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How to Create a Journal Layout for Habit Tracking that Works for You

Bullet Journal Habit Trackers | How to Create One that Works for You

Last updated on April 24th, 2022 • Bullet Journaling

You are looking up bullet journal habit trackers because something in you knows you become what you do daily.

And you are pretty sure that a life of Netflix and Cheetos isn’t really producing the results you want.

Okay, so maybe it isn’t actually Netflix and Cheetos dire.

Maybe it’s just that you don’t work out as much as you’d like, or you eat out more than your budget is comfortable with, or you’re just tired of being stressed out, and wonder what would happen if you tried meditating daily.

No matter which habits you want to improve in your life, your bullet journal can support you in achieving them.

While Instagram and Pinterest are full of gorgeous bullet journal habit trackers that take hours (and possibly an art degree) to create, if you want to spend more time on the habits than tracking them, we’ve got you covered.

Let’s get started:

1. Start with the emotional hook.

Did the chart in elementary school with the gold stars (or color grid, or insert _______________ here) make you happy or did it stress you out? Do you tend to feel more inspired with linear graphs and perfectly symmetrical lines, or do shapes and pictures suit you better?

It isn’t the design of the tracker that matters. It’s how it makes you feel when you use it. If it makes you feel inspired and encouraged, it will fuel you, but if it feels difficult or frustrating… Well, that works against you.

This is the reason so many people add art, inspirational quotes, and color to their habit trackers. It evokes emotion when they use it. But if that stuff makes you crazy, acknowledge, and roll with it.

What motivates one person can decelerate another. The key is figuring out how your brain wants to see this.

What does this look like?

Well, if you are tracking water consumption, it might be the difference between writing the number of ounces you drink each hour, or drawing a glass and coloring in different levels with a blue highlighter to represent another glass.

2. Questions to ask yourself to help design your bullet journal habit trackers

The best part about using our journals for habit tracking is that it creates a visual picture of what we are doing. Daily visual evidence of our own progress is motivating.

The best part about using our journals for habit tracking is that it creates a visual picture of what we are doing. Daily visual evidence of our own progress is motivating.

The process goes much faster if you figure out what you are tracking before you start designing the journal layout to do it. Here are questions to ask yourself:  

  • Is your journal layout for habit tracking focused on one habit or many?
  • Do you need to track by date or is a tally of how many times you do something sufficient?
  • Do you need to track duration (how long you do something each day)?
  • Is it more helpful to track annually, monthly, weekly, or daily? (For example, tracking books you read might make more sense annually, tracking exercise could be weekly, while tracking time in meditation might make more sense daily.)
  • How can I make this easy to use? Changing habits takes some effort, so make the tracking of them as easy as possible.

3. Make the page tactile so it’s easy to find.

Don’t waste one second flipping through pages to find your journal layout for habit tracking. Add a tactile element so you don’t have to think about it.

If your journal has two ribbon bookmarks, you can use one for the habits page. Or you can:

  • Put a strip of washi tape down the outside edge.
  • Add a good old post-it tab.
  • Use a thick sticker on the page to give it more depth than the surrounding pages. (If you do this, make it inspirational.)
  • Tape a penny to the page.
  • Dog-ear the page.

The idea is to grab your journal. Flip it open. Make some marks. And get back to your life.

4. Need some ideas? Check out what others have done.

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My digital trackers are awesome but recently I'm finding analog more satisfying. #bujo #visjournaling

A post shared by Cathy Hutchison (@cathy.hutchison) on Apr 28, 2017 at 6:35am PDT

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Super simple habit tracking . . . . #yourvisualjournal #sketchnotes #journaling #creativejournaling #bulletjournal #bujo #bujoinspiration #bujolove #bujoinspire #bulletjournaljunkies #showmeyourplanner #minimalistbujo #dotgrid

A post shared by Cathy Hutchison (@cathy.hutchison) on Jan 5, 2019 at 12:24pm PST

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So apparently I'm not that into daily tracking. #bujo #visjournaling

A post shared by Cathy Hutchison (@cathy.hutchison) on Feb 26, 2017 at 9:31am PST

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Read the step by step guide on how to create your own savings tracker! It’s easy!! 😉Link in bio. 🖋 #bulletjournal #bujo #bujoweeklyspread #bujotracker #habittracker #bujosetup #2019bujo #bulletjournaladdict #bujoaddict #bulletjournaljunkies #bujocommunity #bujogirl #savingstracker #habits #savemoney #bulletjournalnewbie #bulletjournaljunkie

A post shared by Bullet Journal | Wellella (@wellellabujo) on Jan 5, 2019 at 12:29pm PST

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PODSUMOWANIE ! . Kolejny miesiąc za nami, więc jest i tabelka z nawykami. . Nie było łatwo, oj nie. Kosztowało mnie to sporo wysiłku. Jestem zadowolona. Co prawda mogło być lepiej (zawsze może). Jednak biorąc pod uwagę grudniowe okoliczności w postaci wzmożonej intensywności pracy i przeziębienie jest Ok :). . Oczywiście tabelka na nowy miesiąc już rozpoczęta. Działam dalej. . Karta monitorująca nawyki do pobrania na stornie. Zapraszam 🙂 . . . A jak to wyglada u Ciebie ? Budujesz nawyki ?

