With each new year, comes new things, including a new monthly bullet journal spread! There are many changes coming to the website including new products, freebies, and more. So, it is only natural that I also refresh my bullet journal to match! This year I have gone for something significantly more simple, yet also very similar to before. If you want to check out my 2020 bullet journal concept, click HERE. Otherwise, let’s jump right into my January 2020 bullet journal set up!
Because of my incredibly busy schedule currently, I plan to keep this year’s planner very minimal. For this reason, there is not much to my theme process. At first, I was using only gold. However, I quickly realized this was too much gold and decided to add some more black. But, that is it. I used gold lines and some headers, the rest is black. The fonts chosen for all the headers was a bouncy minimal script.
The Layout Descriptions
For this month, I decided to keep my cover super simple. However, I also wanted something for a monthly overview without doing an entirely monthly spread. So, I decided to combine my very minimal gold cover page with a box or section for major dates or events for the month. I am not entirely sure if I will use this section, but I like to have the option.
The only other pages in my main spread are my weeklies. I kept the same layout as previous months. Further, there is a half-hourly tracker on the left page for Monday through Saturday. This section tracks clients, appointments, events, etc. Whereas, the right page tracks due dates, all-day events, and daily to-do’s. Saturday and Sunday share a box. For these layouts, the theme remains minimal gold. However, I used black for the header and sub-headers and gold for the lines.
Bonus Layouts!
After creating my normal spread, I became inspired to use my bullet journal to track and plan my upcoming membership launches (stay tuned) and some courses I’d like to create this year. While most of these pages are primarily blank at this time, I kept with the theme. I put the main headers up the left side using a gold bouncy minimal script and simple black print and script lettering.
The idea that one could have everything is appealing. However, having it all creates destructive habits for your wallet, your lifestyle, and your mind. Here is how minimalism can help you control your destructive habits.
Everybody remembers Freddie Mercury singing:
I want it all, I want it now.
And somehow, there is a part in each of us that joins in and sing with Freddie and wishes we could live it all like it all. Here’s to the future, as Queen sang, hear the cry of youth. Whether you were a fan of Queen or not, there is an energy that is impossible to ignore in the song. The idea that one could have everything they want all the time is, naturally, appealing. However, having it all, as it happens, creates destructive habits for your wallet, your lifestyle and your mind.
Don’t Let The Spending Habits Crush You
When every month new fashion and tech items come to the market, it can be difficult not to fall for their marketing traps. Indeed, regardless of your attitude to possessions, it’s easy to see how people could start to be defined by what they own. That’s precisely what opposes Android phone owners and iPhone owners; as each perceives that they represent a different social vision. In the long term, more and more young and influenceable adults choose to buy their way into a community, using tech gadgets, fashion accessories and even lifestyle memberships. However, the race for the latest item can only facilitate debts and self-esteem issues. If you’re trying to cut down on expenses, you might want to get in touch with professional credit repair experts http://repair.credit/best-credit-repair-companies/ who can help you with your budget prioritization. Additionally, you need to learn to invest in timeless over seasonal items.
No More Distractions: Get Things Done
Quantity creates not only diversity but also confusion. There’s a reason why multitasking is never a good idea contrary to what you think: it’s because it affects your productivity and the overall quality of your work. Focusing your attention on less makes your lifestyle a lot more manageable. Where do you start? You can train yourself to keep your priorities organized in a bullet journal, for instance. Bullet journals are indeed hugely helpful to sort out what matters from all the things that don’t. They also keep you on your toes as you can track appointments, projects, and achievements.
Clear Your Mind From Unnecessary Worries
Can you think clearly? It might seem like an odd question, but when the room and the wardrobe are filled with stuff you don’t need, it occupies your mind, as this brilliant insight into a man’s interior debate shows https://medium.com/. If every morning you are wasting a lot of time to choose your outfit, ultimately it’s less time to think and develop your self as a person. Why not reduce your choice to a minimum, following Zuckerberg’s or Jobs’s example, and keep a tidy and simple wardrobe? Aside from freeing money, having less brings new freedom of mind. You can worry less and consequently be more creative and productive.
At the end of the day, less is more, assuming that you ensure you still have everything you need. Of course, you want to save yourself time, money and worries, but minimalism is not depriving yourself of all comfort. It’s about creating a new sense of mental and financial comfort in your life. Live life to the fullest with less.
