The ‘Bullet Journal’ was invented several years ago by designer Ryder Carroll, who was looking for a better way to manage his time and increase productivity. Through trial and error, he eventually settled on what is known today as the bullet journal.
Many people have come along and adjusted those basic pages, adding their own signs, collections, lists, and calendar layouts. The great thing about bullet journaling is that there is so many different ways to incorporate it into your life, and customize it for your own needs and preferences.
Why Bullet Journaling?
Today, we’re not just talking about bullet journaling itself, but specifically with doing it in the fall. Whether you are just starting your very first journal, or want to learn about changes to make as the seasons change, this simple guide will help you.
You are going to learn about ways to customize your bullet journal for the fall season, from creating a bucket list of fall activities, to why gratitude is important for happiness and wellness this time of year.
This includes:
- Choosing the most important pages for a fall bullet journal.
- Creating a to-do list or bucket list.
- Writing your own lists and collections for the season.
- Creating a section for expressing gratitude.
- Using a mood tracker… and lots more!
Keep reading to learn more about bullet journaling in the fall.
1 – Guide to Starting Your First Bullet Journal
Before starting to discuss using a bullet journal in the fall (or autumn if you prefer) season, let’s go over some basics of starting your first bullet journal. This can be really helpful if you are starting your very first bullet journal, but also a good refresher course even if you have a little experience.
What is a Bullet Journal?
Think of a bullet journal as a way to have a planner, calendar, list of goals and things to do, and all the other aspects of your day in one book. While called a “journal”, it is not written in long paragraphs with all text like a traditional journal would be.
Instead, the bullet journal has different sections that are laid out on the front “Index” page, and most text in the journal uses symbols called “signifiers”.
These allow you to quickly add information to your bullet journal without needing the time and energy for writing long paragraphs, which often take up too much space in this
type of journal.
For example, a signifier relating to money coming in or paying a bill might be the $ sign, while you might have a simple checkmark symbol for completing a task.
It is Completely Customizable
One thing to keep in mind about bullet journals is that they are customizable. You should definitely take a look at other journal pages to get inspiration and new ideas for layouts, but you don’t need to copy every page.
The bullet journal is most beneficial when you adapt your own personalization, whether that means the types of pages or collections you include, how they look, the overall layout, or just the colors and design aspects.
It is okay to start simple, then begin customizing it more as you get accustomed to creating new pages.
The First Pages to Start With
It is almost impossible to list all the possible pages you can have in your bullet journal, though there are some that most people will end up using. Here is a look at the first pages to start with, but many more are available for later.
Calendar Pages
No matter what else you have in your bullet journal, you at least want to have calendar pages. They are what makes a bullet journal a “planner” and are also the very first pages you fill out in the bullet journal.
You will have a variety of calendar pages for each month, including the main monthly calendar, weekly calendar pages with more room for text, and possibly some daily pages if you want to write longer text. The daily pages usually have spots for different information, such as tasks to complete that day, events, appointments, meal planning, and lots more.
Task and To-Do Lists
After the calendar pages are filled out, you will then move on to your task and to-do lists. These are created from your calendar of events to break down what you need to get done before the dates written on the calendar.
Trackers
Tracker pages, such as mood trackers, are great when you are working toward a goal. Maybe you are trying to track your mood to figure out what triggers anxiety or panic attacks, or you are tracking the number of days you have followed with a certain new routine you started.
Collections
The last type of page we want to tell you about is the collection page. These are essentially different types of lists for things you want to do, see, or accomplish. They are completely customizable and might include anything from a list of things to do for your business, to places you want to travel to or movies you want to see.
Adding More Later
Lastly, when you are starting your first bullet journal, you should know that you can always add more pages to it later. This is why most people will use a binder-style journal where you can easily add and remove pages as needed. There is a combination of store-bought and printable pages that will allow you to personalize them for your own needs.
2 – The Most Important Pages for Fall
Now moving on to using a bullet journal in the fall season. This is a wonderful time of year to start using this type of journal, but there are also some new pages to add to an existing bullet journal if you are already using one.
Why Fall?
Fall is the time of year when you get back to your normal routine. You probably had time off during the summer, had to adjust your daily routine with kids out of school, and spent more time outdoors with the warmer weather.
When September and October arrive, kids are back in school, weather cools off, and you feel like it is time for a fresh start.
As you are busy creating a new daily routine, consider adding using a bullet journal to the mix. This can keep your schedule and tasks organized, allow you to be more productive, and help with stress relief and overall wellness at the same time.
Consider These Fall-Inspired Pages
You can definitely include any normal bullet journal page this season, but there are some that are even more beneficial in the fall. Consider adding some of these fall-inspired pages to your bullet journal:
Gratitude Page
It is a great idea to express gratitude year-round, but fall just seems like the time to incorporate it into your life. From Thanksgiving (if you celebrate it), to just wanting to be more thankful in general, it is the perfect time to add a gratitude page. You can have 1 or 2 simple pages decorated with some fall leaves, where you list at least one thing you are grateful for each day.
