Archives for January 2019

I get lots of questions from bullet journalers – mostly those new to the system and eager to start- regarding the essential bullet journal supplies –  Which notebook should I use? Do I need a special pen? Will colored pencils work?

If you find that you’re asking yourself any of those questions, what you should really be asking is….

AM I READY TO BE A BULLET JOURNAL SUPER STAR?

Yes? Well, you’re in luck. The good news is, you only need a few essential bullet journal supplies to get yourself on the road to bullet journal greatness. Really all you need is notebook, (lined, dotted, or blank) and a pen or pencil. It’s as simple as that. But that’s not exactly what I started with. I got a little bit fancier with my supplies.

Many bullet journalers (bullet journalists?) use the fanciest of fountain pens, brush pens, and expensive artist’s colored pencils. But that’s totally unnecessary. IF you’re an artist, then by all means purchase a gorgeous set of soft colored pencils. If you’re a calligrapher, than you may want to purchase an expensive fountain pen, a variety of nibs, and brush pens.

But that’s not me!

In my humble opinion, you need to start with a quality notebook, a black pen (or in my case a few pens), a set of colored pens, and an inexpensive set of colored pencils. That’s it!

ESSENTIAL BULLET JOURNAL SUPPLIES – Notebooks

My personal favorite is the brand Leuchtturm 1917. It’s a German company, but you can find their notebooks in the US quite easily.

Here’s a picture of my three bullet journals.

First, the orange Leuchtturm B5 in the middle is what I use for work. It’s 10 x 7 inches in size and roughly the dimensions of the composition notebook you may have used in elementary school.

The big daddy blue Leuchtturm A4 in the back comes in at a whopping 9 x 12 inches. Honestly, I’m still trying to figure out how to use this one – it’s huge! Let me know if you have any ideas.

All three Leuchtturms are filled with Ink-proof paper. The A5 and B5 – the smaller two – are 80 g/sqm while the larger A4 is (100 g/sqm). For us newbies, that just means that Master A5 size has a little bit thicker, better quality paper. But the quality of the paper for the A5 and B5 is just peachy, too.

SOME OTHER NEAT LEUCHTTURM FEATURES:

• Perforated and detachable sheets in the back
• Gusseted pocket
• Blank table of contents and numbered pages
• Page marker
• Elastic enclosure band
• Thread-bound book opens flat
• Sticker for labelling and archiving

Now of course Leuchtturm 1917 is by no means the only brand of notebook perfect for bullet journaling, Rhodia and Moleskine are another two favorites of the bullet journaling community. I’m not as familiar with them, but I know they both use high-quality paper, and give you the option of dotted, lined, grid, or even blank pages. Just try a quick amazon search to find the perfect match for you.

Check out all three notebooks here:

• Leuchtturm 1917 A5
• Leuchtturm 1917 B5
• Leuchtturm 1917 A4

If you’re interested in some more in-depth information on the different types of notebooks, read my Finding the Perfect Notebook post.

Essential Bullet Journal Supplies – Pens for Writing

While I would not consider it one of my essential bullet journal supplies, if you want to be super fancy and have tons of expendable income, then by all means invest in a fountain pen. I have no need for a fancy fountain pen because I have no hand lettering talent and I choose to spend my money elsewhere. My absolutely all-time favorite pens are ….. ready for it?…… just over one dollar each if you buy a variety pack.

These Sakura Micron pens are the bomb! I started with one pen, I think the 0.3 mm tip, and I used it dry. So I found a pack on amazon and I just love them so much. I posted this example on Instagram showing tip width of each pen in the pack.

Do you see what I mean by no hand lettering talent? We all do the best we can…

 I used the Microns here in my monthly spread, too.

I used the 08 for the January title; the 05 for the lines and subtitles; the 03 for the letters of the week and dates; and the 02 for all the entries. There’s also a 01 and an 005, but I haven’t used those smaller widths yet. The ink does ghost a bit in these notebooks, but all inks do and it doesn’t bother me one bit. And, the tips on this 80 g/sqm paper in the Leuchtturm 1917 is LIKE BUTTER! So smooth. Sakura Micron pens come in a variety of sizes and colors if boring black is not really your thing.

Essential Bullet Journal Supplies – Pens for Drawing and Coloring

This is another category in which you can spend a bazillion dollars or you can keep it simple. I chose to keep it relatively simple. I love my Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens. The tip is really fine (hence the name) and the colors are gorgeous. You definitely have to be careful with the delicate tips. My four year old got ahold of my set one day and let’s just say I’m down one green and one purple.

If you’re not a big fan of the Staedtler pens shown above, many other bullet journalers use Stabilo Fine Point Pens. They’re even a little less expensive.

