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Intro to Bullet Journaling

How to Set Up Your Bullet Journal - Overview

Below is a skeleton for setting up your Bullet Journal. You can view either written directions, or select directions with images by clicking the appropriate tab. This is the most basic setup for a Bullet Journal, and can likely take you as little as 30 minutes to set up. You'll learn how to set up your:

  • Index
  • Future Log
  • Monthly Log
  • Daily Log

That's all! You can start using your bullet journal immediately.

Bullet Journals are highly flexible -- so maybe you want to do more. Go ahead! This is a tool that is for you. It should be useful to you, first, and only. We'll only touch on the basics here.

Prefer to watch a video? The 3 minute video below will give you the basics!

Materials to Get Started

The beauty of the Bullet Journal Method is in its simplicity -- you can use any journal, of any size.

As long as you have a journal and a writing instrument, you are ready to go!

Our guidance will assume you are using a new notebook that doesn't have any other content in it, but of course, you can use whatever you like, including a previously used notebook!

1. The Index

Let's begin by setting up the Index.

  1. Open your journal to the first two pages.
  2.  Number your pages 1 - 4.
  3.  Write "Index" at the top of pages 1 - 4.

Let's begin by setting up the Index.

  1. Open your journal to the first two pages.
  2.  Number your pages 1 - 4.

two blank pages of anotebook, numbered 1 & 2

 

    3. Write "Index" at the top of pages 1 - 4.

two pages of a notebook, numbered 1 & 2, with "index" written and underlined at the top of each page.

2. The Future Log

Next, let's set up your Future Log. This will immediately follow your Index and take up another four pages.

  1. Turn to the next blank page after your Index.
  2. Number these pages 5 - 8.
  3. Divide one page into three sections. (Horizontally or vertically)
  4. Repeat this for the remaining three pages -- you should end up with 12 total sections. (1 section per month)
  5. Label each section with a corresponding month.
  6. Review your calendar, syllabus, various post it notes, or other system you are currently using, and add relevant tasks and events to their corresponding date and time. (e.g., birthdays, assignment due dates)
  7. Go back to your Index, and add "Future Log" and the associated page numbers.

Next, let's set up your Future Log. This will immediately follow your Index and take up another four pages.

  1. Turn to the next blank page after your Index.
  2. Number these pages 5 - 8.
  3. Divide one page into three sections. (Horizontally or vertically)two pages of a notebook, numbered 5 & 6. Future log is written across the top of both pages and underlined. Two equally-spaced horizontal lines divide the notebook pages into six sections.
  4. Repeat this for the remaining three pages -- you should end up with 12 total sections. (1 section per month)
  5. Label each section with a corresponding month.two pages of a notebook. The title of both pages reads "Future Log," which is underlined. Both pages are split into thirds. Sections are labeled "January, February, March" on the left page, and "April, May, June" on the right page.
  6. Review your calendar, syllabus, various post it notes, or other system you are currently using, and add relevant tasks and events to their corresponding date and time. (e.g., birthdays, assignment due dates) two pages of a notebook. The title of both pages reads "Future Log," which is underlined. Both pages are split into thirds. Sections are labeled "January, February, March" on the left page, and "April, May, June" on the right page. Specific dates and the associated activity on that date is listed under the respecive month.
  7. Go back to your Index, and add "Future Log" and the associated page numbers.A notebook open to two pages. Both pages are titled with "Index." The page on the left includes one entry and associated page numbers: Future Log: 5 - 8

3. The Monthly Log

Next, let's set up your Monthly Log.

  1. Turn to the next blank page after your Future Log.
  2. Number pages 9 - 10.
  3. On page 9, write the title of the current month at the top of the page. (e.g., January)
  4. List the dates of the month vertically down the side of the page. If you like, you can also add the day.
  5. Add any date-specific tasks or events you want to keep track of this month.
  6. On page 10, write the word "Tasks" at the top of the page.
  7. On page 10, write out what Tasks you want to accomplish this month.
    1. If you have been Bullet Journaling already, look at your past month and see if there are any items from last month you want to add to this month's Tasks list. This process is known as "migration."
  8. Turn back to your Index and write the title of this month, along with the page number. (e.g., January .... 9).

Next, let's set up your Monthly Log.

  1. Turn to the next blank page after your Future Log.
  2. Number pages 9 - 10.
  3. On page 9, write the title of the current month at the top of the page. (e.g., January)
    Two blank pages of a notebook. Includes the page numbers (9 and 10), and the title of the page, January, on the left-hand page. The right page is blank.
  4. List the dates of the month vertically down the side of the page. If you like, you can also add the day.
    Two pages of a notebook. January is underlined at the top of the left-hand page. The numbers 1 to 31 are on the lefthand side of the left page, under the January title. The right page is blank.
  5. Add any date-specific tasks or events you want to keep track of this month.
    Two pages of a notebook. January is underlined at the top of the left page. The numbers 1 - 31 are on the left side of the left page, with events listed with the respective date. The right page is blank.
  6. On page 10, write the word "Tasks" at the top of the page.
    Two pages of a notebook. January is underlined at the top of the left page. The numbers 1 - 31 are on the left side of the left page, with events listed with the respective date. The right page has the word Tasks, underlined, across the top.
  7. On page 10, write out what Tasks you want to accomplish this month.
    1. If you have been Bullet Journaling already, look at your past month and see if there are any items from last month you want to add to this month's Tasks list. This process is known as "migration."
      Two pages of a notebook. January is underlined at the top of the left page. The numbers 1 - 31 are on the left side of the left page, with events listed with the respective date. The right page has the word Tasks, underlined, across the top, and a list of tasks to complete this month listed underneath.
  8. Turn back to your Index and write the title of this month, along with the page number. (e.g., January .... 9).
    Two pages of a notebook, both labeled with Index across the top. Future log: 5 - 8 and Januray : 9 are written on the left-hand page.

4. The Daily Log

Finally, let's set up your Daily Log.

  1. Start a new page and add a page number.
  2. Add today's date.
  3. Start writing out what you need to do / have accomplished today.

Great job! You've set up your Bullet Journal.

Finally, let's set up your Daily Log.

  1. Start a new page and add a page number.
  2. Add today's date.
    Two pages of a notebook. Monday, January 2 is written across the top left hand page.
  3. Start writing out what you need to do / have accomplished today.
    Two pages of a notebook. Monday, January 2 is written across the top of the left-hand page. A list with two items is written directly under Monday, January 2.

Great job! You've set up your Bullet Journal.