I don’t often do daily planning in detail (I tend to just work off a giant list for the week). However when I do, I like to keep it quick and simple. Rather than buying an entire day to a page planner which I’ll only use a few pages from, I typically turn to bullet journaling. That way I get the exact layout I need.

1. The plan bar

Map out your time blocks and then it’s up to you.

• 15, 30 or 60 min blocks
• Color code tasks by category
• Use different patterns to code different tasks (e.g. by urgency) diagonal lines, chevron etc.
• Shade in the bar when the task is done (then you can see what didn’t get done i.e. unshaded)

This is the Plum Paper Planner. In addition to custom & personalised planners you can make a custom dot grid notebook for bullet journaling – see my review in this post.

More photos / details of this layout in this post.

2. Clock

So this one isn’t technically bullet journaling (it’s the Slice Planner). However you can make your own clock face using a protractor, compass, the We R Memory Keepers Journal guide, the base of a mug or just freehand draw a circle.

Read more: Using the Slice Planner (daily planner + app)

3. Meal plan & do to

Don’t need a schedule section? Then ditch it and use a layout like this instead!

4. 2 Page Daily

Sometimes simple is best! But with this layout you could also divide up the bottom of the page into a checklist, meal plan, gratitude, reflection etc.

Or just add another page for to do’s

5. Priorities and Plan Bar

You could switch out the plan bar for more checklist space (or add a second checklist page).

If you want to meal plan and more space for to do’s, you could add a second page:

6. Detailed Meal Planning

I personally don’t do detailed meal planning but if you want to, this is a compact layout that has space for meal planning without losing list space.

7. Work and Personal Plan Bar

Or instead of a plan bar just use 2 lists instead.

8. Goal Versus Actual Time Bar

This is probably the most time consuming to rule up on this list but is a good mix of everything:

• Top 3
• That 1 thing to do today that you really don’t want to do
• Schedule / task list
• Little things (i.e. not worth scheduling a time to do them, these are things I do in between the bigger tasks that I do add to my schedule)

If you want to save time you could skip all the color coding… but all the color does make it look pretty!

Read more in this post: Daily planning bullet journal style (using a Plum Paper grid dot notebook)

9. MAMBI Half Sheet

My new favorite notebook from MAMBI is the half sheet – just the right size for lists and daily planning!

Read more: Happy Notes Half Sheet Review + DIY Half Sheet Printable Inserts

10. Checklists

Can’t go wrong with lists but rather than a disorganized brain dump, organize your lists by:

• Time the tasks should take – lists broken down by 15 minutes, 30 minute tasks, 1 hr tasks etc
• Must do should do
• AM / PM
• Category – me, kids, errands, phone calls etc.

More bullet journal

• Bullet journaling in the Scribbles that Matter Notebook (is it worth the hype?)
• 50 Reminders to Put in Your Planner or Bullet Journal
• How to resize any printable for any size bullet journal

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