Creative Ideas for Using a Bullet Journal Packing List for Travel

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Bullet journals, often referred to as BuJo, have become increasingly popular in the last few years due to their creativity and flexibility. OprahDaily.com calls bullet journals the “next-level diary.” I agree! Bullet journals can be used for various purposes, but today we’ll focus on some unique ideas for using a bullet journal packing list for travel planning.

What is a Bullet Journal?

A bullet journal differs from the traditional lined journal in that they come in either a blank or dot grid format. This allows you to create a unique layout for your journaling needs. The idea behind the flexible format is to have the space to organize your thoughts precisely the way you need to for the bullet journal to be as useful as possible.

Good Housekeeping describes the bullet journal as a way to streamline the chaos of coordinating your life. I can definitely get behind that!

There are several variations of the bullet journal, which indicates that you can’t do it wrong. Bullet journaling allows you to freely create what you need to get an organization system in place. It’s truly the best way to get the clutter from your head onto the paper.

Prefer a lined journal? Check out this one from Be Rooted!

What are bullet journals used for?

Bullet journals are used for several reasons, but it all boils down to organizing important information. Bullet journals are an easy way for moms to organize events for family members. It’s also a great way to help with meal planning and other household chores and activities. They can also be used to keep a daily log or to record creative ideas that you want to remember later.

bullet journal for habit tracking

People have found so many creative and different ways to use bullet journals. Some other popular uses for bullet journals are as follows:

to-do lists

goal tracker

mental health tracker

monthly or weekly calendar

food tracker

bill tracker

habit tracker

People discover new ways to use bullet journals all the time.

I want to explore using the bullet journal as a packing list to help organize travel plans. This can be a good idea to prepare for your next road trip or even for your summer travels. The bullet journal method can be a great way to make sure that you do all of your favorite things while on vacation and make sure that you pack all of your essentials. A bullet journal can be an excellent idea for a handy packing list that will ensure that you pack important items that you need for your next big trip!

How to create a master packing list using a bullet journal

So, if you have a future trip coming up, let’s talk about how a simple bullet journal layout can help you create the ultimate packing list for your next trip.

Here are some steps you can take to plan the packing for your upcoming trip using a bullet journal notebook:

Find the bullet journal that you want to use.

Bullet journals come in all varieties. You can find printable pages like the one below or you can opt to purchase an actual notebook designed for the bullet journal system.

My personal favorite is this bullet journal from Promptly Journals.  Use code CHERITH15 to get 15% off your order at https://promptlyjournals.com/

Track Packing Checklist by Cherith Fluker

If you’re a bujo newbie or if you’re having trouble coming up with layout ideas, you might prefer to purchase a nicely bound bullet journal with high-quality paper.

And of course, you’ll need the best bullet journal supplies, including brush pens, stickers, and other fun stuff if you want so that you can be one of the bullet journalists that everybody envies!

Basic supplies that you’ll need to get started with bullet journaling

  1. Bullet Journal. My favorite is the Blank Journal from Promptly Journals
  2. Drawing Pens. Find the perfect drawing pens so that you can easily create crisp lines for your bullet journal. 
  3. Ruler. A ruler will help you draw perfect lines to keep information organized on the pages of your journal.  The best part is that you can make sections as big or as small as you need them to be. 
  4. Circle tool. Drawing circles in your journal is a breeze with this circle tool from Amazon. 
  5. Paper adhesive. If you want to paste pictures or other things in your journal, make sure to grab some paper adhesive
  6. Washi tape. Another option for pasting things into your journal is washi tape.  Washi tape is fun to use and really adds character and charm to your journal. 
  7. Stickers. Do I even need to explain?  Stickers are so fun and would definitely make your bullet journal super cute.  These travel stickers are my pick for your bullet journal packing list. 

Of course, you can choose many (or as few) of these supplies as you’d like.  The fun thing about bullet journaling is that you can be as creative or basic as you want to be.  

If you’re traveling to a destination that you visit regularly, you’ll have this packing list to refer back to over and over again!

Once decide which supplies you’re going to use for your bullet journal packing list, it’s time to get started on your journaling journey!

bullet journal packing list

Create categories to keep like items together.

Packing can get chaotic pretty quickly, so it’s important that you take time to create a master list so that you don’t get too overwhelmed while you’re doing a brain dump. S to get ideas from your head. Stay organized by creating main categories for your vacation packing list. Here are some examples of categories that you can use to create your bullet lists: clothes, important documents, accessories, toiletries, medical, electronics, and miscellaneous.

Categories are a way to keep a bunch of related ideas together and make your planning much more efficient. You’re bound to have the right things in your bags if you’re intentional about creating a list of things that you’ll need on your trip.

Though you may determine that there are better ways  to categorize your list as you become more comfortable with bullet journaling, here are some basic categories to get you started:

Clothes

Think about your itinerary. What’s on the agenda? What’s the weather like at your destination? Will you be doing lots of walking? Will you need multiple outfits for different events?

These are all things that you will need to think about as you prepare to pack clothes that you’ll need on your trip. If you have kids, you’ll need to think about this for the entire family!

