Minimal Floral 2025 Bullet Journal Setup

I feel like we all say this every year, but I can’t believe it’s 2025. It feels like such a futuristic year, maybe because it’s the year I turn 40. 🙈

My plan this year was to do a simple setup, and for the most part, I’d say this setup was simple, but it was much more time consuming than I’d planned. Fortunately, I did find several days over the holidays where I could sit and watch movies with family while doodling dozens of flowers and leaves. I made more mistakes in this year’s Bullet Journal setup than I normally feel like I do, but that’s the nature of it, right? I finally conceded that as long as it works for me, the mistakes are OK.

This year, I left most of the spreads that I had from last year — the title page, quote, future log, client kanban, studio numbers and rent spreads were all carried over. Last year, I never filled out my goals or vision board page, so I made sure to focus on completing that first.

New additions in this year’s 2025 Bullet Journal Setup are the Activity Log — I started focusing more on fitness last year and have a few goals for myself that I’d like to achieve — Where I Started section as well as the When Did I Last section.

All that said, here she is!

Supplies Used:

• A5 Archer and Olive Notebook

• Tombow Fudenosuke Hard Tip Brush Pen

• SAKURA Micron Fineliner Pens

• Arrtx Acrylic Markers

• Tombow Permanent Adhesive

• Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Brush Pen, Earth Tones

• Japanese Style .35mm Gel Pens

2025 Bullet Journal Title Page

Originally, I planned to cut the edged of the 0 and 5 to reveal more floral decorations on the spread behind, but I was happy with how this looked, so I chickened out. :)

Year Of The Snake

When designing my yearly pages, I searched for inspiration by looking up the Chinese Lunar New Year animal for 2025. It’s the Year of the Wood Snake, and I found myself resonating deeply with its symbolism. The characteristics of the Wood Snake — such as creativity, wisdom, growth, and self-discovery — felt like a perfect reflection of what I hope to embrace this year.

Initially, I sketched a few pages featuring snake motifs, but I worried I might tire of them over time. Instead, I opted for a more universally appealing theme for my main pages. However, I dedicated an entire spread to the Year of the Wood Snake, complete with its key traits and symbolic meanings. This spread serves as a visual reminder of the qualities I’m aiming to embody and the energy I want to carry throughout 2025.

Quote Page and Year At A Glance

I fully agree with other bullet journalers who say they don’t need a year at a glance because it’s so much easier to pull out your phone to look at a calendar.

For me, after 10 years of creating notebooks with a YAAG, there’s something almost meditative about filling in the numbers, one by one. Plus, having that overview of the year tucked into those early pages helps me feel organized and ready to tackle whatever comes next.

My quote page this year features a line from Winston Churchill. Unfortunately, I ran out of room to credit him directly on the page itself, but his words are there to inspire me every time I open my journal. Little details like this remind me why I’ve stuck with bullet journaling for so long—it’s not just about planning; it’s about creating something deeply personal and meaningful.

Future Log

The future log is another spread that bullet journalers often grow tired of creating. Again, I find this practice meditative and enjoy creating it every year.

I find a Future Log incredibly helpful. For me, it’s a place to hold dates that are definitely happening as well as events that may or may not happen, but I want to be sure to leave open and be reminded of just in case.

Goals and Vision Board

Last year, I never got around to completing my goals page or vision board, and whether it’s coincidental or not, my 2024 seemed to reflect that. It felt like a year where I was floating stressfully without a clear sense of purpose or direction. That experience motivated me to prioritize setting goals and intentions for 2025.

While my goals spread isn’t fully filled out yet (and I’m not keen on sharing all of them online), you get the general idea. For my vision board, I’ve intentionally left a few blank spaces for text. I’ve learned that I prefer to start the year slowly and ease into my plans, allowing room for new ideas and unexpected inspirations to take shape. This approach helps me create a vision for the year that feels both intentional and adaptable.

Payment Charts

This spread is tailored to my personal and business needs, but I’m sharing it as an example of how bullet journaling can adapt to different aspects of life.

