If you’re a beginner to bullet journaling and are looking for the best bullet journal ideas, you’re in the right place!
I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a stationary nut. Always have been.
The hours I’ve spent wandering around Typo, or using my young daughter as an excvuse to browse all the wondrous products in Smiggles. One of my long term goals is to one day start a ‘Kikki K’ style business.
Then to my utter delight I recently discovered Bullet Journals.
Yet another productivity and organizational tool I can add to my collection!
As a solopreneur and digital nomad however, I have found the bullet journal method of organizing my week and life revolutionary.
Particularly drilling down tasks to months then weeks and quickly being able to see whether it’s a ‘to do’, an event or appointment or a note/reminder.
How to Start Bullet Journaling
As a reminder of how bullet journals work, here’s a video from the man who created the system here;
What’s In a Bullet Journal
So before I run through all the extra bullet journal ideas you can add to your journal, here are the basic pages which make up a bullet journal.
Index
The index is a way to keep track of all the pages in your bullet journal. This can be helpful if you want to refer back to a specific page, or if you want to quickly find a certain topic. An index can be created in a variety of ways, but often includes the page number and a brief description of the content on that page.
Future Log
The future log is a great way to stay organized far into the future without having to create a new page in your bullet journal each time. It’s typically broken down by months or weeks so that it’s easy to glance at what’s coming up next and plan accordingly. You can also customize this section however you like (ie: listing out only holidays/events/appointments instead of tasks or monthly goals as well).
Monthly Overview
The monthly overview page in your bullet journal is a great place to get an overall snapshot of the upcoming month. You can use it as a planning tool, a way to store important dates and deadlines, or even just as a check-in spot that you can refer back to when necessary.
Monthly Log
The monthly log is a way to track and record the events and happenings of each month. This can be done in a variety of ways, but often includes a list of dates and a brief description of what happened on each day. This can be a great way to keep track of your monthly goals and accomplishments, as well as to look back on past months for memories.
Weekly Log
The weekly log is like a mini version of the daily log but only for a specific week. It’s great for keeping all of your tasks, events, etc., in one place so that you have everything right at your fingertips when you need it. Depending on the size and scale of your to-do list each week, this could be just a weekly overview or something more detailed with bullet points listing each task.
Daily Log
The daily log is the heart and soul of most bullet journals. It’s where your events, appointments, tasks, notes, etc., all go to keep you organized throughout the day. You can customize this section in any number of ways depending on your needs – including keeping track of how long each task takes so that you can figure out whether or not things are taking too long and need attention!
Collections
A collection is just a term for any group of related notes or lists in your bullet journal. For example, if you’re keeping track of your budget somewhere in your journal, it might be organized into its own collection so that you can get a better overall picture of how you’re doing with money each month. There’s no right or wrong way to organize your collections – be creative and make them work for you!
Credit – Sohailssanghvi
So let’s have a look at some fab bullet journal ideas you can add to make journaling not only fun but so productive you can’t help but take action!
NB: I am NOT a creative!
Bullet Journaling is not just for creatives. You can keep your journal as minimalist or as decorative as you like.
For the following examples I’m going to show a range, including some creative bullet journalplanner ideas, which should be hung from an art gallery. However, please note my bullet journal is simply big pages of lists sometimes with different colored pens just to brighten it up a bit!
If you have an iPad and would love to start bullet journaling today with a basic digital bullet journal notebook template as your starter, please see my basic bullet journal planner for beginners here.
In fact here are some fab bullet journals to get you started;
So now you know what a bullet journal is and have a pen and journal at the ready, let’s have a look at some cool bullet journal ideas!
50+ Fantastic Bullet Journal Ideas
So all the following bullet journal ideas are known as bullet journal collections. These come after the main pages I specified above.
These are extra pages you can add to spice up your bullet journal and keep all your ideas in one place.
Please note as a solopreneur and traveler I’m starting with bullet journal collection ideas most relevant to my experiences, but they get more diverse as the list goes on!
Let’s go!
1. Bucket list
When you start thinking about building a lifestyle business and traveling the world, there is nothing more important than your bucket list.
