Lined notebooks are the most common types that you can find, and that makes them convenient, affordable, and easy to use as bullet journals.
How Do You Use a Lined Notebook as a Bullet Journal?
You can use your lined notebook as a bullet journal the same way you would use a traditional one. You can use it to brainstorm, plan your daily tasks and goals, track your progress over time, make lists, and much more.
The system was created by Ryder Carroll and he focuses more on how notations and symbols can be used to make the journaling process less complicated over the specifics of the paper.
Using lined paper is great for those who are just starting out because it can help you get accustomed to the bullet journal system. If your handwriting is not very neat, it will provide the typical guiding line that will keep your text and designs straight, even, and consistent.
This post contains affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase, at no extra cost to you.
Types of Lines in Journals
There are different types of lines in different lined journals. Some of them are wide-ruled, which means that there is lots of space for larger writing. This is best for people who have larger handwriting or are writing big titles.
There are also college-ruled notebooks that have small, narrow lines, which can be better for those who want to use more space on the page and write smaller text because you will need less room between each line.
The lines in a notebook will also come in different colors. Most traditionally, a lined notebook will have black lines, but many brands are now coming out with notebooks that have other colors, like blue or pink.
Some are very dark, while others are very faint. If you’re planning on adding lots of design elements and working out of the boundaries of the lines, a lighter-colored and fainter lined journal will work best for you.
Finally, you can find lined journals that are only partially lined. These are mostly for people who want to use some of the pages as a bullet journal but also have other types of notes on some of them, like class notes or reminders that don’t fit into their usual system.
You can write within the lines or break the rules depending on the result that you desire. Just like with other bullet journals, the process can be done any way you want.
Types of Spreads for Lined Paper Bullet
In terms of spreads that work well on lined paper, there is no shortage of options! You can do most of the same spreads with a lined notebook that you can do with one that has blank pages or dots.
For certain spreads, the lines can help to keep the design looking neat and organized. If you want to keep track of dates, for example, using lines can make it quick and easy to identify rows by date.
Here are some common spreads that work well for lined paper:
To-Do Lists
To-do lists are one of the most popular spreads in bullet journaling and they can be very helpful if you want to keep track of tasks on a daily or weekly basis.
You can use the lines as a guide for keeping your lists straight, organized, and consistent. If you want to draw attention to certain items, you can cross them out or highlight their boxes with color for emphasis. Don’t forget to add checkmarks or other symbols so that you can keep track of your progress.
Some people make a daily to-do list, others make a weekly one, and some people keep a master-to-do list. Make sure that you only add tasks that you want to do, and don’t overwhelm yourself. It’s almost always better to make a shorter, more achievable list than a long one that you aren’t going to get through.
The rows of lined paper work well for this spread because they give you plenty of room to track several habits at once. You can also use the boxes to list your daily goals, so you have more than one thing happening at once!
Gratitude Log
This spread is all about positive thinking and appreciation for what’s going on in your life. The lines will help contain the text within each box that you write in, allowing it to be neat and tidy.
You can set up a gratitude log by writing down dates on each line of the notebook. Every day, in the morning or before you go to bed, go ahead and write down 1 to 3 things that you are grateful for. Go ahead and allow two lines for each day if you want to write a little more.
This spread is a great page to refer to when you’re feeling down or unthankful, and it can help you to regain your perspective on things.
Brainstorm
This is another spread that works well with lined paper. You can use them to separate your ideas into categories, which will help you stay organized as you brainstorm. It’s also a great way to make sure all of those random thoughts come together in one place so they don’t get lost.
Brainstorming spreads can be set up in many ways. You can organize them like a list, and track all of the possible ideas you have for each category.
You can also use the journal to create vertical columns that separate each topic you want to brainstorm on. Perhaps you can draw two lines that divide the paper into three sections and choose three categories, such as “health, money, and fun”.
You can also divide the paper into quarters, drawing one vertical line and one horizontal line. These four quadrants can represent past, present, future and fantasy. Then you can brainstorm on each of these topics to see how they intertwine with one another.
The possibilities are endless! You can completely ignore the lines and create thought bubbles with lines connecting to them if that more accurately represents your brainstorming process. Use the lines to help you organize the page, but don’t feel limited by them.
Savings Tracker
If you want to keep track of how much money you’re spending over a certain period, you can use the lines as a guide. Separate your expenses by category and then fill in each box with its corresponding amount. You can color code this spread with colored pencils or highlighters. Add stickers and hand-drawn designs that inspire you and make you feel positive about setting money aside.
If it’s too much effort to create expense categories, go ahead and simply list all of your savings in a list format. Then go back at the end of the month and add a symbol or color that represents each category. You can then track the total monthly numbers on another page to keep track of your monthly and yearly process.
You can also use your lined notebook as an expense log. Simply write the date in a box and then list all of your expenses on the other side of the page. It’s an easy way to keep track, but it doesn’t give you any sort of visual representation like the other two spreads do.
Meal Planning
The lines are great for this spread because they can be used to separate each meal of the day. You can also use them to include your shopping list, which will easily show up when you write over it with a pen or marker. This is a great habit to cultivate if you’re wanting to improve your health.