Fall Bucket List
Who doesn’t love a good bucket list? This is like a to-do list, but it is more about fun things you would like to do in the fall. Think about fall activities like attending a local fair your town has in the fall, or going to a pumpkin patch. More on this in a later section.
Holiday Planning
There are a few holidays and events that occur this time of year, so it can be helpful to have some fall-specific holiday pages. This might include a page all about planning Halloween costumes and a Halloween party, or working on your menu for Thanksgiving.
Fall Collections
Lastly, think about some fall-specific collection pages, like movies you want to watch this season or goals you would like to accomplish.
3 – Why You Should Express Gratitude in the Journal
As we mentioned in a previous section, having a section in your bullet journal for gratitude is an amazing habit to start this fall. It is also highly recommended that you continue it year-round, but fall is a good time to reflect on your list and pay attention to what you are grateful for.
Benefits of Expressing Gratitude
Not sure why you should express gratitude? Here are some of the main benefits of doing this on a regular basis:
It helps you focus on the positive. Many people have a tendency to only focus on the negative, such as what you don’t have, things you want to accomplish but haven’t yet, and other daily struggles. If you want to be more positive and optimistic, focus on the good in your life with gratitude.
You improve your ability to empathize with others. Empathy is a very powerful emotion, and one you might not realize you possess. With more empathy, you are able to connect with others on a deeper level and really understand what they are going through. This is yet another benefit of expressing gratitude in your own life.
It improves your mental and emotional health. Whether you deal with stress, mental health disorders like anxiety or depression, or just feel blue this time of year, it can be good to give yourself a little pick-me-up.
You can boost your own self-esteem. No matter how you feel about yourself, you can boost your self-esteem by expressing gratitude. You are focusing on the good things in your life and your own abilities and successes.
Starting Your Own Gratitude Page
It is really easy to add a gratitude page to your bullet journal. You can start with just one page if you intend to keep it short, but multiple pages is also a good idea. Make a goal to write at least one thing you are grateful for each day. Keep the page close to your calendar or task pages so you remember to use it.
Eventually, you can have more goals, such as listing 3 things in different categories, such as what you accomplished, a way you helped someone else, and something good that happened.
4 – Ideas for Your Fall Bucket List and To-Do List
When you are making plans for the various layouts and pages to include in your fall bullet journal, don’t forget about the bucket list! Bucket lists and other to-do lists will keep you on track and can even be a lot of fun.
Here are some things to know about starting a bucket list for fall and what you might want to include.
What is a Bucket List?
Think of a bucket list as a list of things you want to do, see, or accomplish. Many bucket lists include short and long-term goals, from wanting to go on a trip to another country, to starting your own business.
Many bucket lists also include small actions that might lead to another goal. The concept of bucket lists started as a “life list”, which is a list of things you want to do before you die, though others popped up for shorter periods of time. For example, you might have a bucket list for things you want to accomplish by a certain age.
With a fall bucket list, it is simple a to-do list of things to do during the fall season. These can be a combination of fun and productive actions.
What to Include in Your Fall Bucket List
The fall bucket list is an excellent page to have in your bullet journal. You can cross-reference your planner and other to-do lists you have specifically for this time of year. Here are some ideas of what you might want to include in a fall bucket list:
- Go to a pumpkin patch
- Go apple picking
- See a new movie in the theater
- Carve pumpkins
- Make fall treats with your kids
- Go on a road trip
- View different fall leaves at nearby parks
- Visit a family member or friend
- Start writing in your journal
- Create a fall self-care routine
As you can see, there are a lot of fall-inspired activities you can include, as well as some things that are more related to the end of the year.
5 – Planning Fall Holidays and Events in the Journal
Now that you have some of the more basic pages worked out for your bullet journal, it is time to move on to other types of pages. Why not use the bullet journal for meal and party planning? This is the perfect way to plan for special events in the fall, since it keeps everything organized, and you have your calendar pages right there for reference.
Halloween Planning
The first holiday that will likely come up during the fall season is Halloween. There are quite a few ways you can use your bullet journal to help with Halloween. Here are some ideas:
- Plan a Halloween Party – Have a page or two dedicated to planning a Halloween party, with information like choosing a location, a theme, list of decorations, food ideas, and any other details you want to keep track of.
- Brainstorm Halloween Costumes – You can also brainstorm Halloween costume ideas, whether it is for you, your kids, or a family costume.
- Plan Out a Halloween Dinner – Not interested in throwing or attending a party? You can also use the bullet journal to plan a fun Halloween-themed dinner.
