Starting A Bullet Journal — Geek & Glitter

I am brand new to bullet journaling. Oh a whim, I picked up a bullet journal at a stationery store. Maybe because I was feeling motivated by the start of the new year and getting ready to set some goals or maybe I wanted another way to stay organized. Call it a feeling I guess, but something clicked when I saw the Leuchtturm 1917 bullet journal on the stand. I grabbed it off the shelve (it was the last one… was the universe trying to tell me something?) and decided right there and then I was going to start my first bullet journal this year.

I’ve looked into bullet journaling the past but never thought I could do it with a blank dotted journal. Instead, I opted for planners with pre-designed pages and spaces for you to fill in. Pages like “My Top Goals For This Year” and “What My Vision”. Each time I stop using them because I I didn’t feel like these pre-designed spaces and pages were right for me. I chalked this up "Bullet journaling isn't for me" and I've just given up on trying to find that perfect journal or planner. What I didn't realize about bullet journaling is that it's not all about the beautiful layouts and perfect brush lettering, or creating those pages that you have to fill in.

Once I was home with a brand new journal in hand, I dove into research. My first stop was bulletjournal.com, where I learned about the person who created the method - Ryder Carroll. I'm glad this was my first stop instead of spiraling down a rabbit hole of YouTube videos of gorgeous spreads and layouts. There's absolutely nothing wrong with bullet journal videos, I watch them all the time now that I've started my BuJo for inspiration. But for someone who's starting a bullet journaling for the first time, watching a YouTube video filled with perfect brush lettering and designs can make it all feel daunting. Once I understood the origin and purpose of bullet journaling, I was no longer intimidated by the fear of my journal not looking as artistic as the ones you'd see on Instagram or Pinterest.

The purpose of a bullet journal is to serve as an analog. A way to stay organized and productive throughout your days. It is also meant to help you stay mindful of why you're doing these tasks. I urge anyone starting out in bullet journaling to visit bulletjournal.com to get a better understanding. I'm glad I did!

Your bullet journal can be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be. Remember that it is here to serve you, not the other way around. As you get more familiar with bullet journaling, your layouts and spreads may change month-to-month or even week-to-week. That's totally ok. Our lives are constantly changing and our journal will evolve with us.

The best part about a blank journal is that you can make it into whatever you need it to be. For a bit of structure, bulletjournal.com suggest having the following:

Key
Index
Future Log
Monthly Log
Daily Log

With these components, you have everything you need to get started. Once you're more familiar with the system, you'll find what you'll need, what layout you like, and can add pages and spreads such as goals, expense tracker, and more. The same goes for artwork in your journal. They're not necessary but if you enjoy designing your layouts and pages, then you should go for it. I've slowly started to adorn my journal with artwork and washi tape and every time I turn the pages, seeing the pretty art makes me so happy. Remember - your journal is here to serve you so creating artwork and adding brush lettering means more work and time you'll need to put into your journal. As long as you’re ok with spending more time on it, I say go on and get creative.

I'm loving my bullet journal! it's the first thing I look at in the morning and one of the last things I work on in the evening. It keeps me on track with my goals and tasks. You don’t need a fancy journal to start, any notebook and pen will do the trick. You can invest in a great journal and all the pens, markers, and washi tape later on down the road. The first step is trying it out to see if this is for you. To keep up with my bullet journal journey, follow me on Instagram @GeeknGlitter. If you're starting on your first BuJo, I hope you found this post helpful. Good luck!