Your Perfect Bullet Journal Layout

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.

Create Only the Layouts You Use

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. 

Use the Layout Orientation that Feels Right

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. 

Layout Orientations

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.

Horizontal

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

Vertical

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

Circular

Tools used: Compass Protractor , Mandala Maker

Artistic

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

Minimalist

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

Your Bullet Journal is All Yours

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