How I Started My Bullet Journal

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to share my latest obsession with you, which is the world of bullet journals (cue the eye-rolls for me taking on yet another journal project...) I came across this positive post by Rosie fromdamzelinthisdress blog where she lists 6 Reasons Why You Need A Bullet Journal. It's safe to say that I was sold very quickly, and before I knew it I was in the depths of Pinterest looking at inspiration. You guys know I love anything to do with journals, stationary, or just being creative in day-to-day life, so this is right up my street!

The Journal 
After a little research, everybody tends to go for either a Leuchtturm1917 or a Moleskine journal. When I set out to find one of my own I couldn't find any of the the first, but my local bookstore did have a selection of Moleskine ones. Most of them were either blank or lined, but I managed to get the very last dotted A5 softcover. It was fate, I reckon! The dotted version was well-worth it too, because it makes symmetry a breeze. I did have to settle for a tan color, but I wasn't really fussy.


The Accessories 

I feel like this is where you can have a bit of fun. Firstly, I got two black fine-point pens, which are definitely worth the money! They're so easy to write with and make your handwriting look so much nicer. I also bought some washi tape to help make borders and to bring some color into my pages.

Another little accessory I've found to be a real life-savor, is a ruler. I actually use a mini one that I had back in high school. You could easily free-hand everything if you wanted to, but I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so I need a ruler for all of my boxes/outlines.


The Pages  
I will admit that I got a bit overwhelmed with where to start at first. My solution: start anywhere! Get some ideas, then just create pages as you need them. I also started a Pinterest board to keep tonnes of ideas and inspiration all in one place.

Workouts - At a recent gym session, my trainer explained how my training was going to be different from now on. I basically start at my lowest rep and work up to my highest, which is when I need to meet with him for an update. This is where he suggested I write down my reps as I go through them each day and have a record of how I'm doing. It will be great to see how much I improve within a few weeks.

Daily Schedule -My mind can be a bit scattered sometimes, I think it has to do with my dyslexia, so I find it hard to concentrate on one task at a time. But I've found in the past that on days where I have my hours mapped out I'm so much more focused and I get more done. I know some people hate being so strict with their time, but for me it helps get through my whole to-do list. I've found it really helpful so far. 

2016 Reads - This is probably my favorite page so far. I'm determined to get through 50 books this year (or more if I can) and I'm already itching to fill in more on this one. I'm still not sure what to do with the opposite shelves. I could use it as my TBR, or just wait and fill in the rest for my 2017 reads. I love keeping note of what books I have gotten through in the year and this is such a satisfying way to keep a record. 

Habit Tracker  

There's nothing that makes you stick to healthy habits like having to note down what you do! I love the idea of seeing what I do (and don't do) throughout the month. This is the beauty of bullet journals; you can personalize it to whatever suits you and your lifestyle.

I think the most important thing to remember, is that it's YOUR journal. The pages don't have to be perfect and Instagram-worthy, just have fun being creative with whatever you decided to put in it. There's no right and wrong way to use a bullet journal. Have fun with your planning and be creative anywhere you want.

You just need a journal (any make, really), a pen, and a bit of inspiration. Then you're good to go! 

Have you tried using a bullet journal?
Steph x.