What Is a Bullet Journal (And Why It Might Work for You)?

A few years ago, I was sitting in an airport when I noticed the woman next to me scribbling furiously in her notebook. I knew exactly what it was: a bullet journal. And I’ll be honest: I felt a twinge of envy for not having one of my own. I had been playing around with starting one for a while.

But let’s strip it back and get real:
What is a bullet journal? And is it actually useful for people like us — caregivers, empaths, over-givers, or just humans trying to get through the day without abandoning ourselves?

The Simplest Answer

Here Are Links to Different Parts of This Blog Post

A bullet journal (or BuJo, as the community calls it) is just a notebook you use to track, plan, and collect the pieces of your life.

That’s it. No rules. No “right way.” Just a framework Ryder Carroll created to help focus and simplify.

Some people use it for everything: tracking habits, planning projects, storing lists. Some use it only to organize their weeks.

The beauty of it? You get to decide.

Why Bullet Journals Caught Fire

Unlike pre-made planners, bullet journaling is a blank canvas. It’s flexible, customizable, and can shift with your life.

That’s why it spread like wildfire. Not because people love to color-code (though many do), but because there’s freedom baked into the system.

And when you’re someone who carries a lot (emotionally or physically), freedom matters.

What You Can Do With a Bullet Journal

Track:

Habits (water, sleep, exercise, meds)
Moods
Energy levels
Boundaries you set (or didn’t set)

Store (called Collections):

Books you want to read
Quotes that make you feel less alone
Things you’re dreaming of buying
Project ideas
Journalette themes you want to create

Plan:

Weekly layouts
Monthly priorities
Project breakdowns (big goals → small steps)
Tiny routines (morning, evening, reset rituals)

The Raw Truth: Where It Can Go Wrong

Bullet journaling is creative and fun, but it can also become overwhelming, especially if you fall into the rabbit hole of spreads on Instagram and YouTube.

Here’s my take:
You don’t need 40 markers, fancy washi tape, or three hours to design the “perfect” page.

You need a notebook.
And a pen.
That’s it.

All the extras are cherries on the cake (And yes, cake is still delicious without the cherry).

A Gentle Way to Start

Before you get lost in complicated trackers, ask yourself:

What would actually support me right now?
What am I trying to notice or shift?
Do I want to track something, plan something, or just capture thoughts?

Pick one answer. Build a simple spread around it. That’s your bullet journal.

The Journalette Connection

If you’ve been around my world, you know I believe in bite-sized self-care. Things you can finish. Tools you’ll actually use.

Bullet journaling can be adapted into that philosophy, too.
You don’t have to fill a whole notebook. You can use the same principles in a one-page Journalette:

A tiny tracker (water, rest, meds).
A mini collection (3 quotes that soothe you).
A micro-plan (3 things today: Must / Maybe / Me).

This is what keeps journaling sustainable for me (and many others). You make it small enough to finish, and powerful enough to matter.

Should You Start a Bullet Journal?

If your current system works, don’t force it.
But if you feel scattered, drained, or pulled in a million directions, give it a try.

Start simple. Track one thing. Plan one week. Add as you go.

Bullet journaling isn’t about perfection. It’s about noticing your life and putting it on paper in a way that makes sense to you.

The Bottom Line

A bullet journal is just a notebook. But what you do with it can change how you move through your days.

For me, the biggest shift wasn’t in productivity. It was in presence.
I could see myself on the page — my habits, my energy, my dreams. And that made me less likely to abandon myself.

So yes, start with a notebook and a pen. Keep it tiny. Keep it doable.

And if you want to taste of a Journalette head to the Self-Care Library. There are free foldable journals waiting for you. Because, for some of us, one page is enough.