The Difference Between Planners, Bullet Journals, and Journaling?
- Fox Cub Design Studio
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Planners, bullet journals, and journaling all serve different purposes, but can overlap depending on how you choose to use them.
In this blog, we'll break down the key differences:
Planners: Focused on Productivity
Planners are all about scheduling and organisation. They’re used for planning tasks, setting goals, and tracking future events. The aim is to increase productivity and keep you on track. Planners are typically divided into two categories:
Fixed Planners – These planners have a pre-printed structure, often starting in January, with a fixed layout for daily, weekly, or monthly planning. Examples include the Leuchturm1917 Daily Planner (with a page for each day) or Weekly Planners (which show a full week on one or two A5 pages).
Free Planners – These planners offer minimal structure and don’t follow a specific year or month. You can start using them whenever you like, without waiting for a new year. Trolls Paper Free Planner is an example.
Some people create their own planners in blank notebooks, like with the bullet journal method or other custom organisational systems.
Journaling: Focused on Reflection
Journaling is about capturing the present moment and reflecting on past events. It’s not goal-oriented like planning; instead, it focuses on personal growth, processing emotions, or simply expressing thoughts. Journaling invites you to pause and value where you are now.
There are many different types of journaling, such as gratitude journaling, art journaling, travel journaling, and more. It’s less about productivity and more about the process itself. Journaling could be short and quick or long and detailed - it's all about personal expression.
While planners are used for productivity, journaling is for self-reflection and appreciating the present. You don’t need to worry about being productive or efficient when journaling. It’s your space to relax, process, and reflect.
Bullet Journals: The Versatile Hybrid
Bullet journals combine the aspects of both planning and journaling. They allow you to plan events and tasks while also capturing thoughts, reflections, and experiences. The big advantage of bullet journaling is its flexibility and customisation.
You can structure your bullet journal to suit your life. One month, you may want to see an entire week on two pages; the next, you may prefer daily layouts. With a bullet journal, you can mix and match formats as your needs change. This makes bullet journals unique in their versatility - they’re not just for organising tasks but also for capturing personal experiences.
Bullet journals can also serve as creative outlets. Some people add artistic touches, but for many, the customisation is functional, not aesthetic. Bullet journaling lets you design your system, and it doesn’t require tons of planning unless you want it to.
Combining It All: Planning, Recording, and Journaling
It’s important to note that these practices don’t have to be separate. They can overlap and complement each other:
Planning - is for remembering future tasks and events, typically organised by day, week, or month.
Recording - is the act of tracking and logging events, often in the style of a bullet journal, where you quickly note down important details. This might be more minimal or focused on rapid logging.
Journaling - is about processing and reflecting on your thoughts, feelings, experiences and life events. It could be long-form or short, and often involves reviewing past events or simply reflecting on the present.
All three practices can be combined in one system, like a bullet journal, which allows for flexibility to plan, record, and reflect all in one place. Whether minimalist or decorative, these practices work together to help you stay organised, process your experiences, and achieve your goals.
What's the Difference Between Planners, Bullet Journals, and Journaling?
Planners are designed for planning.
Journaling is great for reflecting and noting down your experiences.
Bullet journals are ideal for recording, planning and reflecting.
Each serves a unique purpose, but they don’t have to be used exclusively. You can mix and match them based on your needs, whether you’re focused on planning your week, recording daily events, or reflecting on your thoughts.
Bullet journals, in particular, offer the best of all worlds by allowing you to plan, record, and journal in one versatile system.
Final Thought: Finding What Works for You
Whether you’re someone who thrives on structure, craves creative expression, or needs a space to process emotions, planners, bullet journals, and traditional journaling each offer valuable tools for self-organisation and self-care. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach—these methods can be tailored, combined, or alternated depending on your lifestyle and goals.
The beauty lies in their flexibility. You might start with a planner to manage your schedule, then find comfort in journaling during a stressful week, or discover that a bullet journal offers the perfect balance of both. Whichever route you take, the most important thing is that it helps you feel more grounded, clear-minded, and in control of your time and emotions.
Experiment, adapt, and make it your own, because the best system is the one that supports you.
Thank you for reading, wishing you the loveliest day!
🍁 Discover the Pumpkin Patch Wildlife Journal - a full-colour, nature-inspired planner for a year of creativity and calm.
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