Perpetual Calendar Setup Ideas for Bullet Journaling
By SumLilThings - Home to the Lil' Misfits | Published: 2026-10-28
Category: Buying Guides
Discover practical ways to integrate a perpetual calendar into your bullet journal setup, from monthly planning to washi tape organization, with step-by-step guidance.
Quick answer
To integrate a perpetual calendar into your bullet journal setup, dedicate a weekly spread where you slide the hanging back plate to match the current month's weekdays, then use the Washi Tower to store tapes you'll use for marking dates and events.
Why a perpetual calendar fits bullet journaling
A perpetual calendar is reusable year after year, so it aligns with the flexible, evolving nature of a bullet journal. Instead of buying a new dated planner each year, you adjust the calendar's back plate to match the current month's weekdays, which saves time and reduces waste.
The included month wheel lets you select the month, so you can flip between months without rewriting your setup. This is especially useful when you plan ahead or review past entries.
Trade-off: physical vs. digital planning
While digital calendars offer instant syncing and reminders, a physical perpetual calendar gives you a tangible, distraction-free view of your month. It can serve as a visual anchor in your bullet journal, helping you stay focused during planning sessions.
The trade-off is that you need to manually adjust the calendar each month, but this ritual can become a helpful checkpoint in your planning routine.
How to set up your perpetual calendar in a bullet journal
- Choose a dedicated spread: Designate a weekly or monthly spread in your bullet journal where the perpetual calendar will live. Keep it accessible, like the first page of your weekly log, so you can refer to it daily. Check that the spread has enough blank space around the calendar for notes and habit tracking.
- Align the back plate with the current month: Slide the hanging back plate so the weekday row matches the first day of the current month. Then rotate the month wheel to select the correct month. Verify the alignment with a known date, like the 1st. Double-check alignment at the start of each month to avoid misdating entries.
- Use the Washi Tower for tape storage: Place the Washi Tower near your bullet journal and fill it with washi tapes you use for color-coding events, deadlines, or decorations. This keeps tapes visible and easy to grab during planning. Sort tapes by color or usage frequency to speed up your weekly setup.
- Mark important dates with washi tape: Use small washi tape strips to highlight birthdays, appointments, or deadlines on the calendar. This adds a visual cue without permanently altering the calendar, so you can reuse it next year. Remove tape at month's end to keep the calendar clean and ready for reuse.
Product facts
- 2025 Perpetual Calendar & Washi Tower®: The perpetual calendar includes a sliding hanging back plate and a month wheel, and it pairs with the Washi Tower for storing washi tapes. This setup lets you quickly align the calendar to the current month and keep your decorative tapes organized within reach for marking important dates.
2025 Perpetual Calendar & Washi Tower®
