I never saw myself as naturally artistic growing up but did always have a love for stationery. I started my first Bullet Journal in 2017 - very minimal and following the original Bullet Journal Method. A few years later during the pandemic, I started to unwind by being more decorative with my Bullet Journal. I learnt that creativity was a valuable source of self care and one I could do easily do at home. It has become a hobby I rely on to be productive or find creative escape and the friendly online community has been a perfect bonus.

Although my Bullet Journal is most important to keeping organised day to day, other journals are more sentimental now. I have memory journals filled with daily family life and 5 year diaries from my teenage years and more recently. I have just completed an entertainment journal which great fun, tracking and reviewing everything we watched in 2025.

I find a lot of my inspiration in stationery - a new notebook, a beautifully designed pencil on a tidy desk or some themed washi tape will inspire me to make time to be creative. Often, after a hectic day, it’s knowing that an hour on my desk is the best way for me to relax.
 

I have learnt to be creative using many supplies rather than relying on drawing from scratch in my journals. A sharp Blackwing pencil works perfectly with the font stencils I use and allows me to plan out my pages before adding ink and colour. I encourage others who worry about not being traditionally artistic to play around in their journals with coloured paper, washi tape, using ink and stamps and even cutting the page!

Although I share journal ideas online, I hope I have also helped others, especially parents, find a way to pause through creativity. As a mum of three my days can be long and busy but I have learnt that even just 10mins on my desk will help me slow down and reset. Away from my notebooks I love to walk our dog in the English countryside and even carry a notebook and Blackwing pencil with me then!

Although I share more artistic journal pages now, when I first started 8 years ago I just used a pen and notebook. My pages were minimal and I didn’t have time for elaborate setups in my Bullet Journal or to keep more than one journal. For anyone starting, my advice would be to try and make a journal habit of just 10 minutes a day that you can build on if time allows.

Another concern I am often asked about is the worry of getting started or spoiling a journal page. I still rely on my Blackwing pencils to plan and sketch out my Bullet Journal spreads so this is a great place to start if concerned about making mistakes.

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