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I would be lost without my daily to-do lists. As someone who works from home and also works for themselves, staying organized is essential. I’m also someone, however, who leans away from spreadsheets, digital calendars, and generally anything that feels too stiff or technical. I want everything in my life to feel personalized—even my to-do lists—which is why my bullet journal is my productivity bestie. Give me a blank page and some colorful pens and I can tackle the day.
I swear by this morning bullet journal set-up. If you’re someone who enjoys putting pen to paper or maybe you’re feeling called to be a bit more creative with your morning routine—this is a ritual you’ve got to try. Here’s how I use my morning bullet journal to set me up for a productive day ahead.
The Essentials
Before getting started, here’s a rundown of all the different sections in my morning bullet journal sesh.
- Brain dump. This is where you can write down everything all at once. This part doesn’t have to be pretty or even make sense right away, it’s just an opportunity to dump out everything that’s on your mind. I don’t do this part every morning, but on days where I’m especially busy or just have a lot on my mind, it’s helpful to start with this step.
- Top three. After brain dumping, hopefully you’re feeling a little more clear about the day ahead. Nail down your top three tasks for the day. If nothing else, if you can get these things done by the end of the day, you can go to bed feeling satisfied. Do yourself a favor and be careful to not make your top three too overwhelming. You want to be sure you can accomplish them! Including self-care tasks here is welcomed and encouraged.
- Small to-dos. The next section is for everything else that may be on your mind. These are smaller tasks that you may or may not get to today. They can be less urgent, or even tasks that you do later in the week, but don’t want to forget. For me, these tasks are usually emails to send, household chores, or small things I can do for work that will help me get ahead of the week.
- Daily schedule. I love to time block my day. I use the Pomodoro method (25 minutes of work followed by a five-minute break) and love to structure my schedule around Pomodoros. Not only does a schedule keep me focused and on task, but it also helps me take much needed breaks.
Designing the Layout
The fun part to morning bullet journaling is the layout. I felt a bit intimidated when I first started, since I admittedly don’t consider myself much of a visual artist. The good news is you don’t need any special artistic skills for this layout, which is why I love it so much. All you need is your bullet journal, a favorite pen, and a colored marker or highlighter.
I like to do my brain dumping on a separate page where I don’t have to worry about being messy. Think of the brain dump as the disorganized chaos that comes before the organized bullet journal layout. They’re both important! This is your opportunity to figure out your top three and smaller tasks. Once you’ve dumped, it’s time to create a header on a new page.
At the top of your page, take your colored highlighter or marker and write the day of the week in all caps. I take up about three vertical dots worth for my header—not too big, not too small. Next, take your pen and write the day of the week in lowercase cursive lettering through the center of your colored heading. If you like, you can then write the date or “to-do’s” right next to your heading.
Top Three and Small Tasks
Next, write “Top Three” in pen right underneath the header. Wait a minute or two to let your pen ink dry, then highlight the phrase. Write down your top three tasks, one on each line, with your choice of bullet point in your colored marker. It can be a simple dot, or I love drawing little hearts with my marker. I’ll then outline the heart with my pen to make it stand out. You could draw stars, flowers, really whatever you like! Let this part be fun and creative—it can be whatever you want it to be. Repeat the same steps for your small tasks.
Daily Schedule
I love keeping my header and tasks on the left side of my morning bullet journal, so the right side can be for the daily schedule. Write out your time blocks and tasks for each block and be sure to include lunch breaks, self-care habits, and fun reminders, too. Once the ink is dry, highlight the time so you can clearly see how your time blocks are separated. With tasks on the left and a schedule on the right, you now have a complete morning bullet journal!
Why You’ll Love Your Morning Bullet Journal
I love bullet journaling because you can craft it however you like. It’s completely customizable, so I encourage anyone to try this layout and tweak it to fit your personal needs. Pick a single color like I do or choose multiple, doodle in the margins, try fancier lettering if you like—the world is your oyster! And of course, the colors and the doodles aren’t necessary, but it’s what I love most about the process.
My morning bullet journal gives me an opportunity to be creative and have fun. It’s turning a scribbled list into a romanticized routine filled with color and intention. I always feel more relaxed and at ease once I complete this set-up, and I love that it’s a beautiful thing to look at throughout the day. If there’s a chance to infuse more beauty and intention into my day, I’m going to jump at it, even if it’s as simple as a journal and some colored pens.