est bullet diary notebook

Bullet journalling is a great way to become more focused and mindful – it helps us to concentrate on what’s important and organise our time more effectively.

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Keeping a bullet journal can allow you to take the time to reflect on your life and what’s going on. It allows you to sort tasks into different categories so you can see what you need to concentrate on at a glance.

Of course, keeping a bullet journal is a fun, creative exercise and to begin you need to find the right stationery – starting with the right notebook! Once you get into bullet journalling, you might find yourself hooked on washi tape, stickers and fancy pens, but all you really need to get into bullet journalling is a notebook and a fineliner pen.

There are specialist bullet journals out there, but we think it’s more important to choose a notebook that you love. It’ll make your bullet journalling sessions feel much more special – this is your time, so make sure you enjoy it. Why not make a soothing cup or herbal tea or put on a favourite podcast while you journal?

Not sure what a bullet journal is or if it’s the right mindfulness practice for you? We’ve put together a beginner’s guide to explain everything you need to get started:

What is bullet journalling?

Alternatively, you might prefer to keep a mindful journal instead. Take a look at our pick of the

best mindfulness journals

. If you’re feeling creative, learn

how to make a journal

step by step.

Read on to discover our favourite bullet journals and how to choose the best bullet journal for you.

How to choose the best bullet journal

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to choosing the best bullet journal. The classic bullet journal uses dotted paper – this is great for drawing boxes on the page or keeping to-do lists. It really helps to keep everything organised and gives your journal a minimalist look.

Dotted paper journals aren’t always readily available in the shops, so you may prefer to use graph or grid paper notebooks instead. Again, the lines will help you to structure your page layouts and keep things neat and tidy.

If you want your designs to be completely flexible then opt for a plain paper notebook or artist’s sketchpad. This is a great choice if you want to be able to use your journal like a scrapbook and stick in your own photos or other mementoes. You can add some personality by painting on the pages or drawing your own illustrations.

Best bullet journal notebooks to buy in 2020

1. Nordic Blue Medium Bullet Journal: Leuchtturm1917 (Waterstones, £19.99)

The Leuchtturm1917 is very popular with bullet journal fans and it’s easy to see why. It comes in a wide range of beautiful colours and we particularly love the vibrant nordic blue shade available from Waterstones.

Leuchtturm 1917 journals have sturdy, hard-wearing covers and have dotted pages – perfect for bullet journalling.

2. Constellation notebook (Papier, £16.99-£19.99)

This beautiful notebook is making us feel starry-eyed! Papier’s range of bullet journals can be personalised and there’s a fabulous selection of illustrated and patterned covers to choose from. Prices start from £16.99 for a soft-covered bullet journal and go up to £19.99 for a hard cover.

3. Agenzia Soft Lavender Dot Ruled Notebook (Paperchase, £14)

Paperchase’s Agenzia range is a great alternative if you don’t want to shell out for a Leuchtturm1917. They have a selection of pretty shades to choose from, including plenty of pastels. They come in a variety of sizes, so you can opt for a smaller notebook if that’s more convenient.

Like the Leuchtturm journals, they have sturdy covers and dotted paper inside.

© Paperchase

4. Yoga bullet journal (Papier, £16.99-£19.99)

Calling all yogis! Keep track of your yoga practice with this lovely bullet journal design from Papier. Writing your journal in this beautiful book is a real treat and the dotted pages make it easy to plot your to-do lists.

5. A5 customisable bullet journal (Etsy, £15)

Build your own bullet journal with theinkpotuk store on Etsy! You can choose your own cover motif – there’s a daffodil, lightbulb, hummingbird and many more. There’s also five different linen journal colours and you can even select the colour of your chosen motif. The journals are made using 160gsm paper, so the pages are thick and high quality.

6. Botanical floral bullet journal (Etsy, £7.99)

Looking for a bullet journal that’s beautiful and affordable? This botanical design by TheMexicanStudio on Etsy fits the bill. It’s not very chunky and would make a lovely gift to send to a friend.

7. Yellow bullet journal with cloud design (Etsy, £15.95)

Bring some joy into your day with this gorgeous mustard yellow bullet journal from NichollsandNicholls on Etsy. The raincloud design on the cover is made using shimmering gold foil. This notebook has lined rather than dotted paper, but you could still use it as a bullet journal.

8. Pointed Koala Bullet Diary (Etsy, £14.95)

This sturdy bullet diary from Scribble & Dot has super thick pages-perfect for covering with a marker! These pages are dotted and numbered, making them perfect for bullet journals.

9. Sun Tarot bullet journal (Etsy, £14.80

Give your bullet journal a mystical feel with this magical tarot design from EatTheMoonStore on Etsy. It comes with plain or lined paper, so you can choose the option that suits you best.

10. Custom bullet journal (Etsy, £7.50-£9.50)

We’re continuing the cosmic theme with this starry hand-bound journal from LittleBirdSinging on Etsy. There’s a range of sizes and styles to choose from and you can select whether your paper is gridded, plain, lined or dotted. Happy journalling!

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Looking for more journalling inspiration?

Begin a new mindful practice by starting a January journal

or

make a stitched journal

using Anna Alicia’s free tutorial.