If you need to fix your life or need a creative outlet, why not start a bullet journal?
The bullet journal is a fun, highly customizable, and beginner-friendly organization system that will change your life!
All you need is a bullet journal notebook, your favorite pen, and your favorite art materials (optional). Setting up your bullet journal can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple of hours. It depends on how many bullet journal collections you want to set up in one go.
Once you get the hang of bullet journaling, it can get pretty addictive.
Now if you're looking for different bullet journal spread ideas for inspiration, you've come to the right page—er, place!
Here's a long list of bullet journal ideas you need to try next!
But wait, what should be in a bullet journal?
The bullet journal system (BuJo for short) is a visual and personal method of personal organization done in a notebook. Think of it like a journal, planner, and to-do list all in one.
Setting up your first bullet journal can get technical for a newbie. You usually create your planner pages first, like a yearly log, monthly calendar, and weekly spread.
Then you get to the fun part: bullet journal collections.
Your bullet journal collections are a page or more dedicated to a specific topic or idea. And there are tons of fun bullet journal ideas out there to fill up entire notebooks.
Make different kinds of to-do lists. Create a habit tracker for every kind of activity in your routine. Jot down lists of all the ideas that come to mind!
To make a bullet journal notebook your own, fill it with collections that work for you. There's no right or wrong way to bullet journal. Honestly, just have fun!
Are dotted journals better?
Bullet journal purists swear by a journal with dotted paper. The dot grid lets you create bullet journal collections easier because the straight lines are subtle and less rigid. But I've seen people use lined and even blank bullet journals. I personally prefer square grids.
The beauty of bullet journaling is starting from scratch in a blank notebook or journal. That's why bullet journals are so versatile and much more flexible than a journal planner. Some planners are too rigid in structure or too cluttered with layouts you'll never use.
With a bullet journal, the possibilities and layout ideas are endless!
Bullet journal ideas for pretty spreads
Now that we've gotten the basics covered, let's finally get into some fun bullet journal ideas you can use for inspiration! Don't forget to put page numbers in your index so you can easily find these bullet journal spreads.
Dreams and Goals
Wanna know my secret to achieve my new year's resolution every year? All my bullet journals start with my long-term goals and big ideas.
Remember: A dream without a plan is just a wish. Now a dream put into action? That's a goal.
So whether it's a new year's resolution or mid-year re-evaluation, a bullet journal is a perfect place to set and reach your goals!
Break your long-term goal down into monthly, weekly, and even daily actionable tasks that you can track. Use this spread to brainstorm ideas and find inspiration.
The trick is to write down the big idea or the big goal you want to achieve. Then set SMART goals: that is, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely.
Vision Board
Not all ideas and dreams can be put down in words. As they say, pictures speak a thousand words. And dreaming is a visual experience.
That's why my vision boards and mood boards are a staple in my own journal. Some of my best journal ideas and creative prompts were born on these pages.
It helps to visualize your greatest goals and most creative ideas alongside writing them down. Envision what you imagine life to be like with your goals manifested. Collect images of your dream life on the page.
One line a day
As the prompt says, make a page for you to write one line every day. Since it only takes a few minutes, this is a great idea for busybody bullet journal keepers.
Write about anything! What happened today? How are you feeling? Any important ideas you came up with? What did you learn?
Pair this with your mood tracker. See if your day-to-day experience reflects your emotional outlook.
Gratitude log
Keeping up a gratitude practice does wonders for your mental health. It puts you in a positive mood and improves your general outlook on life.
Your gratitude list needn't be deep. Start simple: What made you smile today?
See if you can fill up the whole page with things you're grateful for and ideas that spark joy. I love this BuJo idea because it's something that always makes me feel better on a bad day.
Habit tracker
How do you get better at life? Maintain and pick up healthy habits. Break the bad ones. Replace them with new and fulfilling ones. But it's hard to stay consistent, and that's why you need a habit tracker in your bullet journal.
Honestly, this is what got my life together. Over time, it became a method of keeping track of my personal development.
Pro-tip: Break your long-term goal down into daily, actionable steps you can turn into habits.
It also pays to use a dotted notebook for your bullet journal when you make a habit tracker. The grid makes the setup so much easier.
Mood tracker
It's like a habit tracker but for your feelings. This is an especially helpful bullet journal spread for people dealing with mental illnesses or mood disorders.
It's a great idea to track your moods so you can better manage and maintain your mental health.
To set it up, list down the common moods or feelings you encounter. Then make a color code for those feelings. Next, make a tracker layout. Every day, take stock of your feelings and log them in your mood tracker.
Sometimes, unpleasant emotions can severely affect our energy levels. Name, understand, and track your feelings so you deal with them better. Because of my mood tracker, I was also able to identify events and activities that triggered certain emotions.
Mental health tracker
Bullet journaling is an effective tool for managing mental disorders.
A mental health tracker is a streamlined bullet journal page for those on the neurodivergent spectrum. Here, you can track your moods, symptoms, medication intake, triggers, and other notable behaviors. Then see how they correlate with each other.
For example, if I'm depressed for a long time, the other trackers on the page usually give me ideas and reasons why. I might've missed my meds or gotten triggered.
A tracker comes in handy in therapy or counseling. It's a progress report page where you can analyze what's affecting you.
Self-care playlists
Here's a great idea for music enthusiasts and anyone who needs an auditory pick-me-up! Make a list of your favorite songs. Use your bullet journal for self-care! Create a bullet journal page dedicated to artists and albums you absolutely love.
