Chances are, if you’re spending time  on the Internet in 2021, you’ve seen someone reference a bullet journal. You may have some sense of what it is, but today I want to share a basic guide explaining how to bullet journal, as well as inspiration if you choose to take the plunge.

The truth is, a bullet journal can be whatever you want it to be. I use mine primarily as a weekly planner and goal tracker. I also keep track of the books I want to read and the books I have read. Aside from that, I have sections with favorite recipes, things I’d eventually like to get for our home, and a financial planning page. The possibilities are endless.

There is an official site, Bullet Journal, where the original idea came from. This video will give you a quick guide and see what the basic premise is, but I’m going to show you how I use my bullet journal and give you some other resources for different ways you can use it.

How to Bullet Journal | A Guide for Beginners

Why Bullet Journal?

If you are a type-A personality and already use a digital or paper planner, you may be wondering what benefit would come from switching to using a bullet journal. Or maybe you’re not a planner, and the thought of using anything resembling one gives you the heebie jeebies.

No matter your personality, I’m betting you could find use for a bullet journal. First, they are more flexible than a planner. I know that I have bought planners from the store that include sections I never use or don’t have sections I wish they did have. With a bullet journal, you can make it whatever you want.

A bullet journal can range from minimalist to complex. If you’re more spontaneous, then you could just use it to track a running list of things you need to do. Or you could list what you did each day, instead of planning ahead.

Another thing I love about bullet journaling is that you can start one anytime. I started my first one at the beginning of January one year, but since then I’ve started one in April and another one in August.

You can also have the pages in any order that you want. Below is a picture of the index of my bullet journal, where I keep track of what is on what page. This is an easy reference for me to go back and see what page I put my running plan on, for example.

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