The Ultimate Bullet Journal Shopping List

A few months ago, I spontaneously picked up a moleskin journal after work.

I don't usually make spontaneous purchases or buy overly expensive books like that, but I liked the idea of turning it into my own little art project. I used to be made about random creative things when I was growing up, my very first non-personal social media account was dedicated to my 'Wreck This Journal'. Which was an overpriced activity book which demanded you take every opportunity possible to destroy the book beyond repair? Of course, I'd throw the book about and damage it. But I tried to make it beautiful at the same time; I painted beautiful murals in pages before poking holes through the paper, Instead of scribbling in biro I'd opt for watercolour, and I'd try to find some beauty in the chaos I was causing.

It was a bit of a deep project for a 14-year-old to get into, but I was actually rather good at it. The account blew up on Instagram (in a way which it probably wouldn't know), and plenty of people would mimic my designs. It was an enjoyable hobby and a fun way to spend the summer with mates. 

Perhaps I was seeking to recreate that feeling of childhood creativity that just feels so pure and full of potential. It sounds a bit dramatic and overly poetic, of course, and working in the creative industry is fantastic. Still, there's nothing like letting your imagination flourish within your own rights compared to forcing it to work to someone else deadlines.

A friend and co-worker had talked about her own little project for weeks and to be fair, she was well within her right too. You could look at it and tell that she'd spent hours meticulously laying out her designs, she'd spent money investing in the equipment and loved helping others get into the habit of it too. (This one's for you Suzie!)

Basically, I'm trying to say that I've started a bullet journal. 

The process of keeping track of your past originated from a self-help book called The Bullet Journal Method. The Author, Ryder Carroll sells the idea of bullet journaling as a productivity method disguised as a mindful exercise.

But naturally, bullet journaling has evolved over time to become a perfect balance of the two, many people opting to use it as an artful way to document their life, habits and everything in between. 

I, for one, am a big fan of evolution. I can incorporate my artistic desire and my need to keep track of how my mood changes day today. Over the past two months, I've been working on my bullet journal, hoping to get it to a point where I can share in-depth some good ideas to start off correctly. For now, I thought it would be a good idea to share everything I use that's essential for bullet journaling.

It's worth pointing out that a lot of bullet journal guru's often listed a massive amount of expensive art supplies and insist that its the best way to start off on the right foot. It's absolute bull, you need what you can afford. If there's the stuff that is out of your price range, do not commit to it; more often than not, there is a cheaper alternative at the Works! I wouldn't call myself a bullet journaling expert, let alone a guru. But I was able to get off onto a pretty good start with these materials and the world didn't end. 

The Book

I'll be honest, I regret investing in a journal that was too expensive, to begin with. I'm a big fan of redecorating stuff to fit my style, and I'm reluctant to cover a £25.00 engraved notebook with nail varnish and David Bowie stickers. So shop around and find something you're happy to carry around with you all the time. Papier, one of my favourite stationery stores, do some astonishing personalised notebooks. But you could always just google 'bullet journal notebooks' and see which you fancy! The inventor of the bullet journal method sells his own version, as do a lot of bullet journal YouTubers, but if it has remade templates don't do it!

The Pen

I looked into this one for a bit, and there is quite a debate about the right type of pen to use. If I'm honest, you could do an okay job with a biro. But you're best off with a fine point pen, 0.03mm is the most popular. If you like your writing to look thicker and more defined, I recommend going for the Uni-Ball Air Micro, which is about 0.5mm and £3.00 from Rymans, it's been my favourite for years. Still, it's incredible for elegant title calligraphy.

Highlighters!

I never thought I'd use highlighters in my journal, neon colours make me sick and often smudge my pen ink. But you'd be surprised how often it adds a nice touch to your layout. Like I and many others have mentioned before. Your bullet journal is entirely defined by what you choose to put in it, that could be anything from your water tracker to notes from this mornings meeting; so it's essential to have a highlighter (even if it's a cheap one) to mark out the vital bits. 

I really like the Stabilo pastel highlighters.

Pick Your Medium

Pick your medium. Paint, pencil or black brush pen? How are you going to bring your bullet journal to life? I love using watercolour in mine, but it often crumples the paper. You could use the first few pages of your journal to test out what you like the look of and commit after that. There is absolutely no right or wrong with this one, many opt for the black and white style, but there is also plenty of people who embrace a bit of colour into their lives.

As you spend more time working on your bullet journal, the list of essentials will expend into a full-blown arsenal of mindful organisation. But there is no need to over-commit or overspend just yet!