Lessons Learned from a Bullet Journal Beginner

Why My First BuJo Attempts Were a Mess (Literally)

I don’t usually write about notebooks or pens. I write code. I architect backend systems. But recently, I decided to organize my chaotic mind with a Bullet Journal — and what an unexpected journey it’s been.

This post isn't a Pinterest-ready success story. It's about the real frustrations I’ve had setting up my first BuJo. Spoiler alert: not all notebooks are created equal, and not all pens are your friends.

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💣 Mistakes I Made

1. Too-Thin Paper (80gsm ≠ OK)

My first mistake was buying a regular A5 notebook with 80gsm paper — it looked nice, sure. But the moment I started writing, the ink bled right through. I couldn’t even use the back side of the page without seeing ghost lines and bleed-through.

When your notebook becomes a mess faster than your codebase, it’s time to rethink things.

📝 Lesson: For bullet journaling, aim for paper that's at least 100gsm — or ideally 120gsm+ if you love using ink-heavy pens.

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2. Hardbound, Non-Spiral Notebooks

They look sleek. They're photogenic. But when it comes to actually using them — especially for drawing trackers or layouts — they're a pain.

Left-hand pages bulge up and make it hard to trace anything with a ruler. Forget clean horizontal lines — your page moves, the pen skips, and you lose your calm.

🔄 Lesson: A spiral-bound notebook lets you fold back pages and work flat, especially important for structured layouts.

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3. Gel Pens Are Not Your Friends

I love how gel pens write — they’re smooth, dark, and aesthetic. But here’s what they don’t tell you:

• When using a ruler, the gel ink pools or smudges.

• They take forever to dry.

• If you close the notebook too soon or accidentally brush your hand across it — welcome to Smudge City.

💧 Lesson: Gel pens are beautiful but impractical for bullet journaling unless you're extremely careful and patient.

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✅ What I Do Now

After some frustrating weeks and ruined spreads, I simplified my tools:

📒 A4 Spiral Notebook

• Bigger canvas = more freedom for layouts.

• Spiral binding = flat pages, easy to handle.

• Bonus: I can tear out test pages without guilt.

✒️ Pigment Liners Over Gel Pens

• Quick-drying and waterproof.

• Work well with rulers.

• No smudging, no ghosting.

My favorite brand right now is Staedtler Pigment Liner (0.3 or 0.5mm). They're precise, they don’t bleed, and they just work.

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🧠 Mindset Shift: From Aesthetic to Functional

In the beginning, I was obsessed with how my bullet journal looked. Instagram and Pinterest were full of perfect pages and aesthetic spreads — but that wasn’t me. I needed something functional.

Now, my BuJo isn’t “beautiful” — but it’s clean, readable, and helps me stay focused.

🔧 Function first. Aesthetics second.

That mindset shift changed everything.

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📌 Final Thoughts

Starting a bullet journal as a developer made me realize that analog tools still have a place in our digital lives. But like in software, the right tools make all the difference.

If you're getting started:

• Don’t overthink the style.

• Focus on usability.

• Use tools that match your workflow.

Let me know if you want to see my current setup or templates I use to plan projects, track habits, or sketch tech ideas.