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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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BendydickCuminsnatch · 04/02/2016 20:52

learner I am loving my erasable pens, I keep 'going wrong' so I can rub it out Grin

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mercifulTehlu · 04/02/2016 20:58

You're welcome, Bendy, even if your username still makes me go Shock! Your pages look very elegant! I really want a squared notebook next time - I love your daily boxes with the curved corners.

I'm kind of amused by how some people are sayig 'Oh yes, this all looks very simple and workable' and others 'OMG - it's far too complicated!' Grin.

Ok I need to do less yapping about BuJo on MN and more actual BuJo-ing!

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BendydickCuminsnatch · 04/02/2016 21:05

Ha I totally was one of the 'wow complicated!' people but have got my head around it now. I'm just going straight to the daily to-do lists and not doing the monthly calendar bit but I like it like that :) yay! And I love that you can change your layout as you go if things aren't working for you.

Ememem84 · 04/02/2016 21:09

I spent today updating my notebook. I have a months worth of pages drawn out and some filled in. I have the index. The month planner. A Feb to do list. A books to read list. A places to visit list. etc.

My notebook has pink paper. And a ribbon. smug

Original poster
mercifulTehlu · 04/02/2016 21:58

Woo hoo Ememem84 ! Pink paper eh? There's fancy! Mine has the Hogwarts crest on the front saddo , parchment-coloured, lined paper, one of those stretchy bands that goes round the outside and a page-marker ribbon thingy.

I've just ticked off and migrated today's tasks and written in tomorrow's. I was feeling a bit bad that I hadn't got more done today (although I couldn't help that, as I was out working most of the day), but actually I looked back over the past week and realised I'd got quite a lot done!

I failed miserably with the habit tracker thing in January, but have just drawn in 3 habit tracker columns on my Feb calendar page, starting from tomorrow. They are: only one small sweet snack a day (I am on a super low fat diet atm for specific health reasons and sugar has become my fat-replacement Blush ), 3 pints of water a day (I'm drinking too much tea and coffee and not enough water) and get at least 2 hours of jobs done per day. There are loads of other habits I can think of, but I think keeping it down to three will be at least vaguely manageable.

I'm a bit jealous of your Muji and Paperchase splurge, Bendy! Trying not to spend much money atm, so will have to stay off the stationery websites. Actual shops not such a problem as I live in the middle of nowhere (slight exaggeration, but definitely not a shopper's paradise round here)!

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WhoisLucasHood · 04/02/2016 22:45

I splashed out on the leuchtturm for my BuJo. I'm loving it although tbh it's only been a week. I have a calendex at the start and the month list. My BuJo is set up as a week to view, with a side section for work and home tasks, I can migrate week to week if needed. I love having it at work and jotting down stuff that needs to be done at home as it pops into my head. I've been ever so productive. It's my diary, jotter and list heaven.

Error404usernamenotfound · 04/02/2016 22:46

I've never heard of the Bullet Journal before, but as someone who worships at the altars of the To Do List and pretty stationery I am feeling unreasonably excited about this... Grin

Off to Paperchase in the morning then.

WhoisLucasHood · 04/02/2016 22:54

I am always unreasonably excited by stationery, I have issues.

987flowers · 04/02/2016 23:18

Really glad I found this thread. It's a great idea and I have the perfect Cath Kidston a5 book up use!

Like bendy has said I wasn't sure about lists in the middle. What if I have a double page for meals but it isn't enough I'd then have to start another page further in? Is that right I'm so tempted to do it but have a section at the back or do I embrace it and go for it?

Also do you add work tasks?

Day off tomorrow, first task after walking children to school is to set up the journal!

Ememem84 · 05/02/2016 06:57

merciful my notebook could only be enhanced by hogwarts logo. jealous

987 ive not out work tasks in mine. Need to keep them separate. So have a set of books at work for work tasks. One for to do lists (pukka pad to do list pad) one for client and procedure notes (indexed) one for meeting notes (indexed) and one for everyday notes. All books are dated on front cover. And numbered.

Original poster
mercifulTehlu · 05/02/2016 07:18

987flowers - yes, you're meant to just jump in with starting your new page, then continue it on other pages further in. I know it seems a bit weird at first, but it works as long as you have your index. If you don't do it this way, you end up with things dotted around all over your journal, with gaps in between.

I don't have work tasks in mine. I only work a few hours a week atm anyway, but I'm a teacher and wouldn't have space for all my lesson plans and marks etc - I'd have a separate planner/markbook for that if I were actually teaching atm.

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BendydickCuminsnatch · 05/02/2016 07:19

I've got work tasks on mine but I work from home so don't really see it as a separate thing.
I think I'll end up with some lists in the back, why not! I've only left 2 double page spreads for my megalist, should have done it in the back in case!

Hippywannabe · 05/02/2016 07:38

Place marking as I read this the other day and really fancied doing it!

Original poster
mercifulTehlu · 05/02/2016 08:25

Fair enough, Bendy - I don't leave any more than 1 double page spread for anything except my daily journal. My megalist is on one double page. If I need to do more megalist, it will get another double page spread later on.

I'm wondering if anyone has thought of any other great lists/pages (or 'collections' as I think the website calls them') to include that we haven't mentioned on the thread yet?

