#starryvstudy

hi anon! well firstly i just wanna remind u that ‘pretty’ is 100% subjective when it comes to these things, and i have to say that i especially notice it in regards to bullet journaling - i always feel like everyone’s spreads look miles better than mine, but people seem to like my bujo posts just fine :) so what i’m trying to say is, don’t focus on how pretty your journal is, focus on the process - do what feels good, let your creativity run wild, try new things etc. i assure you you’ll start liking your spreads more and more as you go and get a hang of it :)

here’s just a couple tips you might find helpful:

discover what medium you like best - what type of pens? gel/ballpoint? maybe markers or crayons? do you enjoy adding printed photos or stickers? it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options you see on studyblr, but remember that you don’t need fancy stationery to make ‘pretty’ spreads :) i usually just go for a black gel pen, a pastel marker for my accent color, sometimes i add some washi tape, but that’s it - i prefer a pretty minimalistic look to my spreads

draw inspiration from others’ bujos - ofc this doesn’t mean copy them completely (unless they say it’s alright if you do, most will if you ask them beforehand!), but you can find layout ideas and handwriting styles etc. by going through the #bujo or #bullet journal tag here on tumblr, you can also go on youtube (amanda rach lee is my fave bujo youtuber, her videos are lovely if you’re just starting out, as she does explain her process well) or instagram (again, amanda posts lots of doodle tutorials that you might like there). you can also see all bullet journal posts i’ve reblogged by searching ‘bujo’ on my blog. 

when you first start out, i think the most important thing is to play around with different spreads and layouts so you can find what works best for you. do you prefer vertical or horizontal weekly layouts? do you enjoy making playlist spreads? maybe quote pages or memory collages? remember that your bujo can be anything you want! a practical life planner with a hint of art, an artistic outlet with zero functionality, do what you want and what you want only. don’t think you have to make a certain spread just bc loads of other people are making them in their own journals. i, for instance, have come to realise i have absolutely zero use for a year at a glance spread. it does look lovely, though :)

most importantly: try not to hold yourself to a too high standard. i know. it’s not easy, but toning down on perfectionism will free you and allow you to focus on journaling for the fun of it, l'art pour l'art and all that :) additionally, you can use a pencil to sketch your spread before going in with a pen, just so you can easily fix any spacing mistakes you might make 

Lastly, you might also find this post by @journalsanctuary​ helpful

and here’s a list of some studyblrs who post their bujo spreads frequently if you want to check their work out (i find their bujos inspirational myself, so): @jeonchemstudy @study-van @museeofmoon @starrystvdy *these clearly aren’t all of my faves, just a couple i can name off the top of my head atm* + @merostudies​ who hasn’t posted in a while, but their spreads are drop dead gorgeous and @saltwaterstudies who doesn’t post as frequently, but i love his spreads all the same :)