A post shared by @ niegubie on Jan 5, 2019 at 5:44am PST

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Here’s a look at my August #sleeplog and #habittracker! 😌 Today I’m turning one year older 🥳 (well, 30 is just a few years away 😒😭lol) I’m happy that I got to celebrate it with my family (most importantly everyone is home this year! 🥰) and the birthday cake fits my taste perfectly! 😋Do you have any family tradition for birthday celebration? We don’t have any but getting a birthday cake is a must! 🤪 . . . . . . #bulletjournal #bujo #bujo2020 #bujocommunity #bujoaugust #bulletjournalcommunity #bulletjournaling #artjournaling #bulletjournaladdict #bujoideas #bujolayout #bujogram #bujosetup #bujoinspiration #bujolove #bujojunkies #bulletjournallove #bujocoverpage #bujomonthly #bujoweekly #bujomalaysia #showmeyourplanner #weeklyspread #monthlyspread #crayolasupertips #doodlelove #doodleart #flatlaystyle

A post shared by Lulu 🔆 (@thedotsandgrids) on Aug 23, 2020 at 7:30am PDT

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For yoga teacher training, I was required to practice this kriya for 30 days. To track it, I drew 30 boxes and colored one each time I completed the kriya.

A post shared by Cathy Hutchison (@cathy.hutchison) on Jan 5, 2019 at 12:41pm PST

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I've been enjoying this reading log, it's been motivating me to read my new book that I just started reading yesterday. I've had it for a little while, finally got into it yesterday and I'm stoked! I had envisioned making a spread with little book pages and making each one count as an increment of 10 pages so that every 10 pages I read, I can color in a square! I'm coloring with whatever mildliner color I feel like 🙂 yay! I also have room for quotes and other fun stuff that may come to mind. I like this book so far, it's a little meta reading a book titled the book that matters most that's about being in a book club discussing the book that matters most to you 😊 Wanted to try a different style of reading log from others I've tried and I'm enjoying this so far! Almost about to color in the next block/mini page! 😊 #bookstagram #booklove #bulletjournal #tinyrayofsunshine #readinglog #booklog #annhood #BulletJournalCollection #BulletJournalBookLog #BulletJournalTracker

A post shared by Kim • Tiny Ray of Sunshine ☀️ (@tinyrayofsunshine) on Aug 31, 2017 at 6:43pm PDT

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Going back to my super simple habit tracker and mood tracker this month! After an overwhelming October, simplicity was the name of the game when I was setting up my November pages. 💜💕 – I’m curious… what kind of habits are you tracking this month? – #bohoberrytribe #bulletjournal #bujo #wearebujo #leuchtturm1917 #tnbujo #habittracker #moodtracker

A post shared by Kara 🌸 Boho Berry (@boho.berry) on Nov 3, 2017 at 6:23am PDT

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My “filled in” habit tracker for December 😅 holidays didn’t gel well with getting my habits completed by the looks of things! 😛 what were your best and worst habits from December?

A post shared by JashiiCorrin (@jashiicorrin) on Jan 5, 2019 at 12:04am PST

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Månadens Habit tracker är äntligen klar ☺️❄️🐧 / This month habit tracker is finally finished ☺️❄️🐧 #bujo #journaling #journal #dingbats #dingbatsnotebooks #tombowdualbrushpens #habittracker #sweden #skövde #sverige #bujosweden #bujoinspo #bulletjournaladdict #bulletjournallove #bulletjournalcommunity #bujojunkies #bujoinspiration #tidformera #dingbats #bulletjournalinspiration #monthly #snowflakes #pinguin #weeklyspread #habits #habittracker

A post shared by Nettan (Jeanette) (@nettanbutterfly) on Jan 5, 2019 at 8:17am PST

Of course, you already know that the point isn’t the tracker. It’s the habits.

The best part about using bullet journal habit trackers is that they create a visual picture of what we are doing. Daily visual evidence of our own progress is motivating.

(And seeing where we are missing it, creates an honesty that prevents us from overestimating our investment. )

Imagine what just a few months of tracking could do for building the habits that shape who you become.

And the best part? No more orange fingerprints on the couch.


