Top 10 Life-Changing Bullet Journal Tips
- L Layton
- Jun 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 23
Top Tips for Bullet Journals to Supercharge Your Life Organization
Introduction: What Is Bullet Journaling?
In our fast-paced world, staying organized can feel like an uphill battle. Enter bullet journaling: a flexible, customizable system that’s taken the world by storm for its ability to streamline life, boost productivity, and create space for mindfulness. Created by Ryder Carroll, a digital product designer, bullet journaling (often called "BuJo") is part planner, part diary, part to-do list, and entirely adaptable to your lifestyle.
At its core, a bullet journal uses rapid logging—simple bullets and symbols—to quickly capture thoughts, tasks, and events. But beyond the basics, it becomes a personal productivity powerhouse. Whether you're juggling work deadlines, trying to track habits, or planning a vacation, a bullet journal can help bring clarity and intention to your day
What You Need to Get Started
The beauty of bullet journaling is that it’s low-cost and low-pressure. You don’t need a drawer full of art supplies or fancy gear to begin—just a few simple tools:
A Notebook Any notebook will do! Dot grid notebooks are especially popular because they strike a balance between structure and freedom, but lined or blank pages work just as well. Popular choices include the Leuchtturm1917, Moleskine, and Scribbles That Matter.
A Pen (or a Few) Use what you like writing with—black ink, gel pens, or even a fountain pen if you’re feeling fancy. Some people enjoy adding color for headings or highlights, so having a few colored pens or mildliners can be nice, but not essential.
A Ruler (Optional) Helpful for drawing clean lines for calendars, trackers, or boxes—especially if you like neat layouts.
Stickers, Washi Tape, and Highlighters (Totally Optional) If you want to get creative, decorating your journal can be fun and motivating. But don’t feel pressure to make it “Insta-perfect.” Function always comes first.
A Few Minutes a Day Most importantly, set aside just 5–10 minutes daily or weekly to check in with your journal. That’s where the magic really happens.
With these simple tools, you can start organizing your life one bullet at a time.
1. Start with a Simple Key
Your bullet journal key is the foundation—it helps you categorize your entries at a glance. Begin with a basic system:
● Task
○ Event
– Note
✔ Completed
> Migrated (moved to another day)Keep it simple at first. As you get more comfortable, you can expand with custom symbols for work, health, finances, or creativity.
2. Use an Index and Number Your Pages
This is what makes a bullet journal more than a notebook. Number each page as you go, and log its content in the index at the front. It’s an easy way to keep track of lists, important dates, or reference pages without flipping endlessly.
3. Master the Monthly and Daily Logs
Monthly logs offer a bird’s-eye view of upcoming tasks and events. Daily logs, on the other hand, zoom into what you need to do today. Use your monthly log to set goals and review your progress at the end of the month. This habit builds accountability and perspective.
4. Incorporate Habit Trackers
Tracking habits helps you build routines and stick with them. Want to drink more water? Meditate daily? Limit screen time? Set up a grid where each day you fill in a box for each habit. It’s simple but surprisingly motivating.
5. Use Collections for Everything
Collections are themed lists or notes that live outside the calendar system. Think: “Books to Read,” “Gift Ideas,” “Meal Plans,” or “Project Breakdowns.” When a thought doesn’t fit into your day or month, give it a home in a collection.
6. Plan a Weekly Spread
While traditional BuJo focuses on monthly and daily logs, many people benefit from a weekly overview. This can help with medium-term planning, like seeing how busy your week is or blocking time for deep work, errands, or self-care.
7. Make It Yours (But Don’t Overthink Aesthetics)
You don’t need calligraphy pens or washi tape to bullet journal effectively. It can be minimalist or artistic, whatever helps you stay consistent. That said, making it yours—adding quotes, doodles, or color coding—can turn planning into a calming ritual rather than a chore.
8. Review Regularly
Set aside a few minutes each week to review your journal. Migrate unfinished tasks, reflect on your progress, and reset your goals. These moments of review are where real transformation happens.
9. Be inspired
Use Pinterest and other platforms to give you inspiration from your fellow Bullet Journalers. Here is our journaling Pinterest board, showing aesthetics and new ideas to help inspire and to welcome you to the online journaling community.
10. Don’t Be Afraid to Evolve
Your bullet journal is a tool, not a rulebook. If a layout isn’t working, change it. If you skip a few days, just pick up where you left off. The power of BuJo lies in its adaptability. Let it evolve with your needs.
Final Thoughts
Bullet journaling is more than a productivity hack—it’s a method of staying present, intentional, aligned with your goals and a way to express creativity. Whether you're managing a busy family, launching a side hustle, or simply trying to remember where you put your keys, a bullet journal can help bring calm to the chaos.
Try a few of these tips, experiment with what works for you, and most importantly, keep going. You’ll be surprised how quickly a notebook can change your life.
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