Is bigger better for bullet journaling? We all know it’s become a popular method for organizing one’s life and staying on top of tasks, appointments, and personal goals. It’s a flexible system that can be tailored to meet the individual needs of each user, and one of the key decisions to make when starting a bullet journal is choosing the right size. While many bullet journal enthusiasts start with an A5 size journal, there are advantages and pitfalls to going bigger and choosing a larger size journal.
Bigger Bullet Journal Advantages
Bigger Bullet Journals Have More Space
First and foremost, a larger journal size, such as B5, Composition, US Letter, or A4 provides more space for creativity and detailed planning. When you have more space on each page, you can add more visual elements and decorations to your spreads, making your bullet journal not only functional but also visually appealing. This extra space can also be used for additional notes, lists, or drawings, allowing you to have a complete overview of your tasks and appointments in one place.
Bigger Bullet Journals Can Give You The Whole Picture
In addition, a larger journal makes it easier to see the big picture. When you have more space to spread out your spreads, you can view your month, week, and day spreads together on one page, making it easier to plan and track your progress. This can also help to reduce the amount of flipping back and forth between pages that you need to do to see the whole picture.
Bigger Bullet Journals Can Last Longer
Another advantage of a larger journal is that it can last longer. With more pages to work with, you have a longer time frame to keep track of your life and goals, and you don’t have to worry about running out of space or needing to start a new journal too soon. This can be especially useful for those who like to plan well into the future or who need to keep track of many details and tasks.
Bigger Bullet Journals Can Make Writing More Comfortable
Lastly, a larger journal can be more comfortable to use. With larger pages, there’s less chance of writing or drawing cramped or cramped-looking, and you have more room to add colorful stickers, washi tape, and other decorations that make your bullet journal unique to you. Larger journals also tend to have more sturdy covers, making them easier to hold and less likely to get damaged over time.
Bigger Bullet Journal Size Challenges
While there are certainly some advantages to using a larger journal size, there are also some disadvantages to consider. Here are a few of the drawbacks of using a journal size larger than A5 for bullet journaling:
Bigger Bullet Journals Can Lack Portability
This is the most commonly cited drawback. Larger journals can be more difficult to carry around, especially if you’re someone who likes to have their journal with them at all times. A5 journals are much more portable and can easily fit in a bag or pocket, while larger journals can be more cumbersome and take up more space in your bag.
However, the advantages listed above can sometimes outweigh even this disadvantage. So don’t count this as an immediate deal-breaker.
Bigger Bullet Journals Aren’t Standard
While A5 is a widely recognized and standardized size, larger journal sizes, such as B5, Composition, US Letter, and A4, can vary in size between brands and countries. This can make it more difficult to find supplies, such as rulers and stencils, that fit your journal properly.
Now this one is a real problem. Most bullet journal stencils and rulers are made for size A5 journals, so they don’t take full advantage of the larger writing area in a bigger journal. But I have an inexpensive solution for this – which I’ll get to right after introducing the last disadvantage…
Bigger Bullet Journals Can Be Intimidating
While having more space in your journal can be a benefit, it can also be a drawback. With more space to fill, you may feel more pressure to create more elaborate spreads and drawings, which can be time-consuming and overwhelming.
But you won’t need to worry about wasting hours counting and calculating spaces to create custom spreads and layouts in a bigger journal with The Grid Tool. In fact, it can offer you more creative freedom than standard stencils in a flexible, portable and reusable smarter ruler.
With several different versions available, The Grid Tool offers you the flexibility to choose the size and spacing that best suits your needs. In fact – three of the most popular sizes of The Grid Tool work with B5/Composition, US Letter, and A4 size pages. If you use 5x5mm grid spacing, either the B5 / Composition 5mm Smarter Spacing Ruler or the Artist A4 + US Papers 5mm Smarter Spacing Ruler Bundle may be right for you.
So yes, you can skip the overwhelm. And instead of settling for a one-size-fits-all approach to bullet journaling, you can quickly and easily try out the benefits of a bigger journal for yourself.
In conclusion, while A5 journals are popular for bullet journaling, a larger size journal has several advantages that are worth considering. Whether you’re looking for more space for creativity, a better overview of your tasks and appointments, a longer-lasting journal, or a more comfortable writing experience, a larger journal may be the right choice for you. So why not give it a try and see how it works for you!