You wake up each morning, energized and focused, ready to tackle your day with laser-sharp efficiency. You no longer feel overwhelmed by endless to-do lists and scattered priorities. Can’t relate? Well, get ready to!
This is the reality for millions of people who have discovered the power of bullet journaling.
The bullet journal system—also called BuJo—is a productivity practice that combines traditional journaling with to-do lists. Some people on social media call BuJo the spiritual cousin of KonMari. While the latter helps you organize your physical space, the former helps you declutter your mind.
Combining something as monotonous as task management with creative expression, bullet journaling has become a productivity trend that sits with some of the major self-care practices of the 2000s—including mindfulness, yoga, and another journaling practice, the morning pages.
A simple search on YouTube or Instagram reveals thousands of videos and posts from the bullet journal community that explain how to create bullet journal spreads, detailing what you can include in your bullet journal entries. That’s how popular it has become!
With so many fans, it’s definitely a productivity method worth trying.
How to Elevate Productivity with Bullet Journaling
- What Is Bullet Journaling?
- History of Bullet Journaling
- Suggested Reading: The Bullet Journal by Ryder Carroll
- The Core Components of Bullet Journaling
- Benefits of Bullet Journaling
- Tips for Effective Bullet Journaling
- Popular Usage and Examples of Bullet Journaling
- Challenges in Using Bullet Journaling
- How to Implement Bullet Journaling in ClickUp
- Go Digital with Your Bullet Journalling Using ClickUp
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Is Bullet Journaling?
Bullet journaling is an analog organization method that uses a simple notebook to track your to-dos, plans, and thoughts so that you can go through your day and life with intentionality and focus.
An innovative twist on project management and journaling, it introduces concepts like:
- Rapid logging: A shorthand method for capturing notes quickly using symbols and abbreviations
- Collections: Thematic lists for things like movies to watch or books to read
- Future log: Dedicated sections for setting goals and planning future events
This customizable system helps you overcome information overload by consolidating tasks, ideas, and reflections into a single place, like a monthly calendar, reducing stress and boosting productivity.
According to Ryder Caroll, who invented the method, the bullet journal is “part organization, part soul-searching, part dream-weaving”.
Summarize this article for me pleaseHistory of Bullet Journaling
According to his website, Ryder Carroll launched a short video explaining the bullet journal method in 2013. Very soon, the likes of LifeHack.org and FastCo started talking about the video, which had gone viral.
In 2014, Carroll launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund his website (bulletjournal.com) and gave each backer a Leuchtturm notebook designed for the bullet journal method.
By 2017, the concept had become so popular that Carroll even gave a TEDx talk about it. In 2018, he released the book The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future, which soon became an international bestseller.
This led to Caroll launching a companion notebook in 2021.
Today, the bullet journaling community on Reddit, r/bujo, has over 375,000 subscribers. Fans frequently share YouTube videos and social posts about their bullet journals.
Summarize this article for me pleaseSuggested Reading: The Bullet Journal by Ryder Carroll
To learn more about the bullet journaling method and how it can improve your life, read The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future by Ryder Carroll.
The book is available in 28+ languages and has been praised by everyone in the productivity community. But no one can explain the thesis statement better than the author himself:
The book delves into the concept of ‘intentional living’, where you focus on what matters most and create a life that aligns with your values. The book is divided into three parts:
- Track the past: Creating a record of your thoughts, tasks, and accomplishments
- Order the present: Developing a system to manage your daily tasks and find clarity
- Design the future: Setting meaningful goals and breaking them down into actionable steps
The book also includes many helpful tips, such as rapid logging (for quick note-taking) and personalizing the journal to create your own system.
Overall, it can be a great read for anyone looking to learn more about the original concept of bullet journaling before social media and productivity gurus adapted it to the more mainstream version that’s popular these days.
Summarize this article for me pleaseThe Core Components of Bullet Journaling
Bullet journaling relies on a few foundational elements—some are used daily for organization and reviews, while others provide a yearly roadmap.
- Collections: This is a themed list of tasks or set of pages dedicated to specific topics—such as a goal, hobby, or project
- Index: This acts like a table of contents, listing all your important pages and their corresponding page numbers for easy reference
- Future log: This offers a yearly overview to track upcoming events, birthdays, and deadlines across the months
- Monthly log: This is for a breakdown of the current month, typically with a calendar grid for events and a list of more detailed tasks and goal
- Daily log: This is your daily planner where you list the daily tasks and priorities
Carroll also suggests using these symbols to identify the status or priority of a task:
- A bullet point (•) to mark a task
- A cross (x) to say a task has been completed
- An asterisk (*) to highlight an important task
- A circle (o) to differentiate a task from an event
- A greater than sign (>) to say you’re moving the task to the next day or week
- A less-than sign (<) to say you’re moving a task to the previous day or week
While these are the basic building blocks of a bullet journal, you can also further customize it with some trackers or mini-journals. Some examples of these are:
- Gratitude tracker
- Meal planner
- Budget and expense tracker
- Skincare routine
- Habit tracker
The options are endless.
