How to Start a Bullet Journal
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At the start of the new year, I decided to forgo my usual planner and do something different: bullet journaling. I had just wasted too much money on countless planners that didn’t have all of the options I wanted in it. Making a bullet journal allows me to have the freedom to everything I need in a planner and even change my planner up every few weeks!
I use my bullet journal to keep lists in one place, as my planner, to keep track of my weekly dinner menu, to track my water intake, to set goals, remember important dates and tasks and to keep me motivated and inspired.
So what do you need to get started?
♥ The perfect notebook for YOU. I am very picky with line spacing since I have big handwriting and like a wire bound notebook. You may like something small to keep in your pocket or a book with grids.
♥ Fine tip markers and pens for setting up your journal and writing in it.
♥ If you want to go a step further you can pick up stickers, post its, and binder clips as well.
I like to set up my calendar a few months out. Like I said, I get bored of my planners and this allows me to do create different layouts or if I find a particular layout didn’t work for me previously, I can change it to something else.
Here’s what mine looks like for this week:
One thing I never liked about planners, is that there is no room for notes and “brain dumps”. As a busy mom I often have ideas or notes that I need to get out of my head right now otherwise they are gone forever. So, I like to make sure I have plenty of room for those things. I keep the backside of each week’s calendar blank for extra room for notes, lists and to-do’s.
One of my goals this year is to drink more water again. While I was picking up all of my supplies for my bullet journal in Target, I bought myself a new water bottle: the new Contigo AUTOSEAL® Chill Spill-Proof Water Bottle. For a limited time they are $19.99 at Target. You can find the Contigo AUTOSEAL® Chill Bottle in the housewares aisle at Target.
The Contigo AUTOSEAL® Chill Spill-Proof Water Bottle is perfect for keeping up with me all day – up to 18 hours! It keeps your water cold all throughout the day! Target has 3 exclusive colors to choose from that you can’t get anywhere else!
- Matte Black with Iced Aqua
- Stainless Steal with Monaco
- Very Berry
It’s perfect to take on the go with me and with the spill proof AUTOSEAL® technology I know the lid is sealed and won’t spill all over my purse! All Contigo products are BPA free, have a limited lifetime guarantee!
How would you use your Contigo water bottle?
I keep wanting to try bullet journaling, but I’m afraid I’ll get lazy. But I love the point you made about how you know how much extra space you need for brain dumps, etc. How long does it take you to write new pages?
I love your bullet journal and the spaces you’ve made for water intake #OnTheGoWithContigo! #client
I LOVE that bullet journal and I think you may have inspired me to get started on my own. What a great way to make sure you get your water – both the journal and the bottle!
I don’t journal currently, but I have been seriously thinking about it. These are great tips to get me started.
I like the this idea. I have never heard of bullet journaling but now want to give it a try. I also like that you fit in water breaks to it.
Checking things off my list is the best part of making a list for me. I use a spiral tablet for journaling my daily tasks also. Water is my beverage of choice most days and I do carry it with me. I’ll check out this Contigo water bottle at Target next time I go.
This is a great resource for anyone who hasn’t started bullet journaling yet. If they haven’t, they should!
Drinking more water is a great goal! I always do better when I have a little box I can check off too. Love your journal!
I would love something like this! It’s a great way to plan out your day including what you can eat for dinner. I really like this.
I live that you made water a priority in your schedule. This sounds easy to do. I like it.
This is a great idea. I need to stay better organized and this Bullet Journal will help with that.
I love my Contigo water bottle. I carry it everywhere with me.
I need something to drink more water myself. I just set up water alarms on my phone yesterday in hopes that it would encourage me to drink more. I would def have to get a bottle too to have on me when I’m on errands so that I have easy access to water
I’m loving the idea of bullet journaling. I haven’t been awesome with regular journaling, or with keeping my planner on track with what I need to remember -so maybe I need to combine them.
I haven’t ever heard of bullet journaling, but have been looking for some kind of organizing tool. I love how you added water to it – and that bottle looks like the perfect hydration tool.
What a great idea! I’m actually in the middle of trying to get back in shape for the summer season and this is a good idea to help me track my progress and what I need to do for the day.
I am not very good at keeping a journal anymore. And I bought a planner to help keep myself organized this year and I started out really good and now for the past month I haven’t hardly even cracked it open at all .
I’ve been seeing a lot about bullet journals and was really curious as to what they were. Loved your tutorial! I am also a huge fan of Contigo! We have a ton of their cups, they last forever!
I’ve never heard of a bullet journal but it sounds like it’s worth trying! I live by making lists.
What a great idea! I don’t journey but this looks like something my oldest daughter would need, she is always seeking for ways to keep her organized!
This is such a great idea for keeping organized. I love using my planner to keep track of everything.
These are such great ideas and very helpful for those wanting to start a bullet journal. I honestly would have been into bullet journal-ing if I am not that swamped with my every day responsibilities. Lol
Belle | One Awesome Momma
I was doing well with my planner but recently stopped so I need to start again because it really helps me organize. I will keep the Contigo in mind for my daughter who is a runner and needs to keep hydrated.
