Can you imagine having one compact and free tool that allows you to be creative, to plan, track, and reflect?? Drumroll please…Introducing 13 journal spread ideas, that are fun and feminine.
You may have come across the most common type of journal spreads, which is using a bullet journal (bujo), but today we shall look at all the ways you can have fun with this technique.
This is a tool for anyone whether you’re a student, a mum, a working mum, anyone can massively benefit from this personal development tool, so…
Table of Contents
What are journal spreads?
You may be wondering isn’t journaling the act of just taking your notebook and scribbling away until there’s ink on your fingers?
Yes and no, that is only one form of journaling out of the myriad ways to go about it.
A journal spread is when you use two pages in your notebook to track, plan, organize, reflect, or a combination of all by including elements such as writing, doodling, color coding, and bookmarking.
It’s basically spreading out information that you deem useful over a period that can all be glanced at at a go, think of a daily journal spread in which you can add anything, e.i., a to-do list, things to be grateful for, your power word for the day, and space to reflect.
When digital designer Ryder Carroll popularized this journaling concept, his aim was to keep it fun, creative, and personalized.
Instead of having multiple journals dedicated to various things (a to-do list, a personal diary, a gratitude journal), you can have just one.
So what separates a journal spread from a traditional journal? The layout, vibrant colors, shapes, and styles.
When using journal spreads, there are no rules.
So why should you use journal spreads?
1. Creative freedom.
Again, there are no rules; you can use colors, stickers, shapes, fonts, and whatever brings forth your creative voice.
2. Effective planning and organization.
You get to write to-do lists, immediate and future goals, upcoming events, etc. This is one of the most effective ways to start on par.
3. To attain mental clarity.
A woman who organizes, plans, and reflects, or while having fun has what most don’t, mental clarity.
4. An all-in-one journal.
If you’re like me and don’t particularly relish sitting with five notebooks to try and get everything in order, then a journal spread is for you.
Tools for making journal spreads.
Most people prefer to do their journal spreads from scratch as opposed to printouts. Here are all the tools hierarchized from the most essential:
- Pencils/pens/marker pens/ highlighters.
- A notebook (bullet, lined, plain).
- Stencils for writing decorative letters.
- Washi tapes for borders, decorating edges, covering mistakes, and separating sections.
- Ruler.
- Eraser.
- Stickers.
- Lastly using print-ready templates.
13 journal spread ideas that you’ll love.
1. Daily journal spread.
A journal spread idea dedicated to one day, here are a few things you can include in this spread for the day ahead;
- A goal for that day.
- Top three priorities.
- A to-do list with all your tasks/chores.
- A time blocked schedule, including breaks.
- A gratitude line.
- Notes/reminders.
- Meals.
- Tiny habit tracker, i.e, stretching.
An example of how to make a journal spread.
Again there are really no rules but if you’re a little stalled on what to do follow this;
1. Draw a header with the date.
2. Divide the page into sections: “Tasks,” “Schedule,” “Notes.” in shapes of your choice.
3. Add doodles, colors, or icons if you want.
4. Keep it simple for quick use.
2. Weekly journal spreads.
Keep your whole week organized at a glance through this spread.
Here’s what to include in your spread.
- Your goals for the week.
- Tasks for the week.
- Appointments/meetings.
- A meal plan.
- A workout plan.
- A self-care plan for the week.
- A calendar highlighting the days of the week.
How to make your weekly journal spread.
1. Use 2 pages to draw a grid calendar (7 boxes for days).
2. Add a box for “Goals,” “Notes,” etc.
3. Decorate with washi tape or markers if you like.
3. Monthly journal spreads.
In a monthly journal spread you can organize and anticipate the whole month in just 2 pages. What can you include in your monthly journal spread?
- Top goals for the month.
- A calendar grid.
- Add your power word for the month.
- Meal plan.
- Plan your workouts.
- Include must attend appointments.
- Highlight upcoming events like birthdays.
- Add any reminders.
- Add your affirmations for the month.
- Budget track.
- Gratitude log.
- Track your habits, especially new ones.
Steps to making a monthly bullet journal spread.
1. Draw a mini calendar.
2. Leave space for goals and notes etc
3. Add a tracker grid (habits or mood).
4. Use colors for different sections.
4. Quarterly, mid-year, and yearly journal spreads.
Again, you can make a journal spread for three months at a go (I love this), mid-year tracking, and a full year at a glance. This is amazing for recurring events, your big goals, and just feeling like you have a grip.
What to include in your quarterly/half-year/annual journal spreads:
- Overall top goals.
- Boxes for each month.
- Events/appointments.
- Habit progress trackers.
- Mini Vision boards.
- A reflection space for whats worked.
- Notes for ideas.
- Gratitude section.
How to make a quarterly/mid-year/yearly journal spread.
1. Make a goals box, calendar section, and tracker.
2. Add quotes or seasonal doodles.
3. Keep it simple yet fun.
5. A habit tracker journal spread.
Are you trying to build better habits? This habit tracker journal will help you track the implementation.
