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What is a Bullet Journal? (And How to Start One)

So you’ve heard about the bullet journal and you want to know more. Maybe you have that one friend who won’t stop talking about her bullet journal. Or perhaps you stumbled across the term while researching ways to get organized. Regardless of how you discovered the bullet journal, the good news is that you did! Bullet journaling is a great way to organize your life, express your creativity, and most importantly, practice quality self-care. But just what is a bullet journal exactly? Well, you are about to find out! Keep reading to learn all about the bullet journal and how to start one. 🙂


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What is a Bullet Journal?

bullet journal blue

The bullet journal, AKA the BuJo, is a type of journal that focuses on goal-setting, tracking, and organization. It’s like a planner, but also includes to-do lists, logs, trackers, notes, mindfulness activities, creative expression pages, and so much more.

The bullet journal is a way to manage your life like nothing you’ve used before. Plus, it’s a guaranteed way to improve your self-care routine.

The bullet journal method, created by designer Ryder Carroll, uses a unique system of shorthand that allows the user to easily categorize their information. It’s an amazing way to organize your life, using bullets, symbols, creative signage, and fun graphics.



Some BuJo lovers take their bullet journals in amazingly creative directions, with fabulous artwork and impeccable design. Many use creative media like watercolor, paint pens, Washi Tape, highlighters, high-end markers, ink pens, and more, to create masterful page spreads. A quick #bulletjournal search on Instagram turns up some fantastic works of art.

Bullet Journal Examples

Here are a few of my favorites. Definitely be sure to follow these BuJo masters for endless inspiration!



It’s important to note that although it can be really fun to decorate and embellish your bullet journal pages (and it really is!), you don’t have to be an artist to enjoy the benefits of the bullet journal method.

The best thing about the bullet journal is that you can make it do whatever you want it to do.

bullet journal notes picture

What is a Bullet Journal Used For?

A bullet journal is primarily used to set goals, track tasks, and plan out your life. You can use a bullet journal to do any or all of the following:

  • Log monthly planners
  • Keep to-do lists
  • Track subscriptions
  • Plan monthly events
  • Create mindful Zen doodles
  • Store your favorite meal ideas
  • Take notes at a conference
  • Sketch plans for an art piece
  • And so much more!

If this list feels overwhelming, never fear. It’s only meant to show just how versatile the bullet journal can be. The uses for your bullet journal are limited only by your imagination. But you are more than welcome to keep it simple, too!



What About My Old Planner and Journal?

At this point, you might be wondering, Why can’t I just use my normal monthly planner and standard, plain-paper journal?

Well, dear parent, you can. There is nothing stopping you. In fact, I still use an appointment planner for my day job. I use my bullet journal for my personal life and blog, and I use my appointment planner for work. It provides a nice, natural work-life boundary for me. This weekly appointment book and planner from At-A-Glance is my go-to planner each and every year. You can get it here on Amazon.

I also use other kinds of journals for very specific tasks, like poetry writing, drafting stories, travel journaling, processing grief and emotions, documenting parenthood experiences, making memory keepsakes, etc. (see the end of this post for those fantastic journal recommendations). I do this because I LOVE to journal and having multiple journals doesn’t clog my mind. Quite the opposite in fact. But it’s not for everyone. If you prefer to be a one-journal person, then the bullet journal is definitely the one to pick. 🙂

Bullet Journal Key Concepts and Components

The bullet journal method utilizes the classic features of a standard planner and journal, but there are a few components that make the bullet journal special.

I’ve broken down these components below and included a brief explanation of each. Whether you incorporate these components or not is completely up to you, but it’s a good idea to get a handle on the basics before you begin. As Ryder Carroll says, “to get the most out of your BuJo experience, it’s important to understand how these parts interact and influence each other.”

