ideas.
• Simply use it to jot down some notes and random thoughts.

Top five BuJo tips

1. Be realistic. Don’t set the bar too high, and think you have to create a masterpiece. Find a method and style that works for you. It’s not about being artistic and spending lots and lots of time on your journal – you can always expand it as time moves on.
2. Choose your notepad and pens. Find the journal that’s right for you, whether it has blank pages or a dot grid. You might want to use stickers too. And, of course, different coloured, smooth flowing pens will make it easy and fun too – perfect for your collection of Zebra Pens!
3. Define your sections, create your pages. Will it be weekly or monthly overview pages, with room for daily notes? Creative introductory pages? Goals and objectives, with progress trackers? Long-term projects and quick-fire tasks?
4. Get in the habit. Bullet journalling shouldn’t be a chore or a burden. If it’s useful in taking control of your life or giving you a time and place to collect your thoughts, then adding to your journal and checking in with it can quickly become part of your routine.
5. Develop your own style. There’s no right or wrong way of doing this, and that’s the beauty of it. From colour coding to calligraphy, symbols to stickers, your bullet journal is all about you.

How does it make you feel?

If keeping your bullet journal makes you feel stressed at any point, then it’s time to take a step back from it for a while, and re-focus on why you’re keeping it. Your journal should be a place of calm and self-expression, somewhere to de-clutter your mind, organise your thoughts and appointments, help you work towards goals, generate ideas, and give you valuable clarity.

Keep it positive, keep it fun – and make bullet journalling all yours!