My Bullet Journal Set Up For The New Year

December 31, 2016

This year will be my first full year using my bullet journal and I’m excited to get started for January. Even though I’m carrying on in the same notebook I’ve been using in 2017 it still feels like a fresh start. In the last few months I’ve started to figure out what does and doesn’t work for me. I went back through my notebook so far and made a list of the things I want to continue using in the new year. I’ve kept it quite basic but one of the things I love about the bullet journal is you can add different things as you go along.

I’ve had a few people ask me what I use so if you are thinking of starting one yourself here is what I have. My notebook is a Leuchtturm 1917 in Orange, I use a Fabel Castell Pen (size small) for pretty much all the writing and grids, I’ve been using it for months and it hasn’t run out yet. I also have these Staedtler Triplus Fineliners for colour, and I just use normal felt tips and pencils for other bits and bobs. I don’t often use it but I do have some washi tape – I’ve used it to cover headers that I have really messed up and I also have a little tippex mouse to hand. A ruler comes in handy and I’m just using my son’s spiderman one! I find all these work perfectly for me but all you really need is a notebook and a pen, there are no right or wrong things to use.

I wanted a nice way to mark the new year and I’m a little more confident drawing in my bullet journal now so I’ve done a title page for 2017. I’m not very artistic throughout the journal but these are nice to do if I have the time. It’s followed up by a full year calendar – I find these handy to refer back to and you can easily find printables online if you don’t want to draw one.

I’m not great at goal setting but I have put a page in to try and encourage myself to be more proactive. I will try to fill in in! I’ve also added a ‘This year I will page…’ which I’d seen floating around Pinterest. I found this much easier to fill in as it’s more like a little reminder for the year ahead.

My book pages are my absolute favourite so I’ve kept them the same for this year – a books to read list, books read and a book statistics page. I haven’t filled that in yet but the last one had gender of author, nationality of author, rating, genre and re-reads. No real purpose to it just that I find it interesting to look back on.

I found this movie spread useful last year so I’ve kept it in. When we fancy watching something we spend forever trawling through Netflix or recordings so this kind of cuts that out. I keep a list of films we want to watch, or shows we’ve been recommended, so that I can just pick something and find it quickly.

I used all these blogging pages last year but they were all over my journal so now I’ve got them all in one place. The blog editor is just so I can jot down ideas for the upcoming months then I’ll add them to my monthly blog editor (you can see that here) – the notes and ideas is an extension of that.

The big blog to do list is where I keep track of all the blog housekeeping and admin I have to do, even though I rarely get round to it at least it’s all in one place. The mind map is what I use to write down some plans for the coming months. I just write down anything that’s on my mind to do with my blog. I’ve started with a few headers but this page will be full soon.

I’m going to set up for January with a monthly calendar and then use dailies as and when I need them. I keep trying out the weekly spreads and trackers but they just don’t work for me. I do want to get a meal plan spread I like and a future log so that’s something I’ll be working on over January. I’m also going to try and do more journalling and writing this year but I’ll write about that in a separate post, I’m excited to start it!

That’s my set up for 2017 and I’d love to hear what you are using for planning in the new year. 




This post contains affiliate links which means if you buy something from my link I will receive a small commission but it won’t cost you any extra. 

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28 Comments

  • The Reading Residence

    Love this! It looks gorgeous and you’ve given me some great ideas for spreads, thank you x

    December 31, 2016 at 2:18 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Thanks Jocelyn, I absolutely love the bullet journal community, it is the best way for me to feel inspired when I see what other people do in theirs xx

      January 6, 2017 at 11:41 am Reply
  • Notmyyearoff

    It looks like such a brilliant way to doodle. I am a huge doodle and do it constantly in all my meetings but have to hide it. This would be like brazen organised doodling with some purpose to it! πŸ˜€

    December 31, 2016 at 2:40 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Haha, I love that…brazen organised doodling – yes it would give you a great excuse to doodle and let your mind wander!

      January 6, 2017 at 11:41 am Reply
  • Emily

    I am so envious of your bullet journal. I’ve tried a couple of times and just can’t get into them, but whenever I see yours I really want to! My mind is now percolating as to how I can bring some of these elements into my own thought journal.

    January 1, 2017 at 8:05 am Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      The only way it works for me is making it just for me…originally I had so much in it that I’d seen other people doing but I just don’t use it so this is pretty much 100% what I’ll actually use now. A thought journal sounds amazing!

      January 6, 2017 at 11:43 am Reply
  • jenny

    I have been only doing mine for about four months but lovely it. I really need to set up 2017 I am so far behind this week with being in America. This has motivating me. Looks lovely hun.

    January 1, 2017 at 8:49 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Thanks Jenny, I suppose the beauty of it is that you can leave it alone when you’ve got other stuff going up and just pick it up as and when you need it – hope it helps you get going for the new year!

      January 6, 2017 at 11:44 am Reply
  • Fionnuala

    It looks great. I like the idea of a bullet journal. I used to use one twenty years ago to keep track of things like books read, places to visit, films to watch, restaurants to go to…
    Good luck with filling yours up, achieving your goals and getting on with your blog work.

