Have you just got your first bullet journal notebook but don’t know how to bullet journal? Then you can be reassured that they are easy to use. Starting to use a bullet journal takes only five minutes and they are so versatile that your journal can become anything you want it to be.
However, to give you a quick start in using a bullet journal, here are some steps to get started. Follow these instructions on how to bullet journal, and you’ll have a great experience.
1. Creating The Bullet Journal Index Page
The first thing you need to do when using a bullet journal notebook is that you need to have an index page. This helps you to find things within the bullet journal when you need it the most instead of having to spend ages looking for it. After all, we all lead busy lives.
So, on the first couple of pages, you want to create an index with what you want to include within your bullet journal. Then you can list the pages that you want those items to be on. One of the great things about a bullet journal is that topics don’t need to be on consecutive pages. You could, for instance, have recipes on pages 3,4 and then 11,12 if you need it to be like that. The decision is yours. As your bullet journal is used more, this will happen.
In fact, you might not want to enter in any actual pages to start with. Just keep the first two pages as the index pages and then start to write as need be. As you create more in your journal book, then you add to your index for future reference. That is the great thing about a bullet journal, there are not supposed to be any blank pages or wasted space. When you create something, you’re doing so on the next blank page.
2. Develop The Future Log
One of the most common uses for the bullet journal is a future log. Bullet journals are usually reserved for the next month, but you are going to have things you want to plan/remember for further in the future. This is what’s included in the future log. So, if there is anything that is for two or three months ahead, you can put it into your future log.
For the best results in your future log, I really recommend that you still put a date for it. So, if you have a party to organize for next March, you put it clearly with the date and a short description of the event/activity/plan.
When it comes closer to the time, you might need to start planning that event. You can then put a page number where the event is dealt with in more detail. For instance, if you have an anniversary party to plan for in six months time, this goes into the future log. Then when it comes to two months beforehand, you can start a page for the planning. You can then add the details of where the planning is on the index page and within the future log.
You should also learn to cross off items on the future log. This can be include events that have been finished or are no longer relevant.
3. Create The Monthly Log
Next you want to create a monthly log. The advantage of a bullet journal is that you don’t need to start them in January, so you can start it as soon as you get it. Whether that means your first month is within January, March or August it doesn’t matter.
To create your month pages, you write the month at the top of the next blank page, then the days of the month down one side. It is very useful to write the first letter of the of the day-of-the-week next to the actual date. You can put this down on the left or right, it is your own preference.
Then you can enter in appointments, events and other things that you need on a monthly log. Keep this really simple. The more detail you have, the more cluttered that the bullet journal becomes, the harder it is to read and the higher the chance that you’ll abandon the bullet journal.
If you’re super organized, you could do the next twelve months in one go. But you might get upset that there is a lot of spaces that you can’t fill yet. That is why it is often best to start each month on the last day of the month.
4. The Task List
The next thing you need to do is the monthly task list. This should be a rather simple exercise. Once you’ve created your monthly log, go to the next page and create the to-do list for the month. This might include what presents you need to purchase for family and friends or any projects you need to finish.
What you might find is that you don’t need a task list for one month. Or you might think that one month needs two or three pages of tasks. This is where the bullet journal is excellent because you can use as many pages as you need. If you don’t need a monthly task list one month, don’t create one.
5. The Daily Log
The final aspect of the basic how to bullet journal guide is to use a daily log. This is a page where you write down the day’s events so you can reflect on them at a later date. This might include how you have finished projects, conversations you’ve had with your bosses, families or friends or anything else.
Remember, that not all days need a daily log. If you’ve been ill and sat in bed all day, do you really want to remember that? Probably not. Therefore, only create a daily log when you want to create one. The freedom of the bullet journal is great.
