Are you a list maker? Do you have lists of lists? Do you have sticky notes stuck all around? Half-used planners from years past? Do you ever stop conversations to write something down? Are you a visual learner? Do you love using a planner? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may love Bullet Journals!
While I do love putting appointments and reminders in my Google Calendar on my cell phone, I can’t fight the fact that I am a very tactile and visual person. The Bullet Journal is planner meets journal meets sketch pad meets creativity and organization- all in one. It’s one place for all the lists and all the plans! It’s become very therapeutic for me to have a place to journal and also organize my days. I love making little doodles on my doodle spread when I have time or jotting down the words that my daughter, C, is saying now. With two kids under five, I need my lists to help me stay focused and get things done each day.
By definition, “The Bullet Journal is a customizable and forgiving organization system. It can be your to-do list, sketchbook, notebook, and diary, but most likely, it will be all of the above. It will teach you to do more with less.” – www.bulletjournal.com
It’s most basic form allows for rapid logging and tracking of information and dates as needed. You have a key and an index to keep track of your events, tasks, thoughts and ideas. The more involved Bullet Journal or “Bujo,” as they’re sometimes called, includes weekly or monthly spreads, “collections” or pages of lists and things you want to keep together. You can also track habits that you are working on, like drinking enough water and exercise goals.
For me, I love the customizable part of bullet journaling.
I can change the weekly and monthly spreads as my needs change. I can try a different format every time until I find what works best for me! I love having space to write little notes about the kids’ development and to keep track of habits that I’m trying to change. I have pages for meal planning, pages for monthly memories, goals and dreams, and lists and lists of things I want to do or remember. Before Bullet Journaling, I would try and keep a journal to write things about the kids, a notebook for meal planning, a list of projects, and sticky notes with quotes I love. Now they are ALL in my Bujo.
I also love the creative side of bullet journaling.
By using a grid journal for my Bujo, I can doodle, color, Zentangle and add washi tape to my heart’s delight. At least I can when I have time! The sky’s the limit. If stamps and stickers are your thing, you can do them too! Are you an artist? Want to watercolor or doodle? You can! Or if I want, I can keep my Bujo simple and functional.
Not to mention that the Bujo community is awesome. There are many groups on Facebook full of people sharing the BuJo love and their amazing Bujo spreads. There are fitness Bujo groups, mental health groups, and mom groups! There is an organizational template for everyone. I love that when my journal is full, I won’t just trash it because it’s a journal that is fun to look back on!
Want to get started? It’s easy. All you really need is a notebook and pen! Yes, there are lots of fancy notebook and pen options, but you can get started with whatever you have or what your budget allows. What kind of planner or system do you use to keep your life organized?