    January 2, 2017 at 11:10 am Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Thank you, I find it so useful at the moment – declutters my brain if I use it the right way for me. You were a ground breaking bullet-journaller 20 years ago!!!

      January 6, 2017 at 11:47 am Reply
  • Not A Frumpy Mum

    I love your bullet journal posts, I’ve been rubbish with mine recently but this inspired me yesterday to get it out and make a fresh start for 2017. I think I’m starting to figure out what works for me and what doesn’t which makes a huge difference. Yours always looks so pretty. xx

    January 2, 2017 at 7:44 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      I think the beauty of the whole thing is that you can just pick it up when you feel like you need it, I can go a week or so without looking it mine but it’s there if I need to get stuff done!! I’ve cut so much out of mine that I wasn’t using, everyone is different. Thank you lovely xx

      January 6, 2017 at 11:48 am Reply
  • Mary Smith

    I am so rubbish with bullet journals. I love them, and you do it so well, but in reality for me I struggle with the fancy bits and keeping the calendars upto date. Im trying a normal diary this year with a few pages from bullet journals and also on the daily one my habits and stats so its a mixture really. I just wish I was creative because id get on so much better with it πŸ™ x

    January 3, 2017 at 10:11 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Firstly, I think you are so creative Mary, but you’ve not long had a baby! I don’t think I would have managed this a couple of years ago, now the boys are all a little more independent I find I have the energy at the end of the day to keep this going, haha. It’s a great way to switch off for me. Your diary sounds like a good mix, it always has to be something that works for you πŸ™‚ xx

      January 6, 2017 at 11:52 am Reply
  • Stacie

    Love this post and your new 2017 setup Hayley! Especially love the ‘Big Blog To-Do List’ and the yearly blog editor. Great ideas! xx

    January 4, 2017 at 7:46 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Thanks Stacie – I love setting up new layouts and I’m starting to get to grips with what works for me now xx

      January 6, 2017 at 11:53 am Reply
  • Chantal Milk&Nappies

    I absolutely love it!! Especially the ‘This Year I Will’ page – such a good idea, and I’m totally going to add that into mine! xx

    January 4, 2017 at 9:08 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      I love seeing everyone’s ideas and getting inspiration, I’ve had so many great ideas from your bullet journal Chantal, always so beautiful xx

      January 6, 2017 at 11:54 am Reply
  • Topfivemum

    I’ve got so many notebooks hanging around the house and my hubby is always telling me to bin them and go digital. I love that you have such a neat and orderly approach to your 2017 planning. Mine doesn’t look anything like that. Goal number one – sort my messy scrawl so I can understand it! πŸ™‚

    January 5, 2017 at 9:31 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Haha, my handwriting isn’t great so I tend to print everything but I’m trying to get better. Everyone does it differently which is whats great about it. I could never go digital – it just doesn’t work for me, I’ve tried it. I need to physically write things down I think for it to sink in!

      January 6, 2017 at 11:57 am Reply
  • Gail

    Really enjoyed this post Hayley:) Like you, I just started my bullet journal last year. I didn’t really get in to it then (think I tried it too close to Christmas), but hope to get much more out of it this year. Your post has given me a few new ideas:) And like you I also hope to do more yoga in 2017! πŸ™‚ x

    January 9, 2017 at 1:23 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      I have already failed on the more yoga front but I’m feel like I’ll be ready to get back into it next week…I hope!! I’m looking forward to seeing more of your bullet journal too this year πŸ™‚ xx

      January 12, 2017 at 3:19 pm Reply
  • Julia @ Rainbeaubelle

    Your bullet journal looks so pretty and organised, I think it’s a great idea but I just don’t think I could make the time to keep up with one! It is so lovely though, I will enjoy reading about yours! πŸ™‚ Love your 2017 design. x

    January 13, 2017 at 10:17 am Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Thanks Julia, you’d be surprised how little I actually do in it, doesn’t take me long to set it up for the month then I just use it as and when I need to! xx

      February 24, 2017 at 10:04 am Reply
  • Tracey Williams

    Your journal is a thing of beauty Hayley and I am in awe of it. I love keeping lists and goals but I am not creative in the slightest which is why I don’t think bullet journaling would work for me. Saying that my 10 year old is far more creative than me, and I can definitely see her doing this when she is older. Lovely post x

    January 13, 2017 at 12:12 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      I say this all the time but it really doesn’t have to be fancy or arty at all, my day to day lists are just plain. It’s a lovely way to express yourself though if that’s what you like, I’m sure you daughter would be very creative in one! xx

      February 24, 2017 at 10:10 am Reply
  • Chelsea Chad

    I really love the simplicity of your layouts – mine is quite simple too, so it’s nice to see someone else has the same sort of look as I do! I love the ‘this year I will’ list too! #BuJoBloggers x

    February 25, 2017 at 4:37 pm Reply
  • Stacie

    Thanks for linking up to #BuJoBloggers xx

    February 27, 2017 at 1:25 pm Reply
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