Key Sections

Here are the major sections that most bullet journals include:

  1. INDEX – The index is where you list every piece of content contained within your journal. It’s a master list of logs, trackers, and collections, complete with topics and page numbers.
  2. FUTURE LOG – This is a 4-page spread that encapsulates an overview of the coming year’s events and tasks.
  3. MONTHLY LOG – This log is where you capture a more detailed account of tasks and events for the current month. The bullet journal method instructs users to create a list, one line for each day of the month, but you can sketch out an actual monthly calendar as well.
  4. DAILY LOG – This is where you document your daily tasks, thoughts, notes, etc. via a process called Rapid Logging for each day.
bullet journal index example picture

Key Tools

Here are a few of the key tools that make the bullet journal method so effective for enhanced productivity:

  1. RAPID LOGGING – Created by Ryder Carroll specifically for bullet journalists, this short-form notation system of bullets, symbols, and signifiers helps you quickly organize your notes, events, and tasks.
  2. BULLETS & SIGNIFIERS – Bullets are the meat of the bullet journal. Bullets represent thoughts, tasks, notes, etc. They are short, objective fragments of data that are distinguished by various types of symbols, or signifiers. These signifiers are placed in front of bullets to rapidly communicate what the piece of data is. They can include asterisks, dots, dashes, open circles, x’s, arrows, and much more. Certain signifiers usually represent straightforward items like priorities (*), events (o), notes (), and migrations (>). You can customize your signifiers however you want. I made a key in the front of my journal to store my custom set of signifiers.
  3. MIGRATION – A process by which you transfer content from one area of your journal to another by rewriting it. The most frequent way I use migration is by moving incomplete tasks from one monthly log to the next.
  4. COLLECTIONS – Collections are a flexible way to organize related information. You keep track of your collections in your Index. For example, if the index topic is “Travel Bucket List” and you have notes about the places you would like to go on page 6, page 29, and page 76, then your Index entry for this collection might look like this: “Travel Bucket List………6, 29, 76,“. (NOTE: In my own Index, I put the page numbers on the left-hand side, and if I had it to do over again, I would put them on the right to allow more room.)
bullet journal signifier key picture


Key Components

The bullet journal uses these three classic concepts in the following unique ways:

  1. TASKS – These are items that require some sort of action. The task bullet (.) is most often represented with a dot. When a task is completed, you mark over the dot with an (x), essentially crossing it out. Migrated tasks can be noted with a carrot arrow, pointing to the right (>), and irrelevant tasks can simply be crossed out: Call mom re: hall rental.
  2. EVENTS – Events are most commonly denoted by an open circle bullet (o). These experience-related entries are often about some sort of pending or upcoming event, however they can also be related to something that already happened. For example: o Kim’s Winter Baby Shower for something that is going to happen, or o Started Old Navy job, for something that already happened. Events allow you to simply and with very few words, keep record of things that take place.
  3. NOTES – Usually represented with a dash symbol (), notes are a great way to document thoughts, observations, or supplemental info about corresponding bullets above. They should be brief and to the point. For example: Final payment due July 15th
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Special Features

The bullet journal also features a few other really cool elements that are super helpful when it comes to staying organized and mindful:

  1. LISTS – Bullet journal lists can encompass any number of things, from to-do lists, to grocery lists, to bucket lists. You can easily incorporate lists into other components of your bullet journal. Throw in a Priority signifier (*) to highlight the most important items on your list and you’re good to go.
  2. SCHEDULES – A simple tool you are already familiar with, schedules work well with many other BuJo components. Use them with trip itineraries, exercise routines, semester planning, etc. Or use them as stand alone sections, such as a daily work schedule, a weekly chore chart, or the family bedtime routine.
  3. TRACKERS – Probably my favorite feature of the bullet journal, trackers can be used in a number of ways. I love to make monthly habit trackers to keep an eye on my self-care regime. I also have a weight tracker where I can study my weight management ups and downs. Where it gets really enlightening is when I cross-reference my habit tracker with weight gain/loss. 🙂
habit tracker for bullet journal image

If all of those components feel like a lot, don’t panic. You don’t have to take them all on at once. Just try a couple tools or sections that sound cool to you and go from there. And consider the following piece of advice from Carroll:

“If at some point you feel overwhelmed, take a step back and start by implementing only the pieces that make sense. Most components are self-contained by design, so you can effectively use them even if you don’t use the rest. Start with what speaks to you–even if it’s just one piece–and build from there.

This is also the way the Bullet Journal was born: one workable piece at a time.”


AUTHOR’S NOTE:

While this guide is thorough, it’s no replacement for the original. If you want to learn from the master, I highly recommend you grab a copy of Ryder Carroll’s fantastic book, The Bullet Journal Method.

Get it here on Amazon.


What Does a Bullet Journal Look Like?

Though you could use any quality notebook to start your bullet journal, there are some typical features that make a bullet journal unique.

First of all, most bullet journals have dotted pages. This is so you can easily design and create the pages that you need. Lined paper can work fine, but in my experience, using a dotted journal with thicker pages is super beneficial. I think dotted pages just look cleaner than lined pages. And the dots are helpful when creating boxes, shapes, banners, charts, etc.

Bullet journals also tend to have sturdy backing and binding so they are able to stand up to daily use. And most have a ribbon bookmark as well as an elastic closure band. Here are a few pictures of my current bullet journal:

bullet journal monthly log and habit tracker


Why Start a Bullet Journal?

As creator Ryder Carroll says in his book, The Bullet Journal Method, it will “help you accomplish more by working on less. It helps you identify and focus on what is meaningful by stripping away what is meaningless.”

The bullet journal allows you to achieve this by incorporating a flexible framework centered around productivity, mindfulness, and intentionality. As the book says, the method helps you “track the past, order the present, and plan the future.”

Doesn’t that sound good?

The world is so chaotic and we have access to so much information, it can be extremely beneficial to use a mindful journaling practice. The bullet journal offers an analog system to declutter your mind, and a screen-free space to organize your life.

The Benefits of the Bullet Journal

There are lots of benefits to journaling and more specifically, using a bullet journal. Research shows that journaling is very good for your health. I recommend journaling often in my work with families. Not only does it help improve family communication, but it also helps to manage a variety of mental health issues.

But you don’t have to take my word for it. This post from PositivePsychology.com (2020), 83 Benefits of Journaling for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress, presents a collection of research and information about how journaling is extremely beneficial to overall health and wellness.

And here are even more benefits to using a bullet journal:

Practical Benefits of the Bullet Journal

  • Improved Organization
  • Better Task Management
  • Clearer Goal-setting
  • Useful Behavior and Information Tracking

Psychological & Cognitive Benefits of the Bullet Journal

  • Improved Mindfulness
  • Increased Opportunities to Unplug
  • Heightened Self-Awareness
  • Reduction of Intrusive Thoughts
  • Improved Working Memory
  • Enhanced Creativity

Mental Health Benefits of the Bullet Journal

  • Increased Artistic and Emotional Expression
  • Improved Communication Skills
  • Stress Reduction
  • Emotional Healing from Grief, Trauma, and Abuse
  • Reduction of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms



What is a Bullet Journal Exactly?

Still have questions? No problem.

This video from Ryder Carroll’s YouTube page provides an excellent breakdown of exactly what a bullet journal is and how to use one.


Starting Your Bullet Journal

As you saw in the above video from creator Ryder Carroll, the bullet journal is all about planning, goal-setting, and organizing through a system of shorthand called rapid logging. As I explained above, rapid logging uses a specific set of symbols, like dots, dashes, circles, and x’s, that help the user organize their daily logs and notes.

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It’s an amazing system and one that I adore. But all of that said, the main thing to remember is that you can design your bullet journal however you want!

Make it Your Own

As you will see in my examples below, I have put my own spin on my bullet journal – and you can, too!

I used some of the major tenets of the original bullet journal system, but I also added my own methods of organization and task management.

Remember, this is only a guide to get you started. Let this mini-tutorial, and Carroll’s book, The Bullet Journal Method, serve as inspiration for your one-of-a-kind bullet journal.

You don’t have to follow these suggestions to the letter. When you start your own bullet journal, you have the freedom to do what you want with it.


