Pen, Paper, and Process: Back to Bullet Journaling

By Alexa Janoschka

There is something profoundly grounding about putting pen to paper. In a world where so much of our writing is autocorrected, formatted by AI, and lost in the digital cloud, sitting down with a notebook is truly an art form. It’s an opportunity to create something raw, in your own handwriting, without any technology stepping in to “fix” it.

My relationship with journaling started when I was pretty young, but it really took root during my senior year of high school (2018). That was the golden era of my bullet journaling dedication. Daily, I would sit down and craft intricate spreads. I had art pages, detailed monthly and weekly calendars, and habit trackers for absolutely everything. I had the time and the boundless dedication to make it a full-fledged artistic practice.

When I transitioned into my freshman year of college, the habit naturally had to adapt. Between homework, art projects, and the whirlwind of meeting new people, I simply had less time to be immersed in the pages. The journal shifted from an artistic outlet to a tool of pure utility. Over time, I fell out of the intense daily practice, but the core habit never completely left me.

Today, my journaling looks a little different. I’ve fully surrendered my daily scheduling to Google Calendar, which frees up my notebook to be purely a space for creativity and hobbies. It’s a way to center myself. Whenever I feel untethered, journaling brings me back. I can trace so much of my personal growth—better handwriting, improved organization, and a deeper understanding of my own habits—right back to those pages. Looking back at old journals, the good times and the bad, is like reading a customized history of how I’ve adapted to different stages of my life.

I am a massive advocate for the "stationery dates." For me, it’s usually a solo venture: taking my Leuchtturm notebook, a few Tombows, and way too many pens out to a local cafe, ordering my usual small extra-shot flat white on skim milk, and just letting the creativity flow. I love the thrill of shopping for new supplies (JetPens gets a lot of my love) and watching my pen collection grow.

As I start to set down deeper roots and transition away from being constantly on the go, I want to bring back some of my favorite old spreads, especially my habit trackers. I want to build out this space not just for myself, but to share the joy of it with others. I would love to see a real community grow around this tactile, offline art form, and maybe even collaborate with stationery stores to review and critique the supplies we all obsess over.

If you haven't picked up a pen in a while, consider this your sign. You don’t need to be perfect at it; you just need to start.