Essential Bullet Journal Supplies – Colored Pencils

The bottom line with colored pencils….ANY WILL DO. Isn’t that great? I purchased some fancy artist colored pencils a while back and they worked just fine. Then, I borrowed a few from my daughter’s set that she got from grandpa and they worked just as well and there were a million colors! Now, if you’re an artist or at least believe yourself to be one, then by all means spend a little more money on colored pencils, but if you’re like me and can’t really tell the difference, just buy a set with lots and lots of color options. We all need 12 different shades of purple, right? Right!

Alas, I do not have a picture of my own bullet journal with my colored pencils all lined up to show you here, so I will just post a few links to some colored pencil sets instead, sound good? Great.

• Shuttle Art Colored Pencils – 136 different colors – swoon!
• Prismacolor Premiere Colored Pencils – set of 48
• Triangular Shaped Colored Pencils – set of 48
• Crayola Twistables – These crayons work like colored pencils and you never have to sharpen them. Win!

Well, there you have it! To gather the essential bullet journal supplies, find yourself a quality notebook, a few nice pens, maybe some colored pencils and you’ll be well on your way to bullet journal greatness.

PIN ME!

If you’d like more bullet journal inspiration, be sure to follow my bullet journal board on Pinterest.

Just What the Heck is a Calendex, Anyway?

If you’re new to bullet journaling, you may not have heard of a Bullet Journal Calendex before. It’s a way of organizing your time-sensitive posts into a visual calendar and reference the page number. Simply put:

CALENDAR + INDEX = CALENDEX

If you’re a bullet journal newbie, this may not be the best use of your time quite honestly. If you’re just cracking open your bullet journal, you may want to check out my post on future planning. There, I have all sorts of ideas to get you started on mapping out your future; many are as simple as writing the dates vertically on the page and voila! You have a plan for any month.

However, the calendex is not that simple. Think of the Calendex as bullet journal level 2.0

BULLET JOURNAL CALENDEX – THE NEXT LEVEL IN PLANNING

There are plenty of tutorials on how to actually sketch a calendex in your bullet journal. I will not be walking you through the process step by step. What you do want to think about, however, is how many months you’d like on your page.

Most people stick with the traditional 12 months.

I personally found that my space was too limited in a 12 month spread. I could only write down page numbers and maybe one more item of information. So, I decided to include just three months on each page. This allows me to add all sorts of information such as vacation days, when my hubby will be out of town, my daughter’s soccer practices, etc.

ADD A LITTLE COLOR

You see that I’ve color coded my events. That idea was borrowed from the awesome BohoBerry. And, on instagram (my second home) I found a bullet journalist that used colored pencils to shade in her weekends – brilliant! I’m a teacher so I also shaded in all my vacation days. I just love this idea!

By the way, the only colored pens I use are from this fabulous Staedtler set of 36. The tips are super fine and the colors are gorgeous. The colored pencils are from this super reasonable set of 136 from Shuttle Art. If you’d like more information on the supplies I use, be sure to check out my post, Essential Bullet Journal Supplies.

Here’s an instagrammer that is using her bullet journal for school. She created a calendex for the second semester. So clever!

This bullet journaler took another popular road and combined a calendex on the left with the Alastair Method on the right (can you believe it even has a name?! I love this bullet journal community).

Now that you’ve seen a few examples, maybe you’re ready to jump right in. I would suggest you read about Boho Berry’s updated bullet journal. There she has a gorgeous photo of her 2016 calendex

PLANNER PEACE AND INSPIRATION

As always, the remainder of my post will be full of inspiration and (hopefully) planning peace.

There you have it! Lots and lots of Bullet Journal Calendex ideas to inspire you and bring you planner peace – I hope.

If you have a calendex blog post you’d like others to see, feel free to post it in the comments below.

PIN ME!

If you’re looking for more bullet journal inspiration, check out my Bullet Journal board on Pinterest. Or follow all of Zen of Planning on Pinterest.

Looking for more advanced bullet journal ideas? Check out the following posts:

• Tracking Social Media in My Bullet Journal
• Fancy Bullet Journal Headers
• Bullet Journal Book Trackers
• Christmas Planning in Your Bullet Journal

Happy Planning!

-Kat

A.K.A. Bullet Journal Daily Logs

On my Instagram sister site, @showmeyourplanner, the question I get asked the most is

“HOW DO I GET STARTED?”

As with trying anything new, beginning a new bullet journal can be intimidating. There are a ton of conflicting resources out there telling you what bullet journal elements you should use or shouldn’t use. And the truth is, you do what’s right for you.

For this series, I’ve chosen the key elements for bullet journaling and will explain them in detail, and of course, provide you with lots of gorgeous inspiration from my favorite bullet journal accounts. I’ve organized the posts in this series in the order in which I use them, but feel free to click through the posts in any order that you like.

1. Bullet Journal Index 
2. Bullet Journal Key
3. Bullet Journal Future Log
4. Bullet Journal Monthly Planning
5. Bullet Journal Weekly Logs or Weekly Spreads
6. Bullet Journal Dailies (you’re here!)