However, to make it actionable you’re better off creating a shorter list with ideal deadlines, than 1000 pie in the sky dreams that you list once and never look at again.
The best way I found to bullet journal a bucket list, is to have one single page listing everything that I love to do this year and then another page or two with everything I want to do in the coming 2 to 3 years and then lastly my page of pie in the sky dreams that I would love to do one day.
My future bucket lists would go towards the end of my bullet journal whereas the things I want to do this year would be towards the front and added as and when to my monthly events and/or monthly future logs.
2. Travel planner
As a traveller and digital nomad, I wouldn’t be without my travel planner.
This is a simple page where I can note a destination, a potential route to get there, a list of activities to do when I get there, best times to visit, expected weather, budget etc.
3. Places I’ve been – rating sheet
Along with my travel planner I also have a sheet which details all the places I’ve been with ratings out of 10 as to the experiences I had and whether I’d like to go back!
4. Things to do in….
As well as travel planner pages I also have singular things to do in… Pages which allow me to record cool experiences I find out about from other peoples travels when looking at Instagram, reading blogs, watching videos etc.
5. Countries to visit this year
I also have pages dedicated to countries that I want to visit this year, separate from my bucket list sheets (which may include experiences or date night, restaurants etc).
6. Packing list
I also have an essentials packing list, to remind me of all the things I tend to take on every single trip.
Such as, a portable charger, an international adapter, my underwater camera, charging cables, kindle, toiletries, underwear, and so on.
I also have a separate packing list for each individual trip depending on the conditions, time of year and weather.
7. Trip tracker
Last but not least of this list, of course you have as many pages as your imagination allows, on my individual trip trackers.
On these pages I’ll get specific, including departure details, arrival details, transport reference numbers, hotel booking numbers, specific activities that I’ve booked or I’m definitely going to do, costs, and any other salient information.
8. Money making ideas
It’s also a great idea to have a money making ideas page.
If you’re anything like me this will span across several pages!
As a lifestyle business owner or digital nomad these will be full of different side hustle ideas like blogging, vlogging, freelancing, e-commerce, affiliate marketing, etc.
Ideally keep a page just for brainstorming and then a separate page for each business model to keep notes of the steps to take to turn each idea into a profit making opportunity.
9. Blog post ideas
If you’re a blogger you likely have 1 million different blog post ideas a day.
Therefore a great bullet journal idea is to keep a list of blog post ideas as they come to you.
10. Blog traffic numbers
If you run your own Blog, another great bullet journal idea is to keep track of your blog traffic numbers, either on a day-to-day week by week or month by month basis.
All your numbers can be found by integrating Google analytics with your blog.
11. Social media follower tracker
If perhaps you’re a Vlogger, or a social media influencer, you may want to keep an eye on the growth of your followers.
This is a great bullet journal page idea to see whether your content is resonating with your ideal audience.
Credit – Journautical
12. Instagram/TikTok reel ideas
If you’re stuck for Instagram or TikTok real ideas, create a bullet journal page and make a note of all the great ideas you get while scrolling Instagram and TikTok.
Turn your social media sessions from random scrolling to bullet journal idea generation.
13. Twitter/Linked In post ideas
Similar to Instagram or TikTok reels or any social media posts.
You might get an idea while queueing at the dentist, scrolling Twitter, or just having a coffee with a friend.
It’s a great bullet journal idea to have a page dedicated to potential social media post ideas.
14. Recommended reading list
If you’re anything like me you probably listen to plenty of podcasts, or watch YouTube videos regularly.
How often do you hear an interviewer or interviewee talk about a recent book that they read?
Create a bullet journal page for books you’d love to read.
15. Book reviews
Another great bullet journal page idea is to create a sheet for summary book reviews.
Every time you read a book you can make some notes about what you love most about it, salient quotes, action steps, and page numbers you want to remember.
16. Mood tracker
Do you sometimes struggle without and down moods and you’re wondering if there is a pattern?
As bullet journal ideas go, in the current state of the world this is probably one of the most important.
Create a 30 Day mood tracker sheet to monitor your day-to-day emotions and see if you can spot a pattern perhaps connected to your sleep, your diet, or some aspect of your lifestyle.
