Archive for the Minimalism Category

When you start out with a new bullet journal, it can be overwhelming to figure out what pages you should include. The beauty and trouble with bullet journaling is that it’s so flexible you can do anything, which then begs the question: if you can do anything, what do you do?

1. Start With The Basic Bullet Journal Pages:

There are a few key pages that all bullet journals need to have, we outline them here. These pages are the core of any bujo and make the whole system work. The basics are:

• A key – a set of bullet journal symbols to codify your tasks
• An index – a place to catalogue your pages
• Collections – Think a focused list
• Spreads – often a way to keep track of things weekly or monthly

2. Next Figure Out What You Already Do

The best way to figure out what you should put in your bullet journal is to look at what you’re already doing. Many people jump to what they WANT to do, but humans are funny, it’s hard to change habits. First, focus on what you already do and your current needs, then you can figure out where you aspire to be.

Open up your current calendar, planner, or whatever you use and see what is there. Start to write down what you see as your major items. Look for patterns, things that come up a lot, or things that often get lost in the shuffle. You can create a collection in your new bullet journal just for this! Write down what you see as needs here.

If you don’t have any system yet (why would you be looking at bullet journals otherwise?) open up your email inbox, then look at who you email most. What types of things do you notice about that?

• What meetings do you often have?
• What projects or tasks came up in the last 30 days?
• What meeting invites did you receive?
• What tasks result from your top 5 people you email?

You can do this with your text messages on your phone, social media messenger apps, the bills you get in the mail, etc. Pretend like you’re an anthropologist analyzing the pieces of your life to figure out what you do day in, day out. Add these to your collection.

3. What Else To Include In Your Bullet Journal?

Next, think about beyond what you already do and think about what you’d like to aspire to be. I’d suggest starting with only 1-3 new things. Remember that we aren’t really good at changing behaviors and besides, its best to start with a few goals that we really nail, then move on to a new one. Studies have shown this to be way more effective.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What would my ideal day look like?
• What do I want more of in my life?
• What do I want less of in my life?
• If I didn’t have to worry about money, what would I do?

Once you answer those things, figure out what goals you have, choosing only 1-3 goals. Write those down and think about a spread that might support that goal. How can you document your progress on that goal?

4. Putting It All Together

Take your list of things you already do plus the things you hope to do. These will outline what your new bullet journal needs to do for you.

Once you you know what your Bujo needs to do, start looking for bullet journal spreads that meet those needs.

Now that you’ve figured out what you need, check out some ideas for bullet journal pages.

When I first discovered bullet journaling, I spent hours looking at other people’s amazing designs. Soon I was looking for some tools of the trade to try it out myself. Being a technical-minded person, I, of course, wanted to understand the “how” of the bullet journaling process. What was the best method? What was the best paper and journal type to use? What were the best pens for bullet journaling?

Beginning bullet journalers may feel at a loss for how to begin. For a breakdown of the bullet journal process, please check out my post on How to Start a Bullet Journal and Master Your Productivity. Once you understand the bujo basics, choose your preferred supplies. In future posts I’m going to share the best journals and supplies, I’ve found, but here I thought we’d start with the most important tool: the almighty pen.

I’ve broken down the 16 best pens for bullet journaling. I also conducted interviews with top bujo bloggers and got their take on the best supplies as well. Here is a comprehensive list of every writing utensil you need to create beautiful, artistic, and functional bullet journals!

Best Pens for Bullet Journaling

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Black Pens and Markers

While colored pens and markers are very popular for bullet journaling, it really all starts with your basic black ink. Anja from Anja Home responded to my survey with, “Besides my bullet journal notebook, I couldn’t live without a black ink pen.”

There’s a misconception that bullet journaling needs to be fussy and overcomplicated. As you well-know, I’m a simple guy. I’m all about minimalism and simplification, especially when it comes to organization and work. You don’t need artistic talent or even great handwriting for bullet journaling. Truly all you need is a black pen and paper.

So here are the best basic pens and markers for bullet journaling.

