Starting a bullet journal in 2026 is one of the most rewarding things you can do for your productivity, creativity, and mental wellbeing. Whether you want to track habits, plan your week, or simply have a beautiful space to think - bullet journaling is endlessly customisable. Here's everything you need to get started.
What is Bullet Journaling?
Bullet journaling (or "BuJo") is a flexible planning system created by Ryder Carroll. Unlike rigid planners, a bullet journal is entirely blank - you build it yourself, page by page. That's what makes it so powerful: it becomes exactly what you need it to be.
Step 1: Choose Your Journal
The foundation of any bullet journal is, of course, the journal itself. For bullet journaling, you want dot grid pages - the subtle grid of dots gives you structure without the rigidity of lines.
Our top picks:
- Majestic Butterfly B5 Dotted Journal – Velvet Cover - The B5 size is a BuJo favourite: big enough for detailed spreads, but not overwhelming. The velvet cover feels luxurious and the dot grid is perfectly spaced.
- Traveler journal - Add your name or a special message for a journal that's truly yours.
- Green PU Leather A5 Dotted Journal – Copper Moon Print - Prefer something more compact? The A5 size slips easily into a bag and is perfect for on-the-go journaling.
Browse our full Journals collection to find your perfect match.
Step 2: Set Up Your Index & Key
Before you start filling pages, reserve the first 2–4 pages for an Index (your table of contents) and a Key (your legend of symbols). Common symbols include:
- • Task
- â—‹ Event
- – Note
- × Completed task
- > Migrated task
Number your pages as you go - this is what makes the index work.
Step 3: Create Your Future Log
A Future Log is a 6-month or yearly overview where you capture events and tasks that are too far ahead for your monthly spread. A simple 2-page layout with each month divided into a section works perfectly.
Step 4: Set Up Your Monthly Spread
At the start of each month, create:
- A Monthly Log: a calendar view of the month with key dates
- A Monthly Task List: everything you want to accomplish this month
- Any habit trackers or mood trackers you want to maintain
Step 5: Your Weekly & Daily Logs
This is where the magic happens. Each week (or day), create a new spread. There are no rules - some people love a structured weekly layout, others prefer a simple daily log. Try a few styles and see what sticks.
Step 6: Decorate & Make It Yours
This is the fun part! Decorating your spreads keeps you motivated to come back to your journal every day. Here's what we recommend:
- Washi tape for borders, dividers, and pops of colour: Â explore our Washi Tape collection. The Pink Petals Washi Tape and Watercolour Leaves Washi Tape are gorgeous for floral-themed spreads.
- Stickers for headers, icons, and functional labels: our Dates/Numbers Sticker Sheets by Opulent Archives are made for bullet journaling, and the Quotes Sticker Sheets add beautiful inspiration to any page.
- A washi tape dispenser to keep your desk tidy: our Washi Tape Dispenser holds multiple rolls at once.
Tips for Staying Consistent
- Don't aim for perfection - messy pages are still useful pages.
- Set aside 5–10 minutes each evening to update your daily log.
- Use your monthly review to migrate unfinished tasks and reflect on what worked.
- Follow the #bulletjournal community on Instagram and Pinterest for endless inspiration.
Ready to start your bullet journaling journey? Shop our full range of journals, washi tapes, and stickers - everything you need is right here.