{A decade of bullet journals} 1. Starting a bullet journal
Welcome to the first post of my new 2023 series on starting and keeping a bullet journal. This year will be my 10th year of Bullet journaling, which started when I watched this video. In this first article for the series we’re going over what you’ll need to set up your own journal. I recommend getting started now for 2023!
Choosing your Bullet Journal
There are many choices for bullet journaling ranging from a cheap spiral notebook that you probably already have in your house (don’t knock it, I’ve used one before) to the fancy expensive notebooks. Here’s what I’ve used, what I’ve seen around, and my long time favorite.
Composition Notebook/Spiral notebook: This is a solid choice if you are really unsure about the bullet journal system working for you, or if you think you might not stay with it. It’s a great way to start out, but it doesn’t store very well to refer back to. I like to be able to date and see the binding so it’s easy to grab and reference. (And yes, over the years I have referred back to my bullet journals MULTIPLE times!)
Moleskine notebook: This was my very first bullet journal. I chose this one with graph squares and it worked well for me. It’s not as cheap as the spiral/composition notebook route, and it’s just a little more narrow than my favorite notebook. But it worked well, and I’m really glad I took the leap and splurged on this one way back in 2014 because it is a keepsake. It has held up well.
Bullet Keeper notebook: I bought and tried this one for 2020, right before the world blew up. I used it until May, and then changed to a different notebook. This Bullet Keeper notebook is partially set up with a monthly calendar page followed by five laid out weekly pages. It was working well, until everything shut down and there was nothing to really keep track of. If you want a simple, partially laid out journal, this might be a good choice for you.
Official Bullet Journal notebook: I’ve never used this one, but wanted to list it here because it is the official notebook from the inventor of bullet journaling. It has a lot of cool features and I’ve heard the paper is great, but it’s just a little too steep of a price for my taste. (And, I don’t regularly use all the features it has anyway.)
Leuchtturm 1917 notebook: This one is my tried and true favorite. I’ve used it for 8 out of the last 10 years and am almost positive it’ll be my choice going forward. There are tons of color options, which makes it fun, and I love the paper. It’s like a steady friend to me. They are sturdy, easy to toss in my purse, and also fit into my leather notebook cover.
There are lots of other options out there like this one by Archer and Olive, or this one (which is cheaper and the one I chose for the second half of 2020 since I already shelled out money for the first half’s notebook). If you just scroll around online you’ll see a bunch of different styles and sizes. But by far, my favorite is the Leuchtturm notebook.
What to expect
If you are anything like me, here’s how your first year of bullet journaling will go.
- You’ll be excited to set up your first journal
- You might be tempted to research and buy fancy new pens (I’m not, but I’ve heard that’s a thing).
- You’ll look up all the beautiful works of art bullet journals on Pinterest. (You might start getting a bit overwhelmed mixed in with all that inspiration.)
- You’ll watch all the videos on YouTube (and maybe get a bit overly ambitious figuring out what your perfect mix of pages will be, what style you’ll use, etc). But be warned, one of the quickest ways to quit bullet journaling is to have way more pages and spreads than you need or will use. Make your goal this year to keep it simple.
- Next perfectionism might creep in and tempt to freeze you up because you want everything in your bullet journal to be perfect right from day one. (It won’t be, we’re learning and mistakes and messes are a necessary part in the process. Expect this first year to slowly improve, not start out or go perfectly.)
- Around the second or third month, you might start looking at other planners or go back to random bits of paper and sticky notes everywhere. Don’t give up! We’ll talk about modifying things if your life gets busy or overwhelming.
BUT here’s what to remember:
- Stick it out for at least the first few months (I’ll be here with you and this whole series is FREE and will hopefully be interactive, encouraging, and clear).
- DO NOT STRESS ABOUT PERFECTION (it’s a lie, you’ll never reach it, and it’ll suck away all your joy.)
- Keep it simple. (We’ll start with the basics only. As the months progress we’ll consider adding in other things and I’ll share ideas that have worked for me and some that just plain haven’t.)
Your Assignment, should you choose to accept it
- If you are going to try bullet journaling in 2023, commit to at least three months with it. (It will take a while to work out all the kinks and fine tune it to work for you.)
- Having the best of everything won’t make you a better bullet journaler. Buy what you can afford and use what you have.
- Start gathering all the notes and reminders that might be scattered everywhere and keep them handy so we can work them into your journal soon.
- Repeat to yourself “My bullet journal is not a work of art. It will be useful, helpful, and maybe even messy. It is not and never will be perfect. It is not meant to be pinterest worthy. “
Let me know if you’re on board, and ask any questions you have in the comments below! Here we go!
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I admit that all those expectations you list are something I have dealt with! I’m in, and I will work hard at remembering the BUTS. I have really wanted to be digital, getting away from all the scraps of paper. However, I find that although the info gets recorded, it simply becomes data, and no longer useful because the review process is missing. I need a better way to harness the data AND make it useful.
YAY! I so understand what you mean about changing to digital. It really does make it hard for me to make it useful too!
This is fairly timely. I determined to create a bullet journal for work last month and have been using it. So far, so good as long as I keep up with it. I have to have something to keep me organized with the workload. I am an auditor, and currently have 11 audits that I’m trying to treat as projects. My system isn’t perfect, but I’m hoping to learn from it and change it as necessary. Thanks for helping us!
