Personal Interest – Bullet Journaling
What is a Bullet Journal?
Okay, so first things first – what is a bullet journal? It can be anything you want it to be! It traditionally began as a method of note-taking and traditional journaling, and has since grown into a creative outlet that can be home to whatever your desire. It can be a planner, journal, and sketchbook that perfectly satisfies any need you have. There isn’t a journal or planner on the market that can do that besides the bullet journal. Below, we have dove in to find you the best ways to help get your bullet journaling started!
Step 1: Adjust Your Mindset
Your first notebook will be your learning notebook. Like any productivity method, it will take time to find a bullet journaling flow and structure that works for you. Don’t prematurely optimize and go all out with a handmade leather journal. That’s too much pressure. Any creative endeavor involves letting go of perfection. Bullet journaling is no different. Make a mess.
Step 2: Get a Journal and Writing Utensils
Start with an inexpensive notebook —  one you like but feel okay making mistakes in or throwing away if it doesn’t work out. Opt for a journal with blank pages (lined or unlined, your choice) instead of one with pre existing sections, so you can customize it. As for writing tools, start with a pencil so you can erase easily. But if you’re a die-hard ballpoint pen person or gel pen lover, you use what’s best for you.
Step 3: Start an Index Page
The index is the backbone of your BuJo (Bullet Journal) system. Think of it like the table of contents in a book. This will be your reference key to find certain sections or pages in your bullet journal.
Step 4: Create Logs
Logs are staples of the bullet journal system. Essentially, these are places where you can braindump tasks and projects you’re currently working on. It’s also your storehouse for future goals.
In general, there are three types of logs:
– A Future Log helps you keep track of items that aren’t yet on your immediate radar. In Getting Things Done (GTD) terms, this is similar to a someday/maybe list.
– Monthly Logs include things like calendars and categorized goal lists for the next 30 days.
– Daily Logs may includes entries of to-dos, meetings, and reminders.
Simplicity is a top tenet of BuJo, so keep your entries brief. For instance, “Write draft of Chapter 1” or “Call Amy re: birthday plans” is more than sufficient, as long as you can interpret the shorthand.
Step 5: Pick Signifiers
Many people use bullets for lists of tasks, circles for events, and dashes for notes. Stars commonly denote high-priority items. Of course, this is all customizable, and over time you’ll arrive at a system of symbols that’s unique to you. You’ll track personal signifiers on a reference page.
Step 6: Document Items with Collections
Collections are running lists and anything you want to remember for later:
– Books you want to read
– Movies you want to watch
– Friends you want to reconnect with
– Things you’re grateful for
– Blog topics
– Self-care ideas
And lots more. These are typically kept toward the back of your notebook since they don’t change very often.
Step 7: Make Time for Itv Schedule time to update your journal. After all, no productivity method works unless you put effort into it. Cross off items on your daily and monthly logs as you complete them. Write page numbers on the bottom of each page, and update your Index. Many BuJo enthusiasts do a monthly or quarterly review, taking time to reflect on what they accomplished, their future goals, and to transfer items from one log to the next.
Step 8: Get Better, Gradually
Over time, you’ll home in on a bullet journaling process that fits your needs and preferences. Once you get your standard page formats down, you can move on to optimizing your process in other ways. Maybe you can work on improving your handwriting. Or add washi tape to make finding frequently flipped-to pages easier. There are lots of helpful online resources created by the innovative BuJo community.
