Bullet Journal

[mercifulTehlu]

I've just found out about this fab way of organising your life, thanks to a kind poster on the 'people who are efficient ' thread. I was wondering if any other MNers are Bullet Journalers? here is the website if anyone's interested.

It's only a couple of days since I started my journal, but I can already see that it's going to revolutionise my ability to be organised. I've tried loads of apps, lists etc in the past, but have never really hit on a system that worked for me. I have very high hopes of this one though (plus it involves pretty stationery )!

I saw this on MN and am now on Day 3 of my BuJo! I've got so much done - looking at a task and thinking "If you don't do this today you're only going to have to write it in again tomorrow" has really helped. I've done loads of the kind of small, unpleasant tasks that you put off for weeks! I also love having my goals for February laid out at the start, then scheduling in daily tasks which take me closer to the goals! And I love that when you think "I must remember to pack the high chair when DS and DD go to their Granny's next week" you can just add 'high chair' to the 'things to pack for Granny's' collection, then you can just forget about it!

I'm still in the honeymoon period though, I think the true test is going to be in a few weeks when the novelty has worn off. I'm just using a cheapy Asda notebook at the minute, and I've promised myself a beautiful Leuchtturm 1917 dot grid notebook if I fill this one, to keep me motivated!

I'm feeling really really thick reading this thread, as I like the idea of it, but I don't think I am fully understanding it?! Need to watch more videos.

I have a feeling though that I could do this left handed, ie; I could work from the BACK of the book, which is easier for me to write on, with the spine on the right, instead of having to conform to writing in the conventional right handed way. Then I could just work from left to right instead of right to left. That to me would be the main benefit - what do any lefties here think?

Probably an odd thing to say, but I tend to hold the tasks in my head and complete them without an actual lists. Obviously I need a diary to remind me of birthdays and stuff, but I don't think you need to write the majority of tasks down, that just becomes a task in itself.

I know what you mean rainbow, I have just watched a video where a woman writes down 'walking the dog' and 'put on laundry' every single day! I mean, is that really necessary for an adult woman to do?!

i'm writing down stuff like that, but I'm not well at the moment, and can't concentrate on more than one thing at a time. If I write down "laundry", then I know that at some point in the day I'll go and check if I did actually manage to bring a load of laundry downstairs, put it in the machine, put in powder and conditioner and switch the bloody machine on . Or not forget there's wet washing in the machine going mouldy never done this, oh no

I think this system will work really well for me as I constantly have about a billion "to-dos" listed in my head, which makes me quite anxious.

Does anyone here with depression/anxiety use a BuJo, and if so do you find it has helped with the million thoughts you have?

Yes I agree, I don't write my washing in or how much water I drink. I am doing a Level 10 Life thing, done a version of that for business before and I liked it; a clothes I need list; household list; might write in my bucket list but long term things will just either have to be written in to each BuJo or you'd have to keep referring to your original BuJo, wouldn't you?
Also through my BuJo research I have discovered a workbook called Your Best Year 2016 which I have bought :)

Wow, I just saw this thread in Active conversations and dipped in. I've looked at the links and read it and this is what I do already. To a spookily similar level.

I've used a "bullet journal" for work for about 10 years it seems ( and everyone always comments on how well organised and on top of things I am). Since having DD I've used one in my home life too, so about four years.

I didn't know there was a name for it - in fact there wasn't when I started ...

I'm joining. Just returned to work after mat leave, we're a team member down, and I'm always working on several things at once. I've been busy but not feeling productive. I was just saying to dh I needed a system!! So I've bought a lovely notepad, nice pen and a ruler! Like others have said I'm not sure I fully "get" it but going to watch a few more videos. I also fancy the idea of one for home but will see how work goes first!

I don't get the detail either, writing down laundry or workout or anything else I do often wouldn't appeal

It has occurred to me that, as well as work, it would be good for money stuff. I constantly switch accounts etc and shop for better deals and a six month overview etc might help.

I've been doing a version of this my whole adult life. It works.

With regard to running one master list. I remember being on a staff management course at an Oxbridge University when a colleague from another department looked at me funny because I had work and domestic items on the same list (e.g. buy hamster food, check project x's monthly accounts, complete project y ethics form, book restaurant table for Valentine's Day, that kind of thing). She obviously thought this was 'unprofessional'. And this from a woman who was so muddled in life she could not even manage her own finances well enough to ensure she had enough money in her purse for lunch in the canteen, or reliably turn up to a meeting on time.

