One of the strengths of using a Bullet Journal for planning over a traditional calendar or planner is that you can create and use your own customized system of planner layouts. Do you like to start your week on a Monday rather than Sunday? You can do that! Do you need more space allocated to some days over others? No problem! Often the greatest challenge is finding which layouts work best for you. Here are a variety of tips and examples to help you identify which might be your perfect fit.

What amount of your time do you need see at a glance? Some people need a spread or two summarizing the entire year (often referred to as a future log), some like seeing an entire month across a two-page spread, others need one week per page, while others enjoy an entire page dedicated to each day. Often many end up using some combination of the above; like 12 monthly spreads, each followed by 28-31 daily layouts, or a yearly spread followed by 52 weekly layouts. There is no right answer here. The key here is to try out each type, pare down to only what you'll actually use, and forgo the rest rather than feel like all of them are somehow required. 

Each person processes information in their own way. What works for me might not work for you. This is why there are so many different options for layouts. Some are horizontal, some are vertical, some are circular, some are artsy and others are minimalist.

​Pick the style that feels right and you do you. If you're not sure what style feels right, try one out. You'll quickly know if it fits the time you have to spend, whether you enjoy the process or not, and whether or not you're drawn or inspired to return to your journal regularly. The style you choose should work for you and alleviate rather than cause additional stress. 

Take a look at the following layout/spread ideas and see how they feel to you. Does it feel natural or is it confusing? Do your eyes and mind flow naturally through the information and take it in or do you need to work a bit to absorb what's going on?

Don't overthink this. Use your intuition more than logic to identify how you best process information.

Tools used: Moxie Journal Rule , Cherry Blossom Stencil, Rows and Columns Tracing Card, Super Slider

Tools used: Vertical Weekly Tracing Card, Tidy Slider Stencil, Brush Lettering Strips, Vertical Weekly Stencil

Tools used: Compass Protractor , Mandala Maker

Tools used: Bee Hummingbird Stencil , Hexagon Stencil , Leaf Vine Stencil , Brush Lettering Strips

Tools used: Field Notes Super Slider, Triangle Stencil, Moxie Journal Rule

Your journal's purpose is to assist you. Choose and work the layouts that will help you and let the rest go. The layouts you see on social media  should serve as options, not standards. Take the layouts that feel right to you and make them yours. 

If you are looking for more inspiration, hop over to our FB group called Bullet Journaling Tips and Tricks. We host a drama free, kind and helpful bujo group of about 19,500 people 

Looking for a mindful way to balance your time and energy? The Balance Wheel might be the bullet journal layout you're looking for. Read on for a complete how to tutorial. You will learn how to make a Balance Wheel and how to use it.

Time and energy are our most valuable resources. Being mindful about how you spend both is an  investment in your self care. 

I designed this Balance Wheel because I was weary from fussing and fighting over screen time with my children. As we rolled into summer break, I knew we needed an instructive, long term plan about how we would spend our time.

​I wanted to teach my children to monitor time spent and areas that deserved more attention and care. 

While this particular Balance Wheel is for the purpose of tracking and being mindful about how my family spends our long summer days, the concept can be applied to a multitude of situations. 

Here is the step by step process I went through to create our Summer Time Balance Wheel:

The eight areas that we are striving to balance are: Physical/Emotional Health, Alone/Community, Family/Friends, and Receiving Information/Seeking Information. (Receiving Information = screens and reading.)

Your areas might be professional in nature. They might be personal. Think about your investments in time and how they contribute to your overall goals and happiness. Once you have identified an area, think about its opposing area.

For example, social media can be countered with in face interactions. Both are important and both need to be nurtured. Are you clear about how much time you spend on either throughout the week? Would your life be improved if you balanced the two better?

Grab your Compass Protractor and draw five concentric circles. Each circle represents one week. Use the tick marks on the tool to divide your circles into equal pieces. In my case, I divided my circles into six pieces.

Next label the sections of the wheel, placing opposing concepts opposite one another. 

Each circle represents a week. Start using the Balance Wheel from the inside out. When you complete an activity that falls into a particular category, make a tick mark in that pie piece. 

Tracking your time forces you to monitor time spent and to be mindful of the areas that need more tending. 

If you have questions about this layout or any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can find lots of bullet journal support, tutorials and inspiration in the Video Vault and also in the Facebook group Bullet Journaling Tips and Tricks.