I found this short video on a DIY paper phone case. It's sturdy enough to hold something as heavy as a smart phone (or multiple writing implements) but also light enough to include as part of your everyday journal carry. This origami item could be modified to suit any number of things. Want to try some Origami? Click this origami paper affiliate link and you can help me out a little and get involved in a fantastic creative outlet.

To weekly or not to weekly, that is the question for some. For others, the question is  how to weekly. Earlier posts on this blog featured some streamlined weekly spreads  and some elegant weekly layouts  all of which are minimalist and easy to implement. In this installment I've got something for you creatives and something for you functionalists. Creative For those who like to create your own weekly spreads, Emily Tarver has a video featuring 5 minimalist and 5 not-so minimalist weekly spreads for your inspirational pleasure. The first five designs can be created more quickly than the latter five. Check out this 9 minute video where she explains as she writes out these 10 weekly spread ideas. Ultimate Minimalist Weekly Spread For you functionalists, for whom minimalism is a priority, I found this amazing weekly spread at the Facebook group Bullet Journal Junkies . As we functionalists know, minimal effort, time, and maintenance is key in this approach...

So you've got multiple pages devoted to one topic strewn about your journal. What's an easy way to keep track of all that? Threading. We're not talking about eyebrow threading here, this is the bullet journal system. The threading technique is a simple way to maintain your bullet journal. By "maintain" I mean keeping your stuff organized, but with as little time and effort as possible. Setting up is one thing, keeping it all organized is another. The Index, the primary way of organizing your entire journal, is meant to help you find what you are looking for in your journal. But having to flip back and forth between your Index and your dispersed content slows you down. Threading solves this problem. The bullet journal's originator, Ryder Carroll, produced a video explaining how threading works. He explains how to thread multiple pages within a journal and how to thread between notebooks. If you want more on bullet journal threading you should visit...

One journal or multiple journals at the same time? That's the question. Some people experiment with more than one journal to separate the different dimensions of their lives. Even the bullet journal originator, Ryder Carroll, has tried this (see below for his video). I like having a notebook with me, a real paper notebook. But I don't want to carry around more than one journal. Lugging around multiple items is problematic enough for someone trying adopt a minimalist lifestyle, but trying to remember which notebook has what information seems to defeat that purpose. So how else can one separate the different dimensions of life but do so in an easy, streamlined way? Color. I use three colors in my bullet journal. I tried keeping three different implements but that was contrary to my desire for minimalism. The cheap multi-color pens are easy enough to find but I'm not really a fan of those. They are not particularly attractive and are more bulky than I prefer. If I'm...

The July 2018 version of my minimalist monthly spread for the bullet journal method. The layout combines a weekly log with monthly log and includes a Dutch door variant, as well as two trackers. I wanted to write out the dates of the month only once since the Universal Journal style seeks to avoid repetitious writing. In this set up, the Dutch door provides the space to prepare two separate trackers (habit and wellness) which share the same dates column with the calendar page. The result is a sleek 3-in-1 integration. Check out this simple  8 counter sytem  I created for hydration tracking on the wellness tracker. With the dates column down the center of the page, the calendar could serve as a normal calendar or a combination monthly spread with weekly spread. It depends, of course, on how much space you need for either of these. I might still shift to using a separate weekly spread but I haven't need that as yet as my daily logs are doing well so far (which i...

So you have recurring tasks or events but some are asymmetrical (not occurring every day or every week). It's helpful to have this shifting schedule written down, until that schedule changes but is still on a shifting basis. Might I suggest a bookmark that can keep notes for you and can easily be updated when you need to replace it? If you want to keep notes while reading a book, you don't have to keep a separate notebook. If your journal doesn't have a built-in bookmark, here's something for you. Both of these can be done with these handy  Notemarks , the note bookmarks. In an earlier post on the Notemarks free printable , you can get an idea of how these are meant to be used. Here is a short video showing  a couple examples. What other bookmark ideas have you tried? Comment here and be sure to subscribe.