As you plan, don’t forget items such as underwear, jackets, exercise clothes, and pajamas. These items are often overlooked when packing.

Important Documents

What documents will you need on your trip? If you’re traveling abroad, you might need a passport. Are you attending a show or other event that requires a ticket for entry? Are you going somewhere that requires proof of vaccination? Will you need copies of travel documents or other documents? Think hard about all the events that you have scheduled during your trip so that you don’t forget to pack documents that you might need while you’re away.

Accessories

Have you ever arrived at your destination, ready to relax and then realized that you forgot your slippers? Don’t let this be you. Take time to list all of the shoes and accessories that you might need while you’re on vacation. Do you need hiking boots, snow boots, belts, ties, earrings, watches, or sunglasses?

Planning this out prior to your trip will help you remember the small things that often go overlooked when packing.

Toiletries

Toiletries are probably the most forgotten items when packing. Do you agree? That’s why many hotels and resorts have these essential items readily available for sale. Think about all the items that you’ll need on your vacation and add them to your list. Don’t forget items like shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and feminine hygiene products.

Medical

If you or a family member takes medication regularly, don’t forget to add this to your packing list. Also, depending on your destination, you may need to pack extra medical items in case of emergencies. For instance, if you’re going hiking, you may need to pack some extra bandages, insect repellant, or muscle rub. Think about the different scenarios that you may encounter while you’re on your trip and pack important things that you may need to tend to possible medical needs.

Electronics

Electronics are a huge part of the vacation, especially if you’re traveling a long distance by car. Make sure you pack your tablets or other devices and don’t forget those extra chargers, too!

Miscellaneous Items

Sometimes, there are other items that you might need that don’t quite fit any of these categories. Things like lamps, umbrellas, binoculars, dryer sheets, and cameras fall in this category. Take some time to think about all the things you may need on your trip and write them down so that you don’t forget them when you begin packing.

Remember, the nice thing about bullet journaling is that you can make it your own.  There’s no right or wrong way to do it. So, use these categories, or create your own.  The important thing is that you make it work for you.  Adjust your categories as needed to help yourself get organized and hopefully pack all the things you need on your vacation. 

List all the items you need in the proper categories

After you have decided on the categories that suit your needs, go ahead and begin listing all the items in the proper categories.  The trick here is to start making your list as early as possible so that you have time to think, think, and think again about what you’ll need while you’re away. 

Keep adding to the list as needed when you think of additional items that you may need. 

Tip:  Some people like to use mini sticky notes to add items to their lists instead of writing directly in their bullet journals. This way, you can move items around or add or delete items until you get your list just the way you want it. 

Check your list twice

After you’ve listed all the items that you think you want to pack for your vacation, check your list.  Seriously, you’ve got to be like Santa Claus: make that list and check it twice! It might be a good idea to do a quick online search of suggested items to pack for the destination that you’re traveling to just to make sure that you don’t overlook something that you really need. 

As you check your list, this is a good time to reevaluate your choices.  Do you absolutely need everything that you’ve put on your list? If you’re traveling with your family or with a group, you need to be mindful of the number of bags that you’re packing.  Try to trip your list the necessities so that you don’t have to worry about taking lots of extra stuff that you simply do not need. 

Check items off your list as you set them aside

As you gather your items, check them off the packing list so that you know exactly what you have and don’t have. I like to make small stacks of like items (keeping them in the same categories) before putting them into the suitcase. Obviously, you can use whatever method you’d like, just as long as you are keeping track of the items that you are placing into the suitcase. 

Pack everything

After you’ve made your list, checked it twice, and gathered everything into stacks, it’s time to put everything in your suitcase. Packing cubes make it very easy for you to keep your luggage organized as you pack. 

The New York Times Travel has all the details of packing a suitcase in this article: How to Pack a Suitcase.  Check it out for tips and tricks for how to pack everything neatly and efficiently. 

bullet journal for travel planning

Other travel uses for a bullet journal

I absolutely love the flexibility of a bullet journal.  There are countless ways to use bullet journals, especially for travel.  In addition to using a bullet journal as a packing list, you can also use bullet journals for travel in the following ways:

Travel budget

Budgeting for travel is a great way to make sure that you can comfortably go on vacation without causing a financial strain on your budget. The Penny Hoarder gives tips for using your bullet journal for budgeting your money! It includes a savings and a spending tracker which is a great way to stay within your travel budget before and during vacation.

Travel itinerary

A bujo travel itinerary is great for keeping track of what you want to do while you’re on vacation.  Planning your itinerary ensures that you get to do all of the things that you want to do while you’re at your destination.  Use a bullet journal to schedule things you want to do each day.  You can also use the bujo to make reservations for the activities. 

Conclusion

Bullet journals are extremely popular and that’s primarily due to the fact that they are so useful and really fun to create.  I may just have to plan a vacation soon so that I can create a fun new bullet journal packing list!

In addition to using a bullet journal to plan your packing, you can also plan your budget and your itinerary.  

The beauty of bullet journaling is that there is no right or wrong way to do it! Grab your supplies and get busy planning your next adventure!

You might also like this wellness planner from Ivory Paper Co.

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