Why+How I Bullet Journal — 1 Year In
Checking things off of to-do lists feeds my soul. With bullet journaling I am more productive and less anxious.
I have spent years trying to find the “right” calendaring, to do and note taking system. I have always identified with using paper to do lists, combined with my (necessary) electronic calendar.
I needed a system that was flexible when meeting ad-hoc needs, but organized enough to make it easy to plan and visualize daily goals.
As each year ended, I would spend hours at Staples pouring over different pre-made calendar options. The problem was, nothing worked. I needed a system that was flexible when meeting ad-hoc needs, but organized enough to make it easy to plan and visualize daily goals.
From the first moment that I read about Bullet Journaling a year ago, I was 100% hooked.
What is Bullet Journaling
I could use tons of words explaining Bullet Journaling, but this video (by the creator, Ryder Carroll) explains it perfectly:
Now that you know the basics, let me tell you a bit more about my setup.
Why Bullet Journaling Works for Me
Checking things off of to-do lists feeds my soul. With bullet journaling I am more productive and less anxious.
- Organized Chaos — Bullet journaling is a way to organize my daily to-do lists, as well as notes and ad-hoc events. Being able to create the day-to-day journal setup to meet the needs of that moment works wonders. There is just enough structure (in rapid logging) to feel in control, but the flexibility remains to make the page whatever it needs to be.
- Feeds my tactile need — I have always written out my daily plan and taken notes on paper (Yep-with a pen. Remember those?) Writing things down helps me commit them to memory, and feel more connected to the thoughts.
- It’s a history — I work at a growing startup, creating and leading a team. Things change every day — being able to thumb through the decisions made in my bullet journal is essential, and a fun look back at how much we’ve evolved. It is also immensely more helpful as a historical log than random sticky notes or index cards, which was the primary basis of my previous system.
- I am more productive and less anxious — Checking things off of a to — do list feeds my soul — it makes me feel satisfied and accomplished with my day’s tasks. There is always more work to be done than hours in the day. Using this setup helps me stay on task, and feel secure that things won’t be lost, even if everything doesn’t get done right now. This has been huge for me. And for my anxiety. And my sleep.
My Setup
When I first started my Bullet Journal I included a lot of different tracking pages and style in my setup— there is nothing wrong with this — but, for me, it was exhausting.
After a few months, I stripped my setup down to the bare basics (as seen above in Ryder’s video). Here is my current setup:
- Index — At the beginning of every journal, it is important to have an Index. An index gives you somewhere to map out where you add things throughout your notebook. This helps you track back to and find key spots in time or key note pages
- Yearly Overview — This is a yearly (month by month) planning spread. When I transitioned to a new notebook in June, I only added 6 months of my yearly overview, as it seems that I fill 1 notebook every 6 months
- Monthly Spread — Each month I do a monthly spread, with the days of the month on the left side of the spread, and a general to-do list on the right side. I have tried fancier ones, but this basic setup is what I keep going back to
- Daily Sheets — At the end of each (work) day I wrap up the day by creating my “daily” sheet for the next day. I start by writing down a list of scheduled or timed events for the next day (from my digital calendar). I then write down any to-do’s for the next day below my scheduled tasks. In the upper right corner of each day, I write down any full — day reminders (such as coworkers who are off, or birthdays). Below that, I write down any personal or home to-do’s that I must get accomplished (such as paying a bill).
Beyond that, each day is what it needs to be. I may only use half a page, or I may have a day full of meetings, and take three pages worth of notes. Regardless, at the end of each day, I turn to the next empty page, and write my next “Daily” sheet.
Tool that make me Happy
The awesome thing about Bullet Journaling is that it can be done in any notebook, and with any supplies. For me, a Bullet Journal is something I use daily, as such, I want a tools that stand up to this wear, and work with my needs for simplicity. My bullet journal tools include:
- Leuchtturm1917 Dotted Page notebook — I have loved two Leuchtturm1917 Dotted Page notebooks thus far. The dots make the pages incredibly versatile. I also appreciate the pre-numbered pages (great for keeping your index up to date). The notebook has a handy pocket on the back, which is prefect for stashing random notes, and two bookmarks — I like to keep one on my monthly spread and one on my daily spread.
- Zebra Pen— You can use any writing tool that you enjoy. I am happiest with a black pen, which is why I enjoy Zebra’s Gel Pen. Being left handed makes me incredibly picky regarding pens (smearing is no fun) — and I’ve loved these pens for years. I also have some PaperMate colored felt tip pens for use on my monthly spread, to add a small pop of color.
- Washi Tape — I use washi tape to mark special pages (details below) — it’s not essential, but it helps a lot
- A straight edge — I use a straight edge when making my monthly spreads, and at random times when making lists or dividing pages for a certain topic. The dotted grid helps to draw lines, but a straight edge is more accurate and faster. I found a nice triangle set at Michaels, which also fits (just barely) inside my notebook, if I wanted to keep it there.
Tips and Hacks
- Preparing ahead of time — Writing Daily Sheets the night before, as my work day ends, helps me to debrief at the end of the day. I am able to write out my plan and to-do’s for the next day, which lets me (as much as possible) leave work at work. It also allows me to start the next day with a plan, even when things get crazy.
- Pairing down to what works for me — There are so many wonderful bullet journal resources out there. So many that it is actually overwhelming at times. I began with a lot of color, tracking pages, and doodles. This was fun, but it took too much time and eventually wasn’t helpful for my needs. I gave myself permission to drop anything that wasn’t working. This permission was wonderful and let me pair down to what worked for me.
- Marking pages — I use washi tape to mark the top of key pages. Each month, I mark the monthly spread with silver washi tape. If I make special collections or notes pages that I need to frequently reference, I mark those with a different color as well. This makes flipping back to these pages quick and easy.
- Being okay with turning the page — Sometimes it’s easy to get locked in to using only one page per day. I find myself squeezing notes in here and there, to keep on a one-page rhythm. Other days, a page gets messy and hard to understand, and I just want to leave it. Remember you can turn the page, and spread out your notes as needed, start over, if you wish. That’s the beauty of this, anyway.
What do you use to stay organized? Do you have one system that is your true love?
I have the extreme pleasure to share the ups and downs of this journey with some wonderful folks over at Support Driven — A group for those who are serious about a career in Customer Support. Over the next 6 weeks we are focusing on writing for us, and have put together a fun writing challenge. Feel free to join us — we’d love to have you!
