Bullet Journal Weekly vs. Daily Spreads

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There can be a lot of confusion when it comes to weekly vs daily spreads in a bullet journal.

To understand the differences between these options, I created this detailed post.

You will learn whether daily spreads or weekly spreads are better and how these can help you become more productive.

I’ll even show you how to use both at the same time if you have a hard time deciding.

Bullet Journal Weekly vs. Daily Spreads | The Ultimate Guide

What Is A Spread?

weekly vs daily spreads

If you are new to the bullet journal community, you may be confused about the terminology used.

I encourage you to read the below post if this describes you, as it goes over in great detail all things bullet journal.

As for spreads, they are the heart of the bullet journal.

The best way to explain them is they are a pages or pages on a topic that you can use to get a complete overview.

In terms of planning, a spread would be you upcoming day or week and the things you need to get done as well as what your goals are.

The fun part comes next, which is what this post is all about, what type of spread should you choose?

What Is A Weekly Spread?

A weekly bullet journal is a layout for you to see your entire week on one page.

By starting a weekly spread, you will easily create an outline for the things you want to plan for the upcoming week.

This bullet journal weekly spread will allow you to get an overview of your week quickly.

A weekly spread is designed, as a rule, for every day of the week, by simply creating equal sections on your log.

Additionally, there can be sections for dinner or breakfast planning, for weather, house chores, weekly trackers (water or habit trackers), or for anything else that is important to you.

Weekly Spread Pros And Cons

Depending on your needs, every journal weekly spread enables a custom design.

You can directly add or play around with every item and section you want.

Now that you understand what a weekly spread means, we can discuss the pros and cons of a bullet journal weekly log.

Weekly Spread Pros

  • You can easily track tasks for the week
  • You can see from the start what you’ve planned for the whole week
  • Your progress can be easily seen
  • You can see what tasks you’ve missed that week
  • You’ll be setting up the spread only once a week
  • You can reach your goals by simply making smaller steps and completing them one at a time
  • Allows for rapid logging

Weekly Spread Cons

  • You won’t have a lot of extra space to write your tasks for each day
  • You won’t have a lot of room for any additional elements after finishing your weekly spread

What Is A Daily Spread?

simple daily spread
Source: @Nikjournals

To better understand a daily journal, imagine how your life would look like with everything planned ahead.

A daily spread or a daily log are places where you can keep track of your notes, important tasks, or upcoming events.

In the bullet journal daily, you will be writing your planning needs.

You can go into great detail for everything you have in mind for that day.

You can update your daily log at any time.

You can write the date and start listing all of your tasks.

These are some examples of things you can add to your daily log:

  • daily menu
  • a grocery list
  • a water tracker
  • a daily review
  • appointments
  • notes
  • creative ideas you have

With unlimited space, you can doodle or draw on your daily log and post, too.

Daily Spread Pros And Cons

Both weekly and daily spreads have their advantages and disadvantages.

As we walked you through the pros and cons of weekly spreads, it is now time to do the same for daily logs.

Daily Spread Pros

  • You have plenty of space for creating a to-do list or a pre-plan
  • You have the whole page to allow for more creativity
  • You get to focus on one day’s tasks
  • Allows for rapid logging

Daily Spread Cons

  • You have to design the daily log a night before
  • You need to create one page on a daily basis
  • It can be exhausting to know you have much more space and, you will feel the need to fill up a whole page per day

What Is A Monthly Spread?

monthly spread
Source: @bujobeyond

You will be surprised to hear that the monthly spread is often the favorite option.

The reason for this is most people like to keep it simple, so planning your month in a calendar format can sound more tempting.

Plus we are so used to monthly planning because of the monthly calendar.

You should have particular spots to write down your goals for the month, but there is no right way to set up your tasks.

These monthly spreads differ from person to person.

How To A Combination Of Spreads In Your Bullet Journal

Probably the best part of a bullet journal spread is the ability to make it exactly as you want it.

