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Bullet Journal Self-Paced Kit Instructions

sample weekly bullet journal spread with doodles and check lists

What is Bullet Journaling?


Maybe you’ve heard about it and aren’t sure what it is? Described by its creator as “an analog system for the digital age,” it’s just a paper journal for keeping track of your life. It is a planner that you customize yourself to suit your needs and goals, and a system for organizing your thoughts, tasks, meetings, events, and more. You can make your pages as embellished or as minimalist as you’d like. Messy or neat, it’s your journal. The official website for bullet journaling is: www.bulletjournal.com  For an entire program presentation on how to bullet journal, visit this video from the Darien Library (Darien, CT) 

Why would I want to use this system?

It’s a basic system that can be uniquely customized to your own needs

  • Writing things down makes them easier to remember
  • It can reinforce new habits
  • You can be as creative or as minimalist as you’d like
  • You can take it with you anywhere… because it’s paper!

What do I need to get started?

  • Paper notebook of your choice
  • Pens, pencils, or writing implements of your choice

Optional fun extras:

  • Ruler
  • Markers
  • Washi Tape
  • Stickers or stencils

Getting started

To make the most of your bullet journal, you’ll want to incorporate the basic elements the original designer of this concept, Ryder Carroll, specified. These are:

  • Index: pages where you log the contents of the journal for reference later
  • Future log: pages where notes, tasks, and goals for future months are laid out; you could do 3, 6, or 12 months at a glance on a 2-page spread.
  • Monthly log: pages detailing a month at a glance.
  • Daily log: pages where you make space to write in daily tasks, notes, and events. This often takes the form of pages that detail a week at a glance and functions as a daily to-do list.
  • Symbol key: if you’re making your own symbol system, record it on the inside cover; if using a notebook purchased from the bullet journal site, it will have a symbol key.
  • Page numbers: you’ll need to number each page so you can make use of your index.

Overview Video Tutorials


Official Bullet Journal Video
How to Create a Bullet Journal Plus Top 10 Tips


Set-up Demonstration Video

Minimalist Bullet Journal Set-Up

Written Set-up Guides


Ultimate Bullet Journal Set-Up Guide by SarahMaker

Bullet Journal Instructions

Bullet Journaling Basics

Other elements and customizations you could incorporate

Collections: pages that are not notes but also do not fit into the above categories. For example, “meals I want to make” or a meditation session tracker.

Notes page: a page use just for note taking, e.g. if you are going to a conference

Activity tracker: usually a graph or a table used to indicate what activities were done on which days.

Video Tutorial on Customizing

10 Bullet Journal Hacks & Ideas