Another one, a person who worked in one of the labs and spent a lot of time moaning about how she couldn't cope, thought it was so appalling one of my list items was 'do bulk order of opaque tights' next to 'double check research contract for xx project' that she walked off in disgust from the group discussion activity muttering to herself. Again, she thought this was outrageous.

I note they were made redundant not long after the training course ... I was given an academic programme to run ....

I've been making lists for years - I'm amazed it's become a thing. I do it all on computer though.

The whole family are busy with various activities so I have a list of dates/events and I update it as I go along. Just a list of months in one column and a list of dates in the next and events in the third column etc. Because it's on a spreadsheet, it's very easy to delete events if they're cancelled or add in new ones as they crop up.

I also have a 'To Do Today' list. I type in a list of tasks and then colour them in red as I complete them.

If I was doing a hand -written version, I suspect I'd spend so long making it beautiful and artistic that I wouldn't achieve anything much.

Lorelei9 - at planning fun with like Sherlock!
I think that the fact that the BuJo is on paper appeals to some people and not others tbh.
The level of detail you want to include is going to be a personal thing, I think. I can see why people might find the idea of writing down every mundane task unnecessary, but I'm not sure it's really time-consuming - I mostly write all my tasks for the day at once, so including 'washing, kitchen floor, hoover stairs' isn't really going to make much difference to the time it takes. Besides, it makes you feel very virtuous ticking them all off!

Two days in and I'm now obsessed with my BuJo. I actually feel anxious if it's in a different room. I'm not sure this is healthy! Thanks MN!

Can someone please explain how this is just different from writing a list?

I love pretty stationery and am totally on board with buying a lovely new notebook but am just not getting it!

Do I need to watch a video? Of someone making a list?

I'm two days in and really loving myBuJo, it's a relief to not have post-its stuck everywhere and a really good opportunity to use some of the hundreds of pens I've hoarded

I'm finding it really stress-relieving drawing up the pages and using colours to signify birthdays, anniversaries and so on. It's also pushing me to focus on things like planning my new kitchen 😊

I think it's keeping lists together rather than random bits of paper.

I'm a real list maker but looking forward to having everything in one place.

There is another week view on that Facebook page I mentioned. Lots to think about!

Yes, watch videos. You can do whatever you want, it's can just be a place to hold all your to do lists. Or you can go all scrapbooky. Go on www.bulletjournal.com for the original guy's video, and YouTube 'BohoBerry' and watch her Bullet Journal Flip Through for an idea. I felt all overwhelmed too but did some research and started even though I still didn't quite get it. Used that old mantra 'start where you are, use what you have, do what you can' (although I did go stationery shopping ) and just started my BuJo and getting to grips with it as I go. Sure my next one will be better!

That was to GuitarGirl^^

Try this youtube video Guitargirl . A BuJo is a combination of diary, organiser, planner, lists and anything else you want. There is a basic and very simple system but the good thing is you can play around with it and find what suits you.

X post with Bendy!

Yes I'm 3 days in and my mind feels soooooo much lighter :) always holding so much in my head before, and as someone who likes to record and keep EVERYTHING for prosperity it's nice to have a notebook rather than have to remember everything :) still haven't written up all my collections and one-off lists but looking forward to doing so over the next few evenings and getting a bit crafty :)
Also soooo excited to look back on this BuJo once it's done - DS is 8 months so I'm excited to plan his first bday and we are doing an extension so I've got lots of interiors to plan :)

Guitargirl - it is a cross between a calendar, diary, bunch of to-do lists and anything else you fancy really. And it's laid out in a particular way, with an index at the front so you can refer to pages easily.

It's not a new idea in the sense that yes, it's a notebook you write stuff in. But it seems to be a particularly effective way of doing this. There is an explanation and a video on the website, and I think I described at the beginning of the thread how I'd laid mine out, if that's any help.

Thank you all.

I have had a look now at the video. I think I kind of do most of what was described already but I don't do an index and I kind of tend to think from month to month so I probably don't document or list longer term plans.

Hmmm...interesting...

Can we talk about about pens olease? I do like a pretty pen. Currently using an 0.5 tip which I actually find a bit too fine, I like chunky. Also can see through to the previous page. Currently using inkjoy, regular biros, and Muji fineliners. Lots of people seem to like the Staedtler fineliners I think?