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For more useful self-care ideas like journaling, check out this post: 7 Easy Self-Care Strategies for Busy Parents.


Bullet Journal Supplies

There is no law that says you have to use a founder-approved notebook to start your bullet journal. (Carroll himself has even said as much.) And the BuJo gods will not punish you for using a regular college-ruled notebook or an old-school, black and white composition notebook.

What Bullet Journal to Buy?

Technically speaking, you could use any standard notebook with sturdy binding and backing. However, I highly recommend you use a quality notebook with thicker dotted paper. In my opinion, it really makes for a smoother experience. (And honestly, the artist in me really loves the clean look of ink on thicker paper. Better quality paper won’t bleed or show through to the other side of the page, which comes in handy with the BuJo method.)

My initial research brought me to this amazing hard cover journal notebook from Minimalism Art and I haven’t looked back. It comes in a variety of vibrant colors, it’s well-made, and it’s really affordable.

minimalism art dotted journal

And although the Minimalism Art notebook is my go-to choice for bullet journaling, there are a couple others that I highly recommend as well.

The list below includes more details about my bullet journal recommendations.


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Best Journals for Bullet Journaling

These journals come highly rated and any one on this list would serve well as your first bullet journal.

1. Minimalism Art Premium Hard Cover Notebook Journal Extra Thick Ink-Proof Paper Classic 5″ x 8.3″

This highly-rated journal from Minimalism Art is my absolute favorite. I love the durable hard cover and the extra-thick paper. But my favorite part is the price. Really affordable for the level of quality that you get. Grab it here on Amazon.

2. Leuchtturm1917 Medium A5 Dotted Hardcover Notebook

This is a top pick for countless BuJo fans and it’s easy to see why. This super popular notebook from Leuchtturm1917 is made with high-quality paper that’s thread-bound to lay flat for easy writing and drawing. Grab it here on Amazon.

3. URSUNSHINE Dotted Grid Notebook/Journal Premium Thick Paper 5”×8.25”

This journal notebook is an excellent pick for your bullet journal not only for its durability but also for its design. It has all of the features of the other two, but with a personality (and a great price). Quite simply, the journal designs from URSUNSHINE are super fun and will inspire you to create beautiful pages. Get it here on Amazon.

Bullet Journal Supplies

You truly only need a pen to follow the bullet journal method, but to me, that’s a little boring. I love to exercise my creativity in my journal with bright colors, clean lines, and graphic artwork. The below list features a few of my favorites tools that I use to support my bullet journal habit.

1. Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens

These pens are my number one tool of choice when it comes to using my BuJo. They are amazing! The vibrant colors glide smoothly across the page and I’m left with rich, colorful imagery and graphics. Get your own set here on Amazon.

2. BIC Brite Liner Grip Pastel Highlighters

These fabulous pastel highlighters work really well with the bullet journal method. You can easily add a splash of color to your logs, doodles, labels, or signs with these quality highlighters. The soft grip is really comfortable, too. Get the highlighters here on Amazon.

3. Arteza Real Brush Watercolor Pens

These pens are incredible! You get the real feel of a watercolor brush but with the control of a pen. You can choose to use them with water or without for a wide spectrum of vividness and control. These watercolor paint pens are a great way to give your bullet journal a vibrant dose of color. Get the pens here on Amazon.

4. Fiskar’s Acrylic Quilter’s Square

While it’s perfectly acceptable to use a regular ruler to form the lines and shapes that make up your pages, I encourage you to consider a quilter’s square. It’s the perfect size for most standard bullet journals. Plus, the quilter’s square is clear, which allows you to easily line things up. Get it here on Amazon.

5. Tombow 61526 TwinTone Marker Set

These Tombow double-sided pens are really fantastic. You can choose from the extra-fine tip or the bolder bullet tip to create vibrant and colorful imagery. These pens are the perfect complement to the gel pens. Get them here on Amazon.