I might stick with bullet journaling if I start off with all those cutey chic supplies! Gotta get the pink pens and stickers and a fabulous (Kate Spade, maybe?) journal. Then I just have to keep it up!
I have heard a lot about bullet journals, but hadn’t actually looked into what they consisted of…this post really helps me visualize how a bullet journal could help me be more organized! I love how you added the water column…that is something I am trying to do also!
What an brilliant idea! To the point and gets it done. And we, at my house, love Contigo containers!
I take mine everywhere I go, especially when I’m traveling. I love how durable these water bottles are!
My friends are into bullet journaling. I honestly had no idea what it was all about. lol! This post is helpful, I think I might actually like it!
I really like the idea of using a bullet journal. I need that water bottle. I like drinking my water when it’s cold.
I really like this idea. I don’t journal right now, but I do keep running lists of things, and I have it set it just like that. It make my day run so much smoother.
I’m liking the way you organize! Water needs to be a bigger priority for me too. My daughter always reminds me I need to get enough each day.
Love these tips! The bullet journal sounds like a great way to stay organized! I love making lists and I actually need a new journal so I will get this and try this method. With a busy schedule of four children and working my blog this is a must do! I love the Contigo brand too. I have a thermos and a water bottle to keep ice water cold and also keeps my smoothies cold!
I love Contigo products so much! They are stylish and really keep my gym water cool!
This looks like a great water bottle. I need a new one for work. We are not allowed to have open containers at our desk. I will have to give bullet journaling a try.
I would love to try bullet journaling. It has been a few months since I wrote in my journal. I need to get a book to start in.
Bullet journaling sounds like something I need to try. My friend has had great results with it. I used to write everything down. That is a cool water bottle as well.
Bullet journaling has become so popular recently, but I have always loved doing it. It seems to be a methodic way for me to process my thoughts. Great tutorial!
With 3 kids (and a husband), I have a lot of brain dumps I need to get out of my head. A bullet journal sounds like just what I need!
The Contigo AUTOSEAL® Chill Spill-Proof Water Bottle will be perfect for my walks. I have been looking for a new bottle to use. I hate it when it leaks in my bag.
Love this idea! Journals are a great way to keep organized and it’s important when you have a lot to do throughout the day. My blog has been keeping me super busy the past few months so having a planner/journal keeps me on track so no deadlines are missed.
I honestly got so stressed out creating a bullet-journal hahahah!! I love watching YouTube videos (or blog posts!) about them though. I just can’t ‘force’ myself to be creative daily haha.
I’ve been thinking about starting my own bullet journal for some time now. I think it’s a great idea and I’m definitely starting one next year. Thanks for the tips!
my journal is everything. i can’t do anything without it as i’m so freaking busy. love this!
I am the pen and paper type with writing things down. My husband is always telling me to use my phone for notes and my calendar but I prefer a notebook still.
I love bullet journaling! And I want to get one of those water bottles too! SO cute!
I started bullet journaling a few months ago but I got out of the habit. My life was running much smoother when I was doing it consistently, I need to get back on the ball!
I haven’t tried bullet journaling but I can see the benefit of it. Being able to customize your planner would be so nice, instead of needing extra pieces for meal planning and fitness tracking. I also a huge fan of water bottles that keep my water cold. I have a habit of leaving my water bottles in different places and then having to constantly add ice.
I’ve been tempted to give this a go for the longest of times! My biggest inspiration is Pretty Not Included – she’s a bullet journal professional! And now you are too – ladies I can guarantee you that by the end of this spring I’ll be all over it too haha! x
I like that water bottle keeps liquid cold for 18 hours that would be perfect for me! I would love to start a bullet journal as well x
I love journaling! It’s so important to find time to get ideas down, and having a journal helps with that tremendously.
The Contigo AUTOSEAL® Chill Spill-Proof Water Bottle looks like just the water bottle for me. I love your simplified bullet journaling. . I think I could do that.
Love bullet journals! I used something like this in college. I really disliked the structure of a planner so making lists was way better for me.
I have a few blogger friends who swear by bullet journaling. I might just have to give it a try one of these days!
I use to have these when I was in school, and it helped soo much to get so much done! I really should get one to start planning my days!! Love to be able to brain dump
I like this idea a lot! I usually don’t have time for long lengthy journal articles so I know this is just perfect for me! I can’t believe I haven’t tried this yet!
I have seen a lot about bullet journals recently but I had no idea what they really were or how to start my own! so this is perfect, I am all in for anything that helps me stay organised
I’ve never heard of bullet journaling. It seems more like my to do list. LOL. It if works for you though that’s great.
Wow the Contigo AUTOSEAL® Chill Spill-Proof Water Bottle sounds really awesome! I would love to have one of these. The bullet journal is actually a great idea and more convenient to use.
I LOVE bullet journals. I am super organized so this type of journal would be perfect for me
I love bullet journaling too! I just got into it last year. One of my favorite things to do is check out Pinterest and Instagram to see how people are using their bullet journals to get ideas for mine.
I have never used a bullet journal. I need this so badly now that i have read this, thanks!
Thanks for this! One of my goals is to make more more lists so this was so helpful. The word bullet makes it seem easy and doable!