Part planner, part diary, part written-meditation. Bullet journaling is able to turn your chaotic life and thoughts into a streamlined system of your own personal style and needs.
Breaking down what a bullet journal is.
The method used for bullet journals was created by Ryder Carroll, who suffers from ADD -like me!- and found it hard to keep his priorities in check, hence why he decided to invent a way that works for him.
"Rather than keep notes like other people, I figured out how to organize and sort information the way that my mind works." -Carroll
Every layout can be altered to your wants and needs, helping you reach your personal and professional goals in a more effective manner. With sections like monthly overviews, a log for your daily to-do lists, or weekly goal charts to keep you on track for your New Years resolution- this journal is 100% customizable to include anything you may need to write down or remember in your life. I even include a gratitude section and memory boxes for each week so I can look back and reflect while still being able to look ahead towards the future.
Now, it may be a little overwhelming to see the vast amount of symbols used within these journals (I still don't use half of them myself) or how technical some users can be with their own journals but as someone who has pretty sub-par art skills I still find myself enjoying the time I spend making my spreads and coming up with creative new themes for each month.
If anything, its super therapeutic to focus in for an hour or two and just create something that you know will be put to good use. I've figured out I'm more inclined to use mine when I spend more time designing my spreads to make them look nice and pretty (although "nice and pretty" could mean different depending on your standard for artistic abilities).
“It doesn't matter what your bullet journal looks like. It's about how it makes you feel, and how effective it is in moving you towards the things that matter to you.” -Carroll
What You Need to Start
Before you go out and buy a blank dotted journal and art supplies ask yourself, "What do I want this bullet journal to do for me?". Is it going to help you keep on track with assignments in school/work? Is it to document life memories? Is it a planner to stay up to date with life events? Maybe its a combination of these things and more but nailing down what its purpose is will help you better design it to equip your needs.
After you've figured out your bullet journals destiny its time to buy one. So where do I do that? Amazon is always a great option if you're wanting to check out a different variety of journals but I got mine at a local bookstore in their planner and notebook section. The brand name of mine is Leuchtturm1917 and I purchased it for a few reasons.
One, its a dotted journal which means its great for designing layouts and creating crisp lines and lettering. Two, the pages are pretty thick which means it can handle my messy watercolors, bleeding markers and white-out mistakes without wasting the page behind the one you're working on. And thirdly, it seemed to be reaonably priced and a commonly used journal in the #BujoCommunity on Instagram.
Next you might want to invest in some fun markers or pens (although its not necessary). People use anything from watercolors, to TomBow brushes, to Washi tape and stencils to decorate and create their spreads. It really depends on your own personal preference. When I first began my bullet journal I was using simple markers I found around my house before I got more into it and decided to invest in ~fancier~ tools like watercolors to make my spreads more "me".
What You Should Include
Remember bullet journaling is more about tracking your progress than about making it look good but in general every bullet journal should include these sections in the following order (or an order that makes sense to you because thats what matters).-
Index: This section is at the front of your notebook and serves as a table of contents with page numbers to different collections and a symbol key that you update as you go. (I did not do this section because I know I'm not an index person at ALL, I live in the moment and the thought of having this all planned ahead gave me the jitters).
Future Log: This four-page spread is a year-at-a-glance calendar with future events, goals, and long-term tasks. Add birthdays, travel plans, and major holidays. I also include resolutions and goals for the year in this section.
Monthly Log: This two-page spread includes a calendar with a bird's-eye view of the month and a task page with things you want to tackle during the month. You can also add other monthly tracking pages ("modules") including personal, fitness, finance, or book log. This is also a great place to include a dream log, memory section, or monthly goals.
Daily Log: This is your day-to-day to-do list. I usually do my daily logs as a weekly overview section that takes up about a page to two pages for each week of the month. I like to alter the amount of room used for each day's tasks or planning depending on how busy of a week I will have- but I recommend leaving enough room to create fun spreads and write out tasks without being cut short.
Getting Inspired
Okay, so I know the overwhelming feeling of staring at a completely blank journal and being terrified to put your pen to the paper and ruining it right away. I'm here to say, don't worry so much! This whole journal is about bettering yourself so you gotta start somewhere. Don't be afraid to make mistakes!
Craving some inspiration? There are an immense amount of #bujo accounts on Instagram, Pinterest, and even Reddit. Simply search #bujoinspiration to stumble across a HUGE variety of different styles, spreads, and pages. Looking for more a specific page? Search things like #octobermonthlyspread or #witchthemespread find exactly what you're looking for.
In my own opinion, I found that creating an instagram page for my bullet journaling has helped me track my progress while helping to create a fan base for those sharing a passion for bullet journaling. You can check it out here but keep in mind that I warned you I'm an amateur. For more legitimate inspiration I would check out the people I follow or those following me since they've been at this way longer and take it way more seriously than my style of bullet journaling.
But we're already a week into the new year...
Who cares! I started my bullet in the middle of May last summer and with a few simple adjustments I was able to organize it in a way that made sense and worked. These bullet journals are 100% customizable which means you could start it today, tomorrow, or a month from now. Simply adjust your future log to fit your timeline!
Plus, this could be a tool you pick up for 2020 and continue to grow with it during the course of the year. Bullet journaling has helped me keep on track and get sh*t done in ways I never thought were possible. Make this the year that you start a new skill, you'll be surprised just how satisfying and addicting it is.
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