Bullet journaling - is it life changing?

[pastypirate]

Should I order a bullet journal? I'm going back to work after months on sick leave (mh) so looking for new habits to help with anxiety and just general being on top of life.

Thoughts?

You can use any notebook, you don’t need all the fancy accessories to start with unless that’s your thing.

I’m not particularly creative so just make a simple one, I do a calendar at the beginning of each month, a to-do list for the month then create a page per week.

I’ve fallen out of the habit a bit though so have bought a new notebook and plan to add more personal goals rather than just admin jobs!

@pastypirate

Ah there was a nice turquoise one reduced to a fiver on prime I've ordered it 😀

I know the responses are saying no need for special notebook but I'm interested in starting this too and I know a 'special notebook' will make me feel like I'm starting it off properly. @pastypirate would you mind sharing the link to the one you found on Prime please?

Can't think of anything more frustratingly boring and time- sinking myself, but some people swear by it.

@FireandBrimstone it's gone back up I'm afraid it was this one.

Dotted Journal Notebook Diary Pen Loop - Premium Thick Paper - Two bookmarks- Hardcover - 8.4'' x 5.7'' - Mint Green https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09JKLD9SD/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcZPC4881DD6Z4TFQ0NZPF

If you put 'bullet journal in the search it comes up with quite spendy ones. If you put 'bullet notebook' instead it gives cheaper options that's how I found the now not discounted one. Annoying!

I'm surprised by all the positive comments. I found it just another enabler to my well practiced art of procrastination.
I am arty, so keep a sketchbook which satisfies my creativity, but bullet journaling was time wasting exercise in making sure everything looked just so, researching different pens and supplies and then getting sidetracked by videos on Staitionery pal etc.

can anyone recommend a pen that doesn't bleed for journal writing? I tend to use Uniball Eye fine/micro for work and don't have a biro at home at all. I have bought a couple of journals to give as Xmas gifts and have a spare one I will keep for me but the paper in them is thin and the Uniball bleeds through which is offputting! Hard to fine any details online and wondering if a Papermate rollerball biro is what I need...

@ineedsun

I’ve just been looking at this. I don’t really understand the point of the index pages. Can anyone enlighten me as to why they’re needed?

I don't use an index. I put strips of coloured washi tape down the edges of pages to colour-code them for different uses. Either the whole edge or like page tabs. For example I keep a list of books I've read, track gym visits, note freelance hours worked etc and can find these pages easily.

I used it for my work - a new page per week with the days down the left hand side. Meetings notes kept in the 'to-do's on the right hand side. Next week, carried over to-dos to the next week if there were any. I keep it very simple, box for a to-do which is then ticked when done. I never did the forwarding on of to-dos, I just ticked when done. Quite satisfying on a friday afternoon to tick everything off and start with a blank list the next week.

@SusannaQueen

I'm surprised by all the positive comments. I found it just another enabler to my well practiced art of procrastination. I am arty, so keep a sketchbook which satisfies my creativity, but bullet journaling was time wasting exercise in making sure everything looked just so, researching different pens and supplies and then getting sidetracked by videos on Staitionery pal etc.

I think this is the problem. The original idea has been hijacked by arty people with loads of time who have turned it into a creative competition on Pinterest etc. That works for them, but at its core it is just a method of writing to do lists and keeping your life in order. I think it is worth watching the video PPs have linked, which I think explains the basics and go from there.

If you are doing it for efficiency reasons, don't get hijacked by searching for the perfect pens, washi tapes and stencils though. Just jump in with a pen you like and start writing lists.

If you like a book, this is the one by Ryder Carroll, who I think devised the system. It is not too expensive in paperback atm:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0008261407/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_dl_353QK34BF5F8FB5QBF13?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

@itwasntaparty

Isn't it just writing lists? I've always written lists

It is writing lists, but the benefit for me is being able to find the list when you need it, which was where I generally failed before.

The point of the index pages is that you can find the page you want when you need it. The idea is that you don’t spend any time or energy fretting about what goes where or setting up categories in advance. You just start. When you think of a useful page you want to start, you just turn to the next page, reflect on a useful title, and then start it. Add it to the index, job done. Because you always use the next page, you don’t need a book with pre-numbered pages, because it takes no time at all to write the next page number on the next page.

@pastypirate thank you and for the top tips also

Does anyone use clever fox?

@YesILikeItToo

The point of the index pages is that you can find the page you want when you need it. The idea is that you don’t spend any time or energy fretting about what goes where or setting up categories in advance. You just start. When you think of a useful page you want to start, you just turn to the next page, reflect on a useful title, and then start it. Add it to the index, job done. Because you always use the next page, you don’t need a book with pre-numbered pages, because it takes no time at all to write the next page number on the next page.

I love this idea. The first perm page I can think of will be my mileage for work - always kept this in the front of my diary anyway. I can build on this system