The megalist and the habit tracker both seem to be really popular ideas which aren't on the website but have been suggested by others (I can't take credit for the habit tracker idea btw - I found it on Pinterest!).

So, any other brainwaves about innovative uses for pages in your BuJo are very welcome! There is a FB page for fans of BuJo btw, if anyone's interested.

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HemanOrSheRa · 05/02/2016 08:52

I found this whilst I was googling bullet journal in the wee small hours www.tinyrayofsunshine.com/2015/05/kickstart-your-year-with-bullet-journal.html?m=1. I have to do something while I'm waiting for my notebook to be delivered! It's this type of thing that makes me think a bullet journal will work for me - you can play around with the layout to what suits, on a monthly, weekly or daily basis if you like.

In fact I am so eager to get on that I might pick up a cheap notebook today. I can practice until the real thing arrives.

Ememem84 · 05/02/2016 08:55

I have a list of things to sell on eBay. Things I need to buy. And beauty products I use in case I forget when replacing

Books to read and films/tv shows to watch (you know how people always suggest things....and you never watch/read them...!)

987flowers · 05/02/2016 09:40

Well I've taken the bull by the horns and started! I now need to get in with my daily list instead of writing!

Still considering whether to turn the book upside down, index from that side for birthday into, recipes etc. Will consider later!

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mercifulTehlu · 05/02/2016 10:38

That sounds good Ememem84. My most recent addition is my Wishlist (things I'd like to buy, which I might buy some time in the future or which I can suggest if people ask what I'd like for birthday, Christmas etc).

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RainbowDashed · 05/02/2016 10:39

I think I've found my people

Lists you say? In marvellous stationery? With tabs and bookmarks? Why have I not been doing this for years???????

I already use my work notebook in a similar way so I have no idea why I never thought to transpose that to home as well, probably too reliant on gadgetry these days I suppose.

AwkwardAnnie · 05/02/2016 11:36

Just seen this thread on the talk email. I discovered bullet journals in November. I always had a notebook all through my teenage years which I'd get friends to write in too (usually in pubs it would get passed around) I got out of the habit but I still love looking through them so bujo seemed perfect for me. I don't write lists every day (some days I just want to sit and relax) but the days I do are definitely more productive. My daily lists tend to be work related, the collections tend to be home things such as planning holidays, books I've read, my penny savings list etc.

I use an A6 squared notebook. It's too small if I'm honest but I struggled to find a square one. The only thing I do differently from most is I've drawn a full years calendar at the back of the book (i turned the book upsidedown) so I can record the future events there. I didn't like the idea of the future log. I'm a visual person so lists of dates mean nothing. I need to see them spread through the month.

Love the idea of a list of lightbulbs. I NEED that! I used to carry bits of paper with measurements for places where I wanted pretty boxes etc I may have to reinstate that too.

I do carry it everywhere with me but I've put my name and address in the front with an if lost please return. I did lose one of my notebooks as a teenager and I'm still gutted about it.

Original poster
mercifulTehlu · 05/02/2016 11:44

Ah, RainbowDashed - snuggling! That's what the thread was missing! Grin

On the topic of marvellous stationery, which I've been whinging about not being able to justify spending money on, I've just thought - I'm currently trying to motivate myself to go for runs by putting a £1 in a pot whenever I run. That can be my stationery fund!

AwkwardAnnie - I'm torn between loving the idea of getting other people to write in my notebook and being horrified by the thought of it getting messed up or used for not-strictly-BuJo-related things Grin.

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HemanOrSheRa · 05/02/2016 11:54

The only thing I do differently from most is I've drawn a full years calendar at the back of the book (i turned the book upsidedown) so I can record the future events there. I didn't like the idea of the future log. I'm a visual person so lists of dates mean nothing. I need to see them spread through the month.

That's very interesting Annie. I have only just realised this is how my mind works! I usually buy an Organised Mum month to view calendar which I fill out obsessively. For various reasons I didn't get around to ordering one for 2016. By the time I did they were sold out so I went for a week to view one instead. It's practically useless to me! On Tuesday morning I said to DP, "I bloody hate this calendar". Then I found this thread, read up on bullet journals and it clicked! I NEED something that shows me the whole month. That's also why normal week to view diaries don't work for me either I suppose. I start filling them out but then abandon them because in my head they look just like a list of dates.

Love the idea of a 'measurements' page too. I'm definitely going to use that.

AwkwardAnnie · 05/02/2016 12:19

herman I have to use a page a day diary for work appointments too as they wouldn't all fit on a monthly spread but I input it to an outlook calendar and colour code the key bits. The month is printed out above my desk and I'm able to remember the key bits of the month such as days off or when I'm teaching as I can picture it with the different colours.

merci I wouldn't let people write in my bujo but I am considering when I need a new book having a midori style journal with a section that people could use. Although it would not be the kids scribbles rather than friends in the pub.

bimandbam · 05/02/2016 12:32

Placemarking for a proper read later when screamy toddler isn't screaming.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 05/02/2016 13:01

I am going to add a Clothes I Need list (neverrrrrr have anything to wear!!) and a Household list - we moved recently and still need to get curtains, EVERY light in this house has different bulbs, I have lots of cushion covers but not the right size cushions etc.

Not sure what else but I want more lists! More more more! Grin I've turned into some kind of frenzied BuJo maniac.