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!

@Eolian what kinds of things do you have on your list?
I can aspire to tidiness...

Happy to see the thread back up! Hi everyone!

I've come to the end of my second moleskin journal and I'm desperate for a scribbles that matter for my next one but cannot find one anywhere in the same size. I'm close to ordering a leuchtturm. I'm really not a fan of the yellowed paper though 😩 bujo problems!

My paper is slightly cream coloured but decent quality paper. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01NAT49WS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=lemome+dotted&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1515001687&sr=8-1

Mine is the dotted version of that one.

Thanks to BuJu today: tracked down DC's child trust funds (moved and lost details) so that's a job crossed off the master to do list.

That's lovely gammel.

Just gave in and ordered the emerald leuchtturm. Way more excited about setting it up than I'm comfortable with 🙈 feeling lost relying on the family calendar & scraps of paper.

I've started again and have an Atoma disc bound journal so I can print stuff. But now I'm not sure I want to! It does have nice paper though, but I'll need to nick a hair elastic from DD to hold my pen in.

@Eolian what kinds of things do you have on your list?

Oh the usual stuff - hoover, mop, dust change beds, clean bathrooms, clean windows --once in a blue moon-. I keep trying to impose an actual schedule of set days for specific tasks, but it never seems to work!

Gammel - I love it when checking back in my BuJo proves invaluable! This very evening my 2015-16 and 2016-17 BuJos have helped me fill in my dreaded tax return .

Ooh lovely! I am new to Bullet Journalling. I have received my Leuchterm today.
I am definitely not going to be one of those pinterest types, with beautifull scrolls and drawings; but I have already written my future log and started filling in the included index.

First Major page is my gratitude journal which feels like a nice thing to do. (I have already filled in half a page.) Do I leave a couple of double pages free to fill it in for the rest of the month, or do I start on a new project....?
Cannot believe I am so excited about a notebook!

Wow, have already had a "brain dump" and have also done monthly tasks and outstanding online orders. I love my BUJO already.
Am going to come back later to RTFT to get some more inspiration

Excellent!
I've done a wardrobe planner page (kondo'd clothes yesterday) with lists of what I actually need clothes wise.

Came on to see if there were any journalers around - glad to see others looking forward to setting up their new books!
Wondering if anyone has done the work of finding printable A5 calendar pages to use, to save me the bother

I’ve just started a new one too, my last one did nearly 2 years and I will miss it but it’s been nice going back through it and reminiscing. However there are one or two things that have stayed on the to-do list throughout .

I don’t bother with a future or monthly log (all the major stuff is in my phone calendar) but have made a school holiday calendar for the whole year (dcs go to schools in different counties so can be hard keeping track). I also don’t do any pretty stuff in it, I use it at work and want it to look business-like and efficient.

iggy
I think you might be able to set your printer to paper size A5 and see if a normal a4 calendar will reduce in size. I haven't tried it yet as have run out of ink.

I have downloaded some inspirational quotes / mindful colouring to print off & stick in. My bunk is pretty utilitarian. It's never going to be Pinterest / instagram worthy but I have ordered some washi tape and stencils need a bit of a creative outlet

*bujo not bunk. Autocorrect

Thanks, Octonaught. I sorted it that way in the end - can set printer to reduce size and go landscape to get it A5 - but could only do it from a laptop, iPad no good I (finally) realised.
Hoping to pick up some nice post its in the supermarket later! I’m sure a normal diary would be cheaper...

I've not posted on here before but have been bujo dabbling for the last few months.
I had my appraisal today at work and my boss remarked on how much more efficient my time management is since I have been back at work from maternity!! I swear it's the bu jo

Sadly. This isn't reflected at home!!

Wondering if anyone is still bullet journalling and wants to persuade me it's the answer to my overwhelm...? Perhaps there is a Thread 4 somewhere else that's more active?

Squirrel I'm still journaling and I still love it. It's really helped me with my overwhelm! Breaking down my days/weeks into manageable chunks that I can tick off as I go makes it all seem so much more doable!

This is my third year of having a BuJo and it's been an absolute lifeline. Plus I can doodle to my hearts content

Thanks Captain! I like the sound of “absolute lifeline”. I know I need to write things down to get them out if my head ... I am just a bit daunted at the idea of starting, I think.

I was too - especially after seeing all the gorgeous arty ones on Pinterest!

My tip would be start simple. I have a page for each month that I use like a diary, then on a Sunday evening I do a spread for the coming week (i use half a page for each day) and fill in all my appts etc. Then I do myself a to-do list each morning.

I've got lots of other pages/spreads in there too, but that's really the core.

I don’t bother with months. I draw up four to five weeklies at a time for diary and meal plans. Keep a current to do list, and move items from there into my weekly