When you're feeling down, go back to this page and put a fun, happy tune on.
Finance tracker
Need to save money? Make a finance tracker bullet journal spread. Track expenses, monitor recurring bills, and schedule payments. You and your savings account can thank us later.
Make a page or spread for your recurring expenses, monthly expenses, and budget.
List down your usual utilities and bills: rent, electricity bill, water bill, phone bill, internet bill, monthly loans or mortgages, and subscriptions. Add columns for the amount owed, the due date, and a check box so you can track the payment.
You can also do a budget tracker. Make a table to track if your expenses are within your monthly budget. You can also make a savings tracker to see how much you've set aside for your financial goals.
Fitness goals
Let your bullet journal notebook push you to a healthier lifestyle.
Write down your exercise goals and track how often you work out. If you want to lose weight, you can track that, too. Note down ideas for your diet and fitness regimen.
Decorate your page with affirmations to keep you going! And always come from a place of body positivity.
Meal Planning & Food Tracker
Who needs a meal planner or food journal when you have a bullet journal?
As a foodie, I love meal-planning bullet journal collections. It's a fantastic way to track what you eat and use from your grocery list. Plus, meal planning helps you eat healthier.
Start your meal plan with a weekly or monthly layout that includes your regular meals. What's for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner? To be successful in your meal plan, take note of what's seasonal and what's in your fridge and pantry.
Make to-do lists of recipes and dinner ideas you want to try. Schedule a day or two in the week for meal prepping. And, of course, the best ideas come with visuals. Doodle your food!
Grocery lists
An essential bullet journal idea for moms or dads with a big family. Make a shopping list for your food and household necessities.
Make those grocery runs more efficient. If you can, track all the supplies and food you have at home. Take note of what's in your fridge and what's in your reserves. See what actually needs restocking. This way, you save money, avoid food waste, and reduce overstocking your pantries.
Shopping list
Ever had to go on multiple shopping trips in one go because you left something at the store? Or maybe there was something you needed this month that you keep forgetting?
Optimize your shopping experience. Track what you need to buy and how much it costs. This list can tie in with your budget tracker.
Wishlist
This one's my favorite bullet journal spread to make. I like to make collages and drawings of things I want and pair them with a checklist.
We all deserve to treat ourselves every now and then, right?
You can also keep this as a future reference for the next time someone asks you what you want for the holidays or your birthday.
Typical vs. ideal daily schedule
This is another of my favorite bullet journal spreads to do.
On one page, I note what I typically do in a day—sometimes a week. I note my working hours, recurring events, and what time I wake up and sleep.
On the other page, I plan what I'd like to do in a day or week. Sometimes that means dreaming big and planning freely.
I also call this the Expectations vs. Reality page. There's usually a significant difference. I have more to-do lists on my ideal day. But on a typical or realistic day, you only have so much time or energy.
Still, this bullet journal idea helps me bridge the gap between what I want to do and what I can actually do.
Ideal morning routine and evening routine
Every bullet journal notebook I've filled has this spread. When synced with a habit tracker, these ideas become a powerful force in your personal progress.
On your morning routine page, list down healthy habits you can do to set your day up for success. Make time to create, move, and meditate. Take a moment to brew and appreciate your coffee before checking your phone.
For your ideal evening routine, take time to de-stress and have fun after a long day. Check-in with your journal, watch a movie, take a long bath. List ideas for activities you can do to encourage good sleep.
Date night ideas
Feeling romantic? Want to surprise your significant other? Make a list of all the fun ideas you can do on your next dates.
This is a great idea if you're single, too. List date night ideas you can do for some extra self-love and self-care.
Note down restaurants you want to try, art galleries you'd like to visit, and live shows you want to see. List ideas that aren't just dinner and a movie! An arts and crafts class, glamping, trivia night, take a hike, travel, go skydiving.
See how you can squeeze in a bit of adventure and quality time—with yourself, your best friend, or your partner.
Monthly spread and page ideas
You can be as creative or as minimalist in your bullet journal. I always look forward to my monthly spread setups because it's fun to create a theme for the whole month.
A seasonal monthly theme sets the tone for the month. Add to that a monthly set of goals and ideas you want to fulfill. Plus, it's fun to search for inspiration on Pinterest or YouTube to see what I can do next.
So you don't forget what you want to do next month, list down or even sketch layout ideas for your monthly spreads.
Brain Dump
This bullet journal page is a great idea for organizing your thoughts. It's a lot like diary writing only you don't necessarily have to write longhand.
The point of a brain dump is putting down all your thoughts, ideas, and even feelings on the page. Anything goes. You can always sift through these later.
So quit taking a mental note of everything and start putting pen to paper in a brain dump. Never lose precious ideas again.
Have you tried the ZenART bullet journal?
We hope you found inspiration in seeing all the ideas and bullet journal collections in this list!
And if you're just a beginner searching for ideas before jumping down the bullet journal rabbit hole, we've got a suggestion for you!
Find your next best bullet journal here on ZenART Supplies! Our bullet journals use smooth, off-white, dot-grid paper that is fountain-pen proof! They come in beautiful designs we know you'll absolutely love.
Still on the lookout for bullet journaling ideas? We've covered more creative ways to fill up a bullet journal or sketchbook. Just head over to our Inspiration section!
- MEET THE AUTHOR-
Belle O. Mapa is a writer and artist based in Manila, Philippines. She believes that everyone is born with an inner creative spirit—we just need to nurture and discover it on the blank page. Currently, she lives out her passion: writing stories, hosting journaling workshops, and advocating for mental health awareness.
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