17 Simple Bullet Journal Ideas For Beginners
Bullet Journaling for beginners can feel overwhelming at first, but fear not! If you’re new to this creative and organizational hobby, you’re in the right place.
We’ve all been there—staring at a blank page, unsure of where to start. The beauty of Bullet Journaling lies in its simplicity and flexibility. With just a few simple ideas, you can transform that blank notebook into a powerful tool that helps you stay organized, track your progress, and spark your creativity.
Here are 17 simple Bullet Journal ideas for beginners that will get you started on your journaling journey without feeling lost in the process.
When it comes to Bullet Journaling, there are as many Bullet Journal page ideas as you can imagine. This is a planning system that you can personalize completely, so you’re really limited only by your imagination.
But I know how it feels: when everything is possible, how do you even know where to start? Well, this is why this post is here.
These are just a few pretty simple ideas; I think they are perfect for beginners, since they will show you what is possible with your planner so you can start crafting one that fits your needs.
But I also don’t want you to be adding tons of pages you don’t even need to your Bullet Journal. That can make Bullet Journaling seem like a chore, and you might just leave it altogether.
So, before we dive into the ideas, I think it’s important we discuss how to pick and choose what pages actually to use in your journal.
Oh, and be sure to scroll until the end and get some FREE Bullet Journal printables that you can use right away.
Choosing Your Bullet Journal Ideas
I know how it feels: you don’t know what you’re doing, you just started your first Bullet Journal, and you go online to search for a path.
You end up with 20-30 ideas and feel like you need them all! You spend too much time setting them all up and then simply drown in all the trackers and entries you have to do every day. So, within a few weeks, your Bullet Journal is in the graveyard with all the other planners that didn’t work for you.
That’s why I think it’s important that I don’t just share some ideas for beginners, but also give you tips on how to choose from the list of pages that you will find useful, which will help you reach your goals.
So here are a few recommendations on how to figure out what kind of pages to try in your brand-new journal:
- Start with the basics – just as you wouldn’t build a house without setting the foundation, don’t jump into Bullet Journaling without establishing the fundamentals. Begin with basic pages and then expand as you go.
- Think about your needs – your Bullet Journal should reflect your life, catering to your unique priorities. Need a page to track your health goals or plan your dream vacation? Go for it! It’s your journal, and you call the shots!
- Experiment freely – remember mixing paints as a kid to see what colors you’d get? Tap into that curiosity and play around with your pages. Some ideas will click, others might not, but that’s part of the fun!
- Keep it simple – while it’s tempting to turn your Bullet Journal into a masterpiece à la Van Gogh, its main purpose is to keep your life organized. Feel free to get artistic, but don’t feel obligated to.
Remember, the beauty of a Bullet Journal lies in its flexibility. Your journal will evolve with you, so never feel stuck with the same pages or formats.
The last important tip I wanted to mention is not to try everything at once. It’s great to experiment with new pages and formats. But it should never be overwhelming.
So I recommend trying one new page a month, seeing how it works for you, and if it does, keeping it for the next month; if not, let it go.
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Stationery Recommendations
Of course, when starting a Bullet Journal, you’ll need some supplies.
You don’t need to hoard ALL the things. Honestly, any old pen and notebook will do the trick when you’re just getting started. It’s not about having the fanciest gear; it’s about creating a system that works for you.
However, here are some of my favorite supplies that I’m sure you’ll love using as well:
- A good journal. Your notebook is your canvas, and actually, whether you’ll have ghosting or bleeding in your journal depends on the quality of your paper. I love using Archer and Olive journals (get 10% off with my code MASHA10), but you can definitely start with something more budget-friendly, like a Lemome notebook.
- Fineliners. Fineliners are the blood of every page, so I recommend you get a good set. My top pick is Sakura Pigma Micron, which also comes with different nib sizes so you can add more variety to your lines.
- Markers. If you want to add color to your journal pages, I recommend you get Crayola Super Tips. They come in many colors and are pretty affordable.
- Stencils. As a beginner, you’re probably still struggling a bit with the creative side of Bullet Journaling. Well, it all becomes easier if you use stencils that can help you with creativity and functionality! I recommend trying out this set of stencils.