1. Staedtler Pigment Liner, Black

Amazon rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars

These pens are quite popular for bujo fans. Blogger, Little Miss Rose writes her most popular bullet journal supplies are, “All my pens! But if I had to choose one, it would be my Staedtler Pigment Liners. They don’t tend to smudge and are waterproof.”

This set of 6 Staedtler Pigment Liner pens (for the price of 4) comes with 6 different widths, ranging from .05 mm to .8 mm. They’re perfect for outlining, shading, shadowing, and more. Strong, steady lines are easy to master with the varying widths of these pens—the ideal simple black liner pen for bullet journaling needs.

One Amazon reviewer writes: “I love these pens. I originally bought them for my bullet journal, and I ended up using them for that purpose and more. I love them for any kind of writing or note-taking. I love that this pack came with six different tip sizes. I enjoy writing with each tip size for different circumstances and needs. I keep my pens in the case they came in so I can easily take them all with me in my bag. You know you have a pen obsession when you carry them with you everywhere you go. The case also snaps into its own little stand, which is nice if you are switching between pens frequently. I have used these in my Leuchtturm1917 dotted journal – there is ghosting but no bleeding.”

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2. BOXUN Calligraphy Brush Pen

Amazon rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars

These liner brush pens are another perfect set for bullet journaling. There are four different size tips in this set (two brush tips, one medium, fine, and ultra-fine), making it versatile for all outlining, shadowing, etc. If you want to learn calligraphy or lettering for the first time, these are great beginner-grade pens.

My friend, who is an avid bullet journaler, recommends these because she’s also learning calligraphy and loves them for both applications. They provide smooth, super-rich black color that doesn’t pool or smear.

A fan on Amazon writes: “I ordered these along with a hand lettering and calligraphy book. I don’t have much experience in art, but I do use other markers to create illustrations. I would say these pens aren’t professional grade but are exactly what I needed to learn how to hand letter for the first time. The various sizes made it easy for me to experiment with what I liked best as I was learning. I will definitely keep these around for various lettering crafts.”

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3. Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen

Amazon rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars

Calligraphy brushes and pens are perfect for bullet journaling because of their versatility. You can draw hard, fine lines and soft brush strokes with the same pen. These Tombow brush pens are perfect for fine line calligraphy or shading and outlining. This 2-pack of soft and hard tipped pens are a definite necessity for your bullet journal.

Amazon reviewers seem to feel the same, writing: “There honestly isn’t any competition when it comes to brush pens. These two Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens are all you need for calligraphy and illustration. The hard tip pen is blue, and the soft tip pen is green. I use both for calligraphy, but I prefer the soft tip for darker/heavier lines and the hard tip for thinner, delicate lines. Either way, you need a steady hand and control over pressure to get good quality lines. Both pens give you good control, but overall, I prefer the soft tip more. Both pens feel great when you use them. The lines are dark and do not bleed easily, and it makes you feel just THAT much more professional. I highly recommend these pens, and I will probably buy another set after mine run out of ink!”

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4. Faber-Castell Wallet Pitt Pen Nibs

Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

Another popular pen, these artist-quality Faber-Castell Pitt Pen Nibs, come in a variety of tip sizes and use pigmented India ink that is archival, meaning the ink will last and last on paper. They’re a reliable set of jet-black pens perfect for simple journaling needs.

On Amazon, one reviewer wrote: “I love these pens for sketching, and this pack is a great sampler. Highly recommend if you want to experiment with different art styles and pen techniques. They last a good long while, and the packaging can be used as storage if you want (it has a closable flap up top). The ink is a nice dark black, and the variety of brush tips is fun to switch between – half are smaller, technical pen types, while the other half are larger and more brush-like.”

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Colored Pens

Many journalers love using colored pens for their bullet journals. It’s easier to track your goals, progress, and activities when you use a color-coded system. Additionally, the color is beautiful and makes your bujo stand out.

I personally find it’s more motivating to use something that looks nice and is easy to read. Color-coding your bullet journal really helps increase the functionality. In my survey, Sylvia from Mommy Over Work wrote that her top bullet journaling supply was “Colored pens! I love items that combine functionality with aesthetic, so having a variety set allows you to color-code your writing.”

