I have been Bullet Journaling in some way for all my life. But around two years ago I became aware of the BulletJournal® Community and finally was able to find like-minded people who love planning and creating as much as I do. That being said there were always certain aspects of Bullet Journaling ‘Notebook-style’ that didn’t work for me. And so I’m very excited to share with you my Bullet Journal Filofax hybrid. For me, it includes the best of both worlds and I can’t wait to show you all the advantages it offers you in detail. Let’s do this!
This post contains affiliate links. This simply means that if you purchase something through the links provided I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. You can be assured that I will never recommend something that I don’t enjoy using and wouldn’t recommend to my best friend as well! For more information, see my disclosures here.
My Bullet Journal Filofax – How it came to be
I never considered using a ring binder or Filofax even if I always found them super pretty! since I find the rings are always in the way when writing. So month after month I filled my hardbound Leuchtturm1917 A5 notebook. And while I’m a big fan of Leuchtturm1917 and love how flat these notebooks lie I always missed certain functionalities.
So when I published my Journaltastisch Planner 2018 in December 2017 and bought a Filofax A5 Domino Softcover for marketing purposes I never thought I would end up using it all the time. I only had my customers in mind and showing them an easy and cute way how they could use my printables.
But after setting up my Bullet Journal Filofax I quickly realized that it offered me the freedom I was always looking for. And so the love story began, haha.
Keep what you love about Bullet Journaling
Having your Bullet Journal in a Filofax removes none of the functionalities your Bullet Journal offered you. I can still
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design my own spreads and be creative while being productive
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find inspiration online and be part of an amazing community of like-minded people
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have a notebook, to-do list, sketchbook and diary all in one
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avoid unnecessary paper-clutter and multiple systems goes hand in hand with the point above it : )
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learn from my past failures and successes
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and adjust my layouts from month to month as I prefer doing
If you are new to bullet journaling and don’t know what the heck I’m talking about, check out this post where I explain why you need to start a bullet journal right now!
Add what was missing
But now we also can get all the pros a Filofax (or any other kind of ring binder or discbound planner) offers us. For example:
#1 – Separate you Bullet Journal into sections
Instead of needing to decide up front how much pages each section needs you can just plan what’s on your mind right now and sort it into the right category when you have the time. Also, you will never run out of space since there is no page-limit of each section. Awesome!
#2 – It will never fill up again
I don’t know about you but I dread setting up a bullet journal from scratch. I always put an incredible and unnecessary amount of pressure on myself to get it all perfect. So oftentimes I’m without a bujo for weeks a time. Not anymore! When it gets full I can simply remove parts of my planning section (weekly planning pages and daily logs) and have a lot more space again!
#3 – Create bullet journal collections only once
This point goes hand in hand with the one above. Instead of needing to set up the same pages over and over again since I obviously don’t want to carry around multiple Bullet Journals I can keep them all for as long as I want to while still have the option to replace them if I like too! Since I know we all like to upgrade our layouts from time to time due to new and improved drawing skills! â¡
So after drawing them by hand as you can see in the video above, I scanned them and turned them into templates for my Bullet Journal Filofax. I, of course, could easily have done the same directly in the Filofax. Back then I just wanted to fill up my notebook before moving on to using my Filofax Bullet Journal : )
#4 – Use different kinds of paper
Since the Bullet Journal Filofax allows us to create and to add our own pages we can use different kinds of paper for different layouts. So for quick notes, standard copy paper is all I need. For bullet journal collections, I use more expensive paper so my pens don’t bleed. And watercolor paper is my number #1 choice for my coloring pages. Less weight, lower cost & more versatility. Loving it!
#5 – Switch things up
A binder allows you to switch layouts/categories around and adjust your system whenever you feel it’s necessary. So instead of starting a new BuJo because you don’t like your current structure you can simply move, add and remove single layouts/whole sections and be done with it in minutes. PS: This actually can be a disadvantage since you could spend more time on your setup than actually doing the to-do’s you had planned. So keep this to a minimum :-*
#6 – More storage space
Having all my stickers in the Filofax Bullet Journal, as well as a ruler, a pen and all the post its and index cards I need regularly is amazeballs! Now traveling with it is twice as much fun!
#7 – Bullet Journal Filofax = absolute timesaver
I can print and add templates of my most used bullet journal pages quickly and set up my month in a minute or two. This makes it incredibly efficient!
The #bulletjournal @filofax is an absolute timesaver! Click To Tweet#8 – Decorated dot grid paper
After a few months of bullet journaling I realized that I loved drawing banner headers on all my pages, so I started to turn them into stickers. Knowing that I directly printed these banner headers onto my dot grid paper, so I don’t need to waste sticker paper and extra time.
Since I’m all about working the smart way, I’m always looking for new and improved ways to save time on my daily to-do’s. While I love bullet journaling it too can become very time-consuming. So turning my own drawings/layouts into stickers and printables is my favorite way to save time. Since it’s still all 100% me, just waaaaaaaay faster : D
Hit ‘comment’ and tell me what kind of planning system you are using and if the Bullet Journal Filofax would be something you consider – or already use!
Save for later
If you loved what you have seen so far, feel free to pin the image below to one of your Pinterest boards so you can revisit this blog post later on. â¡
This post contains affiliate links. This simply means that if you purchase something through the links provided I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. You can be assured that I will never recommend something that I don’t enjoy using and wouldn’t recommend to my best friend as well! For more information, see my disclosures here.
I started using a discbound system for many of the same reasons you mentioned. I had thought of a Filofax or even a small 3 ring binder and the large rings are one reason I went discbound. The one drawback to the discbound system is that thin paper doesn’t seem to want to stay ‘attached’ to the discs – kind of annoying. And if you rearrange much, the bunched openings for the discs start getting bent and don’t work as well. Your printables work really well with the discbound system!
Hi Shelley, thank you so much for taking the time and sharing your experiences. Have you thought about getting yourself some thicker paper? You can find some at affordable prices online and maybe get rid of one annoyance more 🙂 I know for example that the Happy Planner, which is discbound as well works wonderfully. And they simply use thick paper, which also allows for better drawing and coloring. Many thanks for using my printables and your kind words! It always makes my day when someone enjoys them <3 I wish you a most wonderful week!
I love this post!! Thank you for this amazing blog.
Aww, thank you so much Leila! This is so sweet of you :-* It totally makes my day that you enjoy my blog so much! I wish you a most wonderful week! <3
Hi Sandra,
What hole punch do you use?
Mine is only good for 1 paper at a time…. its frustrating! haha! 🙂
How much did that Filo fax cost? I have been looking for one, but, the rings are either 6 in a row or 2 sets of 3. And so many different prices…kind of confusing when you can’t see the real deal. Staples doesn’t sell them. Whom besides Amazon sells these things?
Thanks
Hi Melissa, I paid 40€ for it (that are roughly $45) and bought it off Amazon. Filofax itself sells their binders too. So you can check out their official website right here: https://filofax.com – I personally prefer to use standard sizes like A5. Since I then can simply print most printables or create my own, and they will fit perfectly.
Oh wow! I needed this! Iâve wanted to do a proper BuJo for ages, but couldnât justify it with my Filofax (and itâs an amazing, bespoke, hand-tooled, one-of-a-kind leather one) already in existence. So to stumble across this has made the lightbulb go on in my head…. Thank you!!!
You are most welcome, Morti! <3 Also I'm a bit jealous of the one-of-a-kind leather journal, haha. I got one custom made for a friend of mine for his wedding and I would love to have my own one now too 😀 Have you already setup your filofax bullet journal by now?
Hi Sandra,
Love your blog, printables, and this post!
Do you find the rings still get in the way? I’m forever removing the pages to use them and putting back in.
Still looking for planner peace…
Thank you so much for this post! I have struggled with my bujo for a year, changing pages, adding things, ripping out pages that I messed up too much. I am a perfectionist and maybe a little O.C.D. and a bound bujo did not work, causing more stress than joy! I changed to a three ring, half page binder and am finding joy again! This was a very helpful posting and thank you for your ideas and encouragement.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Sandy! I totally can relate to the struggle, which is why I made the switch too. I’m very happy to hear that a ring binder system works wonders for your bullet journal needs and finally makes planning joyful again for you! I wish you a most wonderful week! â¡
This is a great post. I really like the Happy Planner system because of its flexibility and I love the idea of the bullet journal and have a couple of the hardcover Leuchtturm1917 journals. In fact i have so many blank journals….then I recently came across something called the 5 Second Journal, which has a nice concept but there is no way that I am purchasing another journal. So I like seeing how someone else is using the Bullet Journal concept in a different application. Not that it is hard thing to do…but sometimes you need a little jump start of inspiration.
Thanks for sharing
So true! I’m drowning in planners too, luckily I now can justify them all with my job, haha. You also totally could combine your happy planner with a bullet journal? These two should work perfectly together and since happy planner sells hole punches that fit their special sizes you can make it on your own too 😀
I just started my journal this weekend after seeing a YouTube video someone had posted on a PCS support page on Facebook. I really this this will be a good way to add a little focus to my life without to much conformity that can be overwhelming when recovering from a TBI. Your article has opened my eyes to the ever growing options I am finding â¤
Thank you so much for your kind words, Pam. They totally made my day! And I’m so with you!!! It can absolutely give you focus and still be simple and none overwhelming. Just take it one step at a time and don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by all the many options out there. Instead, make your very own! It will fit your needs the best anyway 🙂
I use a large happy planner as a bullet journal for holding collections and trackers. It really is the best of both worlds. I also use Tul paper and I love it, I use their dot grid paper most of all.
That sounds amazing Ta’Shandra! And I didn’t know the Tul paper yet. Thank you so much for sharing your favorite supplies, I have to check it out now 😀
I’m an avid filofax fan girl but having always been drawn to the bullet journals. This has given me the inspiration to jump in and give this awesome mash-up a try!
Aww, that’s amazing, Caroline! I would love to see what you will come up with <3 It's also so nice to just keep a system going, instead of throwing it out completely when a new one gets caught by your eye. Keeping what you love about your filofax and adding what intrigues you about a bullet journal can only be great choice!
I have been seeing journals every time I search for inspo. Then I start to wonder if I can use a binder for bullet journaling. I kept searching and I STILL kept getting journals. Thank you sooo much for this blog. My search has finally ended and my questions are answered. CX
I decided to switch back to my kate spade planner for 2019 and you;ve given me ideas how to make it bujo-style! Mine is the personal size though, would you have any tips on how to print my pages to that size?