Unlock the full potential of your bullet journal with these top 12 tips and tricks. Elevate your planning, organizing, and creativity to new heights, making your journaling experience more efficient, enjoyable, and uniquely yours.
Bullet journaling hacks
Tips and tricks to improve your journaling efficiency and productivity
- A blend of a planner, a task list, and diary, it can become a creative outlet
- There are limitless collections to choose from, and plenty of room for flexibility
- Some good bullet journal hacks to get you started
Flip out key and index spreads
Signifiers are the symbols in your entries that offer visual categorization and make rapid logging possible.
- A simple flip-out spread with your symbols and signifiers will help you log your tasks ever faster.
- Use it for your index, allowing you to find your pages faster.
Use washi tape to make tabs
Color-code every collection of pages by either lining the edge of the page or making small washi tabs on the special pages.
- Sections to consider: Monthly cover/theme pages, Habit tracking, Tasks and goals, etc.
Bullet Journal Tips For Beginners
Use printables
- Add printable artistic elements or stickers to beautify your bullet journal if you don’t have the skills to draw or doodle them yourself
- Get printables with designs already on the pages and just add them to your bujo
Make journaling a habit
The key to success with bullet journaling is to keep at it
- This type of journaling generally requires less time commitment than other types because of the rapid logging
- Set a reminder on your phone to remind yourself to journal every day
- Bullet Journal Hack: Find a time of day for your bullet journal ritual
Get artsy with your bullet journal
Start with a theme and work from there
- Use stickers and stencils if you want to add more color and originality
- Design your bujo page headers
- Eventually, you might end up with a journal that looks more like an art journal than anything else
Think about your Bullet Journal Setup
What collections to use
- Choose your most important collections before you set up your journal to keep them organized
- Do I want pages to look uniform
- Will I be creative with my journal? Will I know how much space a giving spread will require? Do I need a lot of space for my task spreads?
- Which signifiers will I use?
Get creative with your supplies
Use a little bit of creativity with craft supplies to your benefit. Cover mistakes with stickers, washi tape, or a printable if you make a mistake.
- Imagination goes a long way here. Check out my favorite bullet journal supplies here.
Get inspired but don’t compare
Constantly looking for ways to improve your journal will prevent it from becoming just another job but if you compare all the time you might lose your enthusiasm
- Only include what’s important to you
- It should be a fun project that helps you stay focused and organized
Start simple to avoid overwhelm
The bullet journal system’s objective is to simplify your life
- Start with the main sections of a bullet journal: the index, the keys, a future log, the monthly logs, and the daily/weekly logs
- A bullet journal can be created entirely in pen with no fancy layouts or styles
Use Sticky Notes for Temporary Information
Don’t make new pages or add irrelevant notes to your current log, just make temporary notes on a post-it or sticky note as a placeholder
- Use sticky notes creatively as placeholders and reminders for temporary tasks or collection items
Take your washi with you
Some of us have far more washi than we need, so re-tape a certain amount of washi side-by-side on a popsicle stick to have it with you at all times