6. 20 Piece Journal Stencil Plastic Planner Set

When it comes to design, creating clean, sharp labels, banners, and signs can make all the difference in your BuJo. And this set of stencils will help you get the job done. Get it here on Amazon.

7. Abrzon Big Capacity Pen Case

I love this pen case. It’s a great size to hold my InkJoy pens and it also has several pockets and compartments to hold other tools, too! Get it here on Amazon.

8. Washi Tape Set

While you can create and decorate your page and section borders with whatever medium you choose, I recommend throwing Washi Tape into the rotation. It’s a clean and easy way to create beautiful, fun borders that perfectly reflect theme and personality. Trust me when I tell you that Washi Tape will make you happy. 🙂 Get it here on Amazon.


How to Make Your Own Bullet Journal

To make your own bullet journal, you need to assemble the supplies of your choice from the list above, and carve out some time to set it up. The amount of time you need to get set up will depend on how elaborate or artistic you want your collections to be.

What to Put in a Bullet Journal

As I’ve mentioned multiple times, you can make your bullet journal whatever you want it to be, but if you’re just getting started, I recommend you include at least the following 5 sections:

  1. Personal Mission Statement
  2. Index
  3. Future Log
  4. Monthly Log
  5. Monthly Habit Tracker

These are the building blocks that, in my opinion, make for a smooth jump into the bullet journal pool.


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Personal Mission Statement

Before you totally dive in, consider starting off with a page that serves as your introduction. You could include a little bio about yourself, a list of intentions for the coming year, a theme of focus for self-improvement, or a personal mission statement. Really anything that sets the tone for the kind of bullet journal you have in mind.

I chose to start mine with a personal mission statement. It has helped me stay centered and grounded while journaling. I review it often when I need to recalibrate. It serves as a useful reminder that beneath all of my tasks, plans, and goals, I am driven by something deeper.

personal mission statement for bullet journal example image

Index

When you start your index, be sure to leave enough space. I left 4 pages for my Index, just to be on the safe side. As I mentioned above, for my next bullet journal, I plan to set up the index so that I can add numbers on the right to allow more space. But for my current journal, I have the numbers on the left. I use commas and dashes in between page numbers to illustrate which pages are part of which topic collections.

bullet journal index example picture

Future Log

The future log is a 4-page spread that lays out your tasks, goals, and plans for the coming 12-month span.

Some bullet journalists start a new bullet journal at the beginning of each year. But you don’t have to wait for January, you can start anytime.

bullet journal future log image
Image Capture from The Bullet Journal Method

Monthly Log

The traditional bullet journal method suggests you do a 2-page spread for your monthly log: a simple calendar on the left page (see below) and a tasks list on the right page.

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Image Capture from The Bullet Journal Method

When I started my first bullet journal, I decided to set up my monthly logs a little differently. I created a heading for the month with space for a tasks list below that, followed by a fully-drawn calendar. The below picture is an example of my monthly log skeleton I made for January 2021.

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I prefer to do my monthly logs like this because I am a super visual person. Plus, it allows me to add my monthly habit tracker on the opposite page. I can quickly reference my calendar, which is a big help when filling out the habit tracker. More on habit trackers later on.



How to Create a Monthly Log

Once I get my monthly log skeleton down, I’m ready to bring it full to life. I add color, decorative details, and other embellishments – whatever strikes my fancy. Here is a more complete version of the monthly log page:

monthly log tasks and calendar bullet journal image

As you can see, I’ve made space for my tasks list in the upper section, and I’ve drawn out a full calendar for the month of January on the bottom two-thirds.

Below is an example of a task list I used for June 2019. Back then I was working to sell my first home after renting it out for a few years. I migrated that task month after month until I finally sold it! But tasks like “Car Inspection” and “Dry Clean Wedding Dress“, for example, were easily completed within the month. I used dots, circles, and x’s to communicate the status of each task.

bullet journal monthly log task list image

Here are a couple examples of my completed monthly log calendars. It’s really fun to look back through the months to see what I was up to.

image of monthly log calendar
image of bullet journal monthly log calendar


Monthly Habit Tracker

The purpose of a habit tracker is to study current behaviors and promote desired behaviors. A habit tracker can help you track things like exercise, water intake, healthy eating, reading, meditation, and more. By tracking these habits, you increase your awareness of how often you do them each day, and over the course of a month. This kind of awareness can also positively impact how frequently you engage in the behaviors.

