What is a Bullet Journal?

The Bullet Journal (or BuJo) was created by Ryder Carroll as a methodology to improve organisation, focus and productivity.

It has become hugely popular, and I believe this is down to both how flexible it is and the fact that it helps condense the various diaries, to-do lists, calendars and plans we juggle (which tend to overlap, contradict each other and never get updated) into one organised location.

Unlike a regular journal, diary or planner, which are generally pre-drawn, with set spaces or dating, a Bullet Journal is completely free-form so you can dedicate as much space as you want (and need) to monthly, weekly or daily planning as well as any other collections you may choose to incorporate.

Starting a Bullet Journal is very simple, all you need is a notebook and a pen. Nothing fancier than that. The notebook can be lined, plain or dotted depending on your preference- or what you have lying around.

A lined notebook is a good starting place if you’re not looking to do anything fancy, it allows you to create the most basic of monthly and daily logs with minimal additional work. If you like free-hand drawing, and are looking to be very relaxed with your journal, or want to concentrate on art over writing, a blank journal is probably your best bet.

The favourite notebook for most Bullet Journals, however, is dotted. It allows you to very easily draw up orderly spreads while being discrete enough to fade behind most pens or markers. Regardless of what you chose though, ensure that apart from the page markings and perhaps page numbers, the rest of the book is blank, with nothing to work around.

One of the key aspects of a Bullet Journal is that it is modular. While it starts with four key collections; the Index, then the Future, Monthly and Daily logs, additional collections can be added as and when the user requires them. These could be a habit or financial trackers, ad hoc meal or holiday planning or perhaps a series of spreads detailing a large project- whatever you need it to include to make your Bullet Journal work for you, not the other way around!

If you have any further questions please drop them in the comments and I’ll get back to you. If any of the terms have confused you (what is a collection?), check out my handy glossary and if you’re interested in having a go yourself, my guide to starting a Bullet Journal.

7 thoughts on “What is a Bullet Journal?”

  1. Pingback: Starting a Bullet Journal: The Basics – H's Bullet Journal Adventures

        1. Glad to help! It can be really frustrating hearing about something and having no idea what people are talking about!

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