I’ve been using my Bullet Journal religiously since December of 2015, and I’m only getting more addicted to the process as time goes on. I’m finally settling into a rhythm with my system. After meeting other folks who bullet journal and being very active in online communities of bullet journalists, the main thing I’ve learned is that the process is different for everyone. That’s the beauty of a Bullet Journal. It’s completely individualized; that’s what makes it so different from a traditional planner. Today’s blog post includes some tips, tricks, and tools I’ve come to rely on during my Bullet Journal journey.
I’ve grown attached to a number of supplies over the past half year. It’s no secret that I love my Leuchtturm notebooks, but this type of notebook is not required. Use any sort of notebook you would like. The goal is to get started. Don’t let a lack of the “right” notebook keep you from bullet journaling.
Some of my favorite supplies include small rulers that can fit into the back pocket of my notebook, pens of all sorts, small Post-it notes, and tabs. I also have learned which pens I love and that don’t bleed through the pages of my notebook. Here are links to my favorites.
Staedtler Tripulus Fineliner Pens
Paper Mate Flair Medium Tip Pens
Paper Mate Flair UltraFine Tip Pens
Pentel Fude Touch Sign Pen (felt pen like a brush stroke)
I would also recommend finding a small pouch or bag to carry around your pens. While you can keep them in jars and containers at home, it’s much easier to travel if they are stored in something we can tote around.
I am not artistic in the traditional sense. I can be pretty creative when it comes to clothes, writing and decorating my house, but I am terrible at drawing. A lot of bullet journalists out there are fantastic artists and create gorgeous pages throughout their journals. While I can only dream of being like them, I have learned a few artsy designs to add some pizazz to the pages of my notebook. Below are a few photos of those.
Also, I heavily rely on my monthly calendars. I create one for my personal calendar and one for my blog’s content calendar. I’ve finally figured out how to line it off correctly so the squares are adequate length and height. If you’re using a Leuchtturm notebook, I outline the entire frame to begin with and then make squares that are approximately 8 dots (width) by 9 dots (height) with some give and take. It won’t work exactly. Some dots may be 7 instead of 8, but just play around until you find your sweet spot.
These are just a few tips, tricks and tools I wanted offer today. If you’re interested in other Bullet Journal posts, check out:
Lessons Learned From My First Bullet Journal
Lastly, if you’re a person who enjoys joining online communities or learning about bullet journaling via social media, here are some of my favorite profiles, pages, and groups.
Pinterest Boards to Follow/Join:
Bullet Journal Junkies (closed group)
Bullet Journal for Professionals (closed group)
Bullet Journal (public page)
Happy bullet journaling, friends! I love the Bullet Journal community so as always, feel free to comment with any thoughts, advice or strategies that work for you.
Great tips! I’m so inspired by this only because I carry multiple planners all the time!
You should do it! And by the way, bullet journaling is a super fun topic to talk about during a lunch or dinner date. 🙂
My only problem at the moment are the pens that bleed. Specially the ones that are wide/thick tip…
Consider taking a calligraphy class before your next post.
@yourbujosucks- Consider taking a manners class before your next comment! Smh