17. Food Diary
Partner with your mood tracker you can also create a daily food diary and keep a track of what you’re eating.
18. Weight loss tracker
If you’re looking to manage your pounds, a weight loss tracker is a great bullet journal idea.
Simply keep a track of your weight, body measurements, or both on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, and pair with your food diary and mood tracker to spot any useful patterns.
19. Meal planner
Perhaps you’re on a strict regime or you simply want to plan for the family. Adding daily, weekly or monthly meal planning sheets are a great addition to your bullet journal.
20. Favorite recipe ideas
Do you ever just make a meal that turns out amazing?
Make it a habit to start journaling your favourite recipes.
Then next time you’re stuck for choice you can simply look at your bullet journal page and pick one of your faves.
21. Favorite restaurants
Talking about favourites, how about places you’ve eaten that simply blew you away?
So often we go out to eat and think wow what a beautiful meal and then forget all about it.
A great bullet journal idea is to keep your page or two dedicated to your favourite restaurants, so on your next date night or girls night out you have a ready made selection at your fingertips.
22. Date night ideas
Another great bullet journal idea is to create a page dedicated to date night ideas.
Whenever you see something that sparks your imagination on social media, or a friend might mention an incredible evening they had. Now you can note that experience in your bullet journal and have it ready for your next date night.
23. Birthdays
Number 23 in our list of bullet journal ideas is to keep a page of important birthdays.
This could also be extended to anniversaries, graduations, or any other important events coming up.
24. Gift Ideas
Do you ever find yourself stuck for ideas when it comes to Christmas and birthdays?
And yet how many times do you spot something on Amazon or in a little craft shop or a friends house that you think yourself all that would make a great gift for XXX.
Take the stress out of birthdays and Christmas and create a bullet journal page for gift ideas.
25. Daily step tracker
If you own a Fitbit or an Apple Watch chances are you have an app that tracks all of your daily steps.
However, a great bullet journal idea is to have your daily steps on the left hand side and the reward you’re going to give yourself if you hit your goal steps on the right.
Perhaps you watch yourself daily, weekly or monthly. It’s up to you. However it’s been scientifically proven that you’re more likely to maintain habits when they are rewarded.
26. Morning routine tracker
Do you have a morning routine? If not, I highly recommend it!
A great bullet journal idea is to write down your ideal morning routine and then track it on a daily basis.
Use it in conjunction with your mood tracker page to see if a morning routine affects how you feel.
27. 5 min journaling
Five minute journaling is a practice that allows you to shower your thoughts onto a page instead of allowing them to cloud up your brain.
Create a section of your bullet journal dedicated to your daily five minute journaling practice and feel your mind calm and your increasing ability to handle daily stresses.
28. Exercise routines
A great bullet journal idea is to track your exercise routines.
Whether it’s your favourite yoga exercises, your drills at the gym, your daily run statistics or whatever you choose to do to move your body.
This is an incredible way to see how far you’ve come rather than always focusing on how far you have to go.
29. Fave walks/hikes
I love to hike & explore new places, however sometimes it’s easy to forget a walk that I really enjoyed.
One of my favourite bullet journal ideas is to keep a track of some of the most amazing walks and hikes I have experienced throughout the world.
And to list all the ones I want to try!
30. Recommended movies to see
How many times has a friend or relative recommended a movie that you just must see!
Create a bullet journal page and keep a note of all the movies recommended to you so you can take them off as you go.
31. Fave movies of all time
Also in the spirit of High Fidelity with John Cusack why not keep a record of your favorite movies of all time.
Then next time you’re playing a game in your car or with a group of friends where they say ‘what’s your five or 10 favorite movies of all time’ you can whip out your bullet journal and stun them all with your precision answer.
32. Concerts you’d love to see
This one is particularly poignant as we’ve recently been through a huge lockdown period across the world where there were no concerts happening anywhere!
By keeping a list of all the favourite artists that you love to see in concert, it’s amazing how you’ll start to spot when they are touring as opposed to hearing about how great they were from a friend of yours.
33. Fave songs of all time
Another great bullet journal idea is to list out your favourite songs of all time.
This makes it easy to add them to an Apple Spotify playlist.
