Bullet Journal New Year Setup: 7 Pages To Start The Year Right
Bullet Journaling for beginners can feel like a lot of pressure in January. Everyone online seems to have a perfect cover page, a color-coded goals spread, and the whole year planned by December 31st.
When I started in 2018, I was completely disorganized with zero creative confidence, and a blank January page terrified me. Trust me, I have totally been there.
Since then, I have set up fresh pages every single year, so let’s look at layouts really worth adding to your Bullet Journal new year setup, which ones you can skip, and how to start without overthinking it.
Here is an important thing about your new year setup – everyone’s looks different. Because your Bullet Journal is unique to you and your own unique lifestyle and planning needs.
So here, I will give you some tips and recommendations for how to set up your new Bullet Journal for the upcoming year. However, it’s up to you to choose which pages serve you and which ones to skip.
Don’t worry, I’ll share details on each one so you can decide how you want your new-year setup to look.
Plus, if you want more, there is also a FREE course on Bullet journaling for beginners; you can sign up at the end of the post, and it will walk you through all the basics of starting a new journal.
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What You Need For Your New Year Bullet Journal Setup
First, the big question: do you need a new journal? Not at all. A new year doesn’t automatically mean a new notebook. Most of the time, I just keep going in my current journal and add a fresh set of pages, and that’s exactly what I did for my 2026 setup because my journal was still more than half empty.
But if yours is almost full, or you just want that brand-new notebook feeling, go for it!
As for stationery, you can absolutely use whatever you already have. But if you want to add something to your collection, here are some of my favorites for new year pages:
- A journal. If you are starting a new one, I’d recommend a thick-paper journal so you don’t get ghosting or bleeding. My top choice is Archer & Olive journals (and you can get 10% OFF with my code MASHA10.
- Fineliners. You’ll need those for all the lines, boxes, and little doodles. Sakura Pigma Micron are my favorites.
- Markers. If you want to add color to your pages, I suggest Crayola Super Tips; they are affordable, come in 100 colors, and you can even use them for brush lettering.
- Brush pens. Small ones are perfect for headers and lettering, and Tombow Fudenosuke are my go-to.
Supplies gathered? Let’s talk about planning the whole year at once.
Pros And Cons Of Setting Up The Whole Year At Once
Let’s be real: setting up pages for the entire year has upsides and downsides.
The good: you get a bird’s-eye view of your year, you only create each page once, and you take a lot of pressure off the busy months. When December hits, and everything is chaotic, you’ll be very happy that your goals and trackers are already sitting there waiting for you.
The not-so-good: it can feel overwhelming, especially since the end of the year is usually packed with holidays and deadlines. And plans change. In 2023, I created a whole-year tracker, and then in March I suddenly started moving to a new country. Half of that tracker stayed empty.
But here’s what I learned: that half-empty page doesn’t shame me for the habits I didn’t follow. It just shows me what kind of year it was. And that is the beauty of a Bullet Journal. You can adapt it as life happens. Also, you don’t need everything ready on the first day of January.
Set up what you can, and add the rest as you go.
New Year Journal Pages To Add To Your Bullet Journal
Here are the seven pages in the order I would set them up. Start at the top, and stop whenever you feel done. There is no prize for finishing the list.
Cover Page And Quote Page
A cover page isn’t necessary, but I love adding one at the start of the year. It’s like putting a little welcome sign on the front door of your new pages.
And it doesn’t have to be fancy. A simple lettered year, a quote that you like, or even a bit of washi tape is enough.
My personal preference is to add the date I started the journal; this helps me archive all my journals.
About Me Page
This is a must-have for me, every single time I start a new year or a new journal. An About Me page is like a selfie of where you are right now: your favorite things, what you’re into, what’s going on in your life, and what you hope for.
And the best part? Looking back at old ones is like opening a time capsule. You’ll be amazed at how much your interests and dreams change from year to year.