5. Crayola Super Tips Washable Markers

Amazon rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars

Crayola markers are reliable, washable, don’t bleed through paper, and last for quality use. This 80 count set includes 42 unique colors, 25 duplicates of the favorite colors, and even scented markers! It’s a perfect set for both children’s coloring and adult bullet journaling, so it’s a multi-purpose set.

A friend of mine has these, and she loves them. She uses them for her adult coloring books as well as bullet journaling and says they’ve lasted for over a year.

Another blogger from Planning Mindfully says these Crayola Super Tips are her favorite!

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6. Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens

Amazon rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

These medium-point felt tip markers are another bullet journaling favorite. They’re smudge-proof, waterproof, and won’t bleed through the paper. The .7mm tip is the perfect size for precision lines with bold color. They’re also perfect for note-taking and coloring.

Amazon featured this promising review: “I bought these for my planner and was pleased to see that they don’t bleed through the paper. All markers worked perfectly; none were dry or empty like other reviews. They dry pretty quickly, so I haven’t had any issues with transferring or smearing. Love these!”

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7. Fineliner Color Pen Set

Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

Vibrant colors and a fine-point tip make these markers ideal for journaling, note-taking, color-coding, and even basic doodling. They’re slim and comfortable in your hand and write smoothly with no bleeding through the page.

According to some of the reviews, they don’t last as long as other pens but are really ideal for bullet journaling.

One reviewer on Amazon writes: “These pens are gorgeous. The colors are vibrant, and next-to-no bleed through or bleed out. I absolutely love colored pens and have bought many, many brands, and these are better than any I have used. The value is remarkable. I like them better than Sharpie and Papermate fine point markers. None of the markers were dried out, as I have experienced on multiple occasions with Papermate markers. The colors are vastly different from each other, and the packaging description is pretty spot on. Will absolutely be making these a staple in my collection!!”

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8. ZEBRA Sarasa Porous Pen

Amazon rating: 4 out of 5 stars

These fine-liner pens are colorful, write like butter, and are perfect for drawing, journaling, or everyday note-taking. Zebra is an excellent brand for journaling pens because of their long-lasting quality. Color-code your journal, calendar, notes, etc. with the bright, vibrant colors and create perfect lines with the reliable fine-point tip.

The reviewers on Amazon highly recommend these pens: “I LOVE these pens! They are excellent “scratchy pens” – they write wonderfully, the colors are vibrant, and make taking work notes so much better. I’ve already bought some for myself and another pack for a friend as a gift.”

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9. Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens

Amazon rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

These ultra-fine point pens are .3mm, making them perfect for intricate, fine lines and designs. The tip is metal-clad, reinforcing the fine tip for steady penmanship. The barrel of the pen is an ergonomic triangle shape, making it ultra-comfortable in your hand.

On Amazon, these Fineliner pens receive rave reviews: “These are gorgeous pens! All of the felt tips were functional – not dried out and not too rough on the pages. I use these mostly in my Leuchtturm1917 journal. There is some bleed through on thin papers, such as the sheets in that particular journal.”

“The pens are shaped with three angles; as someone with joint problems, I’ve found this extremely helpful in minimizing pain when I write. This function also helps the pens click back into the container. The container’s lid has a pop-back function that lets you stand the entire case upright for easy organization while you write. They are made very well, though I did notice my most-used colors’ felt tips were smushed a little after prolonged use (I’m talking a few months of heavy use). Overall, these are quality pens in brilliant colors, and I would buy more from Staedtler.”

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10. Sharpie Art Pens

Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

I will personally vouch for the perfection of Sharpie pens—these are my go-to felt tip pens for writing, doodling, journaling, basically any note-taking. You can get these pens in an 8, 12, 16, or 24-count set. They come with a hard case so you can keep them organized while using them. Sharpie pens are designed with the well-known Sharpie quality, but with no bleed-through on paper.

There are quite a few Sharpie art pen fans on Amazon too: “I’m a full-time writer and am always on the hunt for a good pen. I have standards, and most pens will skip, run out of ink too quickly, lack a variety of colors, hurt my fingers, or tear the pages I’m working on. It is incredibly frustrating to be mid-scene/note-taking/brainstorming to have your pen die on you or be finicky.”