Possibly the most popular and sought after bullet journal layout is the monthly spread. My own minimalist recommendation includes 2 trackers with a door feature. But perhaps you'd like to see some other ideas as well. If you're looking for monthly spread ideas for your bullet journal, Michaela from Between the steps offers a video of ten layouts. Several of these go beyond the scope of "ultra-streamlined" but you never know what might work for your journal. And you probably won't know what works for you unless you experiment and try some things . Let Michaela get you started. Also check out the latest  streamlined monthly spread . What ideas do you like for your journal? Comment here and be sure to subscribe!

Got a plain old notebook? There are plenty of options out there and you may not find one with all the features you like. But journalers are already familiar with customizing their journals and we tend to like that. Here's a super easy DIY option for a pocket. Not everyone needs a pocket in their journal. If you want a pocket but don't have one, here is a very simple method using one Legal or A4 size sheet of paper and double-sided tape. (Affiliate links included.) The Universal Journals are printed by Lulu.com Any print on demand service will be limited compared to a traditional printer. As capable as Lulu.com is (with quick turn around, worldwide availability, lots of product options for customers, and more), there are lots of things journalers might want in their  Universal Journal  that Lulu just can't do. At least not at this time. But this also makes for ideal customization. Make it your own. Got any other ideas for adding a pocket to a book? Comment h...

If your notebook doesn't have a built in band, here are some DIY videos demonstrating two different methods to remedy that - building in a band. On YouTube, Sea Lemon offers a simple and quick way to add a rubber band around your journal. This particular method works best for a book with a thin, easy to puncture cover. It involves a hole-punch and a rubber band . (affiliate links) Also from Sea Lemon, for those who might want to try a more hard-core method of adding a band around your journal, here is a method for a hard cover book . It involves dismantling part of the back cover, cutting an elastic band , attaching it into the cover, and repairing the cover alteration from the first step. This method uses the following tools: (more affiliate links) Pencil Straight edge Cutting mat Bone folder Awl Xacto knife Utility knife Scissors Glue gun Do you have some other ideas for adding or techniques for using a band to a notebook? How do you keep track of yo...

One of my favorite features of the bullet journal method is something I don't actually write in it. It's part of the discipline of using the method itself, a part of the system you should be using every day: reflection. Reflection is simply a brief review of your bullet journal. In this way you regularly keep your journal and your mind in sync with each other. That's a key aspect of the system. The bullet journal isn't meant as a substitute for thinking. It's not about transferring your mind to the page. The bullet journal system, simply by using it regularly, can have a cumulative effect of helping you mentally track your schedule. It's strengthened my memory by refreshing my awareness of my schedule everyday. With the minimalist Universal Journal style I put in minimal effort but get maximum benefit from the bullet journal system. On the official Bullet Journal channel on YouTube, check out a short video answering some questions where Ryder Carrol...

If your notebook doesn't have a pen loop built in, or if the loop it has doesn't fit your writing implement, you can remedy this problem yourself. Here is a very easy solution by PersonalizeMyPlanner on Youtube. If you want to try this idea, this one uses scissors ,  elastic , glue , and a binder clip . (affiliate links)   Alternatively, you can use duct tape instead of elastic and glue, as shown by Everyday Awesome TV . Got any other ideas for a DIY pen loop? Comment here.

If you're new to bullet journaling, keep this word in mind: customization. Regardless of the notebook of choice, journalers tend to customize. Over at the YouTube channel Mariana's Study Corner , there's a great video titled 10 Bullet Journal Hacks. These are quick, easy, and useful hacks to help you get more use out of your journal. Some of these modify the notebook itself, and some are functional ideas for using the bullet journal system. I don't use all of them but you never know what might work for you. If you've got 8 minutes, check it out here. Supplies Mariana used in this video (affiliate links): Washi Tape Dot Stickers Sticky Notes Card Stock Got any other bullet journal hack ideas? Comment here. And please subscribe!