Let’s Jump Right in – Bullet Journal Dailies

While I don’t use bullet journal dailies myself in my bullet journal, most bullet journal groupies use them. Ryder Carroll, the original bullet journal creator calls it Logging. I choose to use a weekly spread instead because I like to see all I have to do on a two page spread rather than flipping pages.

Here’s one of my weekly spreads. I’m able to write down everything I need to get through my week on these two pages. If you’re looking for another way to organize your bullet journal, check out my post on creating a Bullet Journal Weekly Log.

However, many others LOVE to write down everything they do or need to do during the day (hence, the term “daily” or plural “dailies”).

BULLET JOURNAL DAILIES – SUPER SIMPLE TO OVER-THE-TOP ORNATE

The examples you see below are much fancier than my own bullet journal but each one serves a specific purpose and brings peace to the planner that created it.  I hope you will find some inspiration for your own dailies here.

FIND PLANNING PEACE AND INSPIRATION IN THESE BULLET JOURNAL DAILIES

On bullet journal dailies, you may see a time tracker like this one from @pureplanning_bymj.

Many like to track their water intake, like @writingbravely does here.

Most bullet journal dailies use some sort of key and color coding to organize to-dos and appointments.

Those Staedtler pens, by the way are my absolute fave!

@bossgirlbujo  keeps it simple, but adds a few pops of color in her bullet journal daily.

This spread from @pages2plans is a great example of a more traditional bullet journal daily: the header or date and boxes for tasks that need to happen.

The Staedtler Fineliners are my absolute FAVE pens to color in my bullet journal. Find the Staedtlers on Amazon!

Love the blue and orange from @librariana

The Sakura Micron Pens you see above are what I use for writing in my bullet journal. Find a 3-pack of Sakura Micron pens on Amazon!

Here, @bulletjournal94 uses a time tracker and color coding to record her tasks throughout the day.

If you have a really busy schedule, maybe try writing out your entire schedule just like @jackieplans.

Add Some Doodles To Your Dailies

I love @thatjournal’s take on the bullet journal daily. She keeps it simple, adding just a few cute doodles.

@nicoles.journal loves to add creative and colorful headers to her bullet journal dailies.

If  a Leuchtturm 1917 notebook is not your style, and want a more of a traditional planner feel, try a discbound planner like @nicoles.journal uses. Find Happy Planner Discbound Planers on Amazon!

If you’d like to track the food you eat throughout the day, @greenishplanning found a way to do it.

Truly Artistic Bullet Journal Dailies

Here’s another bullet journal daily that uses a combination of words and pictures to note what will happen that day.

If you are looking for an alternative to the Staedtler pens, the Stabilo Fine Point set of 30 are also an excellent choice.

Next, it’s beginning to look a lot like Spring in this beautiful daily from @tosiakowo.

The ONLY notebook I use for my bullet journal is a Leuchtturm 1917. See the gorgeous blue that @greenishplanning is using? Find that blue Leuchtturm 1917 on Amazon!

Below, you’ll find hand lettering inspiration. Check out these gorgeous dailies from @studykouffee.

The super cool suction cut-looking pens above are called artline stix and are all the rage. Grab your own set of Artline Stix on Amazon. And, if you’re interested in trying to handletter, I suggest getting a starter pack of Tombow Dual Brush Pens on Amazon!

Lots of planners add the weather forecast to their bullet journal dailies.

Another great choice for black pens are Faber Castell. Find a variety pack of Faber Castell pens on Amazon!

@billowandcrest adds a gorgeous botanical header to her bullet journal dailiy.

And, I love the combination of text and doodles here from @crafthippy.

@bujo_nina here uses beautifully simple headers and a zentangle feather to add a little bling.

Love the wire clips that @bujo_nina and @teachplancraft use in their planners? Find these gorgeous Mini Binder Clips in Rose Gold on Amazon!

Could this dragon-themed spread from @teachplancraft be any more adorable? Because, you know, #dragonsarereal.

Bullet Journal Dailies as a Scrapbook

There are other very talented souls that use their bullet journal dailies as a sort of scrapbook – how beautiful!

Whew! How about that for planner peace and inspiration? Did I forget your favorite example of Bullet Journal Dailies? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll be glad to check them out!

PIN ME!

If you’d like to see more bullet journal ideas, check out my Bullet Journal board on pinterest.

Happy Planning!

-Kat

ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE WITH BULLET JOURNAL WEEKLIES – #2!

On my Instagram sister site, @showmeyourplanner, the question I get asked the most is

“HOW DO I GET STARTED?”

As with trying anything new, beginning a new bullet journal can be intimidating. There are a ton of conflicting resources out there telling you what bullet journal elements you should use or shouldn’t use. And the truth is, you do what’s right for you.

For this series, I’ve chosen the key elements for bullet journaling and will explain them in detail, and of course, provide you with lots of gorgeous inspiration from my favorite bullet journal accounts. I’ve organized the posts in this series in the order in which I use them, but feel free to click through the posts in any order that you like.

