The new year is all about new changes, new resolutions, new challenges, and new beginnings. 2020 marks the start of a whole new decade, so why not go big when it comes to making some changes?
One big change I recommend making is to start a bullet journal! Here are ten convincing reasons why you should start one for 2020:
- All you need is a pen and paper!
-
Chances are, you’re a student (why else would you be reading Her Campus?). That means you definitely have a pen and paper lying around. Step one: done!
- It’s easy to learn!
-
Who doesn’t want a new hobby that is easy to learn, can be done anywhere, and looks beautiful when finished? Don’t be discouraged if your calligraphy isn’t Instagram-bujo-level yet — that takes a little time! We all start somewhere.
- It’s so satisfying to look at!
-
Bullet journal pictures are such insta-worthy photos. It’s so tempting to post little snippets of your journal to your story.
- You can stay organized and have fun while doing it!
-
2020 calls for new resolutions — why not aim to stay super organized and be on top of things? You might think that’s easier said than done, but with a bullet journal helping to make your life easier, organization will be second nature to you.
- It’s a creative stress-reliever.
-
Who isn’t stressed by a new year, a new semester, new classes, and new professors? Art is a soothing tool that many students – whether or not they’re art majors – resort to. Bullet journaling can help you relieve stress while staying organized.
- It gives you an excuse to go stationery shopping!
-
I don’t know about you, but I’ll take any excuse I can get to make a quick, two-hour pit stop at the nearest Michael’s Craft Store or Blick Art Materials.
- It’s so customizable; you can track unique habits in your journal.
-
I love customizing my bullet journal to fit my needs. Planners are too basic and don’t allow you to track workout habits, water consumption, or productivity.
- It’s your journal — it’s a place to write down anything that crosses your mind.
-
Whether it be grocery lists, questions to ask your academic advisor at your next meeting, your locker combination, or research paper topic ideas, your journal is a great place to write these little blurbs down.
- You can experiment with different art styles.
-
When I first started bullet journaling a year ago, I just used colored pens. I slowly started experimenting with monthly themes, black-and-white pages, and scrapbook-style pages. Honestly, I’m still exploring these styles since I just can’t pick a favorite!
- You can measure immense growth and actually see your progress.
-
This is one of my favorite reasons to bullet journal. I love being able to compare spreads from my journal from September 2018 and September 2019. It’s pretty crazy how much you grow — both artistically and as a person — in just one year.
I’ve also compiled a list of my top ten favorite bullet journaling supplies. Take a look and try a few out!
-
Leuchtturm1917 Dotted Journal (A5 size)
-
Tombow Dual-Tip Brush Pens (Bright Colors, 10 pack)
-
Crayola Supertips (20 pack)
-
Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens (Black, 2 pack, hard and soft nib)
-
Zebra Mildliners (Pastel Colors, 5 pack)
-
Pigma Micron Fine Tip Pens (Assorted nibs)
-
Bic White Out Pens (an ESSENTIAL!)
-
MUJI Pens (0.38 mm)
-
Washi Tape
-
Stickers (available on Amazon)
If you want some more inspiration, check out these Instagram accounts:
-
My bullet journal account: Ritika’s journal
-
The Bullet Journal Queen: AmandaRachLee
And there you have it — ten reasons to start your own bullet journal! I hope this helped you get some inspiration and hopefully start journaling next year!