For me, I use monthly habit trackers to track all kinds of things. If something feels important to my self-care in the coming month, I make sure to add it to my habit tracker. It’s a super useful self-care tool, and it’s a lot of fun.

I love coloring in the little boxes to give myself “credit” for achieving certain behaviors for the day. In fact, I find that I am much more likely to do a certain activity (i.e. cardio), just so I can fill in the little square! I also like to color code my habit trackers for a more vibrant appearance. 🙂 I track things like working on my blog, drinking more water, getting my steps in, sleeping 7+ hours, practicing yoga, reading, writing, quality family time, and so on.

How to Create a Monthly Habit Tracker

To create a simple monthly habit tracker in your bullet journal, pick a page and turn your journal sideways. Leave space for your habit labels on the left, and then count out the number of squares that there are in the coming month. Outline the squares using your quilter’s square or ruler, and then number the squares with the days of the month. Then list the habits you want to track down the left hand side, and finish outlining the rows and columns to create the boxes.

To use your habit tracker, simply check in at the end of each day and color in the squares for that day that correspond to the activities/habits that you achieved that day. You can track as many habits as your page will fit, but I recommend you don’t overdo it. I wouldn’t track more than 20 behaviors; more than that and you’ll risk spending more time tracking than living. 🙂

bullet journal monthly log example
habit tracker for bullet journal image

What to Track in a Bullet Journal

When it comes to tracking data in your bullet journal, the options are seemingly endless. Beyond the behaviors you track in your monthly habit tracker, you can track all kinds of unique things.

Here are a few ideas for inspiration.

Weight Loss Tracker

I am always working on weight management. As a working mom, my tricky work-life balance makes it tough to maintain a healthy weight without effort. Eating right and regular exercise are a big focus of my self-care plan. And as much as I don’t believe in overdoing rewards system to achieve desired behaviors, I do believe in treating yourself when you accomplish your goals. And that is where this kind of weight loss tracker comes in.

I set it up so that it would track my weight (numbers are blacked out below), as well as pounds lost. I then added special rewards in the right hand column that I would unlock at certain increments of weight loss. Just a fun way to motivate myself to not only pay attention to my weight loss, but also to feel proud of my accomplishments.

In addition to weight loss tracking, you could use this tracker-reward system for all kinds of things: whole house cleaning, writing a book, earning a degree, etc.

image of bullet journal weight loss tracker

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Subscription Tracker

The subscription tracker is another kind of tracker that keeps important things on your radar. What I love about the subscription tracker is that it provides me with a clear visual of all of the money that’s going out the door every month and year. Most of my subscriptions are auto-pay so having this tracker helps me stay on top of how much money I’m spending on various subscriptions.

As you can see in the picture, I made the decision to discontinue my Weight Watchers subscription. I was super happy with Weight Watchers, but I had reached my goal at that time so it was a good way to reduce some spending. Having that visual in my tracker allowed me to quickly make that decision. Without the subscription tracker, I might have paid on that membership for months.

bullet journal subscription tracker image

Other Trackers

There are endless ways to use bullet journal trackers and some bullet journalists have come up with some seriously creative ideas. Here are a few examples of unique ways to use bullet journal trackers from some truly talented bullet journalists. Don’t forget to follow them on Instagram for continuous inspiration.

Mood Tracker

Tracking your moods can be extremely beneficial to managing your mental health. Not only does the information help you to better understand what factors might correlate to mood changes, but creating a visual mood tracker can help you easily recognize any patterns that might be present.

Here are couple examples of mood trackers:

Expenses Tracker

You can track your monthly expenses with your own one-of-a-kind expenses tracker. Putting your expenses down on paper each month will not only allow you to see what your spending, but it will bring you a level of awareness that glancing at your bank statement just won’t achieve.

