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How to get started with minimalist bullet journal spreads

• Bullet Journaling

Have you been interested in minimalist bullet journal spreads?

If you’re like me, you have lots of balls in the air at any given time. It can be tough to keep track of everything, let alone find the time to get creative! That’s where minimalist bullet journaling spreads create an advantage. Bullet journaling is a great way to stay organized and can also be a form of creative self-care. 

Often when people get into bullet journaling they get overwhelmed with instagram-perfect layouts, but the bullet journal system was designed to help creatives keep track of things–not to add more elements to your to do list. 

Taking a minimalist approach to your bullet journal pages can help you relax and de-stress while still being productive.

Supplies for minimalist bullet journal spreads

Why create minimalist bullet journal spreads?

Bullet journaling is already a great way to declutter your mind and organize your thoughts. But adding a minimalist design aesthetic to your pages can feel really satisfying! 

Not only will you be able to see everything you need to do at a glance, but you’ll also have a beautiful notebook to look through. And because it’s minimalist, it feels simple. (Also trust me, it’s a lot more fun than just looking at a list of tasks!)

Example of minimalist bullet journal spread by Cathy Hutchison

What makes a bullet journal spread minimalist? 

People use the term “minimalist bullet journal” to refer to both the method and the aesthetic. The appeal of a minimalist bullet journal is its simplicity. A sparse approach can help you stay organized and focused on what’s important.

This article focuses on minimalist bullet journal spreads defined by: 

  • Simple layouts with clean lines and generous white space
  • Black and white color pallet (sometimes with gray added)
  • Simple visual elements like arrows or other simple icons

The minimalist approach is about using as few supplies as possible and capturing the information quickly. The design of the layout locks in clarity. 

This can be a great way to simplify your bullet journal pages while helping you stay organized.

Example of minimalist bullet journal spread by Cathy Hutchison

Tips for creating minimalist bullet journal spreads

If you’re new to bullet journaling, or even if you’ve been doing it for a while but haven’t set a design for your pages yet, don’t worry! It’s easy to get started. 

1. Create a margin of an inch or more around your whole spread.

When you open your journal and see text running over the edges, it can make your chest contract (at least a little). Our eyes feel a sense of relief when they encounter white space–which is part of what makes minimalist bullet journal spreads so appealing.  

Leaving a wide margin–an inch or even more–when you are planning a spread contributes to an overall minimalist aesthetic. 

If you tend to create spreads in real time as you are using them, just get in the habit of leaving the white space, but if you plan your spreads out, then you can use a ruler to mark the margin.

Example of minimalist bullet journal spread with wide margins by Cathy Hutchison

2. Choose straight lines over ornate ones. 

Minimalist lines have few distractions and a clean vibe–if lines are used at all. Less is more. In fact, sometimes in minimalist bullet journal spreads, lines are missing where they otherwise would be expected. 

Example of minimalist bullet journal spread by Cathy Hutchison

3. Choose a black and white color pallet.

Part of the minimalist bullet journal vibe is choosing a monochromatic color scheme. Black and white doesn’t have to be boring, though. Here’s how to pull it off: 

  • Use black markers with tips of varying widths. 
  • Include a black brush marker in your options. 
  • Add gray markers to create depth.
  • Use white ink on black stickers.
  • Include simple black and white washi tape. 
Example of minimalist bullet journal spread by Cathy Hutchison

4. Create your own personal vocabulary of minimalist icons

Minimalist bullet journal spreads can still feature simple illustrations. To get the most out of this, create a handful of simple shapes that match your personal minimalist vibe. 

A good place to get inspiration for this is to do an image search for minimalist icons or minimalist tattoos.

Example of minimalist bullet journal spread by Cathy Hutchison

Time to test drive the minimal bullet journal aesthetic? 

Adding some simple bullet journal art is a great way to make your pages more fun and interesting to look at—and it can also help you de-stress and relax.

If you’re not sure where to start, check out Pinterest or Instagram for some inspiration. And remember, there are no rules when it comes to bullet journaling. Try a few things and you might be surprised at how your creativity flows.

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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cathy.hutchison

Cathy helps people banish overwhelm,
boost creativity 🎨
and reconnect with their ♥️
through visual journaling. 🖌
Get the free Quickstart guide 📗 here

CathyHutchison | VisualJournal
Simple can be beautiful. A small doodled flower. A Simple can be beautiful. A small doodled flower. An underline of color. Your #bulletjournal can be as elaborate as you like, but our lives are complex. #Simplicity feels good.
#Sketchnotes help me manage my focus and stay enga #Sketchnotes help me manage my focus and stay engaged in meetings.
I love the A5 size journals because they can go ev I love the A5 size journals because they can go everywhere with me! #journaling #leuchtturm1917 #yourvisualjournal
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
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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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