“Enter the holy grail of pens: Sharpie.”

“These don’t bleed through the page for me, and I even use them in my bullet journal I keep (Leuchtturm1917). They are my staple, and I routinely buy back up packs of these, so I always have my favorite colors on hands–the dark green is a beautiful color. These are also excellent for marking up manuscripts during revisions. The only color I don’t use is the yellow because it’s too light and not easily legible. If you’re looking for a great pen that is trusty and sturdy and won’t bleed, I highly recommend these, especially if you’re a writer. I’ve used these exclusively for the last two years, and I’m never looking back!”

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11. Pilot FriXion Clicker Retractable Erasable Gel Pens

Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

Remember the hype of erasable pens back in the day? You were the coolest kid in class if you had magic pens. Well, Pilot FriXion pens are the modern-day cool kid’s erasable gel pen. These pens are reliable, smooth pens that last. This pack comes with multiple colors, including basic black. Use for bullet journaling, everyday note-taking, planner art—they’re so versatile, and if you screw up, erase and continue!

Devotees of FriXion pens highly recommend them: “Love, Love, Love!! I have purchased these pens over and over! I am a 4th-year college student, and these have truly helped me organize my notes. They are so great for color coding, and I love that you can erase because I know for a fact if I wasn’t able to, my notes would be so sloppy! I have recommended these to other students and friends, and they too have loved them. The pens do write like a gel pen, so you have to be careful to let the ink dry a little before going over it with a highlighter, for example. I would also suggest trying not to erase hard as you will either rip your paper or make it all wrinkly! Overall, these are my favorite!”

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12. Pilot FriXion Colors Erasable Marker

Amazon rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars

If you are amazed by the existence of erasable pens, wait until you hear about erasable MARKERS. Yes, that’s right—FriXion markers are erasable, vibrant, and have the perfect fine-to-medium point for smooth and versatile writing.

A note on FriXion pens: the ink erases due to heat created by the friction of the eraser so that ink will reappear in the right temperatures (-10 degrees Celsius, or 14 degrees Fahrenheit). Pop your journal in the freezer and watch the ink appear! Likewise, don’t leave pens or your journal in a hot car, as the ink may disappear under heated conditions.

An Amazon reviewer writes, “I was recently introduced to FriXion pens. I bought these to use on my Everlast and Wave notebook, and I’m pretty amazed. The markers are sturdy with a fine tip that produces vibrant color. They erase using the rubber tip on the cap, a FriXion eraser, or a hairdryer. I’ve printed off several of my toddler’s favorite cartoon characters and let her color them with these markers, and she is amazed when I use the hairdryer to make the ink disappear like magic for her to color again. Definitely saves a lot of paper since she LOVES to color. They are definitely worth the money, in my opinion.”

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13. Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens

Amazon rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

InkJoy pens are one of the most reliable pens I’ve found. The vivid color ink dries quickly, eliminating the risk of smearing. The fine point is perfect for smooth writing or journaling, and the pen grip is comfortable. They’re super versatile for use and they last, making them a great go-to pen not only for bullet journaling but any note-taking!

The Amazon reviews support the hype on these pens as well: “These Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens ROCK! I have an obsession with pens, seriously! I’m left-handed and fellow lefties reading this know the struggle of Gel pens and our left hands. Nothing but smeared ink, colored hands, and smudged writing – but not anymore. A coworker had bought a single one of these paper mate pens and let me try it, within 30 seconds I was hooked. First of all, the ink dries quickly, so I didn’t smudge it at all. Ever. Second, they write so smoothly. Third, the colors are vivid and bright, and fourth, the pens feel nice in your hands! I have to hide these pens from everyone else because they are always trying to run off with them.”

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Highlighters and Markers

Highlighters and markers are also popular supplies for bullet journaling. You can use highlighters to emphasize certain items on your list. Markers are useful for drawing, adding color, filling in grid trackers, and other bujo activities.