When you buy a daily planner, you are set in stone how you use it.

But with a bujo, you can flip back and forth between using a daily layout or a weekly bullet journal.

You can even use both methods at the same time.

Here is how this could work.

Create a layout of 6 boxes, one for each weekday and one for the weekend.

While you can design them based on personal preferences, I like the look of 4 boxes or days on one page and 2 boxes or days at the top of the next page.

Then with the empty space below, I make a list of the things I need to get done during the week.

This bullet journal method allows me to get the benefits of both options.

You can set up your spreads any way you like. If you like the look of a vertical layout, then set up your week or even your entire month this way.

On the other hand, if you find horizontal layouts are more appealing to you, use them.

Frequently Asked Questions

frequently asked questions

What does a daily log look like?

A daily log can be customized exactly as you wish to.

Most times a daily log has a single day per page, giving you ample space to write out your daily goals.

However, you are not restricted to a single day per page.

You can design it any way you want.

In fact, you will find so many layouts and ideas for a daily log, that it can sometimes be hard for you to decide on how to design yours. 

Do I need a weekly spread?

If you like to plan your week ahead or set weekly goals, you most likely would love to use a weekly spread.

Seeing everything you need to do for the next week will comfort your mind and keep you relaxed.

It will be nice to see all of your tasks being under control.

Maybe there are so many things you need to track that a weekly spread becomes inevitable.

What is a weekly log?

A weekly log is a spread created for a specific week of a month so you can keep your habit trackers or future events in control.

Such a log usually consists of one single page spread to a maximum two page spread.

You can even use a weekly layout to make your job a lot easier.

Feel free to consider any designs or creative spreads to write your next post.

The original bullet journal system was created so that you don’t have to feel pressured when creating your own bullet journal. 

Weekly logs are the most common in bullet journals. All seven days will be accessible to you in two pages.

What should I write in my weekly log?

Writing your weekly log may seem challenging at first, but keep in mind that, at the same time, it will help you get organized.

What type of information will be helpful for you?

Start to write events, appointments, birthdays, plan your holiday or break, include your weekly menu, or make comments on the existing spreads.

The things you can do are so diverse that they will eventually lead you in the right direction.

Below you can find a list of tracker box ideas for a weekly log:

  • cleaning schedule
  • diet
  • habit tracking
  • meditation
  • studying
  • water drinking reminder
  • workout schedule
  • skincare routine
  • appointments
  • recreational challenges
  • social media post
  • mental health

How does a future log work?

A future log is a simple spread to start your new journal.

Here you can write notes for the following months or decide for how many months you want to plan.

Once you set up your tasks, you can start designing and sectioning your page so there will be enough space for all months.

How do I decide between weekly and daily logs?

Determining the type of spread to use can be overwhelming to some people.

Keep in mind that bullet journalling comes in different shapes: daily, weekly or monthly log.

Choosing between weekly spread vs daily vs monthly can be a challenge, but once you assess your needs, you will be able to make a decision.

At the very least, you can use a combination of spreads to meet your needs.

Final Thoughts

To sum it up, a daily spread consists of a one or two-page layout.

Writing your tasks will be restricted to a single day. You will start a new plan the night before.

On the other hand, weekly spreads cover your tasks and events for 7 days.

Once made, you’ll only read your post and complete your goals.

When it comes to monthly spreads, you can keep your monthly bullet journaling at a glance.

It is up to you how you go about designing and planning your bullet journal.

One final tip that I need to say.

Don’t make comparisons with other journals.

Seeing fancy daily logs or daily spreads on the Internet can put you under pressure.

Don’t blame yourself if your post doesn’t look like one of those stylized images on Pinterest.

Depending on how you choose to organize your life, you can take a break from all the chaos and realize that creativity and productivity can be on your side.

If you miss a day, don’t worry! Get back in and start your next post and log and go from there.

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