34. Podcasts & fave episode numbers
If you’re a podcast listener you might want to create a bullet journal page dedicated to your favourite podcasts and also list out your favourite episode numbers.
This is a great way to keep track of all those inspiring interviews and be able to go back and re-listen at any time.
35. Sports scores
This would’ve been so handy a few years ago when I used to play fantasy football with some friends of mine at work!
If you’re a sports fan, why not create a bullet journal page to track all of your favourite sports scores; by game, by season or year by year!
I don’t wanna bump into you at the next pub sports quiz!
36. Daily/weekly/monthly expenses
A great way to keep track of what you’re spending is to note it down!
A great bullet journal idea is to keep track of your expenses either daily, weekly or monthly.
37. Net worth
Another number that many don’t bother to keep track of is your net worth.
Robert Kiyosaki argues this is the most important financial spreadsheet that you should have in your records.
It should include things such as how much equity is left on your house?
What investments do you have?
What’s your credit card debt?
How much cash do you have?
Create a bullet journal page to track your net worth, make you financially aware, and hopefully help you to make choices to then watch it grow.
38. Investment Ideas
Once you’ve created your net worth bullet journal sheet, you’ll likely want to start making a list of potential investment ideas.
Create a bullet journal page dedicated to all of the possible investments you hear about, with a view to exploring, investigating and doing your own due diligence before investing.
You might then want to create a page dedicated to all of the investments you take action on including the dates and the amounts involved.
39. Business expenses tracker
As a digital nomad lifestyle business owner, the chances are you will have monthly expenses.
A great bullet journal idea is to keep track of all those expenses to ensure you’re not spending unnecessarily.
40. Business income tracker
As well as a business expense tracker you should also have a business income tracker.
Where are you generating income/sales?
By monitoring your income by category you’ll know where you should be spending the most time in your business.
41. Subscription tracker
As an online business owner the likelihood is you’ve signed up to certain subscriptions overtime.
I cannot tell you the amount of time I suddenly get a yearly charge that I’d completely forgotten I was part of that program!
A great bullet journal idea is to create a page dedicated to the subscriptions you sign up to, the date you signed up, the amount, and the next billing date.
Don’t get caught out by forgetting your subscriptions. Even $5 a month is $60 a year you could be spending on something more valuable.
42. New hobby ideas
Do you ever get an idea for a new hobby?
Maybe you wanna learn a new language, take up photography, go to pottery class, or collect baby owls!
The fact is 1 million thoughts go through our heads every single day.
A great bullet journal idea is to create a page dedicated to the ideas you have around potential hobbies.
Then, next time you’re a bit bored, flip to your hobby idea page and give one a go!
43. Ideal lifestyle budget
Have you ever asked yourself what your true ideal lifestyle is?
For me it’s to be able to travel the world, experience new cultures, new foods, new places, and live a life of spontaneity and surprise!
It may surprise you that to do that I only actually need $5000-$10,000 a month.
However, so many people believe they need to be a millionaire to live the life of the dreams.
Your ideal lifestyle may be simply to work from home in your pyjamas.
It might be to see more of your family, your children, your elderly parents, your spouse, your siblings et cetera.
It might be relocating to another city to be closer to the ones you love.
Oh similar to myself it might be to travel the world.
Whatever your ideal lifestyle, the likelihood is you will find out it’s not as expensive as you think it is.
And the only route to discover this is to do a ideal lifestyle budget and actually get clarity on exactly how much your ideal lifestyle would cost.
Therefore a fantastic bullet journal idea is to create a page dedicated to your ideal lifestyle budget.
To get more information on creating your ideal lifestyle budget see my blog post here.
44. Vision board
Over the years I have created vision boards on power points to keep on my computer, my daughter and I created a wall vision board (which of course only lasted as long as we were at the house before we went travelling), I added some pictures in Evernote, etc etc.
However there’s nothing better than leafing through magazines, cutting out pictures that inspire you and sticking them in your bullet journal!
Even if you’re not creative like me this exercise is so much fun to do.
Take an afternoon or a weekend and create your physical vision board dreaming of all the things you are going to achieve, experience, and explore throughout your life.