Summarize this article for me pleaseBenefits of Bullet Journaling
The best thing about bullet journaling is that it’s a holistic tracker plus a self-care ritual. It’s not as time-consuming as journaling five pages every day, and it addresses both your practical goals and emotional health in one place.
British life coach and Life Clubs founder Nina Grunfeld says:-
Here are some ways the BuJo method can improve your life for the better:
- Personalized system: BuJo gives you the freedom to add your own personality to the to-do list so you can create a system that works for you
- More clarity: As bullet journaling helps you break down big goals into bite-sized chunks, it helps you focus on what truly matters
- Time management: Between work, errands, and doom-scrolling, managing time can be a struggle. Bullet journaling can help you visualize your tasks and deadlines so you can schedule your day and avoid last-minute scrambles
- Habit tracking: Whether it’s starting a new fitness class or learning a language, you can create a system in your bullet journal to track progress and stay motivated. Plus, your bullet journal won’t make you feel guilty
- Resource library: A BuJo can also be a great place to keep track of your reading lists, such as books, articles, and other resources you want to save for later. For example, if you’re a marketer, you might want to save a content writing template or a positioning framework that you can refer to later
- Daily reflections: Bullet journaling can be a space to reflect and check in with yourself. Weekly reviews can help you identify areas for improvement and adjust your goals—a mindfulness booster in under 15 minutes a day
Now, let’s give you a few tips on how to start your journey with bullet journaling.
Summarize this article for me pleaseTips for Effective Bullet Journaling
The thing about bullet journalling—like all self-care methods—is that you get better with practice. But here are some hacks to get you started with your new bullet journal.
Schedule time for morning and evening reviews
Integrate your bullet journal into your daily routine to build consistency. Review sessions can be really helpful here.
Morning review (5–10 minutes)
- Review your daily log (and weekly log) for the upcoming day
- Prioritize tasks and highlight anything important
- Block some focused time for important tasks
Evening review (5–10 minutes)
- Reflect on your day. Did you complete all your tasks?
- Migrate unfinished tasks to the following day or week’s log
- Jot down any notes, ideas, or reflections from the day
- Fill in your trackers and your gratitude journal (if you have one)
Templatize layouts
Save time and effort by creating layouts that can be easily replicated throughout a blank journal. They can improve your journaling process, and you don’t have to think of new designs, themes, or ideas for each month or layout. One thing you can do is use printables from online resources.
Want to do it yourself? Design one template for each of your monthly logs, weekly logs, daily logs, and various trackers. Scan it and reuse it for all months. At the end of the year, you can bind it into a notebook.
Another idea is to buy pre-formatted bullet journals. However, they might lack flexibility.
Invest in good-quality stationery
As bullet journaling is an analog process, the right tools can make a big difference in your bullet journaling experience. Here’s what to consider:
- Notebook: Choose a notebook with good quality, bleed-proof paper that can handle pens, highlighters, and sketches. A grid notebook can also help you create clean and aligned layouts without a ruler
- Pens and highlighters: Opt for pens that write smoothly and don’t ghost through the paper. Highlighters can help you categorize tasks or visually distinguish important information.
- Other artistic elements: Stock up on washi tape, sticky notes, stickers, and crayons so you can pretty up your journal if you wish to
- A pouch: Add a pouch to the back of your journal to store ticket stubs, notes, or any other memorabilia you want to keep as a memento
Start small
Bullet journaling is all about creating a system that works for you. Don’t try to copy elaborate spreads you see online. For most of those people, bullet journaling is more of a job than a self-care practice.
Here’s how to ease into it:
- Begin with a basic future log and monthly log
- Track a few essential tasks each day
- Gradually add trackers or other elements as you get comfortable with the system
Remember, your bullet journal is a personal tool, so you can have as much fun customizing it to your heart’s content!
Summarize this article for me pleasePopular Usage and Examples of Bullet Journaling
Here’s how real practitioners of the bullet journal practice and hone the technique. This will give you ideas for personalizing your own bullet journal.
Monthly spread
A simple, fun spread that’s easy to make and looks good. Plus, you don’t need any extra art supplies.
Want something more minimal? Here’s a super simple, no-frills spread that you can create in under five minutes.
Weekly layout
This basic weekly layout with tasks, projects, and even a calendar can be a great (and uncomplicated) addition to your BuJo templates.
However, if you’re feeling creative, then this is also something you can try:
Now that we’ve covered the basics, here are some trackers you can include to make your bullet journal more you.
1. Habit tracker
A habit tracker helps you visualize your habit trends, like when you’re productive and when you’re not. You can also combine it with a mood tracker to identify how your moods affect your habits.
ClickUp’s Personal Habit Tracker Template can also come in handy if you’re looking for a digital habit tracker alternative.
2. Meal planner
Another popular BuJo addition is the meal planner. It makes answering the question of ‘what to eat today’ easier and can also help you plan your grocery shopping.
ClickUp’s Meal Planning Template can be a great tool for planning your meals ahead of time and eating healthier.
