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Bullet Journal

967 replies

mercifulTehlu · 23/01/2016 21:18

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 Smile )!

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Guitargirl · 06/02/2016 20:26

I bought DD a massive wheel thingie of Sharpies for her birthday. The fine ones are nice but probably do see through to the next page.

TeaPleaseLouise · 06/02/2016 20:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mercifulTehlu · 06/02/2016 20:50

I use my black Lamy pen. I've added a bit of colour here and there with coloured pencils, but would like a little set of fine coloured pens. I actually bought some washi tape today Blush. I was in a craft shop with dd, who was buying beads for her jewellery making, and I spotted a basket of rolls of washi tape, having never seen the stuff before. So I bought a couple! I rather like the brightly coloured ones I've seen online in people's BuJos but they somehow wouldn't go well with my tan faux-leather notebook with parchment-coloured paper, so I went with patterns in muted autumnal colours. Haven't stuck any in yet though.

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ICJump · 06/02/2016 20:56

Someone mentioned depression and anxiety and bullet journal.

I found when D&A was really bad the bullet journal really helpful. My daily log included things like take medication, hang out washing, email x, take kids to the park. While other might find it over the top having it written down help remind me what to do when things got to muddy and foggy to remember myself.
I've now set up a weekly habits log which is useful to remind and check in with myself

BendydickCuminsnatch · 06/02/2016 21:03

I've tried regular sharpies and they bled a lot but have never tried the fine ones. Will look at those 'cult pens' links too, thanks for suggestions! 😍
I don't have depression and only a regular amount of anxiety I would say, but even I am feeling more relaxed having everything written down. Glad it's helping you IC Flowers. I have a habits tracker too which I'm loving so far as there are so many little things I need to get on top of, and it saves you having to write them into your to do list every day.

WhoisLucasHood · 06/02/2016 21:26

I'm using the uniball artist pen in 0.3. I'm not usually a fan of black ink or fineliners but it writes so smoothly and the black ink makes it a little more official looking. I think I've found my stationery home here :)

lorelei9 · 06/02/2016 22:56

Guitar, I have been disappointed with Paperchase lately. I've seen some lovely stuff at Laura Ashley but it's too pricey alas.

Millliii · 07/02/2016 00:16

I have recently bought a large kikki k Personal Organiser in Peach after seeing about them on You tube/instagram/blogs. I was trying to work out the best way to make it work for me and this thread has really helped!!
Have already bought some peach pens for writing down my stuff but need to get some sparkly gold tape and inspiration cards etc.

nattyknitter · 07/02/2016 00:21

Anyone else have a stash of beautiful notebooks that they keep buying, but never use for fear of ruining them or wasting them on the wrong thing? Or am I just mental?

unlucky83 · 07/02/2016 01:25

I can't get my head around this - and I like/ need organisation (think I have ADHD). It seems like lots of duplicate writing? Do you not spend more time writing down tasks than actually doing them?
I have an free app -ticktick -that is on my phone, tablet and laptop and they synch.
It ties in with my google calendar, which I have recurring events (eg DDs activities and longer term things (eg MOT due or birthdays) and I add appointments immediately. I set it up to email a reminder a suitable time in advance (eg a week before for a birthday then I can organise buying and sending a card etc)

In ticktick I have different list for different areas of my life - eg home, work etc.
I can set due dates and recurring tasks (weekly or monthly or yearly etc). I can set priorities and reminders, I can reorder tasks on the same due date manually if I want/need to (so eg put two tasks next to each other if they can be done at the same time)
I can add sub tasks - with check boxes - to a task and tick off parts of a larger task as I complete them and change the due date.
I can 'tag' things - so eg put #town bank cheque in work list and #town get spare key cut in home list then if I am going into town view '#town' and get both done at the same time.

If I think of something -no matter how minor - I just add it straight to ticktick on which ever device is to hand - I don't have to hold it in my head or find a pen .
I even have a shopping list for 'odd' things - like first class stamps.
If I lost my phone I haven't lost my lists cos it is 'in the cloud' (although I do back it up every so often ) I would just need to change password to prevent someone else having access.
I can view specific lists or all the lists together or all together for just the next 7days - they come up in due date order and it includes my google calendar events .
I tick things off and they stay in completed tasks until I decide to delete them...
I really can't see how a Bullet journal is better? Am I missing something?

nattyknitter · 07/02/2016 02:20

unlucky Some people just like writing and using a paper system. It orders things in their head better. Writing things down can often improve memory too.

The duplicate writing, eg migrating tasks lets you priorotise and decide if you really need to do that thing. The ideal being you don't need to migrate much as you have been organised enough to get it done. Plus on the re-writing of the list, you reflect more about what you are doing/have done that you would pressing a button on your phone (at least I do).

I've added pages for tracking food and exercise, but doubt I will actually use them as I use MyFitnessPal and Runkeeper to track these religiously already, but for my to do list, I've tried aps but don't get on with them. There is something very satisfying about crossing something off a list.

I think how you organise yourself is a very personal thing and not every system will work for every person. I buy a diary every year, usually week to view, but hardly ever use it. Since I switched to this method, I don't have vast parts of a book unused.

It is also useful for more than just a calendar/schedule/to do lists and a lot of people journal in it as well, use it for inspiration notes or sketches if they are an artist and for a million other things. This is just a way of keeping that all in one place.

I see these artsy decorated ones online and they are all well and good, but really, I'm just not that sexually frustrated that I feel the need to channel all my energy into it. I do however want to remember what I need to get when I go to the shops.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 07/02/2016 08:23

Also it takes like 2 minutes max to write your to do list each day, I don't see that as lots of writing.

