How to Start a Self-Care Bullet Journal
Hello journalers! This post is going to explain how to begin a bullet journal that will help you take care of yourself and manage your mental/physical health. I will go in depth and share various ideas to add to this kind of journal.Â
1. Like all bullet journals, make sure you have a journal that fits your needs. Dot grid, square grid, blank page, or lined are the options for basically all journals. Pick one that you can see yourself using for a while and that will conform to your needs.Â
2. Make an outline on a separate piece of paper of the things you want in your self-care journal. Nothing is more cringe-worthy in my bullet journals is when I get lazy on design and layout. Figure out which lists, trackers, challenges, and calendars you will need.Â
3. Start like you would with a normal bullet journal with the index. My rule is that I need to have 3 pages for my index, otherwise I run out of room to keep track of my pages and I get overwhelmed.Â
Pump yourself up for the future! You are going to accomplish many incredible feats during your lifetime, but it helps to take the first step and actually write down your goals and plans. I have two resources for you for this section. [Here] is a post about Goal Oriented Pages. Here is a picture of my bucketlist from my last bullet journal:
If you are ready to get in shape or just be healthy, this is something you really need to stay motivated or keep track of your exercising habits. You can add checklists, hydration logs, running countdowns, etc.Â
When dealing with stress, mental health, and anything else that can get you feeling less than the amazing person you are, itâs good to remind yourself how truly fantastic you are. Here is a [link] to my 30-Day Affirmation Challenge.Â
Being thankful for what you have will give you so much peace in your life. If youâd like some ideas for yours, click [here] for my 30-Day Gratitude Challenge.
5. Things That Make You Happy
List everything that makes you remotely happy and keep adding things as you go through your life. Below is my first journal that had my âThings I Loveâ page. It got filled so fast.Â
I honestly loved this idea and used it like crazy. [Here] is a link to how I set my diary up.Â
Keeping track of your actions will always help you feel at peace and there are many different kinds of habit trackers out there: medicine, sleep, reading, exercise, etc. If youâd like to be even more motivated for getting things done, [here] is a link to my Habit Tracker Reward System.Â
8. Alternatives to Self-Destructive Acts
Many of us have negative habits that can be more extreme than others. But even the smallest self-destructive act will have a huge negative effect on your life. Here is a list of some ideas to do instead of thinking bad things or hurting yourself: do a puzzle, go exercise, take a nap, listen to music, watch funny videos, watch a movie, write, make lists, color a picture, bake something, etc.
9. When I Feel TriggeredâŠ
Anything can make us recall traumatic events, toxic people, or just make us feel anxious. Make a short list of maybe 5-10 things you can do to help yourself calm back down.Â
Writing and doodling things that represent yourself can be very therapeutic. I made a post about this recently that can be found [here]. Â
11. Self-Care Ideas/Me Time
Sometimes we donât know how to make ourselves feel better. Write a list of things you could try to do to help yourself become a healthier you. Examples: take a warm bath, go for a walk, drink a glass of water, watch a sad movie, etc. You can also make a page to keep track of how long each task you complete and where you completed it.Â
I did not come up with this idea, but [here] is a post about where I found it and a picture of my page.
I found a few more ideas, but you can check this [link] for 100 more!Â