This post was written in collaboration. Collaborative writing means that while I have contributed to this post and edited its content and formatting, I am not its original author. By posting this content on my blog, I receive financial compensation. Want to guest post for Jihi Elephant? Learn more here.
Minimalistic bullet journal layouts are of my favorite types of layouts to look at. I always find myself browsing minimal bullet journal hashtags on Instagram. Because I love these layouts so much, I thought that it would be great to share some of my favorite minimalist bullet journal accounts so that you can join me in browsing! Here are 40 must-follow minimalist bullet journal Instagram accounts!
What I love about @painted_illustrated is how unique her notebook is. While most bullet journalers use white dot paper, Becky’s notebook has brown pages, and she rocks them!
A post shared by Cristina (@my.life.in.a.bullet) on
I love the neutral aesthetic of @my.life.in.a.bullet. Additionally, the way she decorates her images complement her incredibly gorgeous minimal layouts perfectly.
The bold yet minimal layouts posted over on @journalspiration are jaw-dropping. I love them because they are simple yet oh-so-bold, you can’t help but stare.
Who doesn’t love a marble background! The marble behind @the.bullet.journey’s bullet journal helps to show off GiGi’s beautiful handlettering and creative minimal layouts!
@simplyproductive share other layouts (giving the creators credit of course). Their feed allows me to find other minimal accounts that I love, they nearly always post something I love!
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What I love about @purplanning_bymj’s feed is the gentle aesthetic it gives off. Further, this aesthetic on Maren’s feed is calming and beautifully minimal.
Liz of @bonjournal_ is such an incredible artist! She rocks natural and floral drawings and shows off how she creates her flowers through her bullet journal. In addition to her beautiful artistry, she shows off her minimalistic planning layouts!
Ursala of @honeyrozes has such a unique and gorgeous account. Not only does she post really eye-catching photos of her journal, but, she also posts beautiful photography of her life and work!
@inkbyjeng is one of those accounts that I have been following since the beginning. She posts beautiful bullet journal art and stationery. She is a must-follow for sure!
@minimaljournal is an account I found more recently, and I am obsessed! Austin’s journal is incredibly minimal, no fluff, and I love it! So, you have to follow this account!
I love @wireandmagic’s Instagram feed because the feed itself is simple, not only just the layouts. Nothing is super chaotic or overwhelming, just simple and easy to look at.
You know me, I love a good bold yet minimal bullet journal layout. Stina’s layouts are almost mechanical. Further, it’s a new refreshing feel to a minimal aesthetic.
Lisa of @plannersimplicity posts on all things related to bullet journaling. Her layouts are what drive me to the feed, they are created so simplistically!
@bujo.auslife’s feed is gorgeous because Laura posts beautiful, simple layouts. Additionally, she was posting them over gorgeous dark wood and now posts them over a bold background. You will love this account!
@bujo.nik’s journal is simple with a splash of art or color. What makes her feed stand out is she incorporates art and color without being too overwhelming or chaotic. So, you simply must follow her!
@mnmlyuu’s feed is one of my favorites because of how bold it is. The layouts are gorgeous, and made even more beautiful by the back background that allows the white space to pop! These layouts are a must-see!
@ajournalbyannie is another account that does amazing flowers! Annie not only incorporates these flowers into her layouts but she creates journal entries that show a step by step flower, AND she keeps in minimal, how awesome!
@flyingpaperwords’ handlettering is phenomenal and really note-worthy. Additionally, she uses her perfect hand lettering to accentuate her bold yet minimal bullet journal spreads.
What makes @my_simple_bujo so unique is her beautiful hand-calligraphy. Lately, she has been outlining her lettering and pairing it with super minimal layouts. Thus, it looks clean and crisp!
Do you not LOVE clean linework!? Well, Mariana of @bujototheminimal has some of the most well-done linework in her layouts that I have ever seen. So, you have to check her out!
Any fellow plant lovers? Well, @lijstejesliefde posts sneak peeks of here plants with her gorgeous journal! You know I love a good minimal bujo paired with a beautiful houseplant!
A post shared by Elizabeth (@elizabethjournals) on
I chose to include myself here are the end because I also post minimal layouts. While I do not follow myself nor browse my account, I think that if you appreciate any of the aforementioned accounts, you will enjoy mine as well!
Who are your favorite Bullet Journal Instagrammers? Let us know in the comments below!
Want to take part in ElizabethJournals’s Monthly Bullet Journal Feature? Read more here!
