This method of organisation and planning can be especially helpful for you as a reader when want to keep track of your reading habits, set reading goals, and make notes about books you’ve read.
And I wanted to explore some ways in which bullet journaling has helped me enhance my reading experience.
How I started a reading journal.
To start a bullet journal you need a pen and a simple notebook.
You can also choose to add stickers or washi tape for added decoration. You can also doodle, draw and scrapbook to your heart’s content.
If you’re new to bullet journaling, I recommend you get familiar with the system first. Or if you don’t know that you want it to be a place for artistic expression, simply a way to get organised.
Most of my bullet journaling is just a notebook with things I write in it, no decoration whatsoever.
If you already know that your bullet journal is part of how you want to express yourself artistically, go for all the artistic supplies right off the bat.
Setting up a bullet journal for reading is a great way to track and organise your reading list, goals, and progress.
Here are some steps to help you get started:
- Choose a notebook or journal: You can use any notebook or journal that you prefer, but it’s best to choose one with dotted or grid paper to make it easier to create layouts and organise your entries.
- Create a key: A key is a system of symbols that you use to categorise your entries.
- Create a “Books to Read” (TBR) list: Use the first page or spread of your bullet journal to create a list of all the books you want to read. You can categorise them by genre, author, or any other criteria that makes sense to you.
- Create a reading log: Use a page or spread to create a reading log where you can record the books you’ve read, the dates you started and finished each book, and any notes or ratings you want to include.
- Set reading goals: Create a page or spread where you can set reading goals for yourself, such as a goal to read a certain number of books per month or year. You can also include challenges or prompts to help you diversify your reading.
- Create a monthly reading tracker: Each month, create a spread where you can track the books you plan to read, the books you’ve started reading, and the books you’ve finished reading.
- Customise your layout: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different layouts and designs until you find one that works best for you. You can use different colours, stickers, and washi tape to make your bullet journal more visually appealing.
Remember that your bullet journal is meant to be a personal reflection of your reading journey, so feel free to add any other sections or trackers that you think will be helpful or inspiring to you.
The first page of your bullet journal is usually an index or table of contents, where you can keep track of the different sections of your journal.
What is a key and why do you put it in the beginning?
When you create a key in your bullet journal for reading, you are essentially creating a system of symbols or icons that you can use to categorise or label your entries.
The purpose of the key is to make it easier for you to quickly understand and interpret the information in your journal.
Here are some examples of symbols you could use in your key for a reading journal:
- Bullet point (•): Use this symbol to represent books you want to read or books you’ve added to your reading list.
- Check mark (✓): Use this symbol to represent books you’ve finished reading.
- Arrow (→): Use this symbol to represent books you want to re-read or books you’ve added to your re-reading list.
- Star (★): Use this symbol to represent books you highly recommend or books that are favourites.
- X: Use this symbol to represent books you didn’t enjoy or books you’ve decided not to finish.
You can customise your key to include any symbols that make sense to you and help you organise your reading journal.
When you add a new entry to your journal, simply use the appropriate symbol to label it and make it easy to identify later on.
Then, create a page for your reading goals for the year, where you can list the number of books you want to read, or specific titles you want to get through.
The next step is to create pages for tracking your reading progress.
You can create a monthly reading tracker, where you list the books you read during that month, along with the number of pages, rating, and any notes you have about the book.
You can also include a reading log to track the time you spend reading each day or week.
If you’re a fan of book series, you can create a page to keep track of the series you’re reading, and which books you’ve already read. This is especially helpful if you tend to read multiple series at once.
The great thing about bullet journaling is that you can create pages for notes and reviews about books you’ve read.
You can use symbols or colour coding to indicate your rating, or create a page for your favourite quotes or scenes from the book.
You can also create a section for recommendations, where you list books that have been recommended to you by friends, or books you want to read based on online recommendations.
Bullet journaling can also be a great way to keep track of your book club reads, with pages for discussion questions, meeting dates, and notes about the book.
Plant Based Bride has a great video about how she sets up her reading journal that I really love.
Bullet journaling is a powerful tool for avid readers.
It’s for when you want to stay organised and motivated by keeping track of your reading habits.
With a few simple supplies and some creativity, you can create a customised journal that works for you.
Whether you’re setting reading goals, tracking your progress, or making notes about books you’ve read, bullet journaling can enhance your reading experience and make it more enjoyable.
Here are a few free book tracking printables you can use to get started, either print them out or copy them into your own journal.
And remember to add any reading challenges you want to do into your bullet journal as well.
By setting up a bullet journal for reading, you can keep track of your reading list, goals, and progress in an organised and personalised way.
With the ability to customise your layouts and symbols, bullet journaling offers a flexible and creative approach to reading that can help you stay motivated and engaged throughout your reading journey.
Want to get more out of reading books?
Grab this FREE guide on how to start a reading journal, complete with review templates, reading trackers and bingo sheets.
Understand yourself better as a reader, engage more with the books you read & make space for creative self-expression. Get it now!
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