If you are new to journaling and looking for ideas to set up your monthly spread, you might be overwhelmed by all the different designs and ideas floating around on the internet. I know I was when I started my first journal. I spent hour after hour on Pinterest trying to decide which design I wanted to choose. I was like a kid in a candy store jumping up and down at every new piece of candy I saw.
Journaling is an outlet for your creativity. You can set up and design your monthly spread anyway that you like. The sky is the limit when it comes down to what you can do, but there are a few basic things your monthly spread should include.
1. Name of the Month
Of course, you will need to start with the name. Be creative in how you write it and the colors you use.
2. Calendar With Numbered Days
You could design this in a multitude of ways. You could draw a full calendar with a block for each day, you could do a day list going down the side of the page with a number and letter signifying the day of the week, or you could do a small square calendar with the days across the top and the numbers listed below. For February I was thinking of drawing a heart for each day and putting the number inside of each heart. Don’ limit yourself to conform to the way others create their spreads. It’s awesome to step outside of the norm and do something different. Journaling is personal. Whatever you decide, be happy!
3. Affirmation of the Month
I have found this to be very helpful in keeping a steady focus. You could choose a favorite quote or a word. For January, my affirmation is “NEW BEGINNINGS” It reminds me that every day is a new chance to make a difference in my life.
4. Important Dates & Events
Birthdays, anniversaries, parties, holidays, and celebrations that are happening this month would go here. If you made a block calendar, you might write the name of the event on a corresponding day. If you didn’t use a block calendar, a list might be more appropriate.
5. Your Goals
We are all working toward something: saving money, losing weight, getting healthier, etc. In order to keep your aspirations at the forefront of your brain, include a goals section in your monthly spread.
6. Section for Notes
This is where you can write down anything that you don’t want to forget. If you are like me, your life is full of tasks both at home and at work. I use my notes section to write down the things that I want to make sure to remember. There are a lot of other things you could include on your monthly spread, but here I have listed the basics. For more inspiration about what you could add to your journal, click on the picture below.
Want to read more? Check out these articles:
- How To Create A Bullet Journal
- 15 Ideas To Include In Your Daily Journal
- 5 Habits of Successful Journaling
- 4 Mistakes To Avoid When Making Your Bullet Journal
- 3 Bullet Journal Attempts & What I Learned From Them
