5 Bullet Journal Tips for Beginners

Bullet journals are a fun and creative way to customize a planner to your needs. Whether you’re looking for a new creative outlet or you’re hoping to stay organized, there are a few things you can do to make bullet journals feel less intimidating and more fun! Here are five tips we recommend for beginners so you can incorporate bullet journaling into your day:

1. Brainstorm your bullet journal spread.

One of the best things about keeping a bullet journal is that you can completely customize it to your needs! We recommend taking a look at the things most important to you in your life and making a list of ideas you want to include in your bullet journal pages. Some ideas you can try in a custom journal spread are monthly goals, highlights of the month, habit trackers, reading list, spending tracker, daily planner by the hour, or monthly overviews.

2. Draft in pencil.

Before going wild with colors and decorations, we recommend grabbing a ruler and first drafting your creations in pencil. You’ll feel better knowing you can always go back if you make a mistake. You can always erase afterward!

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Fun Fact: No one realizes the white tip is actually a really good eraser! These pencils

3. Choose a color scheme.

After you’re finished drafting your creations in pencil, grab some markers or a few of our colored Jotter Pens to add some color to your spread! For a basic bullet journal, we recommend trying three of your favorite colors first and incorporating more as you see fit. Be sure to let the ink or pigment dry before you go erasing all your pencil lines!

4. Decorate beyond doodling.

Simple doodles are a great way to customize your journal, but if you’re not up for drawing, there are lots of other ways to add personality and fun to your creations. Use our sticker sets on the corners of your pages or incorporate washi tape to label or decorate different parts of your journal.

5. Be consistent with your practice.

With a little practice, bullet journaling can be a great self-care activity that helps you be creative while staying organized. As you keep trying new spreads, you’ll find new ways to incorporate your ideas in a less intimidating way. The bullet journal process is meant to be enjoyed, so relax and have fun!