Bullet journal ideas for busy but creative parents

While spreadsheets are a staple for many parents due to their practicality in organizing tasks and schedules, there are more visual ways to organize if that’s how you think. This is where the bullet journal comes into play. A bullet journal is a customizable hybrid of a planner and journal that offers a unique way to track tasks, events, and personal reflections. 

Bullet journals enable more freedom for different planning styles, allowing for creativity through drawings, stickers, and various layouts. Along with bullet journal spreads – multi-page journals often organized by topic or person – this method has gained popularity, especially among busy parents, for merging organization with artistic expression.

Let's dive into some essential bullet journal ideas that are perfect for getting started. These spreads, also sometimes called layouts, are part art project and part planner.

Up first: Supplies!

You don't need to be an artist or have expensive materials to start a bullet journal. A simple notebook and some pens will do the trick. However, if you want to add some color and flair, consider investing in some colored markers, washi tape, stickers, and stencils. These items are relatively inexpensive and can make your journal more customized.

Be a financially smart family!

Be a financially smart family!

From saving for the future to understanding credit, see how families are thriving with Greenlight.

Try Greenlight today

Bullet journal spread ideas

Weekly spread with meal planning

Want to be more organized with planning family meals ahead? A bullet journal can help by establishing a weekly spread with space to plan out meals for the week. You can even add a grocery list section to make shopping easier. Now everyone has a visual reference for that week’s plan. Kids can even get creative with drawing or writing out the meals, involving them in the process.

Monthly overview with family events

Juggling schedules for multiple people? A monthly spread in your bullet journal can help with this by giving you an overview of all the events or appointments coming up. You can add different colors for each family member or use symbols to indicate the type of event. This way, you can easily see what's coming up and plan accordingly.

Good-habits tracker

If you want some help reminding your kids (and yourself!) of daily goals and routines, craft a habit tracker spread in your bullet journal. You can create a grid with different reminders or tasks to track, such as drinking enough water, exercising, or reading to your child. This can be a great way to hold yourself accountable and see your progress over time. It’s also helpful for kids to reference on their own if they don’t always remember their daily tasks. 

Self-care ideas

Taking care of yourself is crucial for all parents, but it can often get pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. A bullet journal can help by incorporating a self-care spread with ideas for different ways you can take time for yourself. You can include things like reading, taking a bath, or going for a walk. This way, when you have some free time, you don't have to spend it thinking about what self-care activity to do. Just refer to your bullet journal and choose an idea from there.

Movies watched and movies to watch

To help your family decide what to watch together, put it in writing. Add a spread in your bullet journal dedicated to keeping track of movies you want to watch in the future. If you have kids of multiple ages or who like to re-watch movies, write down the titles and ratings of your favorites for future reference. No more scrolling through the TV trying to remember what you want to watch.

Memories and milestones

As parents, we all want to cherish as many moments as possible with our kids. A spread in your bullet journal dedicated to memories and milestones is a perfect way to do this. You can add photos, write down funny or heartwarming moments, and document important milestones like first words or first steps. This spread will serve as a beautiful keepsake for you and your child to look back on in the future.

Library books tracker

We all know how easy it is to forget when library books are due, especially with little ones running around. A bullet journal spread dedicated to keeping track of your library books can help. You can write down the book's title, and due date, and even add a section for notes or quotes you want to remember from the book. This can help you avoid late fees and make the most out of your library visits.

The possibilities are endless. Other examples of popular bullet journal spread ideas include:

• Allergy tracker

• Medication tracker

• Mood tracker

• Everyone's favorite things

• Best takeout places

• Babysitter information

• Family vacation planning

• Gratitude log

• Birthday tracker

Get creative!

The best thing about a bullet journal is that it's entirely customizable! Use different colors, fonts, and layouts to make your journal unique to you. Bullet journaling is a great way for busy, creative parents to stay organized and communicate. With a little bit of creativity and some simple supplies, you can create a personalized planner that works best for you and your family's needs. 

This blog post is provided "as is" and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. Some content in this post may have been created using artificial intelligence; however, every blog post is reviewed by at least two human editors.