In a bullet journal, your daily spread (also known as a daily log or just “daylies”) contains all of the tasks for each day as well as any notes or thoughts about what happened on that day.
It’s purpose is to quickly clear your mind up from having to remember so much at the same time. At the same time, it acts as a sort of short-form record of what you did that day, what ideas you had, and how you were doing.
New to Bullet Journaling? This article is part of a series on how to start a bullet journal.
How to Create a Daily Spread
Since the bullet journals are flexible and intended to be customized to suit the needs of the user, there are of course different ways to make a daily spread.
In the original bullet journal method, the daily log is created by simply writing the day’s date on a numbered page on the morning of or the night before. Then, you add in your rapid logging as you go – your notes, to do lists, reminders, and ideas. It’s a really efficient way to get all the things you need to keep in mind for the day out of your mind so that you can save your mental energy for other, more important things.
Another way to create a daily spread in a bujo, and probably the more common way at least in the journals you’ll see shared online, is to create a weekly spread in advance that’s divided into sections for each day of the week. Usually people like to include sections on these spreads for important events and reminders, quotes, or habit trackers.
Which one should you use? Weekly vs daily spread
The advantages of using the original method of creating daily logs (where you simply list the date and add notes as you go) are that:
- you will save time setting things up
- you will have more room to write your notes & tasks
The main disadvantage of doing it this way is that you will very likely use more pages and might run out of space in your journal a little quicker. If you’re using paper journals only, it can get expensive! There are people who use 3-4 journals every year doing it this way. One workaround to this issue would be that you could use a digital bullet journal and then just keep copying and pasting more pages as needed. Another option could be to make a bullet journal in a ring binder so that you could add more pages where you need to.
The pros of using the more structured weekly spread are:
- better for those who like to plan out the week in advance
- you know how many pages you’ll use
- you’ll probably use less pages
- they tend to look a little more aesthetically pleasing
- they allow you to see your week at a glance
The cons of making weekly spreads instead of just daily logs is that if you write a lot of notes in one day, you may run out of space.
Personally, I like to use a combination of both weekly and daily spreads. I create the weekly spread to list out my appointments, events, reminders, and goals for the week. Then on my daily pages I add my main tasks and reminders for that day, and all my notes and ideas – of which there are usually quite a lot!
Tips on creating daily pages
- Use dailies as a space to set your intention and tone for the day.
- Write a positive affirmation at the top of your page.
- Write a motivational quote at the top of your page.
- Use a pencil or erasable pen if you feel like you hold back in fear of messing up the page.
Benefits of using a daily spread
When I started bullet journaling, I followed the original method of creating daily logs day by day and I felt like it really helped me un-clutter my brain so I could put my focus where I wanted. It helped me to be more productive and to be aware of how I was spending my time.
Prior to creating daily logs, I often felt like I had passed whole days without getting much done. But, after I had started keeping track of things with daily logs I realized that I actually completed many small tasks every day. Alone, they seemed insignificant and easily forgettable. But in my journal I could see how, together, the sum of many small tasks achieved larger goals over time.
Looking back on your daily logs and seeing what you’ve accomplished motivates you to keep trying and keep going. In my experience, it created a snowball effect where I felt good about the work I’d done even though my work was still in the early phases and I didn’t get much external validation yet. It helped me keep working hard so I could see my goals through to the end.
Ideas for daily spreads
Here are some Instagram hashtags to search for examples of daily spreads.
Free Daily Planner Printable
Want to try using a daily spread without a bullet journal? I created some free daily planning templates you can use. They are PDF files that can be printed or used in a digital note taking app such as GoodNotes. These printables are free to use, and are for personal use only.