Again, while highlighters and markers aren’t critical to bullet journaling, they make the process more aesthetically pleasing and fun. I definitely heard popular reviews of highlighters during my bullet journal supply survey.

14. Zebra Pen Mildliner, Double Ended Highlighter

Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars

When it comes to highlighting markers and pens, I LOVE these double-ended pens. One end is a broad-point highlighter, and the other end is a fine point, perfect for journaling and fine, steady lines. The color of these pens is a perfect mild hue, making them ideal for layering colors (without bleeding or smudging).

On Amazon, reviewers recommend these for bullet journaling, writing, “These markers are great for bullet journaling. Unlike a highlighter, these “mildliners” provide a soft, pastel-like color that looks neater and less overwhelming on the page. They also come in a wider range of colors. I use them to create simple headings on my bullet journal pages or to color in drawings. The grey color is especially cool for a really subtle effect. The other great thing about these markers is that they feature two ends, one a traditional, blunt highlighter end, and a finer point on the other end for detail work. You won’t regret buying these if you are a bullet journal fan or even a student or academic who uses highlighters while reading.”

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15. Stabilo BOSS Original Highlighter

Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 5 Stars

These pastel highlighters are perfect for your bullet journal creation. The highlighters feature a chiseled tip for wide lines and fine lines. The highlighters are designed with an anti-dry out technology, so you can leave the cap off or up to 4 hours without ruining the marker. This set adds the perfect touch of light pastel color to your bullet journal or planner. You can get a dual set of pastel and primary-colored highlighters here, as well.

On Amazon, these are commended for multiple applications: “These are beyond excellent. For researchers or anyone else who highlights text, some regular highlighters are too dense and sometimes too dark. You can’t read the text you highlighted. But with these Stabilo Pastels, you can read the text easily. You can color-code your high lights in a way that can’t be done with darker-ink ones. Also, the pastel color is pleasing to look at, not off-putting like the fluorescents that are too bright and jazzy for the serious researcher. I give Stabilo an A+.”

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16. Feela Bible Gel Highlighters

Amazon rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

These highlighters are designed to highlight the super-thin pages of the Bible perfectly. Reviewers recommend them because the ink is vibrant, the color is bold and stands out, but the ink is gentle and doesn’t bleed through the pages at all. They’re designed for use on light, thin paper, so they’re a perfect option for bullet journaling, using vibrant, intense colors without ruining other pages.

One Amazon reviewer writes: “I use these for Bible journaling, but they would be excellent for a student or anyone needing to emphasize passages they want to remember. These highlighters do NOT bleed through the paper, and there is very little shadow or ghosting on the other side of the paper. These are smooth writing and no grainy looking spots when you highlight words. They glide across the paper seamlessly and deliver a consistent color layout. I love the peach color, which is a new one, and the two greens that are different hues, as well as the blues and purples being different hues. It is a real plus to have colors that vary from similar brands.”

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Other Supplies for Bullet Journaling

Throughout my survey, the other important item (besides a high-quality journal—more on those in a future post) that kept coming up was a ruler. Many bullet journalers mentioned it was so important to use a ruler to create straight lines, grids, and charts in their journal.

So, as you can see, a ruler is another vital tool for creating bullet journals.

Again, bullet journaling is as straightforward or as complex as you like, but like any task, it’s easiest if you use proper tools. If you’re ready to start bullet journaling, I recommend exploring the many pens and tools to help you create a beautiful journal that you’ll love to use!

Your Turn!

• What’s your favorite pen for bullet journaling?
• What bullet journal supplies are your must-haves?

So you’re looking for some creative bullet journal page ideas? One of the great things about bullet journaling is that it’s a very flexible way to organize your life. It’s helped me tremendously with my tasks and time management, but the trouble with being able to do anything is to figure out where to start.

After using a bujo for years now, I figured I’d share some of my go-to bullet journal pages types that should be in every journal, plus some extras that others find super helpful when adding to your notebook.

How To Organize Your Bullet Journal Pages?

Keep in mind that your pages can be in almost any order because, with your index page, you’ll be able to keep track of where everything is. As you get more experienced with journaling, you’ll figure out what your first starting pages should be.