What can you include in your habit tracker?
- Grid or list with days of the month.
- Habits you want to tick off daily (water, exercise, reading).
- Space for notes if you missed something.
How to make a habit tracker journal spread.
1. Draw a table: habits down the side, days across the top.
2. Color or tick each day you complete the habit.
3. Make it as colorful as you please.
6. Mood tracker journal spread.
It’s really important and amazing to see how your mood fluctuates day in and day out, especially if you’re super conscious of how you feel.
I love a mood tracker journal spread because I can see how my mood is altered by my menstrual hormones. For example, in my follicular phase, I am at my sunniest. So what do you include in this spread?
- Chart with days of the month.
- Colors for different moods (yellow for happy, blue for sad, grey for anxious).
- Optional space for notes.
How to make a mood tracker journal spread.
1. You can make your calendar as a circle chart, bar graph, or boxes.
2. Color in daily mood, it looks really pretty at the end, and insightful 😉.
7. Gratitude journal spread.
Gratitude is listed as the second highest in the vibrational chart after authenticity so why not do a gratitude journal spread?
Here’s what it should include:
- Space for daily gratitude (1–3 things).
- Optional affirmations.
- Space for monthly gratitude review.
How to make your gratitude journal spread.
1. Number 1–30 for the month.
2. Write a short sentence each day.
8. Goals or vision board journal spread.
The purpose of this journal spread is to clarify what you want to achieve. Include the following:
- Big goals (yearly, monthly, weekly).
- Steps to reach them.
- Vision board images or quotes.
Steps to making a goals journal spread.
1. Write goals in categories (work, health, self-care) with an ideal time duration.
2. Add inspiring pictures or stickers.
9. Budget tracker journal spread.
A journal spread that you can use to track your expenses on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Include the following:
- Income & expenses.
- Bills due.
- Savings goals.
- Notes for next month.
Steps to making a budget tracker journal spread.
1. Simple table or list.
2. Track daily or weekly spending.
10. A self-care journal spread.
Self-care encompasses the things that pour back into you that bring you fulfillment and calmness. It’s making time for yourself in little and sufficient time pockets.
Include the following:
- Self-care ideas.
- Daily self-care check.
- Mood notes.
- Reminders to rest, treat yourself
Making a self-care journal spread.
1. Divide the page into daily or weekly boxes of self-care tasks.
2. Add doodles or quotes to encourage you.
11. Brain dump journal spread.
Whenever you feel foggy, or daily or weekly, you can do a brain dump journal spread.
Here’s what you can add in the journal spread:
- What’s on your mind?
- Random tasks.
- Feelings.
- Ideas.
- Notes.
- Future goals.
Making a brain dump journal spread.
1. Blank page fill it as you like.
2. No rules make scribble, lists, arrows, or whatever.
12. A book/movie journal spread.
Purpose:
- Write down books you want to read or movies you want to watch.
- Track what you have read or watched.
- Record ratings, thoughts, favorite quotes, or lessons.
- Sometimes include doodles or themed stickers for extra fun!
Here’s what you can include in a book spread:
- Title & Author
- Start & Finish Date
- Your Rating (stars, score, smiley face).
- Favorite Quote.
- Short Review or Thoughts.
- Would you recommend it?
- Next book in the series.
What to include in a movie journal spread;
- Movies you would love to watch.
- Where You Watched (Netflix, cinema, etc.)
- Date Watched
- Who You Watched With (fun for memory)
- Favorite Scene or Quote
- Your Rating
- Would you rewatch?
How to make a movie/book journal spread.
1. Pick a blank spread in your notebook.
2. Decide if you want to track monthly, quarterly, or yearly.
3. Draw simple boxes or lists.
4. Add headings (books, movies) with fun lettering or a brush pen.
5. Keep it up to date color in or tick off books/movies as you finish!
13. Lastly, Manifestation journal spread.
The purpose of this spread is to write down, draw, and doodle your dreams as if they are already in your current reality. include this;
- Affirmations.
- Scripts: “I am so happy and grateful now that…”
- Visualizations.
How to make a manifestation journal spread.
- Leave space for daily or weekly scripting.
- Add inspiring quotes.
- Track angel numbers or any other manifesting technique.
Can you track multiple things in one spread?
Absolutely, you can track multiple journal spreads at once. For example, instead of using an A,4, you can opt for an A2 to have more space to track more things.
Here’s an example of things that you can track at a go on a weekly journal spread that has the following;
- 7-day plan.
- Meal plan.
- Small habit tracker (water, gym).
- Mood mini tracker.
- Weekly goals.
Common things people track together.
- Work tasks + home tasks.
- Water, meals, workouts.
- Moods + gratitude.
- Bills + income.
- Sleep + mood.
- Books read, movies watched.
Final thoughts.
That’s it, my lovelies, those are 13 different things you can do on your journal spread to stay organized, creative, and happy.
Whether it’s a weekly bullet journal spread or a must-read books journal spread remember to have fun with it and break rules.
Before we part ways which is your favorite journal spread entry?
