Bullet journals are a popular organization system. Often, they’re notebooks or planners that often have a dot grid. These grids make it easy to design beautiful pages that help you keep track of the various areas of your life. Here’s how three women improved their lives by using bullet journals…

Embrace Healthy Habits

Violet was a busy mom with three young kids. After taking her toddlers to the park, she realized she was having trouble keeping up with them. Determined to get fit, she committed to drinking water daily and becoming more active.

But she had trouble following through. Her days were chaotic and she struggled to get everything done. That’s when Violet’s friend suggested she try bullet journaling. “It’s a journal that can be anything—a day planner, a fitness tracker, a prayer journal, a reading log and so much more.”

Violet followed her friend’s advice and began using a bullet journal. She quickly found it made it easier for her to not only to track her fitness goals but also to keep other areas of her life organized, too.

Prioritize What Matters

When Jamie went back to college, she had a lengthy list of homework assignments and exam dates. She tried to keep track of it all in her head but after she missed two important tests, she knew it was time to find a better solution.

That’s when she decided to give bullet journaling a try. She’d seen dozens of them on Pinterest but she’d never considered using one herself. She looked around until she found a notebook she liked and she got started.

By the end of the semester, she was in love with bullet journaling. It made it easy for her to keep up with her schedule both at college and work.

Change Your Life

Melissa had struggled with debt for years. Following a divorce and several large hospital bills left her feeling like she was struggling to get her head above water financially. She constantly juggled bills from various creditors.

But she wanted to be free from debt and save money toward her first home. So she decided to use her bullet journal to track her debt. Doing this gave Melissa a complete picture of how much money she owed to her creditors as well as income she needed to bring in every month.

After a year and a half, Melissa had successfully paid down every debt. Not only was she free from debt, she also had a healthy emergency fund and she was well on her way to saving for a down payment on a home.

Getting Started

Bullet journaling is like any other hobby. It’s easier to do if you have the tools you need for the job. However, that doesn’t mean you have to rush out and buy the most expensive journal or purchase professional grade markers right away. Instead, start small by picking a few tools that are sturdy and won’t bust your budget. Here are a few options to consider…

The Bullet Journal

There are dozens of bullet journals available today. But there’s also an official Bullet Journal that was designed by Ryder Carroll, the creator of the original bullet journal. It comes with 249 numbered pages, a dot-grid layout, a 4-page index, and a built-in journal guide to help those who are new to bullet journaling.

Another popular choice for a bullet journal is the Leuchtturm 1917. Like the original journal, it comes with 249 numbered pages and a dot-grid layout. There’s also an envelope at the back of the journal where you can store notes and other information you might need. Even better, it comes in a variety of colors so you can choose the one that fits your personality.

You can also get a traveler’s notebook with dot-grid paper and use that to start your journal, too. There are many options to choose from and you can pick up a few packs of re-fill paper to continue using it for years to come.

Pens & Pencils

Some people like using pens for their bullet journaling. But if you’re new to this creative endeavor, you might feel more comfortable starting with pencils.

Of course, there are also pens that can be useful for bullet journaling. Keep in mind that you’ll want pens with a fine tip to make it easy to connect the dots. Otherwise, your lines may not look as neat and precise as you’d like. Two good options for pens are the Sharpie Art Pens and Micro-Line Ultra Fine Point Ink Pens.

A Simple Ruler

Another supply you don’t want to forget about is a ruler. While you can use any ruler, try to find one that’s clear. Being able to see through your ruler will make it easier for you to turn your grid into boxes. You may also want to grab plastic protractor if you plan on drawing circle graphs.

Various Art Supplies

Depending on how creative you consider yourself, you may also want to gather art supplies that you can use to decorate your bullet journal. Washi tape is a great way to add a funky pattern or color to any page. Stickers can be useful for embellishing your journal and some people also use as part of their bullet journal key.

You might also find Avery Ultra Mini Tabs helpful. They make it simple to find various entries in your bullet journal without needing to page through your index or hunt for an obscure entry.

While this list is meant to inspire you, don’t feel like you have to grab everything on it before you can start bullet journaling. It’s fine to begin your journal with what you have on hand and slowly buy what you need.

7 Different Types of Bullet Journaling Pages

The advantage of using a bullet journal is that you can customize it for every area of your life. Instead of having a day planner for your schedule, a project app on your smart device, and a habit tracking journal, you can put everything in one place.

Now you don’t have to spend hours searching for information you need or trying to remember which appointments belong where. Instead, your whole life is streamlined and organized. But if you’re wondering what you could put in your bullet journal, here are a few ideas to get you started…

Meal Planning

Taking a few minutes to plan your meals in advance can help your week flow smoothly. It eases stress because you don’t have to panic at six o’clock when the kids are hungry and looking for something to eat. It also saves money because you’ll be less likely to make a fast food run when you already have a menu ready.

Hobby Projects

Many people with hobbies have multiple projects going on at the same time. Maybe you’re a knitter and you’re working on a pair of socks for your newborn nephew and knitting a scarf for friend and starting a blanket for a beloved grandparent.

When you have more than one or two projects, it can quickly make your hobby confusing. Use your bullet journal to note what projects you’re working on and how far along they are. You may also want to create a “project wish list” where you record other projects you’d like to tackle in the coming weeks.

Home Organization

A bullet journal can also be useful for helping your home stay organized. One mom created a chore chart that rotated and kept it in her journal. Another tracked each month’s cleaning tasks so she’d know when it was time to do things like clean her gutters or replace her air filter.

Content Marketing

If you’re a blogger or you run a digital business, then you need to create content regularly. But it can be hard on those days when you don’t know what to say. Use your bullet journal to keep a list of content ideas and add to it regularly. Then the next you’re feeling blocked, you can simply open your journal for inspiration.

Gratitude Journal

If you’ve wanted to lean into a new habit like becoming more grateful, you can use your bullet journal to help you do that. Create a list with spaces for thirty days. Then you can simply add one item you’re grateful for each day and it only takes a few minutes.

Class Schedule

Whether you’re going back to college or helping a loved one manage a full course load, it can be useful to have a class schedule in your bullet journal. You’ll be able to see at a glance when term papers are due, dates for final exams, and other important information.

Monthly Budget

A bullet journal can also help you track your finances. You can use it to record transactions, how much debt you’re paying down, and how your emergency fund is doing. The more you track your money, the easier it will be to get your financial priorities sorted out.

Of course, you don’t have to use all of these ideas. The point isn’t to implement everything into your bullet journal. Just take what works for you now. You can always come back and add more pages to your journal later.

If you like the idea of trying a bullet journal, you can find plenty of them on social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram. Use these hashtags to see examples of bullet journals:  #bujo #bulletjournaling #bujojunkies #bulletjournal.