Bullet Journaling 101: How to Make the Most of Your 2017 | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Bullet Journaling 101: How to Make the Most of Your 2017

The genius solution to all those ideas you have for the year.

93
Bullet Journaling 101: How to Make the Most of Your 2017
Angelina Camilleri

You may or may not have seen the term "bullet journal" popping up here and there, especially over the last few weeks as everyone is starting their new years' resolutions, 2017 planning, new semesters, and new planners.

A bullet journal is everything planning-related in one place: all those mini to-do lists, a calendar, a planner, a diary, a journal, a way to track goal-setting and habits, a way to track health and fitness, a way to keep resolutions in check... everything! But how, you ask? The bullet journal is made up of a series of spreads that are malleable and changeable throughout the year. Essentially, the bullet journal layout is entirely up to you, as you can be the one to create it for yourself. This way, you have entire control over what you're tracking and how you're tracking it.

This year, I decided to take the plunge and try it out for myself! Reading this way after the year has started? Don't fret! You can start yours at any point in the year and it will still be just as effective.

Here's how I put mine together for 2017. Feel free to try out any of my ideas, and be sure to check out other ideas as well before you begin!

Remember that the idea is to make it all about you. What do you want to focus on? Give yourself five minutes at the end of each day to reflect on yourself, your day, and your progress. Bullet journals are entirely about focusing on whatever you need!

First thing's first: the terminology.

Bullet Journal: the website calls it the "analog system for the digital age," and it is essentially a journal/planning system of note taking, list making, and habit tracking.

Index: a way to keep track of what is where in your journal, just like the index of a book

Future Log: a way to plan months in advance, to remind add to your bullet journal once you create that monthly spread

Month Log: a way to track your month ahead

Daily/Weekly Log: a way to track what you need to do in any given week or day


The Bullet Journal

Ultimately, the supplies you use are up to you. Any journal will work and so will any pen! I used the Leuchtturm1917 Medium A5 Dotted Notebook in Hardcover and Grey. The dotted pages make it so easy to create grids and spreads evenly and smoothly! It even has a pocket in the back, an index already created for you to fill in, numbered pages, and two page markers.

My favorite pens to use are Papermate Flair Pens because they come in so many colors and the felt tips write so smoothly.

In addition to these two items, I also used a 6-inch ruler to help keep my lines neat. Other fun additions could be post-it flags to denote each month/type of spread, and different washi tapes for each type of spread/month! Color coding spread layouts by type and/or month is something I want to try out moving forward as well.

Before creating your bullet journal, you should think about how much space you will use: how many pages do you think you will need? It's also a good idea to only plan by day or month, depending on how you set up the journal. You never know how much space you may need if you're making running lists!


The Index & Key

You don't have to put every little thing into your index, but the most important pages for you to reference later - monthly spreads, year goals, important work information, travel planning pages, anything!

As for your key, many people use symbols to help them keep each item on their to-do list straight. I didn't do this. For me, colors resonate more, so I color-coded each type of item.


Year Calendar

Not a necessary step to the bullet journaling process, but something I thought would help me visualize the year.


Future Log

Here is where I will make note of anything planned out for future months I have not created spreads for yet. It's best to go month-by-month when bullet journaling -- you never know how much space you will need for any given month!


Year in Pixels Spread (Habit Tracking)

Need to track habits? Fitness? Health? I've found the year-in-pixels spread to be great for this! As a brief way to track each day, this is a great way to visualize what you want to track. As you can see, I for my mental health tracker, I color coded how different days might feel to give a visual to my progress and day-to-day. I did the same with fitness as well! It's a great way to check in with yourself and see how you're doing.

Want to track things other than your health? Not everything has to be about fitness. Create fun spreads with entertainment you've enjoyed like books, TV shows, movies, anything!


Monthly Log & Spreads

I chose to create a monthly calendar spread to keep track of future dates. Something to keep in mind, which I will be editing for my February spread (see? Editable!): Do you visualize your weeks as Sunday through Saturday, or Monday through Sunday?

I've also added monthly gratitude and memory spreads to my bullet journal. This way, I can help myself keep track of the positive and keep moving forward.


Weekly Log

Here you can see my weekly log. I chose not to do a daily log and instead work on a week-by-week basis. This helps me to visualize what I need to do and when. As you can see, habits I'm tracking include how long I'm exercising for, how much sleep I'm getting, how much water I'm drinking, how many fruits and veggies I am eating, and my mental health.

I use my Notes section for random to-dos that need accomplishing, or different things I'm trying with the journal (as you can see here, the beginning of my color-coding).

Day by day, the top half gets used for appointments, and the bottom half gets used for things on my to-do list. If you're like me and have commitments you're trying to keep track of, you can use additional boxes for smaller to-do lists (as you can see with my Odyssey and Student Mentor boxes).

I've also left a couple blank pages at the end of the month for reflections on each day as the month progresses.

What are you waiting for? Give it a try!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

180904
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

7838
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

452931
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23559
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments