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Friday, February 9, 2018

My 4 Tips For Starting a Bullet Journal



At the beginning of this year I decided to take the plunge and start my first proper bullet journal. Last year, I had an unofficial bullet journal where I trialled different spreads and layouts. During this time I was able to get to grips with the system and wrap my head around this new form of planning. I don't have a lot of experience on my side but in the process of starting up, I did pick up on a couple things that I thought would still be good to share. Here are 4 things that helped me when starting my bullet journal. 

1. Research Before Purchasing Anything
When it comes to finding your ideal supplies, I recommend watching comparison videos on Youtube. You'll not only see the stationery being tested side by side but also get a better sense for the wide variety of notebooks and pens on market. Try not to get too caught up in what everyone else in using. Establish what you're hoping to get out of your bullet journal as this will help make sure you're investing in the right products for you. 

2. Play Around With Different Equipment
It's commonly said that all you need to bullet journal is a notebook and a pen but that doesn't go to say that you can't incorporate other creative supplies into your planner. Washi tape, stickers, stamps and stencils can also be used in bullet journalling. Be creative and don't be afraid to experiment with different methods and techniques. The more enjoyable you make your bullet journalling, the more likely you'll commit to it. 

3. Get Inspired Regularly 
Pinterest and Instagram are treasure troves of bullet journalling inspiration. Whenever you feel like you're starting to lose momentum with your planning, scroll through BuJo accounts on social media. If you're bored of your current set up, look for new collections to add or different layouts for your weekly spreads. Sometimes it helps to change things up a bit so don't feel like your journal has to have a consistent theme/aesthetic.

4. Have a Draft Book
Whenever you're planning it's always good to have some scrap paper close by so that you can make any rough sketches if need be. A draft book allows you to test different handwriting styles, headers, borders and other types of doodles. If you see something online but don't know if you'll be able to execute it correctly, you can just give it a go in your second notebook. That way, if it doesn't look the way you want it to, there's still no harm done to your actual journal.  

Thanks for reading! What are your thoughts on bullet journalling? Let me know in the comments below! 

32 comments:

  1. I love the tip about a draft book! I thought I was strange for doodling miniature layouts in my sketchbook just because I hate getting things wrong in the "real" journal.
    Also, I should have watched more review videos early on. Instead, I just put off buying an actual journal and used old, half-finished sketchbooks to get into bullet journaling. Worked out fine, but I could have switched months ago if I'd done a bit of research.

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment Evelyne! You're not alone in that thinking! I also hate messing things up in my actual bullet journal which is why the draft book is such a huge help for me! :-) AnnieChanie

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  2. Great post. I bought a bullet journal and really like it but I haven't been using it so often. Very good advice for those who are intrigued by them.

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    1. Thanks so much Katie! I appreciate the feedback! AnnieChanie

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  3. Hi great post. I love the idea of having a draft book, time to get one I think.

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    1. Haha, I promise it's very useful! Thanks for commenting! :-) AnnieChanie

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  4. I love these tips! They are perfect and are going to be so helpful! I have wanted to write a bullet journal for ages! xx corinne

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    1. Thank you Corinne! You should do it! I know it's a little bit daunting at first but it's such a great organisational tool! AnnieChanie

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  5. I love this! I wish I'd seen it earlier. I decided to start one on a whim at the end of January so I didn't really get a chance to plan. I used January as a draft layout as it was almost over but I'm definitely putting more thought into it next year! x

    Sophie
    www.glowsteady.co.uk

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    1. Good for you! That's great Sophie! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! :-) AnnieChanie

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  6. I definitely want to start one so this was so so helpful, I definitely need more organisation in my life!! X

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    1. Highly recommend this form of planning! It's such a fun and creative way to organise! Thanks Chloe! AnnieChanie

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  7. This was so helpful - I find them so alien

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    1. Haha, thanks so much for your comment Mattie! :-) AnnieChanie

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  8. My sister has been telling me all about bullet journal and she's excited to do it. I wanted to do one but I don't know if I'd commit to it. I could be creative when I want to, but it's rarely. Good tips though, I'll be sure to tell my sister :) x Ain (www.captaineverland.co.uk)

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    1. Thank you Ain! I was worried about committing to it as well but I feel like I've been pretty good so far! It's honestly not that bad once you get into it! You should definitely give it a try! :-) AnnieChanie

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  9. I love bullet journalling so much but one of my favourite things is going through Pinterest and seeing bullet journalling inspiration. Some of the pages/journals I've seen are incredible!

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    1. Oh my gosh, same! Every time I scroll through Pinterest, I'm constantly amazed by people's creativity. Thanks for the comment Zoe! AnnieChanie

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  10. This is a great post and I’ve started a proper bullet journal this year aswell and I had a starter small one last year experimenting with spreads and layouts! I love my bullet journal as I can organise everything in there from uni work to blogging to personal stuff aswell! Ayse x

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    1. Thank you Ayse! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Bullet journals are great because they're so versatile! You can use it for all aspects of your life! :-) AnnieChanie

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  11. Great post - I'd love to make a bullet journal but I've always thought I wouldn't know where to start so this is so useful!

    Amy,
    https://creativenails.uk

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    1. Thank you so much Amy! I'm glad you were able to take something away from this post! :-) AnnieChanie

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  12. Love this post it's really helpful, I don't have a bulllet journal but am desperate to start so thank you for this post! X

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    1. Aw, thank you Mollie! I'm happy to hear you find this post helpful! :-) AnnieChanie

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  13. This is such a helpful post! I love the idea of bullet journals, I’m scared that if I started one I wouldn’t be able to keep up because I’m so busy but this will definitely be the post I refer to if I decide to take it up! Your blog is absolutely beautiful by the way!
    -Olivia Xxx

    http://oliviaxalesha.com

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    1. Thank you so much Olivia! That's really sweet of you to say! I felt the exact same way but so far, it hasn't been too tricky finding time for my bullet journal. You should definitely try it out if you're keen! :-) AnnieChanie

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  14. I love the idea of bullet journalling but I'm yet to start my own. Definitely some great tips and advice in this post! Love the aesthetic of your blog by the way!

    -Sophie xx
    Cherries & Perfume 

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    1. Thank you for such a lovely comment Sophie! That means a lot! :-) AnnieChanie

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  15. Ever since I started blogging I’ve been looking into bullet journaling to keep up with when I need to post on my blog, social, and —of course— my own day to day life.

    Great advice! x

    Michelle
    dressingwithstyle-s.com

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    1. I use it a lot for blog planning and growth tracking. It's a great way to keep all your ideas and stats in one place. Thank you so much Michelle! :-) AnnieChanie

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    1. Haha, yes! A little mock up beforehand never hurts! Thanks for commenting! :-) AnnieChanie

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