What To Write In A Bullet Journal: 11 Page Ideas For Beginners
Are you just starting to dip your toes into the wonderfully organized world of Bullet Journaling for beginners? Well, a hearty congratulations are in order! Welcome to the inclusive, creative family of Bullet Journal enthusiasts.
I still remember my first Bullet Journal, filled with the excitement of a new beginning and the anticipation of what was to come. It was a game-changer for me, and I’m thrilled that you’ve decided to embark on this journey too.
Now, I know it can feel a bit overwhelming at first – so many pages, so much potential, where does one even begin? Fear not; I’m here to guide you through this exciting new adventure.
To help you navigate this vast ocean of endless opportunities and creativity, I’ve put together a list of 11 Bullet Journal page ideas that are perfect for beginners like you. Trust me, these ideas will not only kickstart your Bullet Journal journey but also make it an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.
Let’s dive into these page ideas and get your Bullet Journal humming with personal touches and inspiration.
Isn’t it amazing how a simple notebook can become such a powerful tool for managing our lives? But with limitless possibilities, a Bullet Journal can sometimes feel like you’re staring at a blackboard of incomprehensible equations.
I’ve been there, trust me. One moment, you’re excited about all the potential, and the next, you’re overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of options.
But don’t fret! I’ve got your back. I remember my initial days of Bullet Journaling, the mix of excitement and confusion, and I want to help you navigate this journey with as much ease as possible. I want you to experience the joy and benefits of using a BuJo without getting lost in the maze.
So, before we plunge into the specifics of the pages you might want to include, let’s have a little chat about how you should go about picking these pages. After all, the goal here is to create a planner that fits your unique needs like a glove, right?
And hey, if you’re itching to try out some or all of the page ideas I’ll be discussing, I’ve got a little surprise for you. At the end of this post, you’ll find some fabulous free printables that you can use to get started. They’re designed to make your Bullet Journaling journey smoother and more enjoyable.
How To Pick The Best Bullet Journal Page Ideas For You
Alright, let’s get down to business. You’re probably wondering, “How on earth do I choose which pages to include in my Bullet Journal?” Well, fret not, my friend!
I’ve got some tried-and-true tips to help you navigate these waters.
1. Start with the Basics
We’ve all heard the saying, “walk before you run,” right? The same principle applies to Bullet Journaling. Start with the basic pages – like a monthly calendar, a daily log, and a future log.
These are the staples of any good Bullet Journal and will give you a solid foundation to build upon.
And if you already started panicking, don’t worry! We’ll talk about these pages further down below.
2. Reflect on Your Needs
This is your personal planner we’re talking about! It should reflect your unique lifestyle, goals, and needs.
Are you a student juggling multiple assignments and exams? A project tracker might come in handy. Are you trying to cultivate healthier habits? How about a habit tracker?
Take some time to really think about what would make your life easier and more organized. Whatever you need some help with, there is a Bullet Journal page to help you with that.
3. Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment
Here’s the fun part. Your Bullet Journal is not set in stone, it’s an evolving tool. If a page isn’t working for you, scrap it! If you think of a new page that could be useful, add it! Give yourself permission to play around and see what works best for you.
4. Keep It Simple, Silly (KISS)
In the excitement of starting, it’s easy to go overboard and create a Bullet Journal so complex that it requires a Ph.D. to understand.
Remember the KISS principle: Keep It Simple, Silly! Your Bullet Journal is supposed to make your life easier, not complicate it further.
5. Let Inspiration Guide You
There’s a whole community of Bullet Journal enthusiasts out there! Browse through Pinterest, Instagram, or Bullet Journal blogs (like this one!) to gather ideas. But remember, what works for others might not work for you, and that’s okay. Use these as inspiration, not a rule book.
Remember, the beauty of a Bullet Journal is its flexibility. It can be anything you want it to be – a planner, a diary, a doodle pad, a goal tracker, or all of the above.
The key is to create something that works for you. So go ahead, grab your notebook and pen, and let’s start creating your perfect Bullet Journal!
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Stationery For Creative Bullet Journal Pages
The shiny pens, the colorful markers, the crisp notebooks… it’s enough to make any Bullet Journal enthusiast’s heart race. But I’ll let you in on a secret – it can also be pretty darn overwhelming.
You probably have your Amazon shopping cart full of supplies, but you are not sure what exactly to get. And chances are you might end up getting things you won’t like or are not worth it.
Well, take a deep breath, my friend, because I’ve got you covered. Having been down this rabbit hole more times than I care to admit (I mean, who can resist those glittery gel pens?), I’ve picked up a few pointers along the way. So, let me share some of my favorite Bullet Journal supplies that will have you creating pages you’ll absolutely adore.
- 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. So, picking a good journal is important. 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 come 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. Plus you can also use them for brush lettering.
- 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! From functional ones to help you set up pages faster to decorative ones to add beautiful doodles and lettering to your pages – they are perfect for transforming your journaling game. I recommend trying out this set of stencils.
Okay, now you know how to pick your pages, and you have all the supplies, so it’s time to start actually looking at some page ideas for you to consider.