Year In Review
Technically, a year in review belongs at the end of the year. But I also like adding it at the beginning of the new one. Why? Because looking back shows you exactly where you’re starting from.
Keep it simple. Write down three wins (tiny ones count!), one lesson, and one thing you are happy to leave in the past. This isn’t about judging yourself; it’s about learning from the year so you can set better goals for the next one.
Of course, I went a little extra with my own year in review, but you can definitely pick and choose what to include and what to skip.
Yearly Goals Or Resolutions Page
Now the one everybody thinks about in January: new year goals in your Bullet Journal. If you’ve ever made resolutions that fizzled out by February (guilty!), you are not alone.
Instead of one giant, scary dream, choose 3 to 5 goals and add a “first step” next to each one. “Get fit” is vague. “Walk for 20 minutes after lunch” is something you can actually do tomorrow.
And if you prefer resolutions to goals, the same rule applies: list them, then add that first small step.
There are many ways to set goals; pick one that fits you and build a plan around it.
For me, after trying all the possible goal-setting techniques, the best one is to set directions and resolutions, then move to direct goals month by month.
Word Of The Year
If resolutions never stick for you, a word of the year page is a lighter alternative. Instead of a list, you choose one word that describes how you want the year to feel, and it becomes a little compass for your decisions.
How do you pick it? Look at your goals page for a pattern, or simply ask yourself how you want to feel this year. Try a few words on for size for a couple of days and see which one sticks.
For the layout, keep it simple: write the word in big letters, add a few lines about why you chose it, and leave a small space for a quick check-in every month or so. A word of the year in your Bullet Journal can be as simple or as decorated as you like.
For example, for 2025 my word was alignment, because by then I’d settled down in Portugal, and it was time to stop living in survival mode and the stress of an international move, and start behaving in alignment with my values and vision for my future life.
Future Log Or Year At A Glance
A future log is your personal time machine. It’s where you jot down birthdays, trips, deadlines, and events for the entire year, so nothing sneaks up on you.
It’s usually a two-page spread divided into 12 blocks, with room for doodles or washi tape if you want some decoration. Don’t have a ruler or a grid in mind? No worries, you just need 12 simple boxes.
Of course, I like to go the extra mile, so I usually add a mini calendar to each month; I like having a sense of what day it is.
Yearly Tracker
A yearly tracker lasts all year, which sounds scary, but it doesn’t have to be a new habit. You can track your mood in a year in pixels, your reading, or even just the weather.
My tip: pick one thing, and if it stops working, change it and add a new color to your key. That way, you can keep going without starting over.
That being said, I actually ended up leaving my yearly tracker altogether, which is also fine. Things happen!
Your January Monthly Setup
You do not need to set up all twelve months right now. Just January. That’s it.
Technically, this isn’t just one page; it’s usually several: a cover page, a monthly log, trackers, and weekly spreads. A monthly setup is a whole different post.
I will leave some links at the end of this post to help guide you through the monthly setup as well. Meanwhile, here is my January cover page from one of my past journals.
And there you have it, 7 new year journal pages for your Bullet Journal! Just remember: you don’t need to try them all at once. Choose the ones that fit your life right now, and let your journal grow with you through the year.
Free Course: Bullet Journaling For Beginners
As I mentioned before, I have a FREE course to help you get started with bullet journaling.
It walks you through each page step by step and shares more resources and details on everything you can do with your journal.
Sign up using the form below and start crafting the perfect companion for your life journey.
More Resources
Looking for more ideas and inspiration for your new year? I’ve got you covered! Check out these posts next:
- Bullet Journal For Beginners: Step-By-Step Setup
- 11 Bullet Journal Yearly Spread Ideas
- Minimalist Bullet Journal Setup: January 2021 Plan With Me
>>> Which new year pages will you be adding to your Bullet Journal? Let us know in the comments!
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And remember: Keep Journaling, and Don’t Be A Blob!
