Bullet Journaling

written by Becca

Ever since I was a child, I loved crafting. It didn’t matter what it was: drawing, crochet, scrapbooking, jewelry making, embroidery, you name it. I probably tried it! Despite all of these interests, bullet journaling has been the one to stick with me through thick and thin. It all started in my college dorm my sophomore year when my dorm held an intro to bullet journaling event. Ever since that day, I haven’t looked back.

You might be thinking, that’s great and all, but what exactly is it? Great question! Bullet journaling is a personalized way to organize your life by documenting the past, tracking the present, and planning for the future utilizing a dotted grid journal.

How you want to utilize your journal is completely up to you. Some prefer it for the creative aspect (like me!) and create artistic spreads, while others prefer it for its functional use. Most bullet journals are sectioned into different parts. A Future log is used to plan events and tasks months ahead. A Monthly log is a calendar page with a monthly overview, and a Daily log is used to log daily tasks and events. Some people also create habit trackers to monitor specific behaviors.

What Do I Need to Start?

First, you need a bullet journal!

• Any dotted grid journal will suffice, but there are countless bullet journals to choose from.

My first bullet journal was a cheap one off Amazon. Archer and Olive and Leutchterm are other popular bullet journals I have used. Archer and Olive has been my favorite with their thick pages that prevent bleeding through.

Then, you need pens! Technically, any pen will suffice, but here are some staples I love to use in my journal.

• Fineliner pens, such as Micron pens, are smear proof pens great for writing, drawing, etc.

• Brush pens such as the Tombow brush pens are great for calligraphy, drawing, and coloring.

• Other pens I have also enjoyed using in my bullet journal include the Mildliner highlighters, Crayola supertip markers, and Gelly Roll gel pens.

The pen options are endless, but these have been some of my favorite pens I’ve used in my journal.

• Optional Extras

  • Other things you can incorporate in your bullet journal can include stickers, washi tape, stamps, scrapbook paper, photos, and more! The options are endless!

Bullet journaling has been such a fun way for me to organize my life while also delving into my creative side. Often, I hear people say that they aren’t creative enough or that they wouldn't be able to keep up with it. My answer to that is, I was there too! But that is the beauty of bullet journaling. It can be customized to fit your life and your goals. It can be as simple or as complex

as you want it to be. Over the years, my bullet journal has changed to fit my life. Today, my bullet journal looks different than it did when I started 7 years ago. I’ve gone through many different life stages since then: college, grad school, starting my career, and getting married. Looking back at my old journals and spreads, it’s so neat to see how my life has changed and how my bullet journal has adapted to fit whatever stage of life I’m in.

Follow me on Instagram @beccasbulletjournal to see some examples of bullet journal spreads I’ve done!