I organized this list the following way. First, we’ll talk about the basic pages, the ones that are the core of the Bullet Journal method.
Next up will be collections, some other pages that are not a must-have but have been very powerful and popular in the Bullet Journal community, so I think they are worth trying.
Finally, there is a little bonus, but I won’t spoil that for you; just keep on scrolling. And don’t forget that also, at the end of the post, you’ll get some amazing free printables and more resources to learn about different Bullet Journal page ideas that can benefit you.
Bullet Journal Page Ideas For Beginners
In this post, we'll go through some of the staple pages one might consider adding to their Bullet Journal. But I want you to always remember - it's your journal, and it's up to you to decide what you'll include there.
If any of these sound like you don't want to use them - just don't! Your journal = your rules.
Basic Bullet Journal Pages
Starting with some pages that were part of the original Bullet Journal method. Most of these you can see in every Bullet Journal out there.
We're going back to the original Bullet Journal system, to those staple pages that form the backbone of almost every Bullet Journal out there. These are the classics, the oldies but goodies, the ones that have stood the test of time and proven their worth in journal after journal. They're like the bread and butter of Bullet Journaling - simple, reliable, and oh-so-satisfying.
So, grab your favorite pen (mine's a Pilot G2, if you were curious) and your trusty notebook, and let's dive into these time-honored Bullet Journal pages. I can't wait to share with you how these foundational pages can bring structure to your chaos, order to your creativity, and a whole lot of joy to your everyday life.
Alright, let's talk about the heart of your Bullet Journal - the key spread. Think of it as the Rosetta Stone of your personal hieroglyphics. This page is your secret weapon, the decoder ring that unlocks the meaning behind each carefully chosen icon and signifier sprinkled throughout your Bullet Journal.
In a few words, this page is designed to store all the icons and signifiers you’ll be using in your Bullet Journal.
All you need to write on this page is the symbol and its meaning.
Before you decide on which icons to add, think of what your life looks like and what things you might need for planning. Do you need a shortcut for your kid’s piano recital? Or maybe a symbol for an email checking day? It’s all up to you.
The index is basically a table of contents for your Bullet Journal. You’ll be filling it out with spreads and page numbers.
There are a few ways you can do it:
- Fill it out numerically. This means that as you go, you write down separately on each page of your journal. This is great because it will create a very detailed index.
- Fill it out by content. This will definitely save you some space. This means that you combine the same pages from different months in the same line.
- Divide the content. Another way to fill out the index page is to divide it into two parts. Have one index for your planning pages and a separate one for collections.
Yes, this is one of them must-have original pages, but again, it doesn't mean that you need it in your journal! I, for example, don't use an index in mine.
Here is a quick way to decide. You might need an index page if you do have one notebook for everything and you create a lot of evergreen pages, like a movie watch list or a Christmas cookie recipe. Basically, if you have a lot of pages, you go back to them and need a way to find them.
You might not need an index if you use your Bullet Journal just for day-to-day planning and don't really have any information there that you'll be specifically looking back at.
Either way, I recommend you give it a try and see for yourself if this is actually something you want to have in your journal.
One of the first pages in your Bullet Journal is your future log. This is the place for you to plan your upcoming year.
The setup is pretty simple but a bit time-consuming, so you might try using some tricks like stamps, stickers, or washi tapes.
All you need to do is to divide your spread into however parts you need and write the name of a month in every section. I’m saying it’s time-consuming because usually people also add a calendar to each month, since that way, it’s much easier to plan the year.
Your future log is where you write all the long-term plans that you know about in advance, like your vacations, birthdays, or doctor appointments. I love this page since it gives such a great overview of the entire year to come.
Your next big page is your monthly log. I won’t go into details on how to set up one because there are just sooooo many ways to do it! I recommend you click "read more" if you want to know all the creative and easy ways you can set up your own monthly log.
A monthly log usually consists of a calendar and a monthly to-do list.
For the calendar, make sure you first consult with your future log to add whatever dates where you already know something is happening.
The second part of the Monthly Log is a to-do list, and this is pretty self-explanatory – write down here all you need and want to do during the month. Keep your little tasks, like doing the dishes and cooking dinner, out of here though; those go to our next page.
The final cornerstone page for your BuJo is your weekly or daily log. I can talk a lot about the differences between the two and which one would fit you better, but honestly, I’d recommend just trying out both and seeing for yourself.
The main difference between these is that the daily log is a big area for just one day, while the weekly log has an outlook of the week with daily boxes and other different elements. Less detail of each day, more overview.
Bullet Journal Collections
These are the basic 5 pages, but there is so much more the system can offer you! The next 6 pages are what we call collections – spreads created on some particular topic.
I chose these because they are the ones that I use the most and that are very popular in the Bullet Journal community.
This only means that even though they might be something for you to consider, it’s absolutely not a necessity. Always remember that your planner is only yours and has to fit your needs, so if some of these don’t work for you – don’t feel pressured to keep using them.
A habit tracker is usually a monthly spread that helps you with developing new habits or getting rid of old ones. This is a really powerful tool for personal development, and I’d recommend you give it a shot.
