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While it seems like there are endless ways to approach a weekly spread for your bullet journal, all the ideas actually fall into just a few categories. (We’ve sorted the ideas to help you focus in on the approach that works for you.)

Bullet Journal Weekly Spread | Focused Ideas to Plan Your Week

Last updated on April 12th, 2022 • Bullet Journaling, Planners and Planning

When things are chaotic, having your plans written down–like in a Bullet Journal weekly spread–can really help.

It takes the chaos out of your mind and gives it form. When you can see it, you can process it effectively. And having an “at-a-glance” capture of your week is a helpful resource. Trust me, your brain will thank you!

But where do you start with it?

Start looking up samples on Pinterest and Instagram, and the sheer volume can take you from inspiration to exasperation. (The very thing you wanted to avoid.)

While it seems like there are endless ways to approach a weekly spread for your bullet journal, all the ideas actually fall into just a few categories. (We’ve sorted the ideas to help you focus in on the approach that works for you.)

So, here’s the short list of ways to do it — so you can stop “planning to plan” and actually start planning!

Ways to set up a weekly spread for your bullet journal

Bullet Journal Weekly Spread Approach #1 – Lists

This approach is very simple to pull off, while still giving you the option to add an artistic flair. Here are some fantastic examples of this approach to bullet journal weekly spreads:

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A post shared by Bailey (@bujobails)

Bullet Journal Weekly Spread Approach #2 – Boxes

Similar to the days of the week with lists approach, this one carves out real estate on the page for each day visually separating the information. We like this approach because it helps create focus on a single day’s tasks, while still providing an overview of the entire week.

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A post shared by Megan💜 (@bujojourney18)

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Bullet Journal Weekly Spread Approach #3 – Dashboard

Sometimes it isn’t enough just to see task lists and appointments. Sometimes you need a dashboard that shows you everything you want to know about your life in a week.

This at-a-glance look is more than just your schedule or tasks. It might also include features like habit trackers or meal planning.

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A post shared by Lilian • bullet journal ✨ (@lilian.letters)

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A post shared by susan gately (@bujo_suzie)

Bullet Journal Weekly Spread Approach #4 – Dutch door spreads

We’re a big fan of Helen Colebrook at Journal with Purpose, who uses Dutch doors in her weekly spreads.

If the primary purpose of your bullet journal is weekly planning, the Dutch door technique is a brilliant way to expand the “real estate” for your weekly spread. It takes a bit of time to set up, because the method requires cutting some of the pages, but the results are both practical and beautiful. 

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A post shared by Helen, Journal with Purpose (@journalwithpurpose)

Bullet Journal Weekly Spread Approach #5 – Morph a pre-printed planner

So technically, Bullet Journaling is usually done on blank (or dotted) pages, but there are a lot of Bullet Journalists out there taking a hybrid approach in their planning techniques and morphing a pre-printed planner to include Bullet Journal techniques.

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A post shared by Megan (@planningbyaccident)

Bullet Journal Weekly Spread Approach #6 – Go vertical

It’s fairly intuitive to lay out your journal like a book, but sometimes you just need a little more space. If this is true for you, try turning your journal ninety degrees and using a landscape layout.

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How to know what to include in your Bullet Journal  Weekly Spread

Everyone’s life is different. Seriously, even your own life is different from season to season. 

With that in mind, here are four questions to help you figure out which elements you need to include in your weekly spread to focus it on your life right now: 

  1. What do I often forget to do? 
  2. On Sunday night, what do I need to know about the upcoming week? 
  3. What would relieve stress if I could see it at a glance? 
  4. What would be helpful to reflect on or review once the week is done? 

A Bullet Journal can be the place your mind trusts to hold information,(which keeps it from pinging you endlessly with random reminders). Design your layout to make it easy for your brain to chill, knowing you’ve got this. 

How to create a weekly spread to make space for what you are missing

The world we live in has a habit of rearranging our priorities with urgent distractions.  A bullet journal can help you design your life in a way that creates space for what matters most to you. 

Is there something important to you that you never seem to have time for? 

What if you could use your weekly spread to support you in making space for it? 

For example:

  • Want more room for creativity? Create a blank space in your weekly spread to doodle or sketch something each week. Or maybe just embellish the borders to add an artistic touch every week. 
  • Want a bigger focus on gratitude? Add a space at the end of each day to note what you are grateful for.
  • Want to be more consistent with an activity (like reading, or running, or drinking more water)? Track that in your spread! 

There is something powerful about writing down what we want. 

It helps us make it happen. 

Helpful tools to create your own weekly spread design

You can design your spread with just a pen and a journal, but there are tools that can help you make it more fun. 

Washi Tape

Once you have the basics of your spread laid out, washi tape is a great way to add a splash of color and creativity. (Read more on ways to use washi tape here!) 

Pick up this collection of Washi tape on Amazon.

or use this fun roll of Days of the Week washi.

Stamps

One way to keep your spreads consistent from week to week is to use a stamp for the months and days of the week.

Purchase these Spellbinders STP-008 Clear Acrylic Stamps on Amazon. Don’t forget that for acrylic stamps you will need stamp blocks. (And don’t forget the ink!)

