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Original poster

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 )!

OP posts:
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987flowers · 05/02/2016 22:18

I like the idea of a brain dump page

BendydickCuminsnatch · 05/02/2016 22:19

TooExtra any size notebook, whenever you finish you just start a new one even if it's mid-month mid-year! I have a standard Moleskine :)

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 05/02/2016 22:30

Right. Task 1: buy the perfect notebook. ignores A5 notebook sitting on the kitchen table because it's half-used and the kids have scribbled in it

987flowers · 05/02/2016 22:44

I'm now wasting time watching YouTube videos and faffing thinking about the journal rather than actively doing anything else! Think I may be missing the point...

WhoisLucasHood · 05/02/2016 23:05

I too spent many hours watching vids and reading blogs before I jumped in.

MsJuniper · 05/02/2016 23:35

I'm in! Bought myself a nice new fancy notebook Smile

lorelei9 · 05/02/2016 23:51

And I was meant to go to bed early...,!

Okay, I love lists but this is maybe useful for work. I've got a couple of projects on where I don't like the usual methods f monitoring and also didn't want yet another spreadsheet. It's the ideas I'm having a lot of issues with, I am literally forgetting them, so I think I will watch these videos and see if I can use this for work.

I have a long commute as well and the 4G connection is dodgy. My boss doesn't mind me shortening my day if she can see I've worked on the commute, this might be a way to do that.....

HemanOrSheRa · 06/02/2016 00:01

Forget about an early night when you start looking at this lorelei. I was up at 3 this morning ordering midori supplies and answering an email from Japan 😶.

nattyknitter · 06/02/2016 03:18

I collide Bullet Journal with my filofax (knock off paperchase version).

I print my own inserts for it, so have pages set up for the monthly page etc to save me writing it out and drawing boxes etc. I also am able to add in blank pages to the weekly bits if I need more space.

I then keep collections, or unrealted lists to the planning aspect of it in a different section and can move stuff round as I like. I also have a meal planner and shopping list page for each week, food and exercise tracker, short and long term goals page, task prioritisation + page for when the daily/weekly list gets too long or overwhelming.

I have various dividers and sections with different coloured paper etc.

The only real difference is the index, mine is a bit more fluid as I can move things to suit.

I find it a bit more flexible than a linear notebook. I don't find having the printed pages as restrictive at all, more that I am organised as the pages I need are sitting in the wings waiting for me to use them. I don't need to wait to draw out the layout to get on with it.

It's working for me so far. I love the look of so many that I see, but in reality know I would get bored and wander off from it if I had to stay true to the original system.

I do still use Google Calendar on my phone for appointments etc, but see my physical diary as a get shit done helper.

Anjelika · 06/02/2016 07:23

I'm in! Bought myself an A5 notebook from WH Smith yesterday as that was the only shop I could get to and I wanted to make a start last night. If I get into BuJo'ing then I might treat myself to one of those nice dotted ones next time. Just finding my way at the moment. I have so far done my 6 month calendar, February dates and days of week calendar and list of monthly tasks but I think I'm more of a week at a time person. Therefore for each week I'm going to have a double page calendar view so I can quickly see any appointments and commitments, followed by a weekly task list and then I'll do my daily task lists. It's great that if that doesn't work I can just try a different format the next week.

Think I will have lots of other lists going in there which I currently have either on my phone or scraps of paper. I'm thinking books I've seen recommended that I want to read, DIY jobs that need doing, clothes I need to buy for the DCs, clothes I would like to buy for myself, things I need to EBay etc, recipes to try etc.

Has anyone incorporated meal planning into their's? I do this weekly on a scrap of paper which I then stick on the fridge but think it should go in my BuJo. Will think about that now.

987flowers · 06/02/2016 07:28

There's a great weekly spread idea on the Facebook bullet journal junkies group. Don't know if I'm allowed to screen shot and share?

Anjelika · 06/02/2016 07:36

Probably best not Flowers as it's a closed group. I have asked to join so then I should be able to see it.

987flowers · 06/02/2016 08:01

That's what I thought!

I've also realised you can see loads of pictures on instagram. (There goes another wasted hour...)

ThatWhiteElephant · 06/02/2016 10:30

Following.

Trickydecision · 06/02/2016 10:37

Is this only do-able with pencil and paper? Somehow I imagined it would be done on a PC or Ipad. That would suit me much better. If I were sufficiently organised to use written lists, I would not need a Bullet Journal.

BYOSnowman · 06/02/2016 10:40

I think the point of it is to keep it simple and for the old fashioned amongst us a pen and paper are more natural to use than an app. Physically writing as opposed to typing makes things stick in my mind better too

I tried an app but I just never checked it whereas the book sits on my kitchen counter to flick through when I get home or need something. I do take a photo of my to do list though so that's my nod to technology!!

lorelei9 · 06/02/2016 10:57

Ive watched the introductory video

I feel a bit of a plum tbh, simple ideas being the best and all that

I do think one reason I've had issues keeping track of project ideas is that I do everything on the computer and it just doesn't stick as much as handwritten stuff

And an indexed handwritten guide will simply work better for those projects, anything that's actioned will be properly recorded at work anyway.

I like being as paper free as possible at work but I think one notebook is fine.

ClaraBorne · 06/02/2016 11:30

Might have already have been said but didn't this used to be called a Filofax??

ClaraBorne · 06/02/2016 11:36

Evernote is a handy app too.....

lorelei9 · 06/02/2016 11:44

I dont remember anything I put into Evernote plus it doesn't have an index. The index is all I needed really hence why I feel a bit silly.

Original poster
mercifulTehlu · 06/02/2016 12:06

UUrgh. Have been too hungover tired to read all your great new posts this morning. Will do so when I have restored myself with some lunch. Haven't even written in my BuJo yet today.

OP posts:
Devora · 06/02/2016 12:38

Being ridiculously impressionable, I started my own bullet journal yesterday. I'm a great one for notebooks full of lists anyway, but bringing it all together with an index and a system for bringing forward tasks is really the missing link.

One thing that's important for me in getting started: I bought a notepad nice enough to give me pleasure in using it (white Moleskine, since you're clearly asking), but then had perfectionist anxiety about starting it with the wrong system. I've decided NOT to write in beautiful coloured pens etc, because it then becomes a task to do it exactly right and not let down the production. Far better for me to see this first one as the BuJo where I work out what the right system for me is, and not invest too much in making it perfect and beautiful from the start.

AwkwardAnnie · 06/02/2016 13:05

Mine is not beautiful at all. I write in pencil (always preferred pencil) Very occasionally I'll have a go at a pretty heading for the collections then colour them in in in either pen or pencil. It's mainly done to make them stand out and it's often done weeks later.
I'm an arty person so I'd love for it to be pretty and to practice my calligraphy but the main purpose is to keep me organised and get stuff done.... Which wouldn't happen if I spent hours procrastinating over making it pretty
From reading websites and looking at the FB groups the people who make pretty bujo are students. Not busy Mum's.

lorelei9 · 06/02/2016 13:08

Merciful, your task for today is to implement a bullet chart that measures the index of fun had last night vs price paid the next day and therefore to calculate the correct level of planned drunkenness.

Why yes, I do sound like Watson planning Sherlock's stag do Grin

BendydickCuminsnatch · 06/02/2016 13:25

BohoBerry is like the Pretty BuJo queen and she has a kid and a business. But yes I totally need to be careful not to procrastinate on the crafty side of the BuJo! I've got so much done today where I would usually just watch TV, clean, do SO much MNing... This am I've done some work and my tax return, didn't have any cleaning to do as did it last night thanks to my BuJo!