1. Bullet Journal Index 
2. Bullet Journal Key
3. Bullet Journal Future Log 
4. Bullet Journal Monthly Planning
5. Bullet Journal Weekly Logs or Weekly Spreads (you’re here!)
6. Bullet Journal Dailies

I found so many beautiful examples of bullet journal weekly spread ideas, I had to create two posts! For the original post with a brief explanation of weekly layouts, check out my bullet journal weekly layout post.

KEEP IT SIMPLE WITH BULLET JOURNAL WEEKLY SPREADS

The weekly spread below is my go to layout right now. As you can see, I like to keep things simple. If I feel like getting really fancy, I will color code my bullets. Obviously, that week I wasn’t feeling fancy. I’ve experimented with lots of weekly spreads, but the one below is the one that’s currently working for me. And that’s the whole point of bullet journalling. You do what works for you; keep it simple.

 FEEL FREE TO JAZZ UP YOUR WEEKLIES

However, many of you have incredible artistic talents and/or a little more time to dedicate to your bullet journal, so I say, go ahead and make it ornate. Add color. Doodle everywhere. Draw pretty banners and intricate wreaths. Your bullet journal should be a sort of mediation. A bit of planning peace in your hectic day. And if adding embellishments to your bullet journal brings a little zen into your life, then you’re doing it right.

MY FAVORITE WEEKLY LAYOUTS

Below, you’ll see in the collection below, that bullet journal weekly spreads can come in all shapes and sizes. Some fancy, some basic. Weeklies are not officially an element Ryder Carroll uses in the original bullet journal method, but it works for me!

Click on the link below each photo to be taken to the original source. 

So there you have it. Some of my favorite weekly spreads. Did I miss any? Comment below with your favorite weekly spread. We’d love to see it!

PIN ME!

If you’d like to see even MORE bullet journal weekly spreads, check out my original post, bullet journal weekly layouts

And if you’re looking for more bullet journal ideas, follow my bullet journal board on Pinterest.

LOOKING FOR MORE BASIC BULLET JOURNAL IDEAS? CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING POSTS:

• Bullet Journal Tracker
• Essential Bullet Journal Supplies
• Astonishing Bullet Journal Dailies
• The Perfect Bullet Journal Key
• Plan Your Future in Your Bullet Journal
• Bullet Journal Weekly Layout Inspiration

Happy Planning!

-Kat

THE PERFECT BULLET JOURNAL MONTHLY SPREAD IS THE STUFF THAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF

On my Instagram sister site, @showmeyourplanner, the question I get asked the most is

“HOW DO I GET STARTED?”

As with trying anything new, beginning a new bullet journal can be intimidating. There are a ton of conflicting resources out there telling you what bullet journal elements you should use or shouldn’t use. And the truth is, you do what’s right for you.

For this series, I’ve chosen the key elements for bullet journaling and will explain them in detail, and of course, provide you with lots of gorgeous inspiration from my favorite bullet journal accounts. I’ve organized the posts in this series in the order in which I use them, but feel free to click through the posts in any order that you like.

1. Bullet Journal Index 
2. Bullet Journal Key
3. Bullet Journal Future Log 
4. Bullet Journal Monthly Planning (you’re here!)
5. Bullet Journal Weekly Logs or Weekly Spreads
6. Bullet Journal Dailies

One of the greatest (and most frustrating) components of any bullet journal is that the options are limitless. And while that is liberating for many, it is petrifying for others. How should I map out my monthly events? Maybe you’re used to a more traditional planner or calendar and the idea of recreating monthly spreads is daunting.

Have no fear, I’ve found a few options for you here, to keep your future looking bright.

Bullet Journal Monthly Planning

To me, the Bullet Journal Monthly Spread is right up there with the weekly spread. You can keep your Calendexes (Calendi?) and your bullet journal dailies, but I absolutely need my monthly spreads. In a bullet journal, there’s a million ways to keep track of what’s happening in the months to come, from the traditional calendar to the monthly log to the Calendar Wheel.

And the greatest thing about the monthly log in a bullet journal? Is that you can change it each month, of course!

TRADITIONAL MONTHLY CALENDARS

Traditional monthly calendars are just that. Most bullet journalers spice them up with doodles or fun lettering.

No bullet journaler is complete without a set of ZEBRA MILDLINER HIGHLIGHTERS

These PRISMACOLOR COLORED PENCILS create gorgeous hues.

No bullet journaler would be caught without her LEUCHTTURM1917 DOTTED

These ZEBRA MILDLINER HIGHLIGHTERS offer just the right amount of color.

Tombow pens: TOMBOW DUAL BRUSH PENS, TOMBOW TWIN TONES, AND TOMBOW MONO DRAWING PENS

SIDEWAYS MONTHLY CALENDAR

The sideways calendar would be hard for me to get used to, I think. But some people love it!

