How to start a bullet journal

A bullet journal isn't just a pretty way to record your notes...

It can also help you to get more organised, increase productivity and reflect on your thoughts. Whether you love making lists or would prefer to have everything in one place, a bullet journal has so many benefits. Use it as a daily planner, diary, part of your self-care routine or all of them! 

They're totally customisable so there are so many ways you can make it your own. All you need to do to get started is:

1. Collect your supplies

You don't need anything fancy to start journalling. You can start creating with just a blank notepad and pen. Some people prefer to use dotted notepads so it's easier to make different layouts on the page but it's not a necessity. You can also use highlighters to make it more colourful or organise your notes by theme. 

The rest is up to you, it all depends on your style of writing and how jazzy you want to make it look. 

2. Create an index

If you don't want to be flicking through your journal trying to find the right page, the first thing you need to create is an index. Whenever you add a new page with a new title or theme all you need to do is keep the index updated and make sure to number the pages you use. Just make sure you leave a couple of blank pages at the start of your notepad! 

If you need some inspiration on what to put in your journal, here are a few fun and functional ideas. 

To take your organisation to the next level...

Style your journal as a monthly spread. Dedicated two pages to a month lets you look at the whole month at a glance. This way you can keep up-to-date with all of your deadlines, any key dates and holidays. Take it one step further and leave room for a box filled with all of your goals and priorities!

Or make it even more detailed with a weekly spread. If you find yourself needing to break down your tasks regularly to stay on track, having a weekly planner might be better for you. Create lists of your weekly tasks so you can tick them off as you go along, separate your tasks by day and even leave space to reflect on what you have achieved. 

To turn those bad habits into good habits...

Start a habit tracker. This can include anything from exercise to spending. Use the pixel method to create a table where you can colour in the blocks when you have achieved something, for example when you have completed a workout or cleaned the flat. 

If you're in the habit of ordering too many takeaways and spending a fortune on your grocery shopping, use your bullet journal to start meal planning. All you need to do is plan what meals you would like to make for the upcoming week and limit your shopping to just what you need for those. Build up a recipe bank so you won't forget your favourite recipes - they're so much easier to find (than scrolling through your endless liked TikToks) if you keep them all in one place! 

Getting into the habit of recording your habits can help you get into a better routine, improve your health and keep you on track for your goals. 

To clear your mind...

Save a page for a separate mood tracker. You can design this any way that you like, all you have to do is create a key with different colours for each mood and start colouring. You could organise this by week, month or even for the entire year.

It might also be a good idea to add a sleep tracker, either with a separate page or onto your habit tracker. Sleep is such an important part of your routine, especially as a student. Getting enough sleep can reduce stress, boost your mood, improve brain function and so much more so it's definitely worth tracking. 

Even the act of writing and reflecting on your thoughts and days is a brilliant way to declutter your mind. Don't be afraid to pour your feelings onto the page! 

To keep track of your favourite things...

Turn a page (or three) into a TV show tracker. With so many binge-worthy TV shows coming out all of the time, it's becoming more difficult to track what you're watching and what episode you're on but this will make it that much easier. 

You can do this for absolutely anything, you have total freedom. Whether you want to create a watchlist, library or simply don't want to forget about any new hobbies you're thinking of taking up, a bullet journal is perfect for keeping track of everything on your wishlist and bucket list!  

To make your best memories unforgettable...

Make a memories log to look back on all of your amazing adventures! As a student, you've probably had uncountable heart-warming, funny and crazy moments that you never want to forget. A bullet journal can act as a great time capsule. 

Use it as a diary and document the events of each day or turn it into a scrapbook and fill it with pictures you love, memorabilia you've picked up along the way, tickets and receipts. Fill your journal with anything that brings you joy so your memories never fade. 



All that is left to do is grab your notepad, pen and start writing!