2020 saw a resurgence of hobbies for many of us - whether it be gardening, painting, or general craftiness, so many new (and rekindled) passions were discovered. But one trend in particular seems to be sticking around: bullet journals.

What is a bullet journal?

A bullet journal is almost like a next-level diary. It’s a planner, a journal, a sketchbook - whatever you want it to be! Rather than traditional lined pages, bullet journals have small, measured dots lining the pages. You can use these dots similarly to graph paper.

Rather than purchasing a templated planner, bullet journals give you creative freedom to organize and track your life your way.

What tools do you need?

For starters, you need a bullet journal! (And, not that I’m biased, but…I think these personalized notebooks are pretty rad.) You’ll also need writing utensils! I usually start with a pencil to figure out exactly how I want my page mapped out. Then I use some thin point markers to add color to my pages!

While you don’t need these tools, many bullet journalers also enjoy having a ruler on hand, as well as some stencils. I mean, we’re not ALL Picasso (I’m sure not).

Then what?

Then…the choice is up to you! As mentioned above, there are so many things you can accomplish with a bullet journal. But, much like a menu at a diner: when given seemingly endless options, it’s hard to know where to start. Below are a few ideas to help get your journaling moving!

Calendars:

From simple lines to artistic wonders, creating a calendar is probably the most popular bullet journal idea. Beginners: Start out by creating a simple template, then outlining it in your favorite colors. As you become more confident, try incorporating themes (like this awesome music themed calendar below)!

Lists:

Get as essential (or non-essential) as you want with this idea! From shopping lists, to packing lists, to “Favorite Songs by Michael Bublé” lists…you get the idea. The dotted pages allow your lists to look incredibly organized, too, which always helps me when I’m feeling stressed out!

Trackers:

Not everything we need to keep track of can be stored on a calendar. How much water are you drinking? Did you lower your screen time this week? What about your sleep schedule - are you resting enough? Keeping tabs on these daily rituals can help provide insight about your life (and increase your overall happiness).

These are just 3 ideas, ultimately, in a sea of them. In 2022, it’s time for you to dive in!

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