If you’ve decided you want to start the move towards a more minimalistic and organized lifestyle, a good place to start is in the home. For those who do a lot of work or projects in the home, a great place to start is in the home office. A home office is a place that needs to be an environment where you feel relaxed and productive (or if you’re me, it sometimes turns into a place of clutter…oops!). Anyone who has ever dealt with a cluttered home office knows it’s almost impossible to feel relaxed and productive when you’re working in a cluttered space. The accumulation of “stuff” can leave you feeling like you’re drowning in post-it notes. So how do you achieve this organized yet appealing minimal home office space? Read on below to find out!
Step One: Decide Purpose
Think about your main goal for the space. Different types of jobs may require different furniture, and only you know what the goal of your home office is. Do you just need a desk and computer? Do you need a craft table? Do you need extra chairs? Think through what you will actually use the space for, and make sure you keep it that way. This will also help you keep clutter or extra furniture and decorations out to maintain the minimalistic look. Stick with the basics, and only the necessary items and décor.
Step Two: Establish a Workspace
The workspace should be the most important focus of a minimal home office. Try and find a desk with extra drawers and storage, that way you can put extra things in the drawers rather than on top of the desk. Desk organizers can also help, as well as possibly trying to go paperless. You will also want to find a simple but comfortable chair, so be sure to browse around for one that matches your color scheme as well as makes you actually want to work. Sometimes minimal designs of chairs tend to be “too” modern and consist of sleek and plastic materials with a little cushion. Opt for something that falls in between, because who wants to work in an uncomfortable chair!? Find your workspace cluttered? Learn how to declutter your desk!
Step Three: Decorate
Now that you’ve established the basics, the fun begins. Decorating a minimal home office should reflect your personal style while still keeping a simple and organized look. Perhaps you may add in pops of color, or you would rather keep it neutral. Whatever your look is, some decorations that shouldn’t be overlooked are area rugs, a lamp, and some simple desk decorations. Some ideas for tabletop décor can include unique paperweights, cups for writing utensils, small plants, and photos in frames. Wall decorations could include a mirror, a geometric wall hanging, or a bulletin board to post inspiration and ideas for your work. Framed prints are a great way to add color and variety to brighten up space and make it inviting.
Overall, the ultimate goal in this space is making sure the space is somewhere that relaxes you and helps you feel productive and at ease.
Now, time to get to work!
This post was written in collaboration. Collaborative writing means that while I have contributed to this post and edited its content and formatting, I am not its original author. By posting this content on my blog, I receive financial compensation. Want to guest post for Jihi Elephant? Learn more here.
Weekly layouts are often the most prevalent layouts in a bullet journal. When you create this layout so often, you might become bored or tired of the same layout all the time. I like to change up my layouts every so often and keep them fairly minimal. Below are some great minimal weekly bullet journal layouts that I love and recommend!
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Vertical Weekly Layout Ideas
Vertical layouts are my absolute favorite weekly layout. Further, vertical designs are ones with daily sections that are taller than they are wide. This style is my favorite because it is laid out similar to a to-do list (top to bottom) which I find helpful for organizing my days and weeks.
Here is one of my most used weekly layouts. I love it because it is simple, practical, and can be changed up easily. Since there are 8 boxes and only 7 days in a week, the 8th box can either be removed or changed up to be a tracker, goals, or really anything you’d like.
This is my current layout. I love that it uses few lines and does not take too much time to create. Plus, you can change up the color and washi tape each week to keep things fresh. I also love that it is a vertical layout.
I love this layout by @abulletandsomelines it is so clean and simple, yet it is practical and geometric. If you have seen my April Bullet Journal layout, you know how I feel about geometric designs!
I have always loved weekly layouts which include a section that is dedicated to the week itself and not only the individuals days in the week. This layout by evydraws has just that! It includes an overview of the week and some week-based to-dos before it goes into daily details.
This layout by @bujowithkat is gorgeous! Its very similar to my layout but is even more simple and utilizes really creative washi tape details! I love it!
This weekly spread by @flyingpaperwords has no lines! I wish I felt comfortable working with no lines, I aspire to be able to use this layout one day! Great work, you’ve really nailed a clean, minimalistic look!
We only get to see a snippet of this layout by @inkbyjeng, but I love that it splits the daily vertical sections into two rows. This is perfect for someone with a smaller to-do list each day. I love that it also shows a view of where the week lays within the month, that is always helpful. This layout shows beautifully how a minimal spread can incorporate some simple art too!