Thanksgiving and Holiday Meals
Thanksgiving is near the end of fall, so this is a great thing to plan as well. Depending on where you live, it might not be for this holiday specifically, but others around the same time. Thanksgiving is often very chaotic with everything there is to cook, inviting guests, getting your home ready, deciding what to wear, and various other details. It is really easy to organize these details in your bullet journal.
Other Event Planning
Think about other special events happening in the Fall, and don’t be afraid to plan those in the bullet journal as well. Keeping everything in one place allows you to stay organized and never lose any of your notes.
6 – Making Your End-of-Year Goals in a Bullet Journal
If you have used a bullet journal before, you are probably already familiar with setting goals and creating task lists. However, if this is your first time using one, here is quick refresher:
Adding goals to your bullet journal is more about just having a list of things you want to accomplish. You also want to have specific goals that are achievable and measurable (think about the SMART method), and also have a list of tasks to be completed in order to achieve those goals.
This is one of the many benefits of using a bullet journal, and you can include end-of- year goals when working on a bullet journal in the fall.
The Importance of Setting Goals
Why should you set goals? If you have ever had dreams or aspirations, you might find that seem more like far-fetched dreams instead of realistic expectations. This is why setting goals is so important. When you set goals for yourself, you also have a list of tasks needed to reach those goals. This is where your bullet journal comes in, and will help you reach all those dreams you have wanted to achieve.
How to Track Goals in the Bullet Journal
This is also a good time of year to set goals for the end of the year, since you are in the fourth quarter when fall begins. You can use your bullet journal to create some end-of- year goals, or things you want to complete before next year.
Choose just 2-3 big or small goals, then make sure you have a detailed task list for each of those goals. For example, if you are finishing a home remodel, you might include a list of supplies, how much it will cost, a schedule for getting the repairs done, numbers of contractors, and other details.
These goals can be for anything in your life, including home, personal, and professional goals. It is also a good idea to use the SMART method, which means your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-managed.
7 – Fun List and Collection Ideas for Fall
Now let’s get into the fun stuff! Bullet journals are not just about planning and organizing – you can also use them for all those fun ideas you have in your head. Whether you have a show you want to catch up on or a list of places to go, don’t forget to include them in your bullet journal.
Your Favorite Things About Fall
The first type of collection page you can have in your bullet journal is one that describes your favorite things about fall. The purpose of this is to have gratitude, get into a positive attitude, and really prepare yourself mentally for fall. It is a fun page to have that can also be fun to share with others via social media or on your blog.
Think of past things you have done in the fall that you might want to include, such as your favorite coffee drink, going to the pumpkin patch as a kid, or having a Halloween party with kids at school. You can also include things you like about fall now to combine nostalgia with things you
want to do this season.
Places to Go This Fall
A shorter list or collection you can keep is places you want to go this fall. Reference the fall bucket list you made earlier, as it might include some of the places. Having this separate collection helps to keep it just to places you would like to go, whether in your own local area or by taking a short trip.
Movies and TV to Catch Up On
Lastly, if you enjoy fall TV or movies, then include a collection with lists of them! This is more for fun and personal reasons, but it can also be good to have everything organized. That way, you have a quick reference when you find yourself with a few hours off, and are looking for something to do.
8 – Making the Most Out of the Calendar Pages
Don’t forget the very first type of page you will work on in your bullet journal, which is the calendar page. We wanted to include a few more tips and tricks for you to make the most out of calendar pages in your fall bullet journal.
Be Creative with the Design
To start with, use your imagination when creating the different calendar pages, starting with the monthly calendar, then moving on to weekly and daily spreads. There is a lot you can do with the design, both for fall and other seasons.
For fall, good images to draw or stickers to get include fall leaves, trees, pumpkins, feathers, and similar images. These can be sketched, colored, or you can use stencils and other craft supplies. It can be a lot of fun to decorate the pages, plus this encourages you to use the bullet journal more often.
Consider Different Daily Calendar Spreads
There are many ways to work with a daily calendar spread. Yes, they take up more space, but they are great when you are struggling with productivity and constantly falling behind. These pages typically have different boxes, such as one for that day’s to-do list, another for appointments or events happening, and other boxes just for notes and other details like tracking your mood or what you are eating that day.
Utilize the Monthly Calendar
Remember that the monthly calendar in your bullet journal is a very powerful tool. This is used to reference so many things, from deciding on when to plan certain events, to organizing your weeks based on appointments and responsibilities you have. Here are some tips for using the monthly calendar:
- Fill out birthdays and anniversaries first.
- Next, add in appointments or events.
- Keep adding more information as plans are made.
- Reference it when filling out weekly and daily spreads.
Using a bullet journal in the fall allows you to embrace the season, stay productive and organized, and really enjoy it.