STAEDTLER PIGMENT LINER AND STABILO 20 PEN SET

TOMBOW DUAL BRUSH PENS AND SAKURA PIGMENT MICRON PENS

MONTHLY CALENDAR WITH HABIT TRACKER

Habit trackers are an way to remind you what to focus on each week, or in this case, month. Some of us I won’t name names) love to put habit trackers in their bullet journal, then after a week, forget to track their habits.

MONTHLY LOG

The monthly log comes straight from the original bullet journal method. If you don’t need to see your events in the typical calendar fashion and love all things linear, the Monthly Log is for you!

ZEBRA MILDLINERS AND MUJI GEL PENS

TOMBOW DUAL BRUSH PENS AND GREY LEUCHTTURM1917 DOTTED NOTEBOOK

STAEDTLER PIGMENT LINERS AND BRASS BINDER CLIPS

CRAYOLA SUPERTIPS, MUJI GEL PENS, AND COPIC MULTILINERS

TOMBOW DUAL BRUSH PENS

ZEBRA MILDLINERS, PENTEL FLEXIBLE SIGN PENS, BRUSHABLES PENS, SAKURA MICRON PENS, COPIC MARKERS

MONTHLY LOG WITH HABIT TRACKER

These lovely journals use a monthly log and add a habit tracker to stay super organized!

STAEDTLER TRIPLUS FINELINERS

MONTHLY CALENDAR AND MONTHLY LOG

Have lots and lots of appointments? Try using both the traditional calendar AND a monthly log.

ZEBRA MILDLINERS, PRECISION PEN, FLORAL WASHI TAPE

MONTHLY WELCOME PAGE

I just love the pages that people use to welcome the month (or even say goodbye). Adds a little fun to the journal.

FABER CASTELL PITT ARTIST BRUSH PENS, ZEBRA MILDLINERS, PAPERMATE FLAIR PENS

STABILO PENS

MONTHLY LOG PLUS WELCOME

Once you welcome the month, might as well get right down to business.

CALENDAR WHEEL

The calendar wheel is such a cool and relatively new bullet journal concept. Track your dates in the month using a circle, rather than a list or calendar.

There you have it! How did you like the collection? If you have a link to another beautiful monthly spread, leave it in the comments below.

PIN ME!

Looking for more bullet journal inspiration? Check out my Zen of Planning Bullet Journal board on Pinterest. Or see all my Zen of Planning boards on Pinterest.

Your Ultimate Guide to Beinning a Bullet Journal at Any Time

“THE BEST WAY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE IS TO CREATE IT” – PETER DRUCKER

On my Instagram sister site, @showmeyourplanner, the question I get asked the most is

“HOW DO I GET STARTED?”

As with trying anything new, beginning a new bullet journal can be intimidating. There are a ton of conflicting resources out there telling you what bullet journal elements you should use or shouldn’t use. And the truth is, you do what’s right for you.

For this series, I’ve chosen the key elements for bullet journaling and will explain them in detail, and of course, provide you with lots of gorgeous inspiration from my favorite bullet journal accounts. I’ve organized the posts in this series in the order in which I use them, but feel free to click through the posts in any order that you like.

1. Bullet Journal Index 
2. Bullet Journal Key
3. Bullet Journal Future Log (you’re here!)
4. Bullet Journal Monthly Planning
5. Bullet Journal Weekly Logs or Weekly Spreads
6. Bullet Journal Dailies

One of the greatest (and most frustrating) components of any bullet journal is that the options are limitless. And while that is liberating for many, it is petrifying for others. How exactly is bullet journal future planning accomplished? If there is no calendar in my notebook, how can I possibly plan for the future?

Have no fear, I’ve found a few options for you here, to keep your future looking bright.

Bullet Journal Future Planning

I’ll be sharing with you examples of the following methods:

• Alastair Method
• Calendex
• Future Log
• Monthly Log

ALASTAIR METHOD

The first two pictures are of the Alastair Method and my current favorite. You can read about the method here direct from the creator himself.

The LEUCHTTURM1917 DOTTED A5 NOTEBOOK has always been my go-to notebook for bullet journaling.

@nerdy.teacher and I chose to use color a little differently in this method. Here’s how I use this method.

I use the LEUCHTTURM1917 NOTEBOOK AND CRAYOLA COLORED PENCILS
in my bullet journal

CALENDEX

The Calendex, sometimes called the Hope Method, is way to keep track of events for the year and the page numbers on which you have written details in your bullet journal. Many bullet journalers use a color code to see at a glance what type of event is occurring.

If you’d like to see more examples of the Calendex method, I have a blog post about it here.

Find my favorite pens, the STAEDTLER TRIPLUS FINELINERS.

And, the famous LEUCHTTURM1917 GRID NOTEBOOK again.

How exquisite are these Calendex vines? Amazing!

