best bullet journal planner

5 Tips on Choosing The Best Bullet Journal Planner in 2023

How many times did you set goals for yourself, but didn’t work towards them because you thought you didn’t have time? How often do you abandon your dreams and ideas because they require too much work, and you are way too busy for that?

We often say that we are too busy and “don’t have time” to consistently work on our goals, and of course, this is quite possible. Balancing between work, social life, family time and time for yourself may seem like a draining and unachievable task.

However, this is entirely possible with proper time management - and this is where using a bullet journal planner can truly make the difference between “you” of the present and “you” of the future. You will be surprised how powerful this tool can be.

In this article, we will discuss the importance of bullet journaling for achieving your goals, as well as what are the steps you will need to take when it comes to choosing the best bullet journal planner for you. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into it.

1. Understand the importance of a bullet journal planner

The first step of finding the best bullet journal planner for your goals and needs will be to get a better understanding of what it is, how it works, and how it can help you organize your life and manage your time more effectively.

So, what is a bullet journal planner?

A bullet journal planner is a system of organization developed by designer Ryder Carroll, designed with the purpose of streamlining scheduling, reminders, brainstorming, to-do lists and other time management tasks into a single diary or notebook. 

Here are some of the biggest benefits of bullet journaling:

1.1. Time management

If you are struggling to manage your time effectively, and you often find yourself having the wrong priorities, a bullet journal planner is a great way to keep track of mundane daily tasks. 

By blocking certain time periods for what’s important, and marking it as complete when finished, you are less likely to get distracted and distribute these resources to other, less important tasks.

According to a research conducted in 2022, 82% of people don’t have a dedicated time management system, and only 33% of them work with a to-do list.

In order to organize your time more productively, finding the best bullet journal planner for your needs will be an absolute must.

best bullet journal planner

1.2. Task organization

Quite often, people fail to achieve their dreams and goals because they are lacking consistency.

Whether you want to become a better guitar player, learn a language, improve your writing skills, or acquire the discipline to save for a down payment on a house, you will need to be consistent if you want to go through with your plan.

While the system of a bullet journal planner may seem a bit complex to the novice, experienced bullet journal users notice a significant improvement in their time management and organizational skills when using one.

If you are currently relying on a variety of different tools, calendars, planners, or worse - entirely on your memory to remember and keep track of everything, you will discover that finding the best bullet journal planner that adapts to your needs can really make a difference.

1.3. Goal visualization

And last but not least, the bullet journal format allows you to easily track your tasks and goals in a highly visual and organized format. In fact, according to a study conducted by TD Bank, applying visualization practices to your daily routine is key for achieving success:

  • 66% of small business owners believe that visualizing goals has helped them map, develop and implement their business plans.
  • 20% of small business owners used a vision board or another type of visual representation when starting their business;
  • 76% of the same business owners say that envisioning their business has helped them turn these visions into reality.

In other words, a bullet journal planner will be your go-to tool for organizing and managing your time more effectively, and achieving your goals exactly how you envisioned them.

2. Set out a purpose for using your planner

If you are looking for the best bullet journal planner that fits your goals and needs to the smallest detail, it will be extremely important to know your main goal for using it in the first place.

Are you going to use it for work? Maybe organizing your existing tasks better? Or are you going to use it to work towards improving yourself and meeting your future goals?

Depending on exactly what you are looking for in a bullet journal planner, the ideal option may differ.

However, if you are not sure about that, don’t worry - Daily Grind’s collection of designer planners don’t have dates on it so you can enjoy restriction-free planning all year around, and unleash your imagination freely.

3. Invest in a high-quality bullet journal planner

When it comes to journal planning, you may think that a regular notebook may do just fine.

Of course, you could potentially make it work, but keep in mind that a highly visual and strategically designed planner will not only help you organize your life and goals better, but will also serve as a powerful motivator for building a better future for yourself.