I can talk about stationery endlessly, but this is not what this post is about. You can find some more recommendations at the end of the post, but we should dive into different page ideas.
17 Simple Bullet Journal Ideas For Beginners
It’s pretty hard to keep the list to just 17 ideas, but I’ll give it my best. In this list, you’ll find pages that are pretty basic, as well as some of the more popular pages a lot of people find useful.
I’ve been journaling since 2018, so I tried and tested a lot of these pages myself. However, I also included layouts from other creators here, so you get an idea of different styles and journal approaches.
So, keep in mind all the tips on picking the best ideas for you, and let’s dive in!
Bullet Journal Future Log
This is one of the basic pages when setting up your Bullet Journal, but I really love it. A future log really gives you a bird’ s-eye view of the entire year, and I think it’s very helpful for planning.
You can go very basic with just adding the names on the month to this layout. But I love adding mini calendars for each month as well, since I also like having a clear idea of the day of the week and not just a date.
About Me Page
This is my absolute favorite page to create; it helps me to look back at myself, take a minute, and evaluate my life. It also feels like creating a time capsule; every time I look at my old “About Me” pages, I’m reminded of the person I was when I created them.
It’s a fun layout, and the best part is that there are no rules on how you create one or what kind of information you add to it. This will also reflect your personality and your style.
What I add really varies from page to page – sometimes it’s general things like the food I like and hobbies I enjoy, sometimes it’s something more connected to now, like my current achievements and struggles.
Level 10 Life
A lot of people are coming to Bullet Journaling to set and achieve their goals, and this is your purpose as well; a level 10 life page is definitely a must-try. Level 10 life helps you evaluate your life and set goals accordingly, so you know you’re doing something that will bring you happiness and closer to 10.
This particular one is not my page, but here is how I like using this principle. I try to create one once or twice a year – it helps me check in with myself on where my life is going and if I’m putting my efforts in the right place to make myself happy.
Bullet Journal Grid Spacing Guide
This page will help you cut down the time you spend setting up all your pages! Bullet Journal pages have to be completely set up from zero, so they do require some math when you need to divide your page into sections.
A grid guide is a page where you’ve already done all the measurements, and therefore, you can easily create a new page without spending time on the calculations.
I would recommend creating one for each new journal. If it’s the same brand and size, it might be fine, but if you switch to a completely new journal, you’ll need new measurements.
You can create a layout, or you can go the extra mile and actually get a stencil, like I eventually did. I definitely recommend this one from one of my go-to stencil shops.
Playlist Spread
Your Bullet Journal doesn’t have to be only about staying productive and doing things for your future. Just having fun is also okay, and this is one of those just-for-fun pages.
I also love creating playlist pages because music really brings you back to when you listened to it, so in a way it’s like little triggers for certain memories.
Bullet Journal Monthly Log
Monthly log is one of the basic pages as well, it help you plan your month and have an overview of everything that’s happening in one place.
There are many different ways to set up your monthly log, all depending on how much time you have. Personally, I love creating a calendar-type monthly log like this one, since this is the easiest way for me to visually see the month.
But you can always do the classic Bullet Journal approach and just create a column with the dates and the days of the week.
Bullet Journal Gratitude Log
Your Bullet Journal can really help you with so many things, and a gratitude log is one of the pages that can support your mental health and general outlook on life. The purpose is to write something good every day, which is basically training your mind to see the little sparks of good things in every day.
This creator went for the design to write a sentence a day, but there are other approaches as well. You can write just one word a day, or doodle one thing a day, or you can even go creative and include everyythingm creating kind of a collage.
Self Care Ideas
I found that self-care is something my Bullet Journal helps me a lot with. Self-care is very important, and yet we often forget about it or find ourselves choosing Netflix and the couch instead of other things we really need.
A spread like this is full of ideas for things you can do to recharge your batteries, be it social or time by yourself.
When creating spreads like this (yes, I created a similar layout many times), I find it very helpful to divide by categories, so when things are low and I need a pick-me-up, I can easily find the one that works for this specific moment.
