Are you planning to start a Bullet Journal and looking for a list of spreads it should contain? If so, I’ve got you covered! This guide will walk you through 10 easy spreads every beginner should try. These pages are designed to help you stay organized while leaving plenty of room for creativity and self-expression.
1. Key and Index
Think of the index as the backbone of your journal—it’s where organization truly begins. This page works like a table of contents, making it easy to find specific notes, lists, or spreads without aimlessly flipping through pages. For the key, it defines the symbols or color codes you’ll use to organize tasks, events, and notes. For example, you might use a dot for tasks, a triangle for appointments, and a star for priorities. Together, these two pages ensure you’ll never lose track of your journal’s content.
@ellies.corner.2019
2. Future Log
The future log is where you jot down long-term plans that are outside of the current month—birthdays, vacations, deadlines, or upcoming events. Think of it as your bird’s-eye view of the months ahead. It’s a great way to ensure you don’t overlook important dates. As a beginner, you can use the Alastair Method which I find straightforward and efficient. Just create a simple timeline or list format, where each month is noted alongside key dates and fill in a dot in the column to mark the month of the event.
@bujoandcookies
3. Monthly Spread
The monthly spread gives you a clear snapshot of what’s ahead. Whether you draw a calendar or list the days in columns, this page is perfect for planning your month.You can add sections for monthly goals or notes, or reflections to personalize it further. Some people include a space for monthly themes to make it more aesthetic.
@magicalbujo
4. Weekly Spread
Weekly spreads bridge the gap between monthly overviews and daily details. It’s the ideal space for outlining tasks, appointments, and priorities for the week. This page is highly customizable—experiment with layouts until you find one that clicks for you.
@notesncoffees
5. Daily Spread
The daily spread is the heart of your bullet journal. The simplest way is to write down all the tasks that you need to do, and cross them off as you go. But don’t just treat the daily spread as a simple to-do list. You can break down tasks into manageable steps and reflect on events as they happen. Many people set up their daily spreads the night before or in the morning to stay organized and prepared for the day ahead.
@nicoles.journal
6. Habit Tracker
Want to build better habits? A habit tracker is a fantastic motivator. Create a grid where you can mark off habits like drinking water, exercising, or reading. Watching your progress unfold day by day is incredibly rewarding. You can also use color-coding or symbols to represent different habits, making this page both functional and beautiful. Over time, it will help you identify patterns and areas for improvement.
@bulletjournalbychloe
7. Mood Tracker
A mood tracker helps you understand your emotional patterns. Use colors, symbols, or graphs to record how you’re feeling each day. Get creative and mindful with your mood tracker. You can choose a circular design, bar graph, or calendar format to visualize your moods and pair it with a few lines of journaling to reflect on what influenced your mood that day.
@littleolivebujo
8. Goals Spreads
Setting goals is one thing, but keeping track of them is another. When creating your spreads, you should have a list of all your goals, together with tasks and actions required to reach each one. You may find it useful to have a section to categorise your goals into short-term and long-term or by aspect like personal, professional, or health-related. Also, you can add trackers to record your progress step by step and keep yourself motivated along the way.
@jashiicorrin
9. Brain Dump
Sometimes, you just need a space to let your thoughts flow and declutter your mind and thoughts. It’s your journal’s wildcard page—use it however you like. You can write down random thoughts, ideas, and worries. By getting these things on paper, you can free your mind, focus on things that need doing and make space for new ideas.
@bonjournal_
10. Gratitude Log
This is simply a place where you jot down things you’re grateful for. It can be either weekly or monthly, whatever suits you. Or if you prefer, you can add your gratitude section to your daily spread as well. Keeping a gratitude log can help you keep your days positive and a great way to practice mindfulness. You will need to take time to think about your day and be aware of small things in your life.
@tinyrayofsunshine
Final Thoughts
This list is not a rulebook and you don’t need to include all these spreads. The Essence of Bullet Journaling is its flexibility and there is no right or wrong way of doing it. Remember, your journal is a reflection of you—adapt it to fit your needs and enjoy the process!