For me, I start by numbering all the pages if they aren’t already. After that the first page of my bullet journal is usually a “this journal belongs to” page, then I add my key and index so they face each other.

From there I usually think broadly and then narrow in scope. So I start with yearly planning and goals, then narrow to months and, within the months, I narrow again to weekly.

How Many Pages Should Be In A Bullet Journal?

There is no hard and fast rule: Include your index and key, then start with a weekly spread. Add more pages as a need arises.

For most people they’ll often have your standard bullet journal pages, then add weekly spreads as the months go by. Some people like to insert monthly cover pages to delineate the weeks. In January I’m usually doing a lot of goal setting and yearly planning, so I often will layout pages for items like bucket lists, workout trackers , or other trackers to keep a record of new habits I want to build.

Bullet Journal Cover Page Ideas

Use fun doodles, sketches or designs to dress up the first page of your bullet journal. If you aren’t super artistic consider using stamps, stickers, stencils and washi tape to do some of the work for you. This is a great place to get really creative with your BUJO!

This Journal Belongs To Page Ideas

Don’t put in all this work only to lose it! I usually start my journal with a simple page letting people know who’s journal it is if they find it. Since you will often include this is every journal, consider getting a stamp as a simple way to label your journal. Some journals come with a pre-printed place to fill out your name like Moleskin notebooks.

Bullet Journal Key Ideas

The Key is what makes your bujo super effective. Different bullet journal symbols let you further organize [LINK] your to-lists, tasks, and other collections. Use these different signifiers to code your different pages and keep track of it all. The key page is where you reference your symbols to keep it all straight.

Flip Out Bullet Journal Key Ideas

This is a really great hack for your key or index. Using a bit of heavier stock paper, you can keep it right in front of you just by flipping it out, no matter what page you’re on! Anchor the tab with some Washi tape to dress it up.

Index Pages To Keep You Organized

One of the first pages you’ll include is your index page. Your index page will let you catalogue where things are and easily find them later. Every time you create a new spread or collection, add it to your index. This simple method overcomes one of the major hurtles of paper journals: searchability.

Daily Spreads And Layouts

Sometimes you need to get focused on a single day: daily spreads and layouts can be used to plan your day and keep track of your to do lists. Using a daily planner spread gives you some extra space on the page to write down all the little things you need to keep track of. You can do a page per day or choose a layout that has multiple days per page.

Weekly Bullet Journal Spreads

This is my preferred format; I find that a one-page weekly spread is the perfect size for most of my needs. The question of daily vs weekly is a matter of preference, so don’t be afraid to try different layouts for a few weeks, then switch it up until you find something that works well for you.

Monthly Layouts

Laying out a whole month can be tricky, but sometimes you really need a view like this for planning. Use this month view to map out what’s coming up in your schedule, mark important dates, and list important deadlines. During the holidays it can be really helpful around Christmas or Thanksgiving with all that goes on in these months.

Monthly Cover Page Layouts

Monthly cover pages are a great place to dress up your journal. While weekly spreads are working pages, taking some time at the end of each month to create a new title page for the start of the next month is a great way to reset. I find that getting creative with your pages once a month is about the right amount. Some people spend days creating gorgeous pages in their journal, but realistically once a month strikes a great balance of getting things done while also bringing some creativity to the mix.

Year At A Glance – Yearly Spreads

Come January I’m thinking about what I want to get done in the coming year. A yearly spread can help you get organized and pointed in the right direction. Outside of January planning I don’t often use these “year at a glance” layouts, but see what works for you!

Bullet Journal Goals Page Ideas

A bullet journal is a great way to keep focused on what you want to achieve. Bullet journaling really helps me get things done and move ahead more than other journaling options. Use some of these layouts to outline your goals, track your progress, and celebrate your success! Get your year started off right with goal planning in your BUJO!

Workout and Fitness Trackers

Work up a sweat, stay motivated, shed those pounds, and build those muscles. People who track what they eat often eat a third less calories, so use workout and fitness trackers to keep you moving forward with your health goals. Trackers like these help you stay accountable and look back at all you’ve achieved when all you want to do is watch Netflix on the couch.