Year In Pixels
Year in Pixels is basically a year-long mood tracker. There are many benefits to tracking your moods. You can learn a lot about yourself and your patterns and then use this knowledge to build better routines and a happier life.
If a yearly spread like this one feels too much, you can always create a monthly mood tracker.
Routine Bullet Journal Page
Having routines set in your life is the key to being your most productive self and having better, more organized days. Creating your routines in your Bullet Journal helps you be more mindful of them. Also, having it visually in front of you helps you remember to follow it and establish the habit.
You can create a routine page for pretty much everything, really. It can be your skincare routine, your morning routine, or your wind-down routine.
Bullet Journal Bucket List
I always recommend people try creating bucket lists. They help you break free from your usual routines and worries and plan something you like to do.
You can create tons of different types of bucket lists. This particular one is for Spring, and for me it is a special one because I used a different color paper, and it came out looking very different and fun.
Monthly Review Page
Reviewing your month has so many benefits. First of all, it helps you keep track of your progress and your work toward your goals. It’s also a great check-in to see if you’re okay with how things work for you and if you are still aligned with your intentions.
Something else you can do on your monthly review is to review your Bullet Journal. It’s a great idea, especially for beginners who are still trying to find their perfect Bullet Journal setup.
Weekly Log
This is a workhorse for your Bullet Journal, where all the main planning is happening. I can’t imagine my life without a proper weekly spread. There are other ways to plan, like a daily log, but this is probably the best place to start with.
It is also a layout that gives you a lot of options – there are plenty of formats, and there is so much you can include. You really can create a page that will be absolutely game-changing for your productivity (or anything else you need help with).
Bullet Journal Habit Tracker
A habit tracker is a fantastic tool to help you build better habits and eliminate your bad ones. As we all know, we are defined by our habits, so this page will definitely help you build a better self.
This is also a type of page that can be created in many ways; one of my favorite ways is to create mini calendars for each habit. That way, I get to see how my following through with the habit correlates with the days of the week.
Bullet Journal Brain Dump
A brain dump is probably the most cathartic spread you can help. It allows you to offload everything that is happening in your mind: thoughts, worries, tasks, and projects. Once you offload a lot of the paper, you can start organizing it and planning how to manage it.
This is usually a spread I create every time I feel overwhelmed, and just freeing my brain from the necessity of keeping all the information already makes me feel better. And once everything is on paper, it’s easier to start working through it step by step.
Exercise Tracker
If staying healthy is your goal with your Bullet Journal, an exercise tracker might be what you need. It will help you to track what type of workout you do and keep you motivated to continue.
I don’t really have a page like that in my own journal that I currently use (which reminds me that I should help me build more accountability with my gym habits), so I shared a layout from this fantastic creator here.
Book Tracker
One more page for fun, mostly, is a book tracker. And you can track here anything you want – books you’ve read, books you’re planning to read, or maybe even just random recommendations you get from your friends.
The bookshelf format is my favorite to create – because you get very good control over how many books to include, and it also gives plenty of space to add decorative elements and doodles.
Free Bullet Journal Printables
As I always say, the best way to figure out the perfect Bullet Journal setup for you is to try new pages, and the best way to try new pages is with printables.
Thankfully, you can already find plenty of printable pages in the Resources Vault, many of which are on this list.
If you don’t have access yet, you can always sign up in the form below.
Once you confirm your subscription, you’ll get the password to get 50+ free Bullet Journal printables, stickers, and worksheets to use right away.
If you’ve never used printables before, be sure to check my post How To Use Printables In Your Bullet Journal.
It’s pretty basic, and you can find all the supplies you need in my post Supplies For Using Bullet Journal Printables.
More Resources
Are you looking for more Bullet Journal resources for beginners? I’ve got plenty- everything you need to create a perfect planning system for you.
Here are a few posts for you to check out next:
- Step-By-Step Guide To Bullet Journaling For Beginners
- 9 Bullet Journal Tips For Beginners That Make A Difference
- 11 Must-Have Journaling Supplies
>>> What pages will you be using in your Bullet Journal? Share with us in the comments!
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And remember: Keep Journaling, and Don’t Be A Blob!