Get your own LEUCHTTURM1917 GRID NOTEBOOK AND STAEDTLER PIGMENT LINERS.

If you’d like to learn more about the Calendex method, check out my post on how to Create a Bullet Journal Calendex.

FUTURE LOG

The Future Log is probably one of the greatest and simplest components in a bullet journal. All you need is the name of the month and list the important dates. Done!

Mix it up with these MUJI GEL INK BALLPOINT PENS AND STAEDTLER TRIPLUS FINELINERS.

If you’re like @journalspiration (above), then include all the dates in the month, circle them with a colored pen, and voila! You’ve mapped out the next three months of your life. And who gives a ship, anyway?

Aren’t those flowers gorgeous? Sometimes it helps to add a little pop of color on an otherwise black and white page.

And if you want to keep it super simple, just write the names of the month and only the important dates.

Below, @bujosandcoffee decided to map out her exercise routine for the next few months. Now that’s dedication!

If you need more space, find the LEUCHTTURM1917 IN THE LARGER B5 SIZE

MONTHLY LOG

Finally, some people like a little more space to plan their future, so they use monthly spreads instead, or in addition to a Calendex or Future Log. These monthly pages can also, of course, be really simple or complex. But that’s what makes a bullet journal future planning so wonderful: it’s completely personalized to your needs.

Here’s my own simple monthly spread.

My own favorites are the SAKURA MICRON PENS AND STAEDTLER TRIPLUS FINELINERS

I use a color code to assign events to people or categories (personal, hubby, girls, etc.)

As you can see above, @saradr90 tracks all sorts of information in her monthly spread.

Find this beautiful JEWEL WASHI TAPE.

And it looks like @banjobaby83 goes old school with her monthly spread. This is a great option if you’re transitioning from a more traditional planner such as Erin Condren or contemporary Passion Planner.

Get the best notebook ever – LEUCHTTURM1917 A5 DOTTED

@rainbow.bujo (above) went with a kind of monthly plan, but she wrote her dates in vertically instead of horizontally.

Check out these cute BRASS BINDER CLIPS

If your work schedule is irregular, maybe try that spread from @pens.and.planners to keep track of your hours.

Finally, if you need to relax a bit,try a zentangle like the one below. It’s mesmerizing!

Get the perfect zentangle supplies – MICRON SAKURA PENS are wonderful in the LEUCHTTURM 1917 NOTEBOOKS

HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR FUTURE?

Which method do you use for your bullet journal future planning? Alastair Method? Future Log? Calendex? Another method? I’d love to hear about it. Feel free to link to a blog post about future planning in the comments below.

When you have the Index, and Key set up, and you’ve decided on how you’re going to plan your future, you’re ready to move on to number 3 in the Ultimate Guide to Beginning a Bullet Journal at Any Time: Bullet Journal Monthly Planning.

You can also click through to any of the other posts in this series by finding the link below.

YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BEGINNING A BULLET JOURNAL AT ANY TIME

1. Bullet Journal Index 
2. Bullet Journal Key
3. Bullet Journal Future Log (you’re here!)
4. Bullet Journal Monthly Planning
5. Bullet Journal Weekly Logs or Weekly Spreads
6. Bullet Journal Dailies

Looking for some awesome Bullet Journal Hacks? Check out my post, 40 Hacks for your Bullet Journal in this New Year. There are some must-read tips in there, too!

If you’re looking for some general bullet journal inspiration, check out my Bullet Journal Pinterest board. Follow my All Things Planner board on Pinterest if you’d like to learn more about planning in general.

Bullet Journalers, be sure to follow my bullet journal board on Pinterest.

PIN ME!

-Happy Planning!

Add Another Level of Organization with the Perfect Bullet Journal Key

Keeping an organized to-do list and appointments in your journal or planner can be daunting. Once you start writing everything down  – personal appointments, work meetings, soccer practice – your pages can get jumbled and disorganized. That’s why creating the perfect Bullet Journal KEY is imperative.

Your Ultimate Guide to Beginning a Bullet Journal At Any Time Series

For this series, I’ve chosen the key elements for bullet journaling, will explain them in detail, and of course, provide you with lots of gorgeous inspiration from my favorite bullet journal accounts. I’ve organized the posts in this series in the order in which I use them, but feel free to click through the posts in any order that you like.

1. Bullet Journal Index
2. Bullet Journal Key (you’re here!)
3. Bullet Journal Future Log
4. Bullet Journal Monthly Planning
5. Bullet Journal Weekly Logs or Weekly Spreads
6. Bullet Journal Dailies

Bullet Journal Key

Bullet journal keys don’t need to be complex, Ryder Carroll, the creator of the Bullet Journalkeeps his key super simple. But for many of us with families and multiple schedules to keep straight, we need something a little more detail-oriented.

