The pages that matter first
You can start a bullet journal with only a handful of pages. The method built by Ryder Carroll centres on a few core parts: an index, a future log, monthly logs, and daily logs, with collections added as you need them. The list below is in a sensible order for a new notebook.
1. Number the pages and start the index
Numbering pages makes everything else easier. Some notebooks print the numbers. If yours does not, number as you go or all at once. The index sits at the front and lists the topics you create along with their page numbers. Leave a spread or two for it, and add entries as you build pages.
2. The key
The key is a small legend for your symbols. Keep it short and place it where you will see it. See our guide to bullet journal key symbols for the original marks and how to adapt them.
3. Future log
The future log holds events and tasks that are further out than the current month. A common layout divides two pages into several sections, one per month, and fills in dates as you hear about them. Many people use six months or a year. It is something you glance at when setting up each new month.
4. Monthly log
A monthly log usually has two parts:
- A calendar page listing the days with a short note by each one, which is a quick overview of the month.
- A task page listing the things you want to get done that month.
At the end of the month, review what you finished and decide what to migrate to the next month, and what to drop.
5. Weekly or daily log
Many beginners are happiest with a daily log only: write the date at the top of a page or part of a page and record tasks, events, and notes as they occur. Others prefer a weekly spread, which shows the week at a glance; the weekly layout guide has designs to try. Neither is more correct. You can start with one and switch later. If you leave days blank, nothing is lost; just start a new entry on the next day you need it.
Optional pages you can add later
Collections are pages for a single topic. Add them when you need them rather than all in advance. Popular ones include:
- Habit tracker: a grid of days with the habits you want to follow (see tracker page ideas).
- Mood or sleep tracker: simple logs, often as colouring in boxes.
- Books and reading list (see reading journal ideas).
- Budget or expense tracker: a simple log or a monthly summary. Treat these as personal organisation, not financial advice.
- Goals and projects: a page of steps broken into small tasks (see goal pages).
- Meal plans, gift lists, or home chores.
- Brain dump page: a place to put loose thoughts.
Trackers can be fun to design, but they take time to maintain. Start with one or two you will actually use.
Pages for particular uses
Different routines suit different collections. Parents who teach at home might like the pages in our homeschool bullet journal guide, such as a year at a glance and a curriculum map. Some people with attention or memory challenges find bullet journals useful because they are flexible, but experiences vary and it is not a medical treatment. A simple setup with few pages is usually the easiest to maintain.
A simple setup order
- Choose a notebook; see choosing a bullet journal notebook if you are still deciding.
- Number pages and leave space for the index.
- Write the key.
- Draw a future log.
- Set up the current month.
- Start your first daily or weekly page.
- Add collections only as you need them.
Common beginner mistakes
- Over-planning. Elaborate spreads that you do not use waste time.
- Copying other people’s layouts exactly. Adjust them to your life.
- Redoing pages after a missed week. Just carry on.
- Not leaving space for the index. Leave a couple of pages.
If your layouts feel cramped, check your bullet journal dot spacing and notebook size. Our bullet journal hacks can then help keep pages tidy.