3 Bullet Journal Mistakes You’re Probably Making (And How to Avoid Them)

Do you feel like your bullet journal or planner isn’t working for you? Or that you’re getting ready to give up and throw away your bullet journal or planner? If that sounds like you, you could be making some bullet journaling mistakes that are making it more difficult to use your bullet journal or planner consistently and effectively.

A bullet journal or planner is a highly personal tool designed to help you organize your life in some way. Whether you’re tracking habits, setting goals, or checking off daily tasks, a bullet journal or planner is meant to support you in getting these things done. So while it’s true that there’s no right or wrong way to use a bullet journal or a planner, there are ways you could be setting yourself back.

Before you throw your bullet journal or planner away, it’s important to note that if you’re making one of these mistakes, there are fixes you can make right now! Take a look at these three bullet journal mistakes, and if you are making some of these mistakes, know that you’re not alone and that you can get back on track to using your bullet journal or planner in an effective, consistent, and supportive way.

Bullet Journal Mistakes You Might Be Making

Below are the three bullet journal mistakes that could be making you feel like your bullet journal isn't worth continuing with. But bullet journals can be useful tools, so let's get into the three mistakes that could be costing you your productivity.

Bullet Journal Mistake #1: No Check-Ins

Look around you right now. Where is your bullet journal? Is it stashed in a bag, or is it in another room? Do you have eyes on your bullet journal? If your answer was no, then this is an indicator that you may not be using your bullet journal as much as you should.

To use a bullet journal effectively, it needs to be easily accessible. What that means is different for everyone, but to me it means that I have my bullet journal open on my desk and ready to use. I’ve also made a “rule” for myself that I’m not allowed to get on social media in the morning until I’ve checked into my bullet journal and made a plan for the day.

Having a morning check-in also allows me to catch up on any journaling or habit tracking that I didn’t get a chance to update the previous day.

Another way to make check-ins easy is to keep your preferred pen or writing utensil with your journal. If you’re scrambling to find where you last left your preferred pen, you’re spending time looking for it rather than spending time writing in your journal. Keeping your preferred pen with your journal will not only save you time but will also remove a barrier to using your journal consistently.

If you’re the type of person who does well with reminders, you can set a reminder on your phone or calendar to check your bullet journal so you can use your journal as you meant to.

Bullet Journal Mistake #2: Beauty Over Function

When I first started bullet journaling, I got caught up in taking photos and starting up an Instagram account for my bullet journal. What that translated to was that I wasn’t allowing myself to use my journal until I found time to set it up well enough that I wanted to take a picture of it and post it.

I was putting beauty and aesthetics before the functionality of a bullet journal.

Having a bullet journal just to look good wasn’t really a bullet journal; it was just a pretty journal. While there’s nothing wrong with having an aesthetic journal, letting that lack of prettiness stop me from using my bullet journal was a mistake that kept me from getting organized and ready for the day.

It can be easy to feel overwhelmed when decorating a bullet journal, especially if you (like me) have a lot of stationery you could use. It’s fun pulling out sticker sheets and figuring out what markers match or what washi tape looks good together. But when that’s stopping you from using your journal, it’s time to reevaluate the function of your bullet journal. Is it to look nice? Or is it a tool to help you manage your day-to-day?

What worked for me was to take a break from decoration. I got back to the basics of bullet journaling and using my journal as a tool first and foremost. So my recommendation is to take a step back from decoration and focus on using your journal.

Don’t worry about your handwriting (as long as you can read it), don’t worry about using matching decoration, and don’t worry about showing it off on social media. There’s nothing wrong with sharing on social media, but if you find yourself letting social media hold you back, then take a step back and let your journal be a private thing for a little while.

Bullet Journal Mistake #3: Projects as Tasks

Something that took me a long time to understand was the difference between a project and a task. There are different definitions of a task or a project depending on who you ask, but below are how I think of them:

• Task: A task is a one-off item on a to-do list that takes one or very few steps to complete.
• Project: A project is a series of tasks broken down in some way, whether sequentially, by steps, or otherwise.

Before I figured out the difference, I would sometimes write down a project as a task. It made me feel overwhelmed because a project would be represented as one thing to check off in my journal, but in reality, it was so difficult to complete, and sometimes I didn’t know where to start.

That’s because usually the first step I take when working on a project is to create a roadmap. When projects are treated as tasks, there’s no roadmap.

A project can be broken down into a timeline format where certain tasks are due, into steps that need to go in a certain order, into physical areas, or some other way.

An easy example when explaining a project versus a task is to look at your kitchen. If I tell you to clean your kitchen, are you already thinking of how or where you’ll get started? That’s because cleaning your kitchen isn’t a task, it’s a project.

When I tell you to clean your kitchen, what I really mean is: wipe the cabinet doors, clean the stove vent, clean the stove, wipe the counters, unload the dishwasher, load the dishwasher, sweep the floors, mop the floors… See where I’m going with this? Cleaning the kitchen takes multiple steps to complete, so it should be treated as a multi-step project in your bullet journal.

Don’t treat a project like a task. Give it the proper space it deserves in your journal by breaking it down into clear and manageable steps. The best way to feel like you’re making headway on a project is to make step one to create a roadmap for your project. This is an easy win that can be checked off as soon as you make your plan of action.

You’ll feel less overwhelmed when your project is broken down and you’ll have a clear path to complete that project, making you feel more accomplished as you work through the sub-tasks and check them off.

A Smoother Path For Bullet Journaling

Did any of these sound familiar to you? If so, they’re all very easy to fix!

If your bullet journal is difficult to use, make it easy to use by having it open and available near you. Dedicate some time to using your journal every day and then stick to it.

If you’re letting the aesthetics of your journal get in the way of actually using your journal, it’s time to pare down the decoration and get back to the basics of what makes your bullet journal a supportive tool.

If you get overwhelmed with the tasks on your to-do list, maybe they’re not tasks at all and are projects that need to be broken down into more manageable steps.

Your bullet journal not working for you isn’t an option. It’s a tool to help you make your life more organized and manageable. When your bullet journal isn’t doing that for you, reevaluate and see if you’re making one of these mistakes.

If there’s a different issue that’s holding you back from using your bullet journal effectively, let me know so we can come up with a solution together! You can leave a comment below or find me as TabletAndQuill on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

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