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!

I'm the same, use a master shopping list very successfully but not succeeded with a freezer master list. Having a separate book for these works better than having them in the BuJo for me though, as it needs to be everpresent in the kitchen.

I have been looking at various people's bullet journals online and it does look like my kind of thing. I'd like to procrastinate more elegantly with beautiful stationery. Is there a bullet journal kit to buy or do you have to buy a plain note book and set it all up yourself as in the OP?

I don't want a Filofax, they are deeply dull.

Google Keep is quite pretty though, I'll still have to use that for actual organisation. I need electronic reminders. And I like whooshing away things off the screen when they are done. Waitrose.com have my shopping list and favourites. I just want to do a bit more doodling, drawing and writing with a purpose really, and to use it for longer term goals, dreams, passing fancies and so on.

It can be whatever you want it to be, MapleandPear, but there's no kit - it's definitely a thing you need to set up yourself.

I used to have a filofax. Didn't get on with it really. It's just not the same somehow. The free-form nature of the BuJo makes it so much more creative, mind-freeing and flexible.

I'm giving it a go. I'm really bad at remembering birthdays, even with phone alerts etc. It's become a real issue now as it looks so uncaring and I have no idea why it happens- it's as though when I read an alert or calendar some part of my brain ticks things off as 'done' without actually actioning any, well, action. Maybe this will drum it in.

Which size book do most people favour?

I find A5 perfect but I don't carry mine around with me, it stays at home.

I find A5 too big as i like to keep it in my handbag. A6 was too small and some searching found some lovely B6 spiral bound ones from muji that are just right for me.

I've just joined a FB bullet journal minimalist group where people simplify their BuJo and post pics - there are some good ideas there.

Mine's an A5 Moleskine, about 1/2" thick. I don't think I could do it much smaller as I have big writing. It does fit in my bag but makes it heavy, but I only really use it at work and home, if I go shopping on the way home from work I take it out and leave it in the car.

Thank you.
I've been thinking about starting one up for a while and had a look today at Moleskins (I'm normally a Filofax girl) but couldn't decide on size.

My Castelli is about A5 size. It's perfect for me, but I have a pretty big bag!

I have A5. I find it the perfect size. It will fit in most bags I use, although I don't take it absolutely everywhere with me. Really excited to be moving on to my new Leuchtturm on 1st August!

Oops - I meant 1st September, obviously! I read a good article frim the Bullet Journal website which someone on FB linked to about moving on into your new BuJo when you've finished the last one and how you can use it as an opportunity not only to reflect on what was useful and what wasn't, but also as a time to look at which tasks are uncompleted and either complete them or cross them out if they are no longer important. Then you really feel like you are starting afresh with nothing hanging over you.

I have an A5 leuchtturn in emerald green and I love it but it's a bit bulky to go in my bag. So I picked up an A6 notebook from Tiger yesterday to use as a mini bujo. It was £2 and has a faux leather cover with caveat lector embossed on the front.

The notebook I bought is so thin it's half filled already. Will have to look for my next one. I want something that isn't going to be too heavy to carry round. Are leuchtturns heavy?

Is it worth buying the notebook on the Bullet Journal website the first time- or just go for Leuchtturn straight away?

I really like the Leuchtturm - the fact that it has the index and the page numbers already is nice, and the range of colours and choice of dotted, lined or squared. However, it's just a notebook! And in fact the paper is a bit thinner than in my first BuJo, so there is a bit of 'ghosting' (when your writing shows through to the other side of the page).

I don't think so cheesy . For the reasons eolian has said, the Leuchtturm is fantastic. I haven't had problems with bleeding through - I use a J herbin rollerball or a Parker vector for writing in it.

Well, I have beautiful Leuchtturn dotted a5 in situ and I am ready to go!! I am going to start with September (Teachers' New Year).

I'm already in love!

I use the coloured disposable pilot fountain pens in my Moleskine and get bleed through the pages, not enough to stop using them but it is noticeable.

Yay SisterViktorine - I'm starting my new one on teachers' new year too! I'm a teacher but not a full time one atm. I do bits and bobs of supply, private tutoring, adult ed etc. Actually I'm intending to use my BuJo for staying organised with my various work projects this time, as I've got so many different things on this year.

I have a Leuchtturm and a moleskin One is the work one and one at home.
The moleskin already has the pages in the index which is a bit quicker.

I'm starting the first of September, can I join in the thread please?

I'm just using an old notebook I had. I've wrote the first bits out and now I'm really excited to start the term time workers new year with it.

I haven't heard of the habit trackers
until I found this thread. I've got quite a few habits to get back into after doing nothing for 6 weeks! I think I need a routine. I hate the thought of one but my motivation doesn't last and a routine will hopefully help that. Anyone have any ideas on how to incorporate routine building in the buju?

Really hoping I can keep up with this and it doesn't turn into another 5 page diary that I forget about.