How to Bullet Journal: Journalling Beyond the Lines
24.01.2025

How to Bullet Journal: Journalling Beyond the Lines

Life can feel overwhelming when tasks and ideas come at you like a tidal wave. Whether you’re juggling office projects, creative campaigns, or academic deadlines, staying organised often feels like a pipe dream. But what if you could transform chaos into clarity—all with a simple notebook? Enter bullet journalling, a fully customisable system for personal productivity and creative expression. Better yet, you don’t need fancy tools or apps! Just an A5 notebook and a pen are all it takes to design a life that’s more organised, intentional, and inspired.

What is a Bullet Journal?

A bullet journal, or “BuJo,” is an all-in-one organisational tool, blending planning, tracking, and creative journaling. Unlike traditional journals, bullet journals aren’t pre-formatted. You create your own layouts, which means your journal can be as structured or as freeform as you want it to be.

The idea is to use a notebook as a creative canvas to track habits, plan your week, and brainstorm ideas. You create the structure—whether it’s minimalist lists or colourful, artistic spreads. This makes bullet journalling especially appealing to visual learners and those who thrive with hands-on, tactile organisation methods.

Why an A5 Notebook?

The A5 notebook strikes a perfect balance between portability and functionality. Compact enough to fit comfortably in your bag, and spacious enough to capture all your ideas – an A5 notebook is the perfect size for journalling.

Here’s why it’s the ultimate choice:

  • Portability: Take it anywhere—whether commuting to work, attending a class, or sipping coffee at your favourite café.
  • Customisation: Plenty of room for intricate layouts, brainstorming, and detailed plans without being bulky.
  • Durability: A quality notebook becomes your trusty companion, lasting through months of planning, dreaming, and note-taking.

When you use an A5 notebook, it’s not just a tool—it’s your desk companion, meeting partner, and daily motivator. With the right setup, it can revolutionise how you approach both your personal and professional life.

How to Start Bullet Journalling

Starting your bullet journal is refreshingly simple. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

  • A5 notebook (lined or blank)
  • Pen or pencil
  • Ruler (for creating neat layouts)

Optional:

  • Coloured markers, washi tape, or stickers for a touch of creative flair
  • Sticky notes for temporary ideas or quick reminders

Step 1: Create a Key

Begin with a key to define the symbols you’ll use. For example:

  • • = Task
  • △ = Event
  • ✓ = Completed task
  • ➝ = Migrated task

This system keeps your journal organised and easy to navigate.

Step 2: Set Up an Index

Reserve a few pages at the start for an index. This makes it simple to locate specific sections like monthly spreads, project plans and specific habit trackers.

Step 3: Design Your Layouts

Start with a basic layout—a monthly overview, weekly planner, or daily to-do list. Visual tools like charts and graphs can make these tasks more engaging and encourage consistency. You can add as you go, tailoring the journal to fit your needs.

Ideas to Inspire Your Bullet Journal:

Not sure where to start? Here are some bullet journal ideas to try:

For Productivity

  • Habit Trackers: Monitor habits like exercise, reading, or screen time.
  • Goal Setting: Break big goals into actionable steps with timelines.
  • Project Planning: Outline deadlines and milestones for personal or professional projects.

For Everyday Life

  • Meal Planning: Organise weekly menus and grocery lists.
  • Budget Tracking: Log expenses, savings and financial goals.
  • Mindfulness Logs: Reflect on gratitude, mood, or mindfulness practices.

For Creativity

  • Doodles & Sketches: Use blank pages as a creative outlet.
  • Vision Boards: Map out your short and long-term aspirations.
  • Quotes & Inspiration: Collect quotes and phrases that motivate you.

For Students

  • Assignment Planners: Break down coursework into manageable tasks.
  • Exam Preparation: Track study schedules and key topics.
  • Reading Logs: Keep notes on books or research materials.

For Professionals

  • Meeting Notes: Summarise key points and actionable tasks from meetings.
  • Networking Tracker: Record contacts and follow-ups.
  • Quarterly Goals: Track progress toward professional objectives.

Remember, a bullet journal isn’t just functional—it’s also fun! Experiment with layouts and styles until you find what resonates with you.

Why Bullet Journalling Works

The practice of bullet journalling is rooted in mindfulness and intention. Writing things down helps reinforce memory, reduces mental clutter, and provides a sense of accomplishment.

For those building new habits, the bullet journal serves as a tangible reminder of your goals. As James Clear notes in Atomic Habits:

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
Your bullet journal is the ultimate system to support long-term habit-building and goal achievement.

Tips for making it your own:

  • Start Simple: Begin with a few essential layouts like a monthly calendar or daily task list. Expand as you get comfortable.
  • Embrace Imperfection: It doesn’t need to be Instagram-perfect. Focus on functionality over aesthetics. Messy is fine if it works for you.
  • Mix Functionality with Fun: Add doodles, washi tape, or colour coding to make it engaging.
  • Review & Reflect: At the end of each week or month, set aside time to review your journal. Celebrate wins and adjust your system as needed!

A Fresh Start Awaits

Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong way to bullet journal. Whether you create intricate designs or stick to simple lists, your notebook should reflect your unique personality and goals.

With a fresh year ahead, now is the perfect time to embrace the power of bullet journalling. It empowers you to stay organised, think intentionally, and express your creativity. Whether you’re tracking habits, managing tasks, or dreaming up big ideas, your A5 notebook is ready to become whatever you need it to be. Let it be your planner, habit-builder, brainstorming tool, and creative canvas.

Here’s to a more organised, intentional, and creative year ahead! So grab a notebook, pick up a pen, and start designing your perfect system today!