Here are a couple examples of expenses trackers from some bullet journalists that you will definitely want to follow on Instagram.

Savings Tracker

The savings tracker is the inverse of the expenses tracker. A great way to encourage yourself to save up for that special something!

Here are a couple examples:

Reading Tracker

I love to read and I use Goodreads to track my books, but I also love to track my reading progress in my bullet journal, too!

Here are few beautifully creative ways to track your progress on your reading list:



Bullet Journal Page Ideas

Looking for more inspiration on what to include in your bullet journal? Here are a couple more bullet journal page ideas to keep you going!

Travel Bucket List

This type of collection allows you to keep track of all of the wonderful places you want to go. Mine features a picture of Earth drawn in colored ink.

travel bucket list bullet journal page idea image

Here are a few more examples of travel-themed pages from Instagram:

Zen Doodles

Doodling is an excellent mindfulness activity. I especially love Zen Doodles for this purpose. If you’ve never heard of Zen Doodles before, this post from Felt Magnet can help explain.

The basic idea is that you create a larger image outline, either abstract or figurative, and fill in the spaces with repetitive doodle art. Zen Doodling can be really meditative and it can help clear your mind, reduce stress, and improve concentration.

I love to work on Zen Doodles while listening to music, podcasts, and audiobooks. I also like to work on them during road trips (when I’m not driving, of course).

Here’s one from my bullet journal that I’ve been working on:

And here are a couple more elaborate Zen Doodle pages from Instagram bullet journalists:


self-care checklist image

Get more inspiration for your bullet journal with our Ultimate Self-Care Checklist for Parents!


More Journal Recommendations for Self-Care

In addition to my bullet journal, I have used several different kinds of journals over the years as part of my self-care routine. I adore my bullet journal and the many ways it helps me stay organized, track my habits, and express my creativity. But I enjoy using different kinds of journals as well. And there are specific journals that I recommend for very specific tasks.

These self-care journal recommendations will complement your bullet journal practice and enhance your self-awareness journey. Here are my top picks for self-care related journals:

Best Journal for New Moms

This thoughtful postpartum self-care journal from Promptly Journals is perfect for new moms. As the description says, it’s a “year-long guide to self-care and healing during the postpartum period”. And I am here to tell you that there is no better time to take care of your mind and body than right after you have a baby! With prompts and tips from mental health professionals, this journal provides amazing support when you need it most. Get it here from Promptly Journals.

promptly journals postpartum journal image

Best Journal for Parents

This gorgeous childhood history journal from Promptly Journals offers an amazing way to document your child’s life from your perspective. The journal has prompts that follow your child through the years, from 0-18. It’s a really lovely way to document your parenthood journey. Also makes a great keepsake to hand down to your children. Get it here from Promptly Journals.

promptly journals childhood history journal image

Best Journal for Mindfulness

This journal from Monica Sweeney is a delightfully irreverent take on a mindfulness journal. Don’t let the profanity fool you, this journal is jam-packed with life-improving strategies and prompts. Let That Sh*t Go will have you centered in no time. Highly recommend! Get it here on Amazon.

Best Journal for Grief

This Grief Journal and Remembrance Journal Bundle from Promptly Journals is, simply put, amazing. These guided journals take you through a series of compassionate prompts all focused on helping you heal. They have high-quality paper and lots of space to write. These beautiful journals are just what you need to move through your grief. Get them here from Promptly Journals.

promptly journals grief journal image

Thanks so much for reading my post on bullet journaling. Hope you found it useful and inspirational! Feel free to share your favorite bullet journal ideas in the comments below!


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Hayley Wilds, MA, LPC

Hayley Wilds, MA, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor, certified family-based therapist, art therapist, and sleep-deprived mom, with 20+ years of experience working with parents and families. Hayley is the founder of The Centered Parent, a strength-based parenting blog that delivers reliable info on parenting, self-care, activities for kids, and family bonding.

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