Bullet Journal thread 3: organise your life!

[Eolian]

For newbies... Bullet Journal is a special method of setting up and using a notebook as a calendar/planner/journal/habit tracker/bunch of lists/record of your achievements/diet log/exercise plan/doodle pad/anything you fancy all in one!

It is all over Pinterest and Instagram, so there's a whole world of inspiration out there. Much of what you'll see there is full of intimidatingly beautiful calligraphy and embellishment but yours doesn't have to be!

Explanation of the set-up to follow. Or you can jump right in by checking out the instructions and video on the Bullet Journal website .

The system can seem a bit strange and complicated at first, but we're here to help. And once you've got the hang of the basics, you can customise the system any way you like.

Oh and if you love beautiful stationery, this is the perfect excuse to indulge!

This is my current layout for a weekly spread. My trial journal is lined so I just seem to make a mess when I try and draw tables so I'm keeping it simple.

Ooh I couldn't fit a week on 1 double page spread, but I always set up a week at a time :) runs very smoothly!

...

Hope I haven't killed the thread! 😄 I've done that a lot lately...

I am really trying to 'unplug' at the mo, and failing, so think I'm going to do a page of screenless activity ideas. I have so many hobbies but I just 'never have time for them' but spend soooo much time wasting my life on my phone. To be fair it's mainly because the toddler makes a lot of things impractical, but I don't want him to have a mum who's always on the phone instead of engaging with him!

Currently I only have:
Read daily
Practise piano
Macarame
Write a haiku every Friday
Cook/bake/food prep
Arts & crafts with the baby

Trying to think of other enriching ways to spend my time. I feel like I don't even use my house fully, literally just the sofa, iPhone and kettle

Ooh also I have 2 pen pals so writing to them can go on the list!

Nope, still here! I have just been writing in mine. Kind of then just staring at all the stuff I have to do instead of actually doing any of it..

I'll join the 'staring' club if I may! Have instituted the dps for a week though and I much prefer it to flicking from one page to the other for migrating tasks.

Bendy - I'm exactly the same. I knit and play a musical instrument which I need to practise (I'm a beginner and am in a brass band!). I'm also supposedly writing a book (which is hardly started) and teaching myself Spanish. If I spent less time online I would have a lot more time for my hobbies. And my house would be tidier!

Time to go back to my MN ban (except for this thread, obvs).

I did see you on another thread the other day Eolian and it eased my guilt somewhat! i'll join you on the MN ban, think I'll just keep this tab open on this conversation and try not to wander...

Ok, am implementing the ban starting.... Now! Off to have a nice sit down with my BuJo. I've been meaning to add some more things to my 'Mega List', as someone called it on the first thread. So many bits of decorating and minor diy need doing in my house!

Argh I've left mine at work. I feel lost.

Really surprised I've kept it up a whole month mind! I've never been this organised before.

Has anyone else since getting organised got pissed off with others who aren't so? I think it's that ex smoker phenomenon but with organisation!

Haha J0kers, definitely! Everyone should have a bullet journal, no excuse really

My MN ban is spectacularly failing. Although I have deleted social media from my phone. Wish I could block MN somehow?? Just spend all day on here while half watching the baby play, feel so guilty but what else is there to do :-s

I wonder what people did when they procrastinated back in the day before tech took over! Sat on their doorsteps and had a gossip I suppose!

Oh helloooo there Bendy, haven't seen you around elsewhere on MN in aaages .

😇 I have no idea what you're talking about.

Hi everyone,
Just found out about BuJos and would love to start.
I have a question though? How do you write you future appointments if you don't write a diary for months in advance? Do you have a list of dates for a year at the front and write them in that and then check that when you're doing your weekly page?
Also those who say theirs in utilitarian, would anyone mind posting a pic? I am not artistic at all and am a big intimidated by all the beautiful BuJos.

TIA

Welcome welliesandsequins ! The answer to your question is the future log - basically a double page spread at the beginning of your BuJo, drawn out as a calendar.
There's a photo of my weekly spread upthread. It's not quite as utilitarian-looking as a few I've seen, but there's nothing fancy about it really. I do the top titles in slightly fancy writing, I suppose, but that's it. I also put the days' journal entries in boxes rather than just one underneath the other, but that's only because I find it better space-wise.

You found us wellies! :) I have printed calendar pages stuck into my BuJo which I use for future logging, there's a picture abive somewhere.

I don't use the future/monthly logs tbh, but that's because I mostly use mine to improve my short-term planning (champion procrastinator, and I'm terrible for "I'll do it tomorrow") I already was using my phone calendar for future planning and it works well enough for me that I don't really want to swap that to paper. Each time I set up a week I copy that week's events in from my phone and use those to guide my planning for the week ahead, but the future stuff I do digitally.

Thank you. Is it sad that I am ridiculously excited about this?!

Just seen this thread - not posted since thread two. I started my journal in April and I've just finished my first book and started a new one for October. First was leuchtturm dotted in orange, my new one is emerald. Loving the feeling of writing in a lovely new book, the old one was certainly tatty loved.

It's definitely made me feel more organised and in control. Can't imagine not using one now.

Nope, wellies - not sad at all! Welcome back Jem - it's nice starting a new one isn't it? Not just because of the lovely new pristine notebook, but because starting a new one means that you managed to stick to your BuJo habit for the duration and complete a whole book!

Have ordered an Emerald one. Can't wait for it to arrive! Have ordered some coloured ball points to. I have a ruler and have got a Pinterest board for design ideas.
What am I missing?

One thing that's just kccured to me: am going to put a courful sticky note on the current week so I can find it easily. I'm thrilled that, at the great age of 53, I've finally figured out a use for them! Was always mystified by my organised dd's enthusiasm for them!

I agree Shotgun. I never understood a use for them. Especially those tiny narrow ones. I think the BuJo may be where they come into their own and I have just given a whole load to work

Tiny narrow ones - absolutely! < rubs thighs >