45. Things you’d love to learn
If you’re anything like me this will be a long list!
However, how quickly we forget.
I’m grateful a general idea is to create a page dedicated to all of the things that you’d love to learn.
Perhaps you wanna know all about crypto and web3.
Maybe you’d love to learn more about history.
You may have long wanted to improve your skills as a graphic designer or a photographer.
Whatever it is, make a note.
Don’t let yourself forget and then as you undertake each project you can create a bullet journal page to track your progress.
46. Relationship goals
Do you have relationship goals? If not you should have, even if you love your partner with all your heart and you’re having the time of your life.
Relationship goals just like business goals, health goals, personal goals, or simply inspirational reminders of the things we want to experience.
A great bullet journal idea is to create a page dedicated to all of the things you’d love to experience and feel in your relationship over the years.
This is a great one to do with your spouse or partner.
47. List of your values
Another great exercise to do with a spouse, partner, family member, child etc, or on your own, is to identify and then list your ideal values.
I have an exercise I’ve been doing for years with my husband and more recently my daughter, which really helps to identify any areas of conflict within relationships.
It also helps you to gain clarity on why you make some of the decisions you’re making at this stage in your life, and the direction in which you want to go.
Click here to learn more about doing a values exercise, and then create a page in your bullet journal dedicated to your current values.
Remember to update this at least once a year.
48. Favorite quotes
I have so many favourite quotes it’s untrue, however, most of them I forget by the time I finish my coffee.
A great bullet journal idea is to create a page dedicated to your favorite time management quotes.
List just those ones that really touch you, move you, or inspire you in someway.
49. Habit Tracker
A popular bullet journal layout is a habit tracker.
Simply create a daily, weekly or monthly spread to track any habit you’d love to become more consistent with.
Mark off all the days you take action and use human nature to help you not want to miss a day!
50. Positive affirmations
Another one of my favourite bullet journal ideas is to create a page full of positive affirmations.
Nikolas Tesla Invented the 369 method of manifestation.
The premise is that whatever you would love to manifest in your life you write down three times in the morning, six times in the afternoon and nine times in the evening.
This may sound a little kooky, however the simple fact is, that the more you focus on something, the more you identify opportunities or potential pathways to make it happen for yourself.
This isn’t divine intervention or a weird universal power that’s actually speaking to you.
It is simply that by focusing your thoughts, you are now paying attention to that which can help you on your journey.
If your thought pattern on a daily basis repeatedly includes phrases such as, “I can’t”, “I’m not good enough”, “why does this always happen to me”, etc, The chances are you will have experiences which firm you can’t you’re not good enough and the bad things always happen to you.
However if you train your daily thought patterns to include phrases such as ‘I’m a rockstar,’ ‘I attract money’, ‘I love myself’, ‘I attract the best people’, the likelihood is that the very thing you’re affirming will actually happen.
One of your most effective bullet journal ideas will be to create a page or pages dedicated to phrases which become daily positive affirmations.
However don’t just write them down and forget about them make sure you read them inside and out loud every single day.
51. Self limiting vs empowering beliefs
Another one of my favorite bullet journal ideas is to create pages dedicated to both your limiting and your empowering beliefs.
This is something I learnt from the personal development Guru Tony Robbins many years ago.
We have so many self limiting beliefs embedded throughout childhood, unknowingly from parents, loved ones, spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends etc.
Take some time to create a bullet journal page and list out all of the beliefs which you think limit you or hold you back in some way.
Then create a bullet journal page with all of the beliefs that are opposite to your limiting beliefs, and that empower you and inspire you in some way.
Then make sure that you read your inspiring and empowering beliefs every single day.
52. Journal prompts
Last but not least for this list of bullet journal ideas is a list of journal prompts.
These may be prompts for empowering beliefs, prompts for positive affirmations, prompts for gratitude pages, prompts for manifestations, self-care, weight tips, whatever you feel you need to keep a track of that will inspire creativity on the days that perhaps you’re just not feeling it.
On the days when you feel on top of the world, you’re in the zone, and you’re full of enthusiasm and energy, take some time to write down some journal prompts to help you during those times when you’re not feeling so good.
Believe me this practice is worth its weight in gold.