Yes! That’s the trick, keeping up with it, right? When I do keep up on it, I love it so much!
This year, 2023, will be my ninth year using a bullet Journal. And you are spot on, Kari! I have used almost every notebook except a composition notebook. My favourite is the Artist’s Loft (Michaels): dot grid, pretty covers, reasonably durable and a great size. Thank you for reminding me how much I enjoy my daily habit of keeping a bullet Journal!
Yay! Nine years? That’s awesome!
Well, I don’t think I’m going to take on this challenge. I did enjoy doing a bujo when I did, it got to be too much. and I’ve got a system that is working very well for me. But maybe I need to think more on this. I’m about to be in a major flux stage of house moving and might just need to go super simple, at which time my trusty composition notebook/ brain dump notebook will become my go to for all the things. I like these, b/c I can, when its full, rip out the pages I want to keep and put them in a binder that is for “Notes on All the Things”. I have too many times when I just need to brain dump and its all the same things and its a random list of 1 thing under a date and time and title, but I needed the time to think up that one thing with my cup of tea and my pen and paper to get myself back to reality and sanity. Or maybe this is just all my excuses so I can comment on your post!
Well, it’ll be fun to have you along for the ride anyway!
Yes. I am in to try. I journal but not always consistently and still have reminders and notes and calendars elsewhere. Thank you for making this help free and available.sincerely,karac
Yay! I know that feeling about notes and stuff everywhere!
I’m onboard, but will plan on doing a hybrid bullet journal. Am looking forward to beginning one, a little at a time. I’ve tried before, but only once, without success. It’s a new year so I’ll try again.
Yes! I hope this year is a success!
Hi, I’m an old lady over here in Wales, UK but I’ll be following you and looking forward to setting up my bullet journal. My favourite notebook is the one you like too. Thank you for helping us . Your advice is so practical.
YAY! Old ladies unite!
I’ve been bullet journaling for 6 years. I have always used composition books, which I started because I wanted permission to make it messy, and then kept on because I wanted them all to be the same size. 😅
My first year I tried many spreads. In the end I went back to the layout that I always used before on scrap paper, only now it is all in a book.
That first year was a year of learning what works best for my brain.
Simple is best for me! I don’t have time to create lots of pages and would be overwhelmed with them.
I really enjoyed learning the hacks that first year, but it has be one much simpler and intuitive since then.
I love it! Yes, simple is best! Every year I get all excited about new spreads and things and then get overwhelmed and just kinda fall back on what works and is simple.
Addressed mainly to Gill, I am an old lady in Australia, and if you are prepared to give it a go so will I. Thanks Kari, I will be in…..
That’s awesome you are going to be joining us in Australia! YAY!
Hi everyone! I’m and old lady in the USA and I’m in!
LOLL Yay for old ladies!
I have been a follower of your blog and Bible studies for years now. I have completed the older versions of the Galatians, Ephesians, and Philippians studies, have purchased all but 1st and 2nd Corinthians. I haven’t bought any of the I will meditate series or The Sermon on the Mount. Yours was the first blog I started and have used a form of Bullet Journaling in preprinted calendars for the last 5 years. This year I started out the same but I had so many notes, post-it’s, invitations, and sermon notes stuffed into boxes from past years and was building the pile again, next to the pile of receipts that go with my record keeping for our 350 mama cow operation where we have babies born twice a year. So in July I decided why can’t I put it all in one book? So I started in a journal I had. But soon everything was just on my monthly calendars. That was until I found a Journal at Walgreens that was exactly what I needed. It’s made by Markings, has 3 ribbon bookmarks, a ruler in a pocket in the back with bullet journal symbols to trace. The top of every page has a blank spot plus a place where you can circle what month it is or date it is. It has 240 dot grid pages with places to write page numbers. I’ve put in October-May at the beginning because I had skipped pages for enough monthly calendars to get through 2023 but found out I needed 2 page spread for my monthly’s. The I have my weekly pages that I can change up an area or add something as each season changes. Then I marked off where my various notes can start. I have 4 pages front and back from ag conference next to my sermon notes for the week. I figure that it’s my book I can put whatever I want wherever. So I will join you in this challenge mainly to help me keep all my ranch income and expenses at least up to date monthly, track the health habits I’m monitoring and adding to my life, and keeping all together by time frame not individual notebooks.
Wow! That’s awesome! You’ve got a great start on a good system! I think you and I will be fine-tuning this year
Hi Kari!
Thanks for doing this and encouraging us to stick with it. I am in!! I have started in the past and didn’t stick with it. Looking forward to doing this with you and others!!
Yay!! This’ll be fun!
Got my 1917 journal in the mail and can’t wait to get started.
That’s great! What color did you get?
pink
In the past, I have done was you were saying – that is, I looked up everything I could find on whatever particular type of journaling I was interested in. Watched videos…
Helpful but confusing.
So I’m ready to keep it simple.
I’m eager to go on this journey with you, through your bullet journals, this next year!
But I’m wondering where I find the next post?
Or is it not time for it yet? I did subscribe, and will be patient : ))
Kari, I’m old also and somehow I’ve managed to get this far by flying by the seat of my pants. I’m ready to learn and enjoy the art and system of bullet journaling.
Thank you!
YAY! So glad to hear!