Two Styles. One Journal.

I’ll admit it—I spend an absurd amount of money on stickers, both physical and digital. And honestly? No regrets. There’s something deeply satisfying about looking through my bullet journal and seeing pages decked out with flowers and black girl icons. It makes me happy. That’s reason enough.

People sometimes ask me to design their pages, share layout ideas, or give them the secret formula. But here’s the thing: what I do in my journal is just that—mine. It’s personal preference, not some universal rulebook. You don’t need fifty rolls of washi tape or a color-coded legend to make a bullet journal work. Unless you want to. And if you do? Welcome to the club.

There are definitely pros and cons of having an artistic bullet journal vs. a minimalist one. Keep in mind, the original bujo is just words and paper. All this other that you see on Instagram, and even in my planner, is extra.

What is a Minimalist Bullet Journal?

Basic layouts. Straight lines. Simple grids. Very few decorations, maybe some doodles of a few icons.  Nothing fancy.

Minimalist bujos focus more on being clear and efficient. This is preferred for people who want no - fuss journaling, something quick. Perfect for professionals or students, who only need an efficient planning system, or of course men. My husband hates when I call his notebook a bullet journal, but what he uses to organize his week, is the exact same system I use, minus the flowers and black girl icons on each page. His layouts are always the same; the day of the week, a list of task and a spot for notes. He starts his task with an underline and marks them with an X when he has completed one. Sounds familiar doesn't it?

You know my planner is full of all the things, even when it was on paper. Stickers, doodles, widgets, you name it. My pages are decorated to the fullest. But all the extra decor doesn't make me more or less productive. Artistic planners are a great way to not only express personality, but also make your planner more you.

Some may consider it relaxing, or even a stress reliever; even though it can be more time consuming. Personally, thats the fun part. I enjoy working in my planner, designing the pages, decorating pages, exploring different types of layouts; that part is just as enjoyable for me as the actual planning piece.

Planner Tip.

Find your perfect balance. A type of hybrid, that works best for you. Have fun experimenting with different styles until you discover the one that works best for you. A minimalist layout but with small decorative borders or an incorporation of different colors without going overboard.

Focus on function first, then build from there. Remember the goal; getting organized and increasing productivity, without feeling overwhelmed. Function first, find your groove, then explore your creative side. The function is survival, decorations are optional.

At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all bullet journal style. Whether you’re team minimalist, just lines and words like my husband, or team artistic, turning each page into a mini gallery (like me); the best system is the one you’ll actually use. Try both. Mix them up. Change your mind halfway through the month. No one’s grading you. Your planner is just that - YOURS.