You can make a meal planning spread in many different ways. The easiest way is to separate one page in your lined notebook into 4 sections by equally drawing horizontal lines through them. The first 3 sections will represent the 3 meals of your day, while the 4th section will be for any snacks you have. In addition to writing down your meals, you can add nutritional information or count calories.
A grocery list is also helpful to have in your bullet journal so that you can easily add to it throughout the week. You can even include a section for each aisle in your grocery store. This spread will help you stay organized and efficient when shopping so that you don’t forget anything.
Contacts and Birthday List
This is a great spread for anyone that wants to keep track of important dates in their lives. You can use the lines as guides when you write down your contacts, so you have each person’s information evenly separated. Don’t forget to include their full name, address, birthday, and an additional section for any specific notes you may have for a person. This page is fun to embellish with stickers, illustrations, or even hand-drawn pictures of the people you’re writing about.
Chore Lists
Keeping track of chores is important, but it can be frustrating if you are not organized about your system. Using the lines as a guide will make sure that each chore has its own category and box to be written into. You can color code each chore to make it easier for yourself. For example, your laundry list might be blue while mopping the floor would be orange.
You could also use one line as a header that reads “chores”. Then just write all of your chores underneath this heading in any order that is easiest for you. This makes it easy to capture your ideas as they come to you. If you’re doing this kind of list, you may want to number each chore in order of priority so you know which home tasks you will want to tackle first.
Weekly Reflections
This spread is great for logging your weekly mood, progress on tasks and goals, or anything else that you want to reflect upon. The lined paper makes it great for journaling about what happened each day.
You can use the lines as guides when you write, so everything is evenly spaced and easy to read on each page. This spread works best if it’s done on a weekly basis (one week per page), since that is usually enough space for us to fully process our feelings about what happened over the past seven days. You might also want to use journal prompts for further reflection.
What Kind of Notebook Is Best for Bullet Journal?
The best notebook for bullet journaling is the one that you like the most. There isn’t really a set answer here, and you will need to experiment with a few types of notebooks to really decide which one is best for you.
Some popular types of bullet journals include:
- Dotted notebooks: These books usually include dotted pages, which are easier to write on than blank paper. They also tend to be smaller in size, so they can easily fit into a purse or bag for on-the-go logging.
- Lined notebooks: These types of notebooks have lines that run horizontally across the page. They come in different spacing and colors. They can be used to help you write and draw elements easily, or you can use them without any guidelines at all.
- Watercolor journals: Watercolor journals are ideal if you plan on using lots of mixed media in your bullet journal. These pages can hold up to any type of inking, painting, or other embellishments that you might want to add.
- Grid journals: Grid bullet journals are great for anyone who wants to include lots of lists, illustrations, or doodles in their bullet journal. The lines make it easy to separate each section and ensure that your different kinds of content stay organized within the same book.
- Blank journals: Blank journals are best for people that want a minimalist approach to their bullet journaling system and the most freedom to write and draw as they please. They can be decorated with stickers, stamps, or other embellishments if you want to add some flair.
- Spiral-bound journals: Spiral-bound journals are ideal for those who want to flip through their pages easily. They easily open, can be moved at 360 degrees, and can even be propped up for display.
- Spine-bound journals: These notebooks lay flat and can be used on a table, your lap, or even propped up for display. They are more expensive than spiral-bound journals but are more secure and hold the pages for a longer period of time.
- Binder-ring journals: Binder-ring journals are notebooks that have holes punched in them and held together with a binder ring. They allow you to add additional pages or remove any of the existing ones (which is why they’re often called “removable” bullet journals). These are great for those who want to add more pages or remove some of them on a regular basis.
- Digital bullet journals: Digital bullet journals are great for people who like to take their journaling with them on their phone or tablet. You can even use different types of software (like Evernote) to make digital versions that you can access anytime, anywhere! If you want to create your own digital bullet journal, you can use programs such as Office Word, Excel, Google Docs, or Google Sheets.
A lined paper bullet journal is best if you are used to these types of notebooks from school or if you want to be able to create lists that have structure and clear organization.
How Do You Do a Bullet Journal for Beginners?
If you’re just getting started with bullet journaling, then you should definitely start with a lined notebook. These are great for beginners because they’re easy to find and give people the structure that they might want when starting out.
Most people add a table of contents section to the first few pages of a bullet journal, but you can always add a separate index page that lists all of the different spreads in your book. It’s also a good idea to number your pages so you can easily flip to them if you want to add or review information.
You’ll want to make sure you have some basic supplies for your bullet journal. All you need is a journal and a pen, pencil, or marker, so don’t feel obligated to spend a lot of money on expensive supplies. You can find plain, lined notebooks at most bookstores or convenience stores (look for ones with good-quality paper that is thick).
If you want to add a splash of color, start out with some highlighters. These work well with pen ink and can help you to organize your journal. Eventually, you can experiment with stickers, stencils, rulers, paint, collaged imagery, the list goes on and on!
Finally, you will want to decide when you will work on your bullet journal. It’s important to commit to this because otherwise your notebook may end up sitting unused for a while. Some people work on their bullet journal daily, some do it weekly, and others only add to the book once or twice a month.
Final Thoughts
Bullet journaling on lined paper is an excellent way to keep your life organized. It’s easy to use and can be modified in many different ways depending on what you want out of it. There are many types of lined notebooks, so take the time to find the one that works best for your budget, style, and personal goals.