If you clicked on this article, it’s probably because you’ve seen tons of people hyping the benefits of bullet journaling on Youtube, social media, and other platforms. And maybe like me, your Pinterest feed is filled with pictures of diverse and beautiful bullet journal spreads. But… you’re still not entirely convinced if bullet journaling is the right choice for you.

Fear not—in this article, I will discuss all the information you need on the pros and cons of bullet journaling. By the end, you should be able to answer the question, “Is bullet journaling worth it?”

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My Experience With Bullet Journaling

Before we get into the nitty-gritty details, you may be wondering, who am I to talk about bullet journaling? So here’s my four-year experience with bullet journaling condensed into a few sentences.

Why did I start bullet journaling?

In 2017, I discovered bullet journaling videos by AmandaRachLee on Youtube (aka the bullet journal queen). I was immediately captivated by her aesthetic and flexible planning spreads. Soon, I had binged every single video in her bullet journal playlist and made up my mind to start my own.

What did I use my bullet journal for?

Throughout all four years of high school, I used my bullet journal as a planner, diary, and creative outlet. My bullet journal enabled me to keep track of my work, health, and personal life.

Am I still bullet journaling?

Although I bullet journaled for several years, I am no longer bullet journaling. I now use a digital planning app in place of a physical notebook.

In this article, I’ll explain why I persisted in bullet journaling for so long, but also why I ultimately decided to use a different planning system.

By considering all the pros and cons of bullet journaling, I hope you will have a better idea of whether it is a suitable system for you.

Bullet Journaling Benefits

Benefit #1: You’ll have great flexibility when planning

There are many benefits of bullet journaling, and one of the most obvious ones is its flexibility. You can make different planning spreads to meet all your needs—spreads for budgeting, house cleaning, studying for exams, tracking sleep—the possibilities are endless.

Add and remove spreads according to your needs!

If a spread doesn’t work for you one month, you can just cut it out the next. When I first started bullet journaling, I tested many different popular spreads. If I ended up not using a spread, I would just cut it out the next month.

With a bullet journal, you’ll have great flexibility in planning according to personal needs. Plus, you can keep track of everything in one place. This is something you could never accomplish with a pre-designed planner.

To see the bullet journal spreads I used consistently each month, check out my free printable undated monthly planner.

Benefit #2: You’ll have a creative outlet

With a bullet journal, you’ll be able to let your inner creativity shine.

Personally, I experimented with different themes each month. A few themes I’ve done in the past include:

• Boba tea
• Cityscape
• Light academia
• Cottagecore

I’ve also experimented with many hand-lettering styles.

Do I need to be good at art to bullet journal?

I honestly don’t consider myself to be much of an artist (and you don’t have to be one to bullet journal). I generally stick to simple doodles and online clipart that I print. Adding these artistic elements to my bullet journal makes the otherwise monotonous routine of planning aesthetically pleasing.

Additionally, by “creative outlet,” I mean that a bullet journal is not just a great place for doodling and artwork, but also for jotting down any thoughts or ideas you have (that’s what brain dump pages are for).

Benefit #3: You’ll have a portable positive space

One of best things about having a bullet journal is being able to bring a personalized package of positivity everywhere. You can fill your bullet journal with all kinds of tidbits that bring you joy, like favorite quotes, playlist spreads, scrapbook pages, and pictures, to name a few.

Wherever you go, you can do your planning in a space filled with positive elements personal to you.

Benefit #4: You’ll be able to increase your productivity and organization

Since you can create whatever spread you want, you’ll be able to keep track of everything in one place. Bullet journaling can help you stay organized in managing your work, finances, traveling, and other areas of interest all in one place.

Benefit #5: You’ll have a planner and journal all-in-one

In addition to being a planner, your bullet journal can serve as a literal journal, since you can use it to write daily journal entries.

In my bullet journal, I would set aside a few pages for a self-reflection at the end of each month. In these pages, I reflect on the low and high points of the month, as well as my progress towards short and long-term goals.

If I’m struggling with something, writing down my feelings helps me gain greater clarity on my personal situation and determine how to move forward.

Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of bullet journaling, it’s time for…

Bullet Journaling Cons

Con #1: Bullet journaling can be time-consuming

As you can probably imagine, the beautiful spreads you see online are generally time-consuming to make. Of course, however, bullet journaling is only as fancy or as minimalist as you make it.

Sometimes, I found myself guilty of spending more time on creating planning spreads than actually planning. As such, during busy periods, creating spreads added more stress instead of relieving stress.

Personally, I started bullet journaling largely because of the aesthetic. In the beginning, I enjoyed having a creative outlet, but soon found it difficult to make new spreads during busy periods. This was because each month, I had a theme that I had to maintain in all my spreads.

When the thought of making new spreads becomes stressful, bullet journaling becomes self-defeating.

Con #2: Inconsistent use may lead to an immediate decline in productivity

There were a few instances when I was too busy to make a weekly spread. During these weeks, I would jot down my tasks on a sticky note or other slip of paper. However, because I had become so attached to referring to aesthetic spreads in my bullet journal, I didn’t feel as motivated to work.

Con #3: The materials may get costly

While it’s not necessary to buy any supplies apart from a journal and a pen, seeing the stationery touted by other bullet journalists (is that even a term?) can often be very tempting. However, the cost of good-quality ink pens, calligraphy pens, gel pens, washi tapes, and other materials can add up quickly.

Con #4: You may begin to feel creative pressure

While your bullet journal can serve as a great creative outlet, it can also become a direct reflection of a creative block.

A few times, I had trouble coming up with a new monthly theme or putting together a weekly spread. Eventually, I would have to pull together a theme or spread that I didn’t really like.

Additionally, while I enjoyed liking pictures of beautiful spreads on my Instagram and Pinterest, it sometimes became irresistible to compare my own spreads to others’.

Over the years, I’ve followed many bullet journalists (I guess I’m making it a term now) and seen many of them speak about similar struggles with creative pressure.

Conclusion: Is Bullet Journaling Worth It? 

A Summary of the Benefits of Bullet Journaling

In general, if you believe having a variety of planning spreads would help you organize different areas of your life better, bullet journaling could be a great choice. 

Additionally, if you’re looking for a planner that also serves as a creative outlet—whether you enjoy doodling or just jotting down quick thoughts—a bullet journal could be the perfect solution. 

There are also many mental health benefits of bullet journaling. Not only can bullet journaling boost your productivity, organization, and creativity, but it can help you practice mindfulness. By writing journal entries and keeping trackers (like habit, mood, and exercise trackers), you can release negative thoughts and reflect on personal growth.

How Things Could Go Wrong

If used improperly, however, the bullet journaling system can become self-defeating. If your primary focus is the aesthetics of bullet journaling, it will soon become time-consuming, costly, and stressful. These were issues that I experienced and which ultimately pushed me to stop bullet journaling.

What You Should Do Now

To decide if bullet journaling is worth it for you, ask yourself, “Is my main reason for wanting to bullet journal to increase my productivity and organization? Would I benefit from having a variety of flexible spreads? Or am I likely to be distracted by the aesthetics?”

Remember: at the end of the day, a bullet journal is just an empty notebook waiting to be filled. As such, that notebook is only as effective as you make it.

Did this post help you in deciding whether to start a bullet journal? Let me know in the comments below!

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