This layout by @pipettesandpens has a neat spin on a normal vertical weekly spread. It functions similarly to a timeline and keeps the daily sections flexible and functional. So, if you have a busy day that needs more room next to a chill day that needs less room, they can share space instead of wasting or cramming.
I love the look of stamps in bullet journaling, and @sab_terri does an amazing job of keeping her layout minimal, while still incorporating some amazing photography and stamps!
This weekly spread by @the.paperholic does an amazing job of keeping her layout very minimal utilizing white space but still keeping it creative. This makes it so easy to look at without feeling overwhelmed.
This last vertical weekly spread by @journalbeanie is a cute little spread that separates each day using @mildliners. This gives the layout a pop of color and makes it more easy to use. I also love the little doodle!
Horizontal Weekly Layout Ideas
Opposite of vertical spread, horizontal weekly layouts are wider than they are tall. This style is more popular than the vertical ones, though not my personal favorite. These layouts are gorgeous, check them out!
This spread by @bujo.auslife is so neat and easy to create! It appears like she creates it as she goes using only two pens. It is minimal and so very easy to use. Sometimes we cant decide in advance how much or how little space we need for each day. A layout like this one allows you to decide that day or that week, instead of months in advance.
Here is another layout by @bujowithkat. I love the lack of lines, the washi tape, and the brown paper look of this minimal spread. It is simple, clean, functional, and great to look at!
If you haven’t noticed already, I love a clean looking layout, and this might be one of my favorites by @bullet_journalish. I love the molded clean writing and the simple bullet style. Brings a person back to their bullet journaling roots!
I really love layouts like this one by @cocorae.bujo; they do a good job at being functional, minimal, and still incorporating other important things into a week. Great work!
These two layouts by @dreimoeven are so beautiful and elegant. They really cling to bullet journaling basics which I just love looking at. I think I might try that first layout sometimes soon!
Like nearly all of the spreads before and after this one, it does a great job of staying minimal and keeping to bullet journal roots but also incorporates some creativity and art. Great work @feeneve!
This layout by @inkbyjeng does great work with @mildliner usage; sticking with a black and white feel though. Love the overview of the month!
This layout is one of my own from September 2017. I tried by hand at layouts without lines and learned that I didn’t love it. However, I have learned a lot and think that it could easily be improved by utilizing bolder daily headers.
I created this layout for a client and absolutely LOVE it. Since creating this layout for her, I have used it countless times for other clients. It incorporates color and utilizes white space very well! You can get a hand-drawn bullet journal made just for you here!
This layout is unique because the daily headers are as big as the spaces underneath. Its fun and incorporates space for the future instead of weekend spaces. I love this super unique minimal weekly spread by @letteringbyrebagel
Here is another layout I created for a client! This was a special request, and I love how it utilizes the bold lettering and gold detailing but is still minimalistic. This layout inspired the one I talked about previously. What do you think of it?
@minimal_almanac has an Instagram profile absolutely fun of beautiful minimalistic layouts, and I love it! They are so cohesive and clean looking. I highly recommend checking it out!
This layout by @helenes.journal is the journal that inspired so many of my own layouts. However, I cannot find her social media anymore to give credit.
Student-made bullet journals like this one by @studywithinspo are always so gorgeous and pretty to look at. This one, like many others, utilize @mildlinerpens.
This layout by @vanislebujo is another cute yet minimal layout that incorporates geometric art. Doesn’t get much better than that!
Other Miscellaneous Layout Ideas
These layouts do not easily fit into any of the previous categories, but still deserve limelight as a gorgeous minimal weekly bullet journal layout.
This minimal weekly layout by @wolkenmeere is beautiful utilizing white space, creative doodling, AND stamps. Very well made!
This last weekly log spread is less minimalistic than those that came before it; however, it is still very simple, and it utilizes space very well. If you are looking for something minimal but still very detailed, you might want to try something like this spread by @the.bullet.journey.
If you love these layouts and want more bullet journaling ideas, check out these other layout inspirations and my Instagram where I post all my spreads!
Meet Elizabeth!
Meet Elizabeth! Elizabeth is the creator and writer here at Elizabeth Journals. In addition to creating for ElizabethJournals, she is a full-time graduate student studying clinical mental health counseling. She started Jihi Elephant to share her experiences, spread organizational tips, and promote positive living. Elizabeth is an avid bullet journalist, dabbling artist, and houseplant fanatic.
You can also read more about the origins of Jihi Elephant and its creator here.
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