The Art of a Bullet Journal 

🗓️ March 18,  2026

✍🏾 Kaylee Powell

Finding Creativity Through Journaling

There are many things I love to do to relax, but nothing beats getting a little creative while being productive. My favorite way to do so is by bullet journaling, buju for short. Bullet journaling allows you to slow down, reflect, and organize your thoughts in a way that feels both productive and therapeutic. For many students who feel they need a visual reminder of their schedules, especially those balancing classes, work, and personal responsibilities, bullet journaling can become a powerful tool for mindfulness and stress relief.

My introduction to bullet journaling happened in high school. A friend showed me a notebook filled with tiny dots arranged in a grid pattern. She explained that it was her bullet journal, a place where she could keep track of tasks, reflect on her day, and express her creativity through drawings and layouts. She loved it because it wasn’t just a journal; it was also an arts and crafts project. For my birthday that year, she gifted me my first bullet journal. Ever since then, I’ve always kept a bullet journal nearby and constantly check the r/bulletjournal subreddit for inspiration. 

What Is a Bullet Journal?

bulletjournal.com desribes Bullet journals as "a tool for changing the way we approach our day-to-day tasks and long-term goals.”A bullet journal is a customizable organizational system created by Ryder Carroll. The method uses a dotted notebook to combine to-do lists, calendars, habit trackers, and personal reflections all in one place. The format allows you to design pages that work best for that work best for you. My favorites were a water tracker, a calendar with monthly goals, and to do lists. I found it helpful to make a box from the squares on the left and write a list on the right, using the bottom dots as a guide. I also learned that the creator of this method also has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which may explain why I found the journaling so helpful. Many students find it especially useful for managing assignments, tracking study goals, and balancing extracurricular activities. Resources like the r/bulletjournal subreddit can help beginners start their own journals. 

Why Journaling Matters

Bullet journaling encourages mindfulness, creativity, and reflection. Writing down thoughts can improve emotional clarity and help people process their experiences. Creative journaling also offers a chance to step away from screens and reconnect with the physical act of creativity. The American Psyochological Association  suggests that expressive writing can help people manage stress and improve overall mental well-being. I enjoyed journalisng because it was a visical representation of time passing. 

Where to get Supplies

There are many places to get supplies, but after trial and error, I’ve determined that the best journal for beginners is this Bullet Journal from Michaels. I like that it’s a hardcover with a nice texture and is very cheap. However, the pages are thin, so heavy markers and pens will bleed through. If you’re looking for something more elevated (and expensive), the Leuchtturm is a great option.  As for pens, I am partial to 0.7 Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens, but any pen works. Those are the only supplies you truly need for a bullet journal. But if you want to go the extra mile, get a ruler, washi tape, highlighters, stickers, and double-sided tape. 

Overall, bullet journaling is meant to be fun, so don’t stress. Bullet journals are a great way to relieve creative stress and get very creative with charting out tasks for the day.