On one side, I keep a rental property payment log. My husband and I manage a few rental properties, and having a quick reference to track when payments come in ensures I don’t miss anything. I

On the other side, I track the number of photography shoots I complete and the gross income generated from them. For several years, I used a gray Tombow marker to indicate previous years’ numbers and a black pen to chart the current year’s progress. Although I’ve fallen out of the habit recently, I find this tracking method incredibly helpful, and I’m committed to keeping it updated this year.

To support this goal, I’ve included a dedicated “money day” in my monthly goals. This is a day to focus on financial organization, and part of the routine will involve updating this spread. With a consistent system in place, I’m hopeful I’ll be more committed and in tune to my business patterns and finances.

Client Kanban

This client workflow spread is a lifesaver for staying organized in my photography business, but it can easily be adapted for other types of projects or industries.

In this spread, I track every detail of each client’s workflow—from the package they chose to their permissions for sharing images on social media. Having this quick reference in my bullet journal saves me so much time compared to opening my CMS, locating their file, and checking forms every time I need to share a photo or check a detail.

This spread also keeps me on top of deadlines and deliverables. I use it to track when client products are due, when their print credits expire, and when I can expect their album to be delivered. It’s a streamlined, visual way to manage my photography business efficiently, and it helps ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

Where I Started and When Did I Last

"Where I Started" is a brand-new tracker for me, and I’m excited to give it a try! Tracking things like social media growth and savings on a monthly basis always felt tedious since both tend to grow slowly. Instead, I decided to check in twice a year. This approach feels more manageable and still allows me to see progress (hopefully!) over the course of the year.

“When Did I Last” is a tracker I experimented with a few years ago but ultimately found unnecessary at the time. Now that we’ve moved, I’m finding it harder to keep track of tasks like changing the air filters, which are inconveniently located in the ceiling and require a ladder to access. I’m hoping this tracker helps me stay on top of these kinds of tasks.

As for the other items I’ve added to this list, I’ll admit they’re mainly there because it felt odd to track just one thing. :) Still, I’m curious to see how useful this spread will be throughout the year.

2025 Illustrated

Just a week into the new year, I haven’t had any major events to illustrate (though I have a new cousin entering the world any day now!), but the intent behind this spread is to illustrate life’s major events as an overview. I wasn’t sure how much I’d enjoy or be able to commit to this spread, so, for this year, it’s only one page. If I enjoy the process and outcome for 2025, it may be a full spread in 2026.

2025 Themes

I’ve utilized this spread for a couple of years now, and I honestly have mixed feelings about it. Part of me really enjoys an overview of what colors and illustrations I’ve used so far in the year, but I also find it tedious to complete some months. I’m giving it one more go, and we’ll see if it makes it to 2026.

Activity Log and Books

This is something new for me! In the past, I’ve used the traditional Year in Pixels to track my mood, but I found it difficult to pinpoint just one emotion to sum up an entire day. This year, after diving into a weight training and running journey (with fitness-related, not weight-focused goals in mind), I decided to create an Activity Log. This log will track the workouts I complete each day, helping me stay motivated and on track. I haven't filled in the final box yet, but I anticipate it will be reserved for rest days—though I’m aiming to fit in at least a short walk during those times to stay active.

As for the Books I’ve Read page, it's pretty self-explanatory. I typically read between 50-70 books a year, and since I often forget key details about a book once it’s finished, I use these spreads to keep track of each one. I’ve added washi tape to connect several pages, which I’ll fill in throughout the year. Each entry includes a star rating and a brief summary of the book’s content. This way, when friends ask for recommendations, I can provide an easy reference.

As I move into 2025 with this new setup, I’m excited to see how these changes help me stay organized and focused on my goals. I’ve always believed that a Bullet Journal is more than just a planner—it's a tool for self-reflection, growth, and creativity. Even if things don’t always go according to plan or if I make mistakes along the way, that’s all part of the journey. Here’s to making this year one filled with progress, joy, and a little bit of art along the way.