Stickers

Stickers are just as much fun now as they were when we were kids, and can be a simple option for decorating your weekly bullet journal spreads.

Get this set from Paper House Productions on Amazon.

Brush Pens

A set of brush pens can help take your weekly spread to the next level; they’re useful for creating headers, quotes, and callout boxes.

Buy this set of Tombow Dual Brush Pens are our favorite! Get them from Amazon.

Magnetic Ruler

This magnetic ruler by Nakabayashi is such a fantastic journaling accessory. It folds over a page like a bookmark and helps you create a large straight edge when laying out pages.

Find the Nakabayashi Magnetic Bookmark at JetPens.

This post is full of inspiration on Bullet Journal Weekly Spreads. See what others have done, and get the know-how to design your own.

Using a bullet journal weekly spread in the real world

It’s one thing to look at gorgeous Pinterest and Instagram, examples, but quite another to use your Bullet Journal weekly spread in the real world.

In short, it’s going to get messy. 

Get over it. 

But if you just can’t, here are a few strategies to save a weekly spread that has gone pear-shaped:

  • Use a white label sticker to cover over a misstep and write on top of it. 
  • Cover a piece of errant information with washi tape. (Either enjoy the pattern or use a solid color and write on top of it.)
  • Cut a portion of the page off Dutch door style (see above: Approach #4).
  • Use a label maker, correction tape, or liquid paper to cover a line.

Keep in mind that your bullet journal is a workhorse, and not a show pony. This is personal to you. Put it to work! 

Ready to choose an approach and test drive it? 

The best way to create a spread that works is to test drive an approach, then see if you stick with it. Sticking with an approach is the ultimate test of whether or not it is supporting you in a real way. If it’s useful, then you’ll rely on it daily. If it’s a chore to keep up, then something about it isn’t aligned to what you need.

At which point, you scrap what you started with and test drive a different approach. 

You can do this! And in just a few weeks, you’ll have the layout that works exactly right for you right now. 

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

    03/24/2020 at 10:27 AM

    So many great ideas! I like the small passport sized sideways on use of the pages best because it’s small and neat and practical. Hope the social distancing isn’t too proving too onerous. And yes, you definitely need to keep posting!

    Reply

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One of my favorite tools for visual journaling is One of my favorite tools for visual journaling is watercolor crayons. Here, I'm using #neocolorII by @carandache with an #aquabrush. To do this, you have to use a water resistant pen. I'm using a #pittartistpen by @fabercastellusa. #yourvisualjournal #artjournaling #journaling #watercolor
Playing with Posca markers in my pocket sized expe Playing with Posca markers in my pocket sized experimental journal. #yourvisualjournal #artjournaling #posca #arteveryday
Ten years ago, I started carrying a notebook with Ten years ago, I started carrying a notebook with me everywhere. I began taking notes, capturing insight, managing to-do lists, and working through ideas in a combination of words and doodles. 

This practice became a game changer for me. My notebook is my ally in living an intentional life. 

The sheer volume of information we process and decisions we make at a rapid pace is daunting. Getting things out of my head and in front of my eyes creates clarity. 

If this idea intrigues you, check out YourVisualJournal.com. It’s a passion project for me to share this practice with anyone who wants to try this out.

#journaling #yourvisualjournal #bujo #bulletjournal #dotgrid #leuchtturm1917 #notebook #sketchnotes
This year at BFF weekend we created #fairyhouse s This year at BFF weekend we created #fairyhouse s to leave at one of the trails in the hill country. We had so much fun creating then placing them
I was playing with ideas for my new course. #yourv I was playing with ideas for my new course. #yourvisualjournal #sketchnotes
The doodles on the edges of this page are inspired The doodles on the edges of this page are inspired by a mural in the Starbucks I was sitting in. The quote is from Benjamin P Hardy--and I love it that I made a mistake in the middle of it given the quote! ​​​​​​​​
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Creativity is risky business. It requires vulnerability and courage--with a high probability of mistakes and failures along the way. #yourvisualjournal #artjournal #artjournaling #watercolor #watercolorjournal #arteveryday #journaling #journallove
This was a great little book that shares the proce This was a great little book that shares the process of developing ideas. #yourvisualjournal #booksofinstagram #journaling #journal #sketchnotes
I got inspired by @oshupatterns through her @domes I got inspired by @oshupatterns through her @domestika course to play with #poscamarkers. It was so fun to use paint pens in this way. They dry fast and layer well. Super fun! #yourvisualjournal #journaling #artjournaling
When using watercolor crayons and an aquabrush it When using watercolor crayons and an aquabrush it helps to use a water resistant pen. I go through a lot of @fabercastellusa Pitt Artist Pens #journaling #yourvisualjournal #sketchnotediary #sketchnotes
I love my Mother's Day present! Thanks @bethutch ❤️#neocolor2 
There's something about a new set of crayons that is magical! (Plus if you see my most recent post, you can tell that I'm working with pieces parts big time!)
I'm re-reading @gregorymckeown 's Essentialism. I I'm re-reading @gregorymckeown 's Essentialism. I totally forgot about the chapter on our inner childq. So good. ​​​​​​​​
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Disclosures

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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