Soooosie · 07/02/2016 08:26

Does anyone care to post an image of their index page for me. I'm
Due to set up mine this week.

mercifulTehlu · 07/02/2016 08:26

Unlucky83 - I've tried many apps and I just don't like them. And I don't think I spend any more time writing in my Bullet Journal than I used to spend inputting things into my apps. There's something very pleasing somehow about having all your info laid out in front of you, physically solid, in your own writing. Even though I like gadgets and use my phone lots (far too much), I somehow got a little fed up with it pinging at me to remind me to do things. It sort of feels like it's controlling you rather than the other way around.

But ultimately, what works best for you is a personal thing.

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mercifulTehlu · 07/02/2016 08:36

My index is pretty boring-looking, Soooosie! It's literally just a list of 'collections' with page numbers...

Index

Future log p.1-2
January calendar and task list p.3-4
January daily journal p.5-6, 10-11
Ideas and inspiration p.7-8
The Megalist p.11-12
Household Tasks list p.13-14
Meal planning p.15-16
Big walks p.17-18
Birthdays p.19-20
February calendar and task list p.21-22
Job applications info p.23-24
Wishlist p.25-26
February daily journal p.27-

That's it so far! January daily journal didn't take up many pages because I only started my BuJo on the 21st.

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Bugaboom · 07/02/2016 08:43

I've started my BuJo and I'm actually quite excited about going to work (oh dear!). I've transferred my to do list from my old notebook into my future log and February list. However I have a couple of meetings tomorrow that I would usually jot down important bits but not necessarily things I need to action. How do any of you address things like that? Part of me wonders whether I just need to be more thoughtful about what I actually need to note from these meetings or should I have a separate meeting notes spread?

mercifulTehlu · 07/02/2016 08:52

I think I'd probably have a separate meeting notes thread. Although if I had things to action I might also add those to my daily journal on the day I was going to do them.
I haven't done my clothes page yet - might do that today. And get out my washi tape!

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unlucky83 · 07/02/2016 08:58

I used to have a notebook - with a kind of similar idea - different areas for different things, a daily list etc. I still use it for meetings etc ..but I found I never had it to hand (I guess cos I don't in general have a bag -just lots of pockets!)
So I would end up making a quick note on bits of paper too - or even memos on my phone. Things like in the bathroom realising I needed to get loo roll (I bulk order recycled stuff so not a supermarket job) - must write it in my book, forget, then remember again then forget ...it cluttered up my head.
And jobs you do every week or every month you have to write them down 52/12 times a year! I write down everything - even things like hoover downstairs - and I have set days for some jobs.
And I am very good at 'falling off' - I guess cos it is hard for me to keep focused and it can quickly fall into chaos. I used to end up needing hours to sort out a pile of partly completed to do notes Blush ...at least with ticktick I can redo 'due dates' etc quickly -get myself back on track.

But I do get the write it down and order your brain and cross things off.
I do occasionally write my jobs for the day on the back of envelope (copied from my task list) and then cross them off - then later tick them off my app...

And what if you lost or damaged your book Shock...lost/had you bag stolen or it got water damaged or ...
Finally I'm sure with pretty pens etc and needing to order lists I could procrastinate for hours ...and hours and hours....Blush

Allgunsblazing · 07/02/2016 09:04

Right. So the finance pages are ready.
I am working on a yearly expense page, stuff like professional registrations, service, insurance.
And then on a holiday and fun days out one.
Mabe next year, when I'll have a bit more experience with the BuJo I'll incorporate the flylady routine into in, atm it's in its own separate folder.

Which reminds me: I need a page with all the suppliers contacts (gas, electric etc) with tel numbers and a count no etc.

TheDuckSaysMoo · 07/02/2016 09:05

Soooosie here's my index, future log and Feb list. I've set up my bujo so the logs (including daily) are at the front and collections are at the back.

Just started yesterday and can't believe how many tasks I have. Hopefully this will help me stop procrastinating.

Bullet Journal
Bullet Journal
Bullet Journal
mercifulTehlu · 07/02/2016 09:09

I'm not so worried about losing or damaging my book tbh - it's not something that happens much to my stuff. Maybe I'm tempting fate by saying that though...

I agree that the prettifying could be a time waster! I shade in the odd title here and there - takes seconds. I think I'll only bother with extra embellishments on the occasional special page that I'm going to do at my leisure, not the regular journal pages and to-do lists. So when I sit down this afternoon with a cup of tea and mull over my wardrobe and think how I can combine my clothes to make more and better outfits, I may well make that look pretty!
I must say, posting on here about BuJo is taking up more time than actually doing my BuJo atm Grin.

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JasperDamerel · 07/02/2016 09:18

I like the look of the pretty ones, but for me the absolute joy of a BuJo is that it looks as messy as my mind but is actually ordered. I've made some pretty pages, but I suspect that if I put too much effort into prettiness (or even nice handwriting) it won't work as well.

mercifulTehlu · 07/02/2016 09:22

I love the pretty ones, but I'm just not very arty! I don't like the ones that look too 'busy' in terms of decoration, but the stylishly neat ones with touches of colour are lovely. I especially like the ones with drawn-in boxes around things, and titles in large and different writing. Especially that one from the boho-thingy page.

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lorelei9 · 07/02/2016 10:14

Unlucky, thanks for telling me about tick tick!

I've been looking for a better way of sorting phone notes, I think that's it! I haven't downloaded it but just looked st the overview, off out now but will prob do it when I get home. Thanks!

DoreenLethal · 07/02/2016 10:42

I don't like mine too pretty either - I am spatial and when I need to find something I know which position it is in because it is in relation to the scribbles and notes and what have you that I put on the page. If I spent time fancying it all up, I think each page would be too uniform to be able to recall where I wrote things.