How To Start a Bullet Journal for Beginners!

As I prepare to set up a brand new Bullet Journal, I have found myself thinking about advice I'd give to BuJo beginners out there about to start their Bullet Journal journey. In this video, I will share tips and tricks for both your mindset and actual physical set up from my experience of using a BuJo for almost 6 years!

I hope this video serves to make you feel a little more prepared and confident jumping into the wonderful world of Bullet Journaling. Ask any and all questions in the comments and I will do my best to help you out!

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[PlantBasedBride]

Save $$ on your first (or next!) Bullet Journal! Get 10% off from:
And support my channel at the same time! ❤️

[mirandaaralyn]

this is a sign. i just bought a bullet journal today. the universe is telling me to not be scared

[lejindary]

Her: bullet journaling is supposed make you calmer..
Me: tries to draw a flower.
Me: Messes up
Also me: gets mad

[staserl_owl]

Some extra tips for those who start their first bujo.
1. Take in the consideration what size notebook and with which cover you need, it can be really important.
My example: I first started with a cheap A4 dotted notebook, they just were everywhere. And even though the system itself worked for me, I rarely used it. It was thin (80 pages) with a relatively thin cover so it was super uncomfortable to use it without a table (subway, train, any quick notes taking situation). It was also uncomfortable to use it in college cause we have pretty narrow desks there and it was impossible to fit in a laptop, books and bujo so I can easily use them all during classes. And obviously it didn't fit into every bag.
So I just ended starting a new notebook with stronger cover, 105 sheets and A5 size.
2. It's almost okay to drop current notebook and start a brand new one without having finished the first yet if there are some reasons. Especially if the previous one didn't worked for you. Please don't feel any guilt for doing this. You can always use that paper as palette or for some other needs or just recycle it.
3. Even though dotted notebooks are the most used in bujo community and dots can be helpful you may need blank notebook or lined or with squares. A5 or B5 sizes are also not a must have. It all just depends on your needs.
4. It's okay not to use all the key characters. Or even all of them and create your own key which suits you best. Or even don't use any characters at all. (Ex. I use rolling weekly so I don't need all those migration characters and I list appointments in my daily logs without any bullet just by starting with a time like that "mon, 1 10.00 dentist 13.00-14.30 criminal law class (essay)". So I actually don't use that key but the system is still there for me and so it may be for you too).
5. (Not that important) Old postcards or carton covers of your school notebooks (if they had some pictures and were not just some solid colour) can be super nice for decoration and you can try them before buying any washi tape and/or stickers.

[stoneycas]

why did I click on this when I've been bullet journalling for 5+ years 😂

[jen_vg]

I absolutely loved how you emphasized the fact that your beautiful bujo is a product of your growth over time. It is such a nice reminder for a perfectionist newbie like myself.

[blackechobujohi]

Me: been bullet journaling for three years Also me seeing this notif: YES PLEASE QUEEN TEACH ME

[joymakes]

Omg 😱 I wish I had this video when I started bullet journaling! Thank you so much!!! 🥰

[Chubbasaurus]

For all my fellow perfectionists out there who don't really use the more artistic supplies like brush pens, etc, try Frixion pens.

They make black pens and coloured pens, which are similar to gel pens, as well as coloured markers and highlighters. They have great colour and write really well, but the main thing is they're erasable.

My perfectionism can sometimes be limiting, but these pens really changed the game for me - in studying, in writing, and in bullet journalling. I highly recommend.

[reemmwahba]

Actually this made feel better about the way I journal and specially since 2020 really made me stop journaling, hopefully I'll journal again. I miss it.

[amberleitao]

“If you never try you’ll never grow” this couldn’t be more true. I’m one of those people who is afraid to start because I’m afraid of messing up. Also, I have so many ideas swirling around in my head but I don’t have the artistic ability to put them down on paper. I tend to get discouraged before I’ve even started. I think your point of trying things to allow yourself growth is a lesson I need to apply in many areas of my life. This next stage of my life IS all about growth, so maybe I’ll just have to include that mantra in my journal. ❤️ I absolutely love your videos, and YOU. Sometimes I play your videos just to have your voice in the background because I find that listening to you tends to calm my nerves, and it puts me at ease... so thank you, more than I can ever express 🙏🏻

[abigailgurd]

Love this, I will be showing my 11 yro daughter who's just got into bullet journaling with no encouragement from me, also so glad it's not just me who doesn't track habits with habbit trackers, I tried but they didn't work for me, made loads of people tracking their mental health so as so mine who suffers I thought I'd track my anxiety, but doing this just made me even more anxious🤦‍♀️

[darmaoviedo]

Another kind of obvious tip but not really for me is that you don't have to set your whole month in one go. If there's a particular spread that you don't know how to do at the moment (for me the monthly layout) just skip it and give it another thought, we are so used to see people doing their monthly's in one go because of youtube, but there's no need in reality. Also, you may not have two hours to set your BuJo, but maybe just twenty minutes, then set your month during a week, is fine.

[moonlampje]

The difference between your early bujo and your recent bujo is astounding😳. I’m so glad that you were willing to show them both because it A: shows your growth and progression, and I love to see other peoples journey. B: it shows us that our journals don’t need to be aesthetically perfect, which we sometimes forget when we see all those awesome bujo video’s. And last, but most certainly not least, C: it also shows us that popular bujo youtubers also started out as beginners once and may not always have been as perfect as we always picture them to be and that gives us hope that practise indeed makes (at least a LITTLE more) perfect. Thank you for all that you do for this bullet journal community, I ❤️ your video’s!

[katherine]

I’ve had the same bullet journal for a year and a half and having my growth fully documented is really interesting and it’s super satisfying to flip through it and see it evolve

[tobyblue_wolf]

I'm so happy to have found this! I just got my bullet journal so I can help my mental health, and I'm trying to find ways to just *start* it.

Also, hearing someone say that it doesn't matter what month/day you start makes me feel so happy.

[maximumbees]

honestly sometimes i purposely make a mistake in a new journal bc that takes so much pressure off. the first mistake is always the most disappointing for me, so if it's already out of the way, then no need to fear them.

[apriltaylor]

I am starting my first bullet journal to be a creative outlet and a place to allow mistakes. I've also always wanted to learn hand lettering and watercolors, so the fact that you said 6 years ago you didn't know how was very encouraging. So glad I found your channel! This video was super helpful! 😊

[lifenotes]

I started religiously using a bullet journal in 2018, but stopped March this year in favor of a ring bound planner. Creating spreads and making them cute/pretty was therapeutic for me but started taking too much of my time. But now because of a prolonged lockdown in my country, I’m thinking of going back to bullet journaling (i miss it as a creative outlet, and it would be so interesting to see my life at the end of 2020 captured in one notebook) so I’m happy you uploaded this, as a reminder to go back to basics first. I always go back to your channel for inspiration 😊

[mirandarose]

I started my first bullet journal at the beginning of this year. It was such a strange year to start! Sadly, I didn’t use it for the past 4 months. Getting back to it now. Loved this video!