YOU DO YOU

Below, I’m going to share with you all sorts of ideas from talented bullet journalists. Some use colors, some use symbols, while others combine both colors and symbols. What’s important to remember is that with all things bullet journal related, you do you! Create a system that works for your unique needs. Only add what is necessary to keep you on track. It’s fine to add bells and whistles, once you figure out what works for you, but I’d say keep it simple to start.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

If you don’t need to create a special mark for doctor appointments, don’t! If your paycheck comes on the same day each month, then do you need to mark that in your bullet journal? But on the other hand, if you have a hard time keeping track of the different soccer practices and games for three children, then you may want to color code your schedules.

NOTHING IS FINITE

I’m often asked by bullet journal newbies about what is the really the best way? How exactly should they start? Color, symbols? And I tell them that there is no perfect solution. What they’ll find, and I think you’ll discover too, is that your style, your key, your pages in your bullet journal will change over time. Your bullet journal, and therefore your bullet journal key, will change over time, as it should.

I’ve organized the bullet journal keys into five categories to help you find what you need. You can either hop to the section that speaks to you, or browse the sections from start to finish. I hope that the images below bring you planning peace and inspiration in your search for the perfect bullet journal key.

ASSIGN A UNIQUE SYMBOL TO REPRESENT TASKS, EVENTS, APPOINTMENTS 

@literacybigkids

Looking for those colored pens in the background? LOOKING FOR THOSE COLORED PENS IN THE BACKGROUND? Staedtler Triplus Fineliners are my personal favorite. Or, maybe you’re looking for the black pen, the Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pen.

How about these symbols? There’s a symbol for everything in this bullet journal key!

Are you a washi tape fanatic like me? Check out this Marble Washi Tape.

ASSIGN COLORS TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF YOUR LIFE

Still looking for beautiful pens? Some planners use the Stabilo pens. They’re just as great as the Staedtler listed above.

ASSIGN COLORS TO FAMILY MEMBERS

Assigning colors to family members is how I keep all my kids’ schedules organized.

If you’re looking to recreate the shading above, try Prisma Colored pencils. They’re the bomb.

USE A COMBINATION OF ALL OF THE ABOVE IN YOUR BULLET JOURNAL KEY

Highlighters also come in handy when you’re planning. My personal favorites are the Sharpie Retractable Highlighters.

Now I know some of you are thinking that there is NO way you could keep all those symbols and colors straight in your mind as you’re writing your lists, but that’s the whole point!

Most importantly, do what works for you! Keep your bullet journal key simple if this is too complicated. Planning, Journaling and definitely Bullet Journaling are all about what works for you, that’s the beauty. No need to over-complicate things.

Which brings me to my last official tip. This comes from the Queen of Bullet Journaling, Ms. Kara herself from Boho Berry:

TAPE YOUR BULLET JOURNAL KEY TO THE EDGE OF A PAGE

And of course, no bullet journalist is complete without a Leuchtturm 1917 dotted notebook. 

There you have it. Five tips to make the most amazing key for your bullet journal or planner.

If there any key ideas I’ve missed, let me know in the comments below. Feel free to link back to instagram, a pin, or blog post.

Now that you have the bullet journal key under your belt, move along to #3 in the series, the Future Log.

YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BEGINNING A BULLET JOURNAL AT ANY TIME

1. Bullet Journal Index
2. Bullet Journal Key (you’re here!)
3. Bullet Journal Future Log
4. Bullet Journal Monthly Planning
5. Bullet Journal Weekly Logs or Weekly Spreads
6. Bullet Journal Dailies

If you’d like more bullet journal inspiration, check out my bullet journal board on Pinterest.

PIN ME!

Happy planning!

Your Ultimate Guide to Beginning a Bullet Journal At Any Time

How exactly are you supposed to get started with a bullet journal? First, begin by understanding the bullet journal index. As with trying anything new, beginning a new bullet journal can be intimidating. There are a ton of conflicting resources out there telling you what bullet journal elements you should use or shouldn’t use. And the truth is, you do what’s right for you.

On my Instagram sister site, @showmeyourplanner, the question I get asked the most is

“HOW DO I GET STARTED?”

For this series, I’ve chosen the key elements for bullet journaling and will explain them in detail, and of course, provide you with lots of gorgeous inspiration from my favorite bullet journal accounts. I’ve organized the posts in this series in the order in which I use them, but feel free to click through the posts in any order that you like.

Your Ultimate Guide to Beginning a Bullet Journal At Any Time – Index

1. Bullet Journal Index (you’re here!)
2. Bullet Journal Key
3. Bullet Journal Future Log
4. Bullet Journal Monthly Planning
5. Bullet Journal Weekly Logs or Weekly Spreads
6. Bullet Journal Dailies

One final step before we jump right in to the bullet journal index. It is important to choose the right notebook.

FINDING THE RIGHT NOTEBOOK

Perhaps the greatest benefit to having a bullet journal in your life is that you can START AT ANY TIME! You do not need to wait until the newest planner is released. And you definitely don’t have to go without a planner until February so you can take advantage of planners going on sale.

