Supply Number 01- The Journal Itself

The first thing you need for bullet journaling is, of course, something to journal in. The good news is that almost any notebook, diary or journal can become a bullet journal. You do not need a notebook specifically labelled as a “bullet journal” to get started.

Choosing the Right Page Style

I personally prefer dot-grid journals, although square-grid notebooks work very well too. Both give you enough structure to plan a page while being much less visually restrictive than traditionally lined paper.

Dot and square grids are particularly useful for bullet journaling because they:

• make it easier to draw straight lines, boxes and tables;

• help divide a page evenly when creating calendars, trackers and other layouts;

• make spacing and alignment much easier;

• help you visualise how much space different parts of a spread will occupy;

• make it easier to recreate the same layout across multiple pages; and

• provide subtle guides for writing and drawing without dominating the finished spread.

You can absolutely bullet journal on blank or lined paper as well. A dot or square grid is simply a particularly convenient canvas when you like creating your layouts by hand.

Choosing the Right Paper

If you plan to use more than an ordinary ballpoint pen, it is also worth paying attention to the paper.

Because I use a lot of pens and markers in my bullet journal, I generally prefer notebooks with paper that is 90 GSM or higher. GSM (grams per square metre) refers to the weight of the paper and can give you a rough indication of its thickness.

However, a higher GSM does not automatically mean better paper. The quality, coating and absorbency of the paper also affect how different pens and markers behave on it. This is why I would not choose a journal based on GSM alone.

A perfect example is the Rhodia Goalbook. It uses 90 GSM Clairefontaine paper, but I have found the paper quality so good that it performs better with my supplies than several 120 GSM papers I have used.

Journals I Recommend in the US

Of the journals I have used in the US, Rhodia is my favourite. I have also used more affordable dotted notebooks, including the Taja and Omeya options, and found them to be very good budget alternatives.

1. Rhodia Goalbook – A5 Dot Grid, 240 Pages, 90 GSM

This is my favourite of the three. Despite being only 90 GSM, the Clairefontaine paper is excellent quality and works extremely well with the pens and markers I use for my spreads.

Rhodia Goalbook on Amazon US

2. Omeya 300-Page Dotted Notebook – A5, 120 GSM

A much more budget-friendly option with 300 pages and thicker 120 GSM paper. I have used this notebook and found it to be a great option if you want plenty of pages without spending too much.

Omeya 300-Page Dotted Notebook on Amazon US

3. Taja Dotted Spiral Journal – A5, 140 Pages

Another affordable dotted journal I have used and enjoyed. The spiral binding can also be convenient when you want your journal to lie completely open while you are working on a spread.

Taja Dotted Spiral Journal on Amazon US

Journals I Recommend in India

Rhodia is available in India as well, but it is considerably more expensive. If you do not want to spend that much on a journal, there are some very good alternatives available at much more accessible prices.

1. NEORAH A5 Dot Grid Classic Notebook – 110 GSM, 160 Pages

A hardcover, handmade dot-grid journal with 110 GSM paper, bookmarks and a back pocket. This is a good option if you want slightly heavier paper without moving into the price range of imported journals.

NEORAH A5 Dot Grid Classic Notebook on Amazon India

2. Factor Notes A5 Notebook – Dot Grid, 160 Pages, 90 GSM

Another more affordable option with 90 GSM dot-grid paper. It is a particularly accessible choice if you are just getting into bullet journaling and do not want to invest heavily in your first notebook.

Factor Notes A5 Dot Grid Notebook on Amazon India

3. NUOVI Record Note Book – A5 Dot Grid, 96 Pages, 100 GSM

This one has 100 GSM dotted pages and a soft cover. With fewer pages than the other options, it can also work well if you would rather try bullet journaling in a smaller notebook before committing to a large journal.

NUOVI A5 Dotted Record Note Book on Amazon India

If You Want Rhodia in India

If you specifically want a Rhodia journal, the Rhodiarama hardcover Goalbook is also available in India through Scooboo. It is significantly more expensive than the alternatives above, so I would consider it an optional upgrade rather than something you need in order to bullet journal.

Rhodia Rhodiarama Goalbook on Scooboo

A Note Before You Buy

Please do not feel that you need an expensive journal to start bullet journaling. The notebook is the canvas, not the journal itself. If you already have a notebook at home that you enjoy writing in, start there. Once you know how you like to journal and which supplies you actually use, you can decide whether features such as dot-grid paper, higher GSM or a particular binding are worth paying more for.