Bullet Journal Ideas – FAQ’s
What should I put in my bullet journal?
There is no one right way to bullet journal, as the format and content can be tailored to suit your individual needs and interests.
Some ideas for bullet journal content include a monthly calendar, habit tracker, mood/inspiration log, weekly spreads with to-do lists or goals, task manager pages, and more.
Other bullet journalers also enjoy incorporating creative elements like doodles, color coding schemes, stickers, stamps, and other embellishments into their bullet journals.
Ultimately, the key is to choose whatever content works best for you in helping you stay organized and on track with all of your activities and goals.
What should a beginner bullet journal write?
A bullet journal is a great tool for anyone looking to take their organization and productivity to the next level. When starting a bullet journal, there are some key things to keep in mind.
To get started, you will need a blank notebook or journal that can be used exclusively for your bullet journal. This should be something that you enjoy writing in, with quality paper that won’t easily tear or smudge under heavy use.
Next, you’ll want to consider what type of bullet journaling system works best for your needs. There are many different styles out there, ranging from simple lists and schedules to more elaborate layouts and tracking systems. Think about how you like to organize information and what goals you hope to achieve with your bullet journal.
Once you have your bullet journal set up, it’s time to start filling it with content. This can include simple lists and checkboxes for to-do items, scheduling pages for appointments and deadlines, habit trackers to help you stay on top of your goals, and more. The sky is the limit when it comes to bullet journaling – just be sure to keep things organized, so that you can easily find what you need at a glance.
If you’re looking for an effective way to get organized and stay productive, a bullet journal is the perfect tool for you.
What are the 2 most important items in bullet journaling?
There are many different items that are important to bullet journaling, but perhaps the two most essential ones are organization and flexibility.
By organizing all of your tasks, notes, and other information in a bullet journal, you can stay on top of everything that you have going on. And by being flexible with how your bullet journal is set up and organized, you can easily adapt it to your own needs and preferences.
Whether you like to keep things simple or prefer lots of color and embellishments, bullet journaling has something for everyone. So if you’re looking to get more organized and stay on top of all of your tasks and commitments, bullet journaling is definitely worth considering!
How do I start a bullet journal for beginners?
There are a few key steps to starting a bullet journal for beginners. The first step is to select your bullet journaling tools, such as a notebook and pens or markers. Next, decide on your bullet journal structure, which may involve creating an index page and adding trackers for things like habit tracking or mood tracking.
Once you have your bullet journal set up, it’s time to start filling it with content. This can include writing out daily tasks or goals, creating lists of books to read or movies to watch, jotting down notes from meetings and appointments, or simply doodling in your bullet journal as a way to relax and unwind.
Whether you’re looking for a simple productivity tool or a creative outlet for your artistic side, bullet journaling has something to offer everyone. So why not give it a try and start creating your own beautiful bullet journal today!
How do I spice up my bullet journal?
One great way to add some fun and creativity to your bullet journal is by experimenting with different bullet journaling techniques. Some popular techniques include doodling, lettering, and adding color coding or symbols.
Additionally, you can also try out various writing tools and pens to find the one that works best for you. Whether you prefer pencils, markers, or fine-tipped pens, there are endless ways to customize your bullet journal and make it a unique and personalized reflection of you.
So don’t be afraid to get creative and try out different techniques to find the method that works best for you. With a little bit of practice and experimentation, you can turn your bullet journal into a fun, artistic tool that helps you stay organized and motivated every day.
Bullet Journal Ideas – Summary
I’ve really only scratched the surface in this article when it comes to bullet journal ideas.
There are so many pages, bullet journal spreads and bullet journal layouts you can add and play with.
I can safely say that creating and maintaining a bullet journal is not only a lot of fun, but is great for mental health, and can help you stay on track with your goals whatever they may be.
If you’d like to get started today with a basic bullet journal template you can either upload and use on goodnotes or notability, or simply print out and start adding all your own bullet journal ideas.
In the meantime, I hope this list of bullet journal ideas has given you some inspiration to start your own bullet journal today!
Happy bullet journaling!
PS. Here is an amazing offer if you are looking to receive a free planner. Check it out today!