7 Types of Bullet Journalists: Which One Are You?
Do you ever feel frustrated looking at all those beautiful bullet journal spreads on Pinterest, wishing yours would look even half as good?
Or maybe your problem is that you never manage to track your habits for longer than a few days. Or you’re not organized enough. Or maybe you just get so caught up with deciding which of your 1264 colorful pens to use that it takes you an hour to start a new spread.
Well, don’t worry. None of that means you’re doing it wrong.
The truth is, everyone has their own bullet journaling style.
And that’s the beauty of it! Your bullet journal becomes a part of you, reflecting your personality, your tastes, your way of seeing life… and perhaps even some of your darkest secrets!
Which of these types below seem like you — note: you may be more than one — and what does that say about your life?
Type 1: The Planner
You use your bullet journal as your command center. It’s full of to-do lists, weeklies and monthlies, and all kinds of planners and calendars.
You set goals, and plan for how to achieve them. Every. Single. Month.
You bring all your life into your bullet journal, dividing it into categories and lists (anything from “movies to watch”, to inspirational quotes or your kid’s school grades), so that you can make sense of it and stay in control. “If it exists, I have a spread for it” is your motto.
What does this say about you?
You value clarity and order, and unlike most people around you, you seem to be in control of your life. You usually know what to do, and people in your life feel that they can always trust you and ask you for support when they need it.
You’re a problem solver, and your memory is outstanding. You are also more effective than most of your friends, because your brain is so well organized that you can access and use information really quickly.
Type 2: The Artist
Your spreads are true works of art. You probably have a BuJo Instagram account with a few thousand followers, or at least post your stuff on Facebook groups.
Other bullet journalists envy your work, and you dedicate a lot of time and effort to it. Which is actually a pleasure — your bujo is your empty canvas, your way of expressing yourself, and after all… you are amazing at it!
What does this say about you?
Self-expression is key for you — and you love doing it through images.
But you’re not the only one who benefits from it — you usually use it to inspire people around you to see the beauty in their own lives.
Aesthetics are key for your productivity: if your bujo looks ugly or messy, it will cause you stress and it won’t be of any use to you. You value harmony, creativity, and you love that feeling of accomplishment after you finished creating something beautiful.
Type 3: The Tracker
What have you eaten today? Did you exercise? Did you meditate? Did you walk the dog? How many times last month did you read your book, did yoga, or drink enough water?
At the beginning of every month, nothing gives you more pleasure than filling your spread with habit trackers. You know how happy you will feel if you manage to follow them all, and you take pleasure in ticking the boxes at the end of each day.
What does this say about you?
You know the importance of routines. You value stability, and you take your personal development step by step, slowly but steady.
You are also amazing at learning from your past mistakes, and that’s why you love collecting data about your own life and habits.
Sometimes you tend to overwhelm yourself with too many expectations because you are ambitious, but as soon as you readjust and get back to balance, your habits help you regain peace of mind.
Type 4: The Early Bird
When everyone else is making their September spreads, you are already excited about buying a bujo for the new year, setting your new resolutions and coming up with exciting themes.
You are always on top of new bujo trends and coming up with new ideas to inspire other bullet journalists. Your bujo can look weirder than most, but once people take a closer look, they usually see that your way of doing things is actually brilliant and innovative.
What does this say about you?
You are a forward thinker and you are not afraid of experimenting. You are a trend setter, and people in your life usually see you as a leader or a guide.
You can be impatient at times, always eager to live in the future and forgetting to be in the present, which can cause you anxiety. However, deep down you are a dreamer, and things tend to work out well for you because people around you love your uniqueness and your child-like fascination with the world around you.
Type 5: The Materialist
You’re always looking forward to ordering new pretty stickers for your new monthly theme. You Tombow collection barely fits in your drawers, and there is no better Christmas gift for you than a set of washi tapes and some good quality pens.
Just like The Artist, you use your bujo as a way to express your creativity, and nothing gives you more pleasure than creating color palettes and decorating every page with beautiful stickers (or even more unusual stuff like dried flowers, magazine scraps or old train tickets!)
What does this say about you?
Just because you enjoy collecting and owning lots of pretty things, it doesn’t mean that you are shallow.
On the contrary: you treasure each of your belongings with love and care, and you enjoy the fact that you have so many choices to express your rich imagination.
You love creating things out of nowhere, and working with your hands works as therapy for you. You love spending time with yourself, and you value quietude, order and beauty above everything else.
Type 6: The Minimalist
Nothing makes you feel calmer than a neat, simple and clean black and white page. You use your bullet journal to get to the gist of your own life, mind, and personal development — and everything beyond that is unnecessary.
You love straight lines, empty space and most of all — clarity. You love finding the spreads, trackers and routines that serve you the best, and then stick with them and get rid of everything else.
What does this say about you?
Just like The Planner, you thrive in order and organization.
But it doesn’t stop there: you only want what is absolutely essential. You are committed to make the best out of your life, and you don’t want any clutter keeping you from getting there.
You are kind to others, and they enjoy your ability to keep your head clear in situations of stress or doubt. You know what you want in life, and every time you talk about it, people feel inspired by your wisdom and eloquence.
Type 7: The Undiscovered Talent
You have tried a few bullet journaling styles, but you still feel like you don’t really get it. Everyone else seems to love it, but every couple of months you get tired of it and there goes your bujo back to the bottom of your drawer.
But you still don’t give up.
You keep following bujo pages on Instagram and reading through the discussion on Facebook groups. A few weeks later, you get inspired again, and you give it another try. You might not be happy with what you do again, but your love for bullet journaling keeps you coming back no matter what.
What does this say about you?
You have a really strong willpower and you don’t let yourself get easily let down by life.
You get frustrated when you fail, but what makes you so strong is that you are not afraid to try again. You have a set of hidden talents inside of you — you just haven’t found the way to fully express them.
Yet.
But when you do — and in the occasions when that has happened before — you shine brighter than everyone else around you.
When It Comes to BuJo, Only One Thing Matters
As human beings, we are constantly evolving, and so are our practices. Just because today you enjoy small details and the beauty in all things complex, it doesn’t mean that tomorrow you won’t lean more towards a simpler, more “black and white” approach to life.
All that matters is this:
“Does bullet journaling contribute towards your happiness?”
If the answer is yes, then keep on rocking it. Feel free to explore other styles, other routines, other designs. Get inspired. Try new things, fail and try again, find yourself through the pages of your bullet journal.
Keep on discovering life with curiosity, using your talents freely, boldly and unapologetically.
Keep on being yourself.