Interested in an ebook with even more layouts? Subscribe to Get 11 Visual Journal Templates to Get the Life You Want

About Cathy Hutchison

Cathy Hutchison helps people get more joy, meaning, and freedom in a world of demands through the practice of visual journaling.

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Comments

  1. Rosemary

    11/17/2019 at 9:53 AM

    I keep it simple. I have two lists – a routine list and a to do list – all in one table. The routine is the same every day and the to do varies day by day. I have a results column for each. I love the satisfaction of writing Done each evening next to the relevant item. It’s helped keep me going. Just wish I could make it look prettier, but that’s a bridge too far and as you say, it’s not the tracker that matters! It works for me.

    Reply

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Cathy helps people banish overwhelm,
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CathyHutchison | VisualJournal
This morning I received an email from @songdance.c This morning I received an email from @songdance.co with a link to a song. I had no idea how much I needed to hear these words. #journaling #yourvisualjournal #bulletjournal #artjournal #neocolor2
Making my inner 7 year old happy with sealing wax. Making my inner 7 year old happy with sealing wax. #journaling #stationery #artjournaling #sealingwax
I bought something that I wanted SO BAD when I was I bought something that I wanted SO BAD when I was seven years old. 

I realized that now that I'm a grown up I could just buy it. 

On Amazon. 

#sealingwax #journaling #artjournaling #yourvisualjournal
I love learning about the authentic fascinations o I love learning about the authentic fascinations of the people in my world. The obscure hobbies they love. The ideas they just can't stop thinking about. The things they pour time (and money) into for no reason except that it gives them joy .

As you jump into 2023, I highly recommend purchasing a #notebook that you can take with you everywhere to feed this part of your life . Write down your inspirations. Capture ideas. Develop thoughts by reviewing them periodically. (And definitely scribble doodles in the margins--that's an important part.)

Engaging a #journaling practice--whatever that looks like for you--can give space for the quirky, beautiful, creative part of you to grow. And as it turns out, #visualthinking in a #journal is my personal, random fascination.

#yourvisualjournal
#bujo #bujoideas #journaling #artjournaling #sketchnotes #bulletjournal #dotjournal #leuchtturm1917
I just did my 2022 annual review—a practice I le I just did my 2022 annual review—a practice I learned from @michalroots . 

As one part of this, I wrote the sentences that jumped out at me from my 2022 journals as I went page by page. It left me with a sense of what the year was about and gave me an appreciation for the incredible beauty of friends, creativity, inspiration, and big ideas. 

I also looked at my vision board to see what happened, and what didn’t. For the things that didn’t happen, I gave some heart time to figure out the level that I actually want them (and learned it was low.) The things that happened had a lot of desire behind them. (It was an interesting thing to observe.) 

If you want to take Michal’s course, DM him for the link. I found it a valuable process that I will continue going forward.
#journaling #yourvisualjournal #artjournaling #bulletjournal #bujoinspiration
Do you create a #visionboard each year? The latest Do you create a #visionboard each year? The latest post at YourVisualJournal.com dives into how to create one in your journal. #journaling #artjournaling
Happy thanksgiving 🍁 Happy thanksgiving 🍁
Brush markers make my heart happy. #brushmarker #t Brush markers make my heart happy. #brushmarker #tombowdualbrushpens #bulletjournal #bujo #yourvisualjournal
Brush markers are easy to use, and putting a few d Brush markers are easy to use, and putting a few doodles at the bottom of your todo list makes it more engaging for your brain. This whole thing was quick to draw. (Mostly circles, a rectangle, and a few lines.) Coloring in with #brushmarkers was fast and easy. 

#yourvisualjournal #bulletjournal #artjournaling #sketchnotes #tombowdualbrushpens
Artistry is a practice. 🎨 Creating some magic i Artistry is a practice. 🎨 Creating some magic in my journal with my #tombow brush markers #artjournal #yourvisualjournal #bulletjournal
While I love color, the power of a simple black an While I love color, the power of a simple black and white spread is delightful to me. #brushmarker #tombow
I was never the kid who drew all the time, but aft I was never the kid who drew all the time, but after 15 years of visual journaling I've fallen in love with cartoons. #yourvisualjournal #artjournaling #cartoons
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Some links on this site are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The author receives a  small (really small) commission if you happen to buy something.  Funds are used to support journaling supplies & four crazy sweet Aussies who bark for treats every time I come in the door. (To be fair, I have a pattern of giving in to them.) I write about all kinds of journaling, and if Bullet Journaling is your thing, I’m here to support you. But if you want to go deep, go to the original source–Ryder Carroll, who created the system, and started it all at bulletjournal.com. I use the method daily which is why I started writing about it here.
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