A Bullet Journal Style System in a Notes App

The Bullet Journal method, created by designer Ryder Carroll, turned a simple notebook into a popular planning system. Its appeal is that it's flexible and minimal. You don't need a paper notebook to use its ideas.

The core ideas

• Rapid logging: short, bullet-style entries instead of long prose.
• Symbols: simple markers to show what an entry is, such as a task, an event or a note.
• Daily logging: a running list of what's happening each day.
• Monthly overview: a calendar and a list of tasks for the month.
• Migration: at the end of each period, review what's unfinished and decide whether to carry it forward, or drop it.

Translating it to a notes app

A daily note. Create a new note each day, titled with the date, such as "2026-10-12". Add entries as you go:

• Tasks as checklist items
• Events as bullet points with times
• Notes and ideas as plain bullets

A monthly note. One note for the month, with:

• Key dates and events
• A list of goals or tasks for the month
• A short reflection at the end

A future note. A single note for things beyond this month: trips, birthdays, projects to consider. Add entries with the month, and move them into the monthly note when the time comes.

Making symbols work

Symbols are useful on paper. In a notes app, tags and checklists do the same job:

• Tasks: checklist items.
• Events: bullets starting with the time.
• Notes: normal bullets.
• Important: bold text.
• Ideas: a tag such as idea.

The migration habit

This is the most valuable idea. At the end of each day or week, look at unfinished tasks and ask:

• Is it still important? If not, delete it.
• Can I do it now? If so, do it.
• Should I move it? Copy it into the next day's or week's note, or schedule it with a reminder.

Migrating forces you to decide what really matters, and stops your to-do list from filling with tasks you'll never do.

Using reminders

Set reminders for time-sensitive tasks, and use the daily note for everything else. Avoid duplicate reminders for every task, or you'll ignore them all.

Keep it light

The paper version of bullet journalling can turn into an art project. In a notes app, keep things quick: a daily note with a handful of bullets is enough.

A five-minute routine

Morning: open today's note, and list the top three priorities. During the day: add tasks and notes as they arise. Evening: tick off what's done, and migrate the rest.

Common mistakes

• Making the system too complicated.
• Never migrating, so old tasks pile up.
• Setting too many reminders.

Adjust to your life

The best system is the one you'll keep using. Take the parts that help, and drop the rest.

Plan your days with checklists and reminders in EasyNotes →