Savings and Budgeting Layout Ideas

Get your finances in order by tracking your spending, staying on top of your savings and sticking to your budget. Pages like this will help you do just that!

Brain Dump Bullet Journal Pages

Declutter your brain quickly with these brain dump spreads. I find that if an idea is sticking in my brain and I can’t get it out, putting my ideas down on paper really helps. I usually spend around 5 minutes writing down everything that is going through my mind, outlining ideas that I’m excited about, or things that bug me. In the end I usually feel better and can move on with my work.

Contact Lists And Address Pages

In the age of digital I still find a place to write down contact info helpful. How often does someone lose a phone, drop it in the water or your contacts get erased by accident. A paper contact list and address book is a great solution to all these modern problems.

Birthdays Tracker Ideas

If you’re anything like me, you’re terrible at remembering when people’s birthdays are. A list of birthdays helps you keep on top of them. Also consider important dates such as anniversaries, holidays, etc.

Mood Trackers Ideas

For those who are trying to improve their mental health, not just their physical, a daily mood tracker can be really helpful. Fun designs that you color in to indicate your mood keeps it fun, but also lets you spot trends and patterns.

Habit Tracking Pages

A daily habit tracker helps you keep up momentum when your trying to establish a new pattern. Keeping a log of it lets you keep on top of it and get back on track when you start to slip.

Level 10 Life Wheel

Create a level 10 life wheel or worksheet to master different areas of your life. I’ve found this to be really easy for me to use, there is some actual science behind it, and it quickly shows you what areas you are deficient in.

Bucket List Page Ideas

Set lifelong or seasonal goals for yourself. Think about the big things you want to do in life and write them down, then start checking them off. You can find countless seasonal bucket lists like “fall bucket list items” to make sure you do all the fun things during the season.

Packing List Ideas

Don’t forget a thing for your next trip with a packing list collection. Group like items in fun ways, use check boxes to make sure you pack everything you need and don’t worry about forgetting anything.

Blank Bullet Journal Pages With Decorative Borders

Sometimes you just need a blank canvas to get your ideas down, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be boring! Use these blank BUJO pages with some flourish for your next spread.

Gratitude Logs

There is a lot to say about focusing on the good things and a gratitude log does just that. Life can get messy, but a way to keep track of the good things keeps your day a little brighter and focused on what’s important.

Books To Read Log

If you’re anything like me, you’re a major book person. I constantly have 10-15 books on deck to read next and I’m often reading more than one book at a time. Keep track of the books you’ve read, the ones you want to read next, and rate them once you’re finished.

Movies To Watch

This is a great way to keep a list of movies you want to see, movies that are coming out soon, or movies that you’ve already watched.

Sleep Tracker/Log

The older I get, the more I realize how important sleep is. Use a sleep track to log when you go to bed, when you get up, and how rested you feel after a night’s sleep.

Quotes Page

These pages serve as reminders, inspiration, and even add some wisdom to your bullet journal.

Post-It Notes Bullet Journal Pages

Using sticky notes in your bullet journal is a really great way to design a single page and reuse the design over and over again. You can design boxes to “hold” the post-its for you. Consider using different sizes, shapes, and colors to organize your journal and stay flexible while doing it!

To sum up, a bullet journal is super flexible so you can pick and choose bullet journal pages that suit your needs. I hope these page ideas helped you choose different layouts and spreads that will suit your needs when you design your own journal!

Using Washi Tape in your bullet journal can help take your spreads to the next level with ease. If you’re anything like me, you look at stunning bujo spreads online and wish you could do the same. Some of you might be super talented, but for those like me, I needed a leg up and Washi Tape did just that!

What Is Washi Tape

For the uninitiated, Washi Tape feels similar to masking tape, but it’s also flexible and durable. The biggest distinction is that Washi Tape often comes in fun patterns used to decorate your journal. There are a ton of solid color options as well as patterns of all kinds. You can find just about any design you’d ever want, only for a buck or two.

What Is Washi Tape Used For?

