<<< When you are starting out with a new bullet journal and you see all of those blank pages in front of you, it can be a little overwhelming to get started. I want to help you fill out the first few pages of your bullet journal so that you can get past that scary moment of marking up the first page. Here you will find a step-by-step bullet journal layout tutorial so that you can make your first few bullet journal spreads without feeling like it’s too overwhelming. Get comprehensive ideas for your bullet journal setup all in one place! >>>
Ever since I knew bullet journaling was a thing, I have been a huge fan of it.
I love everything about bullet journals. I love the colours and supplies, the fine balance between organization and art, and the therapeutic feeling I get from working on a fresh page.
But there was always one thing that I struggled with consistently:
The bullet journal setup.
With all of those blank pages, I never knew quite how I wanted to start. There were so many options and I didn’t want to mess it up. What if I separate my pages poorly? Will I still like this design later in the year? I just never quite knew how to begin.
My last bullet journal, however, felt like the sweet spot for me, and I have found myself returning to that layout again this year.
Since it is a bullet journal layout that has been working for me, I thought I would share it with my fellow routine-lovers and planners out there so that you could try it, too!
Step-by Step Bullet Journal Setup
Consider your design before touching the pages
The first thing you will need to do before writing anything down is to decide how you would like to design your foundational bullet journal spreads.
In general, though I like to get creative with the monthly spreads, I try to keep my yearly spreads simple and minimalistic.
In the changing months, it can be nice to see a new design, but for the pages that you have to refer to throughout the year, this can get to be a little much. I try to stick to one neutral colour (I did yellow this year to match my cover) and then stick to a black pen and simple designs. This is a good way to make sure you don’t tire of the look by the end of the year.
Once you’ve got your theme planned, it’s time to start with the pages. I use a few pages at the very front and a few pages at the very back and work my way inward to make sure I don’t end up with blank pages in between. Let’s start with the front end…
Page 1: Contact Cover Page
Your first page should have two things on it: your contact information and a nice image.
You need the contact page so that people know where to return the book if it gets lost.
The nice image is like having a warm welcome mat in your home- it just feels nice! I like to keep the image simple. It could be a simple picture I drew or a printed photo of a nice memory. Anything that makes you feel warm and comforted works!
Page 2: Content Page
Set aside some space to write down page numbers as you create new bullet journal spreads. I don’t ever write the page numbers until each spread is actually completed, so I would recommend simply writing your title, leaving some blank space, and moving on.
Page 3: Key/Legend
For people who have had their bullet journal system for a long time, a key often isn’t necessary. I just switched up my codes this year to make them more minimalistic, so I definitely needed a reference page. Again, keep it real simple and clean so that it is not too overwhelming when you reference it later.
Page 4-9: Future Log
If you’ve done your research on bullet journals you’ll know that the future log is the real claim to fame here. People rave about how great the future log is for figuring out what’s going on throughout the year and for feeling more prepared as a whole.
But I’ll be honest, up until my most recent bullet journal, my future logs have been these sad, empty lots in the real estate of my journals. I wrote all the calendars but never bothered to fill those calendars in with any activities.
But this year, I am downright proud of my future logs!
I made a note to write as many holidays, celebrations, and birthdays as I could think of, and I plan to add more when I can. Even New Moons and Full Moons were recorded this year! I know it might sound silly, but I really think it’s important to celebrate as many things as we can. It is good to find reasons to enjoy the simple things, and your future log is a great way to do that!
Page 10: First Quarter Goals
In my goal-setting posts, I talk about how important it is to make a visual reminder for your quarterly goals. For me, my bullet journal is where that happens. I write out my goals on one page and make it visually appealing so that I can return to it later and remember what I’m working towards. I see it every day and it really helps to keep me motivated.
Design your goals in whatever way makes you happiest and have fun with this page!
Want more ideas for goal-setting? Check out these articles:
- How to Set Goals You Can Actually Achieve
- Plan for Success: How to Prepare for New Goals
- 70 Achievable Resolutions to Conquer the New Year
Page 11: January Cover Page
For every month, it can be nice to do a cover page with designs you like. It helps to organize your bullet journal and to make each month feel like a fresh start. I use magazine cutouts and washi tape for my cover pages, but you can use whatever you’d like!
Page 12: January Monthly Spread
This page varies depending on what you are interested in using your bullet journal for. I use this page to write out a calendar, come up with three simpler goals, track one habit, and write a few monthly to-do’s, but this isn’t always what I do. Consider what you need and experiment to see what works for your style.
From there, you can choose what kinds of stuff you want to do for daily and weekly spreads, but I won’t be covering that here since we’re just talking about the bullet journal setup.
This brings us to the end of the front portion of the journal. Now it’s time to flip to the last few pages of the book. I only add two pages at the back, but they are very important.
Back Page #1: Pen Test Page
I added this page last year and I have loved it so much! Every time you get a new pen or marker, you will want to test to see how it reacts to the pages of your bullet journal. Otherwise, you risk using a pen that will ruin the pages you worked so hard on in the bullet journal. Save this page at the end for testing those new supplies.
Back Page #2: Grid Spacing
This is a simple, but effective page to have as a reference, and it will save you lots of time whenever you are creating new bullet journal spreads. This is a page made up of lines and numbers that gives you a reference of how many dots are on your pages and where the middle of the page is. You can search for more detailed grids if you want more reference material, but I find a simple page covers pretty much all you need to know.
<<< Bullet journaling can be a bit of a stressful process if you don’t know where to start. I hope that this step-by-step bullet journal layout tutorial was able to point you in the right direction. If your bullet journal setup is still overwhelming you, remember that this is a process that takes time. Every year you will improve, and all of your old bullet journal spreads are an inspiration for your future spreads. Enjoy the learning process and let yourself make mistakes. Have fun starting your bullet journal! >>>
0 Comments