Should You Use a Bullet Journal or a Planner?
Are you trying to decide whether you should use a bullet journal or a planner? It's a tough question because a bullet journal offers more flexibility, but a traditional planner might solve your productivity needs and you won't have to spend time making it. Either way, you can read on to find out the pros and the cons of using a bullet journal versus using a planner.
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Updated for 2024
I was in the same position as you at one point. I wanted a planner system that was perfect, so I read a ton of bullet journaling and planning articles trying to figure out what was the best system for me. Here is a quick outline of everything I have tried.
- A traditional planner
- A bullet journal in a composition notebook (more flexibility)
- A planner in a binder so I could add and remove pages (less flexibility than the bullet journal, but more flexibility than a traditional planner)
- A bullet journal in a binder (Too much flexibility for me because I realized I didn't want to be able to add and remove pages)
- A bullet journal in a traditional bullet journal notebook (My current planning system)
So, as you can see, I have tried out a good number of different planning systems and I switched back and forth from using a more flexible system to using a more rigid system and from using a bullet journal to a planner to a mix of a bullet journal to a planner.
But today, I want to help you decide on whether you want to use a bullet journal or a planner. You will probably have to experiment a little bit (or a lot!) to figure out what will work best for you and what works for you will change over time as your lifestyle changes.
Should You Use a Bullet Journal or a Planner
I will lay out the pros and the cons of each system so you can decide if you want to try out a bullet journal or a planner or maybe a mix of both! Let's start with the pros of using a planner and then we will get into the cons.
The Pros + the Cons of Using a Traditional Planner
The Pros of Using a Planner
1. You don't have to set it up or make layouts, so it is less time-consuming.
2. If it is in a binder, you can add and remove pages as you want so you don't have to buy a new one.
3. There are many options so you can find something you like. (vertical weekly pages or horizontal weekly pages is an example)
4. There are also many designs so you can find something that fits your style.
5. You can decorate your planner with drawings, stickers, and washi tape if you want to.
The Cons of Using a Planner
1. They can be expensive to just use for one year.
2. If you don't use your planner, you will waste the pages unless it is un-dated.
3. Whatever style you pick, you are stuck with for the rest of the year.
4. For some planners, you can't add or remove pages.
5. Your planner might have extra pages in it that you don't want.
The Pros + Cons of Using a Bullet Journal
The Pros of Using a Bullet Journal
1. It is very flexible.
2. You can decorate it, or it can be very minimalist.
3. You can adapt it to whatever style you are feeling like doing.
4. You can change it up if your bullet journal stops working for you.
5. You can bullet journal in whatever notebook you want and with whatever supplies you have so it doesn't have to cost you anything.
6. If you don't use your bullet journal for a few days, you don't have any wasted pages.
7. You can add collection pages and trackers.
The Cons of Using a Bullet Journal
1. It can offer too much flexibility.
2. It can be very time-consuming because you have to draw each layout, and if they are similar, then it is repetitive and can be boring.
3. You may buy too much cute stationery and get a shopping addiction! (This one actually applies to both bullet journaling and planning 😊)
4. If you don't bullet journal in a binder, then you will have to keep on buying new notebooks.
Deciding Whether to Use a Bullet Journal or a Planner
Okay, now that you have read the pros and the cons of each system, it is time to decide which one is right for you, or if you should do a mixture of both.
First of all, you should think about what you are going to use this system for. To organize your whole life? A business? School and homework?
This will help you to know whether you want to have collection pages in your organization system or not. Do you just want to have a daily to-do list? Then you might want to get a daily planner, but if you don't want a monthly calendar or if you can't find a daily planner with enough room for your to-do list, then you can use a dotted notebook and simply start at the top of the next page every day.
Next, you can think about whether you will have the time to bullet journal. Bullet journaling only is time-consuming when you take the time to decorate it and make intricate spreads. It doesn't have to be this way!
If you like the bullet journal method, but don't think you will have enough time you can read How to Bullet Journal Even When You are Super Busy.
It all comes down to picking one system, and then adapting it as you go to fit your lifestyle and changing it up entirely if you need to. :)
If you liked this post, you can also read these ones too!
- How to Bullet Journal Even When You are Super Busy
- How to Start a Daily Routine You Will Actually Stick To!
- 53 Things to Track in Your Bullet Journal or Planner
- How to Start a Planning Routine + Maintain It
Thank you so much for reading this article! If you have any specific questions about using a bullet journal or planner, you can leave them in the comments below. I answer every comment. :)
Sharing is always appreciated. Thanks!
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