Sometimes, and especially if you are not motivated, it can be difficult to start structuring a notebook that looks somewhat organized. However, the best bullet journal planner already does this for you - and so much more.

best bullet journal planner

Best bullet journal planner: DailyGrind

Most daily planners and hardbound notebooks use low-quality paper that not only restricts your creativity and ruins the aesthetic of your planner, but makes it difficult for you to conserve it for a longer period of time.

Thin, poor-quality paper makes highlighter colors look funny, it is more prone to bleeding through, and generally doesn’t add this extra boost of motivation and inspiration that you may need in order to achieve your goals.

After all, you will want your journal planners to last for a very long time - even when you stop using them, you should always be able to go back to them and track your progress.

To ensure maximum quality and inspiration, Daily Grind uses 100 GSM paper for guaranteed no bleed through for all of our bullet journal planners. You can enjoy the best bullet journal planner that you always go back to for years to come.

4. Look for these must-have characteristics

If you don’t have any experience with bullet journal planning, you may not know which design and style of planners you are going to like the best, and you may not know what to look for in a planner in general.

However, there are certain characteristics that the best bullet journal planner should always have:

  • Hardcover - hardcovers are great for protecting your valuable notes from wear and tear. It is what gives journal planners durability - can you imagine working on your daily planner for months, only for it to be destroyed by a spilled cup of coffee?
  • Ring-bound design - while this can be a matter of personal taste, most people prefer that their bullet journal planner lays flat for maximum convenience. So, going for a planner with a ring-bound designer is usually the best choice.
  • Extra pages - a bullet journal should not be restricting you. On the contrary, it should be giving you all the space you need to break free from limitations, and show your creative and ambitious side. That’s why Daily Grind always includes extra blank dot grid pages for your sketches and notes.
  • No date restrictions - while certain people may find already set dates helpful, the reality of the situation is that in most cases, time limitations are setting too much pressure on us, causing us to not meet our goals successfully. That’s why it’s important to not get restricted with times and dates when using a bullet journal planner.
  • No bleedthrough - as we mentioned earlier, look for quality planners that are bleedthrough-proof. This is important to ensure that the ink from your pen or highlighter is not seen on the back of the page.

Lack of restrictions is extremely important when looking for the best bullet journal planner. Restrictions can be overwhelming, causing you to get sidetracked from achieving your goals successfully.

5. Choose a design that inspires you

Let’s be honest: bullet journal planners are more than just a notebook that helps you plan your time for the next days or weeks. They are also a powerful ally in inspiring you, awakening your ambition, helping you achieve your goals, and getting you excited in the morning for the day ahead.

The best bullet journal planner will accompany you everywhere you go - at home, at the office, or even when you go to work at the nearest coffee shop. You hold it and look at it at all times, and it reminds you of the goals that you are constantly working towards.

That’s why choosing the right design - not only on the outside but also on the inside - is important for a simple and effective goal setting.

For this reason, Daily Grind’s collection of bullet journal planners come with +200 hand drawn pages designed by influencer and entrepreneur Angie Bellemare, and stunning covers to keep you enamored with the life you are building for yourself.

What are you waiting for? Grab your DailyGrind bullet journal planner today!

bullet journal planner

FAQ

Is it better to have a planner or bullet journal?

Regular planners are generally more simple than bullet journals, which help you manage different activities and trackers on top of monitoring your progress. However, which one is better will really depend on your goals - you can use a planner if you only want to keep track of your tasks, and a bullet journal for a more comprehensive time management.

Luckily, you don’t have to sacrifice one for another - DailyGrind combines a daily planner with a bullet journal so you can streamline all of your efforts with a single, powerful tool.

Can I have a bullet journal and a planner?

Yes, you can perfectly have a bullet journal and a planner at the same time. You don’t have to buy them or use them separately - you can buy an all-in-one solution like DailyGrind, which combines a bullet journal and a planner at the same time.

Why do people quit bullet journaling?

One of the biggest reasons why people quit bullet journaling is because they overwhelm themselves with too many tasks that have to be done in a short period of time. It can be demoralizing assigning yourself dozens of tasks but only accomplishing two of them.

For this reason, it’s always better to set your goals effectively at the beginning - you can check our previous article on how to set them and keep them with success.