60+ amazing doodle “How to’s” for your bullet journal
Updated on 21 September 2019 making it 60+ amazing doodle how to’s!
This is probably going to be one of my favorite posts of all time! And I dont even know where to start I am so excited!
In the enchanting realm of bullet journaling, where productivity meets artistic expression, doodling emerges as a captivating avenue to infuse your pages with vibrancy and charm. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just dipping your toes into the world of doodling, your bullet journal becomes a canvas where imagination knows no bounds. In this blog post, we’ll embark on a delightful journey through doodling, exploring six enchanting styles grouped into whimsical categories that breathe life into your pages.
So i started collecting these little “How-To” posts because I found them so helpful when creating little doodles in my bullet journal! So lets talk about some of the benefits of doodling!
Why should you doodle in your bullet journal
So according to the Harvard (<yeah fancy!) Health Blog stated (and i found this insanely interesting so instead of summarising it I popped the whole quote in!)
In 2009, psychologist Jackie Andrade asked 40 people to monitor a 2-½ minute dull and rambling voice mail message. Half of the group doodled while they did this (they shaded in a shape), and the other half did not. They were not aware that their memories would be tested after the call.
Surprisingly, when both groups were asked to recall details from the call, those that doodled were better at paying attention to the message and recalling the details. They recalled 29% more information!
Spontaneous drawings may also relieve psychological distress, making it easier to attend to things. We like to make sense of our lives by making up coherent stories, but sometimes there are gaps that cannot be filled, no matter how hard we try.
Doodles fill these gaps, possibly by activating the brain’s “time travel machine,” allowing it to find lost puzzle pieces of memories, bringing them to the present, and making the picture of our lives more whole again. With this greater sense of self and meaning, we may be able to feel more relaxed and concentrate more.
So I sat there and thought for a second – I must be a genius with all that doodling I do! haha! So I am so glad that I put together is awesome list of doodle how-to for your bullet journals
Doodling in your bullet journal helps with mental health!
In a world bustling with deadlines and demands, the simple act of doodling unveils an oasis of tranquility for your mental health. Beyond its playful exterior, doodling is a powerful tool that nurtures your well-being in profound ways. Let’s embark on a journey through the therapeutic charm of doodling, exploring how those whimsical lines and shapes wield the magic to soothe your mind and nourish your soul.
1. Mindful Escapism: A Gateway to Presence
Doodling is a delightful voyage into the present moment. As your pen dances across the page, your mind is gently ushered away from the past’s worries and the future’s uncertainties. In this moment of creative immersion, you find refuge from the chatter of stress and anxiety, allowing your mind to savor the sweetness of the “here” and “now.”
2. Stress Dissolution: Unraveling Tension with Every Stroke
Imagine stress as a tangled web – and doodling as the gentle hand that unravels it. Engaging in doodling triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that bestows feelings of pleasure and relaxation. With each stroke of your pen, stress melts away, replaced by a sense of calm that washes over you like a soothing wave.
3. Expressive Release: Giving Emotions a Creative Voice
Doodling becomes a canvas where emotions find their voice. Whether you’re feeling joy, sadness, or somewhere in between, doodling provides an outlet for your inner world to spill onto the page. The act of creation becomes a mirror that reflects your feelings, offering validation and catharsis in a beautifully unspoken language.
4. Cognitive Rejuvenation: Sparking Creativity and Clarity
Doodling invites your mind to explore uncharted territories, sparking the fires of creativity and innovation. In the midst of doodling, your brain engages in cognitive leaps, fostering fresh perspectives and aha moments. As your mind roams free, it clears mental clutter, paving the way for renewed focus and enhanced clarity.
5. Relaxation Ritual: Creating a Haven of Tranquility
In the flurry of modern life, doodling becomes your sanctuary of serenity. Engaging in this meditative activity induces a relaxation response, lowering heart rate and calming the nervous system. Your doodling sessions become rituals of rejuvenation, weaving moments of peace into the fabric of your daily routine.
6. Empowerment and Control: Taking Charge of Your Creation
The act of doodling empowers you to shape and mold your creation as you see fit. In a world where many factors may feel beyond your control, doodling hands you the reins, allowing you to craft something beautiful and meaningful. This sense of agency fosters a boost in self-esteem and a rekindled connection to your inner strength.
Embrace the Healing Dance of Doodling
Amidst the curves and swirls of doodles, you find a path that leads to self-discovery and healing. Doodling’s gentle touch nurtures your mental health by instilling mindfulness, dissolving stress, and offering a creative haven where emotions are expressed and minds are calmed. So, pick up your pen, embrace the therapeutic dance of doodling, and allow its soothing rhythms to guide you toward a harmonious balance of mind, heart, and soul. Your mental well-being deserves this enchanting journey of artistic expression and self-care.
Benefits of doodling in your bullet journal
I then read another post that covered 7 benefits of doodling!
- It helps you concentrate and focus
- It can help empower creative insight
- It can help process emotions
- It can help alleviate stress
- It can be a creative outlet
- Can help you visualise learning and help you learn better
- helps with big picture thinking
What do we use to doodle?
A basic pen and some paper, and some imagination! There are a ton of amazing posts out there showing us how to draw cute animals, or simple doodles, so use your imagination and keep it really simple!
You can easily use some other goodies like markers or crayons or really anything that lets your mind wonder 🙂
If you are struggling to find time to doodle or practice doodling, do not get overwhelmed, and simply add a couple of boxes to your weekly spreads – they do not have to be huge – but gives you some space to promote you doodling a little more in your week!
These step by step doodles can help you feel more creative and help you practice drawing some of the things you might usually use stickers or stamps for in your journal.
On to our amazing doodle how-to features:
We have taken the time to divide up our 60 amazing doodle posts based on theme for this post, so look around for something you might like!
Floral Doodles in your bullet journal
Imagine your bullet journal as a blooming garden, where each stroke of your pen becomes a petal of creativity. Dive into the world of florals, where flowers, leaves, and botanical wonders come alive on your pages. With delicate lines and vibrant hues, your bullet journal transforms into a sanctuary of nature’s grace.
Drawing florals can add a really feminine feel to your bullet journal, and learning to draw flowers is not that hard as the below floral doodles show us! So looking for ways on how to draw flower doodles? My favorite floral instagram accounts, “Bon Journal” is a whiz at making it easy to draw florals. You can check out the interview we did with her here.
Flower doodles make up a majority of this post, as they seem to be really popular and people love adding floral drawings to their bullet journals! Finding easy to follow templates can be tricky and there are number of awesome books out there that make drawing flowers and florals easy and awesome!
My personal favorite book is from The Pigeon letters – again you can see her interview here and you can shop some of her books here:
Even drawing simple floral arrangements can be done easily with the doodle guides!
Succulents can take some practice, but once worked out are easy to draw, design and color in. It doesn’t take to many steps to learn to draw cacti/ cactus and succulents and the colors are easy!
Banners and Heading doodles in your bullet journal
While headings and banners are not REALLY doodles, these simple how to’s for your journal can show you how easy it is to add something a little different to your banners mor header in your bullet journal.
Banners and headings are the heralds of your bullet journal, announcing the essence of each section. Dive into this style, where your pages embrace eye-catching titles and ornate designs. Let your bullet journal unfold like an ancient scroll, where each banner carries a whisper of visual intrigue.
Animal doodles in your bullet journal
Journey into the whimsical world of animals, where your bullet journal becomes a menagerie of charm and personality. Whether it’s a playful kitten, a soaring bird, or a majestic elephant, let your pages brim with creatures that exude character and life. Your bullet journal transforms into an enchanted forest, where the animal kingdom dances across your imagination.
Doodle characters in your bullet journal
Characters spring to life within your bullet journal, embodying emotions and stories with each stroke of your pen. Whether it’s a quirky doodle of a bespectacled bookworm or an adventurous astronaut, let your pages become a theater of personas. Characters become the threads that weave a tapestry of narratives across your bullet journal’s canvas.
Miscellaneous Items: Everyday Wonders in your bullet journal
Doodle ideas can come from anywhere, and adding cute pictures of your day to day or house hold items makes it a fun addition to your planner or journal. It is not hard to add household item doodles to your bullet journal, and these simple doodle instructions below show you how easy it can be to add them to your day.
Dive into a treasure trove of doodles, where everyday items transform into whimsical delights. From keys that unlock mysteries to bicycles that evoke a sense of freedom, your bullet journal becomes a showcase of life’s simple pleasures. Each doodle is a snapshot of the ordinary turned extraordinary.
Food (And Fruits) and Drink doodles in your bullet journal
Delight in the delectable world of food and drink, where your bullet journal pages become a feast for the eyes. From steaming cups of coffee to juicy slices of watermelon, let your doodles capture the essence of flavors and textures. Your bullet journal becomes a culinary journey, where every stroke is a tantalizing bite of creativity.
Embrace Doodling’s Magic: Your creativity in your bullet journal
Doodling is a journey of endless possibilities, a medium where lines become poetry and sketches transform into stories. As you dive into these six captivating styles within your bullet journal, you sculpt a symphony of creativity that resonates with every page turn. Your bullet journal becomes a testament to your unique artistic voice, a sanctuary where imagination takes flight and doodles dance to the rhythm of your heart.
So, why not pick up your pen, breathe life into these enchanting styles, and watch as your bullet journal transforms into a masterpiece of doodling delight? Embrace the magic, let your imagination soar, and let your pages become a gallery of whimsy and wonder. Your bullet journal is more than a planner – it’s a canvas of your artistic journey, where each doodle becomes a stroke of your soul’s expression.
