Are you thinking about starting a bullet journal, or are you already going and running into questions along the way? Here, we have gathered answers to some of the most common questions we hear from both beginners and experienced users.
1. What is a bullet journal?
A bullet journal is a flexible planning system in a blank notebook – often with dots. You create your own layouts and pages so that they fit your exact needs. This can be weekly overviews, daily to-do lists, habit trackers, goals or reflections. See also: What is a bullet journal, and why does the method work?
2. How do you start a bullet journal?
All you need is a notebook and a pen. You can start simply with a monthly overview, a weekly plan and a list of your goals. You don't need to do everything at once – build it up at your own pace. See our beginners' guide to get off to a good start.
3. Which notebook is best for bullet journaling?
Most people prefer a dotted notebook, because the dots provide a good balance between structure and freedom. Popular sizes are A5 and B5. See our selection of dotted notebooks.
4. What equipment do you need?
You can easily just use a pen and a notebook. But many love to use:
All of this can help you create an attractive and functional layout – but it is not necessary to get started.
5. Should it be creative and nice?
No! Bullet journaling is first and foremost about function. It can be minimalist and black and white, or full of colour and decorations. There is no one right way to do it.
6. What do you use a bullet journal for?
You can use your bullet journal for:
Planning (weekly planners, monthly overviews, to-do lists)
Trackers (habits, mood, sleep, exercise)
Reflections and diary entries
Collection of ideas and creative projects
Lists (books, films, wishes, goals)
7. What is the difference between a bullet journal and a standard calendar?
A standard diary has fixed dates and layout. In a bullet journal you create everything yourself from scratch, which provides much greater freedom and opportunities for personalisation. Read more in our post: Bullet journal vs. standard diary
8. What is a habit tracker?
A habit tracker is a page in your bullet journal where you keep track of your habits over time. For example, exercise, water intake or sleep. Each day you’ve stuck to the habit, you tick it off.
9. What if I skip days or weeks?
That is completely normal! One of the benefits of bullet journaling is that you don't “waste” pages. You can just skip ahead to the next day or week without having to worry about gaps in the system.
10. How do I stick to this habit?
Find a rhythm that suits you – perhaps a few minutes each evening or a set time at the weekend. Make it cosy, for example with a cup of tea and calm music. And remember: it is completely okay to keep it simple.
Do you have another question? Take a look at our blog universe, where you will find guides, tips and inspiration for your bullet journal.