The template includes space for you to plan your meals for the week, create a grocery shopping list, and track ingredients. You can also use it to collaborate with others on meal planning.
3. Expense tracker
Let’s round off this section with the very useful expense tracker. The template below, for example, helps you categorize your expenses as fixed and variable and gives you a page to track your savings.
ClickUp’s Personal Budget Template can also help you track your income and expenses more minutely, let you identify areas where you can cut back on spending, and encourage you to save for your goals.
Use it to get started with creating and sticking to a budget.
Summarize this article for me pleaseChallenges in Using Bullet Journaling
While the Bullet Journaling method does give you an outlet to track your goals and express yourself creatively, it’s not without some challenges:
- Finding your system: Bullet journaling offers a lot of flexibility, which can be overwhelming at first. It can take time to experiment with different layouts and trackers—habit, mood, work, gratitude—to find out which ones you need to include in your journal
- Staying consistent: Bullet journaling is a daily habit that comes with a long-term benefit, so you need to stick to it day after day
- Comparing your spread with others: Social media is full of incredibly creative bullet journal spreads. This can make your journal feel like it’s not good enough
- Aiming for perfection: The focus on aesthetics in the bullet journaling community can lead to a lot of do-overs. Remember, it’s supposed to be a functional tool, not a work of art
- Tracking time: Setting up and maintaining a bullet journal can take time, especially when you’re starting off. Be realistic about how much time you can dedicate to it each day. And start small with just the basics. You can add the complicated layouts and trackers later
- Moving tasks: Bullet journaling is all about writing and rewriting things. You’ll likely carry events over from the yearly view to the monthly view to the weekly view and move tasks from one day to another, and so on. This can prove tedious
To overcome these challenges, we have a solution that can make bullet journaling fun.
Summarize this article for me pleaseHow to Implement Bullet Journaling in ClickUp
The picture-perfect spreads—with washi tapes, themed layouts, and stickers—showcased online can create a sense of pressure for anyone new to bullet journaling (or those who are not artistically inclined).
Suddenly, you’re focusing more on the aesthetics of your spread and creating elaborate bullet journals rather than its main purpose—organizing your life. Plus, creating these layouts month after month can take a lot of time.
The solution to this dilemma? Going digital with your journaling.
One option is to use ClickUp, a productivity and task management platform. It offers a mobile app, templates, and even AI assistance to help you organize your life better.
Plus, with a tool like ClickUp, you don’t have to write down tasks afresh every time you reschedule them.
Here’s Matt Ragland showing people how he does bullet journaling using ClickUp.
And we’ll show you how you can do it, too—in four simple steps.
1. Create a master task list (also called Brain Dump)
You can go to ClickUp Tasks and create a list of everything you want to do. Add all your tasks—big, small, hobby, work—to it. It doesn’t matter what aspect of your life it covers or when you plan to do it.
You can also create a separate section for events—birthdays, anniversaries, and trips. You can categorize these tasks based on priority or their aspect in your life using tags.
2. Move tasks to the Calendar View
Now that you’ve added a due date for each task, you can toggle to ClickUp Calendar View’s monthly layout. Simple, right?
3. Set up a daily log
After arranging your monthly task list, the next step is to create a daily log. You can use the ClickUp Daily Planner Template to track your daily habits along with the specific tasks you added for the day.
With this template, you can:
- Set up recurring tasks for habits like exercising or taking your vitamins
- Categorize tasks with custom tags so you can quickly identify if a task is work-related or personal
- View all tasks in a calendar so you get a bird’s-eye view of how your day will pan out
- Monitor the progress of your habits with a progress tracker or even milestone goals
Using this template also offers several benefits:
- Reduced stress levels
- Improved time management
- Easier task prioritization
- Enhanced communication and collaboration
- Greater productivity
Within the template, you can also add Custom Statuses (Open and Complete), Custom Views (All Tasks, Calendar, and Start Here), and Custom Fields to track your daily tasks and stay organized. Rest assured, this template will make you more productive in your daily tasks.
4. Practice mindfulness with ClickUp Docs
Now that you have completed the organizational aspects, the next step is to add your journals, such as mindfulness pages or gratitude journaling, to ClickUp Docs. You can either create a wiki in Docs with a new page for each entry or simply use a table with the date and your gratitude entry.
You can also use ClickUp Brain—ClickUp’s built-in AI assistant—to search for tasks or even help you with brainstorming templates and prompts or analyzing your journal entries.
Apart from this, you can use ClickUp Docs for things like rapid logging, building your topics or collections list, and more.
Summarize this article for me pleaseGo Digital with Your Bullet Journalling Using ClickUp
If you’re someone who prefers digital tools to analog ones but still wants to benefit from bullet journalling, ClickUp can definitely help.
Plus, with tools like ClickUp Brain, you can get even more analytical with your daily progress, get answers to questions like how many consecutive days you completed a habit, and more.
Sign up to ClickUp for free, and get your bullet journal set up in under 20 minutes.
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