At its simplest, use it as tape! Washi Tape can be used in your journal or planner pages to add some color, to quickly decorate a spread, be a border on a page or whatever else you can think of. Many people also use Washi Tape to organize themselves, creating a color-coded system to quickly label and organize their pages or tasks.

Is Washi Tape Removeable?

Washi Tape is Removable, one of its key features is that you can peel it off and not leave [much] residue. This makes it great for people like me who sometimes need to adjust things later. Depending on your tape, you’ll sometimes find that some residue is left behind, but I find this is pretty minimal. You can lightly apply the tape at first, when you are happy with its placement, go ahead and press it down in place.

How To Use Washi Tape In A Bullet Journal

What is really great about using Washi Tape in your bullet journal is you can pick up a bunch of rolls for very cheap. This gives you a lot of options on how to use it. Using Washi Tape can also help make good looking pages pretty quickly, there are some people who spend hours making a single page, I just don’t have time for that!

Here are some genius ways to use Washi Tape in your bullet journal

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Using Washi Tape To Color Code Things

Washi Tape can be used to dress up your designs, but it can also be used to color code things to add a whole new level of organization! You can use different colors or patterns to tie different tasks, events, or even whole pages to a certain topic. This can be a great way to quickly find things.

Time Block Your Weekly Spreads

One thing I really like with digital options is the ability to have bars that extend across multiple days to track certain blocks of time. Using Washi Tape lets me quickly do this in my weekly or monthly spreads.

Cover Up Mistakes

You make an awesome page that you spent a lot of time and effort on, then all a sudden, you make a mistake. Channel your inner Bob Ross and call it a “happy accident”! Washi tape lets you quickly cover up a mistake that could have otherwise ruined a great page. Using a solid color or dense pattern will let you block out the mistake, while giving you a new surface to write on.

Color Code Pages With Washi Tape Tabs

Are there certain pages you want to highlight or you refer to a lot? Add a piece of Washi Tape along the edge to make the page stand out and reinforce the edge you’ll be flipping to a lot.

Washi Tape Stickers And Shapes

If you have a paper punch or are just talented with a pair of scissors, you can take washi tape, apply it to a piece of paper or ideally wax paper, punch out a shape and bam! You have yourself a sticker! With this technique you can make a ton of different looks to quickly dress up one of your bullet journal pages.

Create Washi Tape Flags or Clips

This is really helpful to flag your current weekly spread or an important collection such as a to-do list. Take your tape, fold it around one side of a paper clip and if you want, use some scissors to cut little flag angles into it. What’s great about this is you can then move the flags to a new page when you’ve migrated a collection or moved onto a new weekly spread.

Cut Out Elaborate Quotes Or Titles

Have a quote or piece of text you want to call out? Print off a stencil of it, then apply bands of overlapping Washi Tape, then use a X-Acto knife to cut it out. Peel it off and you have an instant text treatment for your next page.

Make Quick Work Of Common Elements

I just discovered they make Washi Tape with checkboxes ! Make a to-do list quickly with this tape. They also have Washi Tape days of the week and Washi Tape monthly Calendars.

Decorate Your Bullet Journal Pages With Washi Tape

The most common way to use the tape is to dress up a page in your BUJO. Here are some Washi Tape ideas for your bullet journal.

Make Your Journal Yours

Dress up the cover of your journal to quickly take any mass-produced journal into something that’s uniquely yours.

Washi Tape Collections

A simple way to start with Washi Tape in your BUJO is to make a simple spread that you can use to show off your favorite Washi Tapes. For a quick way, find a stamp that you can create a repeated pattern that you fill in with Washi tape patterns.

Use It As Tape

It may seem simple, but don’t forget that you can attach things easily with the tape itself.

Get Creative With Washi Tape Ideas For Your Bullet Journal!

The thing I like the best about Washi Tape when I’m bullet journaling is that I can quickly add a good-looking pattern to a page without needing a lot of artistic skill. Beyond just decorating, it lets me color code important things, cover up mistakes, and create grids for lists or calendars quickly.

Your Turn!

• How do you use Washi Tape in your journal?