Tracking your habits won’t only allow you to stay motivated to create a better you but can also lead you to some new self-discoveries.
You’ll be able to know yourself and your patterns better and, therefore, have more control over your life.
Be sure to check the "More Resources' section at the end of the post to learn more about how it can help you with anything you want to develop in yourself, anything you want to stay away from, or maybe just something you want to look at to see patterns.
Creating a special spread for your goals is extremely beneficial for actually achieving them.
When you have to put your goals on paper, you’ll think more about them, about whether you actually want something or not, and how you can achieve it. There is a special power in using paper for your goals.
Your Bullet Journal is, in a way, your life story. Of course, you can already know a lot from your weekly and monthly pages, but you can add even more happiness to your journal with the memory page.
It can be just journaling pages where you write about your day and events happening around you, or it could be a special little creative spread.
The review pages are great for memory keeping, but they are also absolutely essential to your growth. You won’t get any benefits from planning if, at some point, you don’t analyze the things you do.
A monthly review page can also be helpful for a beginner like yourself who is still trying to find the perfect format for their Bullet Journal. Use this page to reflect not only on your life but on your Bullet Journal as well.
Which pages worked well? What did you feel like you need more help with? Which pages you didn't use at all?
You can use your monthly review to help you customize your Bullet Journal more and ensure that it's growing and changing together with you and your needs.
Here, you write things you’re grateful for during the day, and you should write something for every day.
This teaches you to be more positive, to always find the brighter side, and to be more mindful of all the great things you have in your life.
I love this page and how creative you can get with it. You can go with the classic one-line-a-day format, or you can go crazy and make your gratitude log a canvas for doodling and lettering and putting on paper all the good things in a creative way.
A brain dump is a place for you to just write down anything that comes to your mind – ideas, chores, feelings.
This really helps you to put order to your thoughts, to calm down, and, pretty often, to discover hidden ideas you’d miss otherwise.
Bonus Ideas: Creativity Pages
I don't include them as must have Bullet Journal pages for beginners, but I wanted to finish this post with some pages you can add to have fun and express your creativity.
Being creative in your journal is a kind of therapy because you finally have time for yourself and by yourself.
Working on creative pages, you are taking a well-deserved break from the world and just doing something you enjoy for yourself. It’s not selfish; it’s precisely the type of self-care we all need.
Have a minute and think of your dream life; this is bound to bring a smile to your face.
So create a vision board – doodle your life, use lettering to write it down, or maybe just create a collage with cutouts from old magazines.
It will be a fun creative project, but also a reason to reflect on your life and where you want it to go next.
Bucket lists are always fun, they remind you of the things you don’t want to miss, and actually, subconsciously, you’ll start to think about how to make it all come true. You can create seasonal bucket lists or yearly ones, like 19 in 2019 or 40 before 40.
Click "Read More" to check Fall bucket lists, or read these posts:
Quote pages are fun to decorate your journal to add some positivity, but it's also a great idea to fill out your Bullet Journal blank pages.
Find a word or a quote that motivates you or brings a smile to your face and create a Bullet Journal spread just with these words.
Finally, you can have so much fun by creating an entertainment tracker, like a movie or a TV show tracker.
Think of it as your personal guide through the jungles of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and whatever other streaming services you subscribe to. It's like having all your favorite shows and films neatly organized in one place, ready for your viewing pleasure.
Sure, we've all got those lists on our Netflix queues. But there's something incredibly satisfying about unplugging from the digital world and putting pen to paper. It's almost therapeutic, don't you think? Plus, it adds a touch of personal flair that no algorithm could ever match.
And let's not forget about the convenience factor. How many times have you found yourself hopping from one streaming service to another, trying to find something to watch? With a TV tracker, you've got all your options right at your fingertips. Just flip open your Bullet Journal, scan your list, and voila - instant entertainment!
I’m sure this would give you enough to think about it and get you started with your Bullet Journal.
Free Bullet Journal Printables
Time to share with your freebies! Bullet Journal printables will help you with many things, including trying out new pages and faster figuring out what works and what doesn’t.
There are already 50+ free printables in the Resources Vault, including the key page, goal-setting pages, monthly review pages, brain dump, habit tracker, gratitude log, and more.
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, check my post on How To Use Printables In Your Bullet Journal.
It’s pretty easy and all you need is:
- A printer. I recommend trying Epson EcoTank ET-2803.
- High-quality paper. You’ll need it to keep your pens from fraying; I recommend trying HP Premium Paper.
- Paper cutter. Cause you’ll need to cut the printables. I love using Firbon A4 Paper Cutter.
- Adhesive tape to stick printables to your journal pages. Tombow Permanent Adhesive is my go-to.
So, which pages are you using in your Bullet Journal?
Share with us in the comments.
Hope this post was useful; if you find it so, please share! If you enjoy my content and want to show your appreciation, please consider supporting me with a cup of coffee.
And always remember! Keep Bullet Journaling, and don’t be a Blob!
Hi! Where did you get all the nice colored covers for your journals? I look on amazon but there was nothing.
Stay safe!
Kirsten from Germany
Hey Kirsten! I got them from Cocoa Paper on Etsy =)