You can start a bullet journal at any moment AND you can put your bullet journal on PAUSE too. Your bullet journal won’t be mad if you decide to take a break for a few weeks (or even months). There will be no bullet journal buyer’s remorse because it’s just a notebook. If you like, you can repurpose it to be a place to doodle, write shopping lists, or journal.

However, when you do take the plunge into bullet journaling, and you really should, there is one  you may want to consider before jumping in: choose an appropriate notebook.

What’s the right notebook? Honestly, there is none. You can even grab a lined notebook from one of your kids. However, if you’d like to use anything more than a ballpoint pen on which to write on those pages, you’ll want to invest in a decent – not expensive – just decent notebook.

MY PERSONAL NOTEBOOK CHOICE

Personally, I use a Leuchtturm 1917 notebook in the A5 size. It’s the perfect size to fit in my purse and school bag. The pages are thick so that my pens don’t bleed through the page.

GORGEOUS COLOR OPTIONS FOR THESE LEUCHTTURM 1917 NOTEBOOKS

If you’d like to learn more about how I use a variety of notebook sizes for work and my personal life, check out the post on my Essential Bullet Journal Supplies. There, I show the different sizes of notebooks and offer some alternatives to the Leuchtturm 1917 brand.

Now that you have your notebook, let’s get started!

YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BEGINNING A BULLET JOURNAL AT ANY TIME

Part 1: Index

First of all, what is a bullet journal index? The bullet journal index is like the table of contents in a textbook (can you tell I’m an elementary school teacher?). It’s a place for you to write down what is on each page in your bullet journal. I’ve always added to my index as I write on pages in my bullet journal. However, some SUPER organized bullet journalists write in their index first, as a way to map out their plan for the year or next few months.

WHY EVEN USE AN INDEX?

When you begin your bullet journal, you’ll realize quite quickly that your notebook will fill up quite quickly. There are two book marks that you use two mark two pages, but you’ll need quick access to more pages than that. You’ll want to turn quickly to your monthly log or weekly spread or one of your collections. The index is the quickest way to make this happen.

BULLET JOURNAL INDEX – Use the Index pages in your notebook

In this index from @minimal.plan, she separated her pages into months and weeks. Many bullet journalists also separate their index into dailies and collections. One such collection is books to read, on which I have written a post. If you’d like ideas on how to keep track of all your favorite books, past and present, check it out here.

Using color is another way to stay organized in your bullet journal. @planwithshanners uses the same colors in the index, as she does on the headers/titles in her bullet journal.

Pick up some gorgeous Zebra Mildliners

In her example below, Tiny Ray of Sunshine offers this simple tip to gain more space: draw a line down the midde of the page and voila! you have twice as much space in your index.

BULLET JOURNAL INDEX INSPIRATION -Create Your Own Index Page

Page numbers are a must, by the way, in a bullet journal. For example, @jasminsjournal uses a simple list with page numbers. That’s one reason why I love the Leuchtturm 1917 notebooks – the pages are already numbered for you.

Ok, don’t be intimidated by this index from @malwal94_bujo. This index might be my favorite! But it just goes to show you that you can be as simple or as detailed as you like in your index. The most important thing to do is to make it work for you. If you want to list every single weekly spread or shopping list in your index, then do it! Or, start an index, then skip about 30 pages, like I do.

Smart Money Simple Life also divides her bullet journal index into two sections: one for calendars and another for collections. If you want to separate different aspects of your life, this technique will work for you!

The Petite Planner also uses color in her bullet journal index. She assigns a color to certain categories: finances, appointments, kids, etc. As a result, she can locate those different pages in her bullet journal.

There you have it! Grab your favorite notebook, number the pages OR order a Leuchtturm 1917 from Amazon, and get started!

MORE BULLET JOURNAL IDEAS

If you’re looking for something more sophisticated than an index, some bullet journalers use a Calendex. If you’d like more information on the Calendex, check out my blog post here. The Calendex is an alternative to a simple index, but it takes some getting used to.

When you have your notebook, you’re ready to move on to number 2 in the Ultimate Guide to Beginning a Bullet Journal at Any Time: the Bullet Journal Key

You can also click through to any of the other posts in this series by finding the link below.

YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BEGINNING A BULLET JOURNAL AT ANY TIME

1. Bullet Journal Index (you’re here!)
2. Bullet Journal Key
3. Bullet Journal Future Log
4. Bullet Journal Monthly Planning
5. Bullet Journal Weekly Logs or Weekly Spreads
6. Bullet Journal Dailies

Looking for some awesome Bullet Journal Hacks? Check out my post, 40 Hacks for your Bullet Journal in this New Year. There are some must-read tips in there, too!

If you’re looking for some general bullet journal inspiration, check out my Bullet Journal Pinterest board. If you want to learn more about planning in general, follow my All Things Planner board on Pinterest.

PIN ME!

Happy planning!