Anyone for a new Bullet Journal thread?

[lazylinguist]

I've just started the new academic year in a beautiful white, dotted Leuchtturm (after an eye-wateringly expensive and unsuccessful attempt at using a Hobonichi). It's my 5th journal and I'm still loving the system.

Anyone else still bujoing? Or any newbies or wannabes?

I've recently started my third book, having been doing it for about 3 years. I don't do the full future planning etc and no fancy colours, layouts, stickers etc but it is very useful.

I don't do stickers. I do a little bit of prettifying when I fancy it and when I have time. I do have the future log bit. I use a weekly spread for day-to-day planning, and I draw out a month's worth at a time.

I use it on and off, feel a lot more in control if I use it regularly, but always seem to stop... That’s the main reason normal diaries are a waste for me, as I only use them for a month then get annoyed by the wasted pages! At least here, I can just pick it up again, even it’s there’s been a huge gap.

I have a 3 year calendar at the front (6 months per spread) to write all appointments, then do a weekly spread with a to-do list, which is more or less successful. I really need to use it more regularly, as I spend my time stressing out in my head, but as soon as it’s written down it seems a lot more manageable!

Yes - at first I had a tendency to use it a bit less thoroughly when I was feeling more on top of things, until I accepted the only reason I felt on top of things was because I'd been using the journal! It's a bit like the mistake of only doing yoga/meditation when you're feeling stressed, rather than carrying on doing it in order to stop getting stressed again! Or losing weight and then going back to your old eating habits.

That happens to me too, but it's a good feeling when I get it updated. I do approximately 4 monthly future spreads, so they tend to go to the end of the next main school holidays, just done one to the start of term in Jan as my DCs schools have just updated their calendars for the term. My primary calendar is on my phone, shared with DH, but writing it all out helps me get to grips with what's happening on which weekend etc. I don't put all the regular weekly things (kids sports etc) on the future spread, only the things that are over and above the normal weekly routine.

Then I do a weekly more detailed calendar with tasks and regular events, a journal and lists of all sorts of things, including to-dos.

I am! I've been doing it since last July and am I my third. I do a future log, monthly spread and then daily logs (at the weekend I just do one weekend one). I don't make mine overly pretty but do use it as a kind of scrapbook, so tomorrow I'm going to a festival and I'll stick the ticket in. I think that helps me keep going with it as it makes it nice to look back on, especially when I've been on holiday.

Yes there's definitely a tipping point with the decoration! Making it look nice encourages me to use it, but spending too much time on decorating is counter-productive.

I've tried all kinds of trackers and collections in my journals over the past few years but I end up ditching most of them as I don't use them. Supermarket master list is a must for me, plus a wish list, birthday and Christmas lists (of present ideas, presents given and presents received). I also have a log of new family walks we've done, so that we can remember nice ones and do them again.

Here I am - just started a new one, too - downsized to an A6 size.
I listened to the audiobook on audible (didn't know he has ADHD!). Apart from the ususal logs, my journal already contains collections on DD starting uni, DS starting his last two years of school (I am a parent representative), we'll perhaps need a new place to live, lists of books to buy and project structures.

My newest idea is a page for environment-friendly or money-saving swaps. Among other things, I'm trying to cut down on unnecessary plastic. So I've started buying my meat at the butcher's, trying to avoid fruit and veg in plastic trays, using shampoo bars and refilling my conditioner and household cleaning products at the local zero waste shop etc. Looking for more ideas though.

Everything is starting back this week, so using the diary to try and remember everything. I’ve really enjoyed the summer of no obligations, so getting back into routine is a bit of a shock!

I’ve had a lovely yellow fitted Leuchtturm sat on my desk for over a month ... I am scared to start. Previously have done a bit for a while in a blank starter notebook and convinced myself I’d be more effective if I had the proper tools but ...

Would love to see anyone’s spreads if they fancied posting any.

As i am about as creative as a tax from, there are no pretty spreads to show - only lists after lists - of books to read, gins to try, knitting patterns, plants for autumn etc.

Gins to try!

I just started a few months ago and now have 3 books with different things being tracked in each one. I figure that is ok because the first number of months (or year) I'm going to be figuring out what formats work best for me. Things will be more streamlined next year. It has only made me slightly more organized so far, as I am still not doing a lot of the things that need to be done, but slightly is better than nothing and I do hope to get more on top of things. Have bought a bazillion pens, markers, stencils, stickers, washi tape, etc, plus a lovely box to hold it all.

I was very discouraged at first, as I am Not Artistic and the all of the amazing spreads on pinterest made me feel very inadequate. However, I've gotten over that and have enjoyed cribbing and simplifying designs as well doing my little attempts at decoration. I'm mostly tracking weight, hobbies, music and housecleaning.

Count me in! I’ve been BuJoing for a couple of years and find it’s a revelation to have everything in one place. It’s also great how flexible it is - so if I’m busy I’ll use a weekly planner with a daily to do list, whereas if I’m on holiday etc I won’t bother.

I would love to make mine pretty and artistic but just don’t have the time with 3 small kids. My advice nosquirrels would just be to jump right in. I was too afraid to start as I didn’t want to mess it up, but once I’d got going it was fine. All I use are a few fine liners in different colors and a ruler for my yearly spread, although BuJo purists day you shouldn’t use a ruler at all!

Yes. Don't listen to anyone who tells you how to do your journal. One of the reasons that they are so popular is that you can set them up in whatever way works for you.

Just sent off for some fancy (to me) fountain pens because one of my fellow bullet journaling friends is obsessed with the different types. Such a rabbit hole...

I don't use rulers, coloured pens or do any decoration, I keep a pen in a pen loop on the side of the book and use that for everything. My format is always chopping and changing. I would say the one thing that doesn't work for me is using it for long term lists, I copy some over into a new book but also started keeping lists of sports events and stage shows attended, books read etc but they really need a separate book of their own or they end up spread over several.

I’d like to join in. I bought a journal and have done quite a bit of writing on and off, and watched lots of YouTube videos but yet to find a structure I like so interested to hear others ideas

I tend to mostly use the yearly calendars at the front, for appointments, and then weekly spreads, but the layout changes quite frequently, even though the core elements are basically the same. I like a bit of variety, it seems! I also have a birthday dates list which comes in handy when I actually look at it (not been very good at that recently)

Ah, I can't resist a good Bujo thread. I find I use a month planner page the most - I write birthdays/things I've got planned against each day and on the opposite page I write lists associated with the month e.g. birthday cards/presents to get etc.

I have a purple dotted A5 type size Leuchtturm with a purple pen loop and a purple Uniball fine liner.

I use mine as a notepad and lists book, I don't use stickers or ruler or anything. Its more that everything I remember and think about and make a note of is now in one place.

I love the two ribbons and the contents page and numbered pages. It all works so well for me. I've been doing it for over a year and it has made me loads more organised. Its all relative, as I was very disorganised when I started! Its not like I am super organised or anything now, I have a very long way to go.

Me! My BuJo was a New Years resolution and I am still using it. I have two - one is strictly for work, and the other everything else so I don’t have to bother with the work one when I am not at work.

Lechturm book, some coloured pens and I was away. Deeply functional, no fancy dan images, but daily log, monthly log, future log, meal ideas and Christmas lists are in there. Can’t believe how straightforward and useful it is!

I've started skipping the monthly calendars and just do the weekly ones. I've also come up with a new category for tracking--IT/Digital. Reminders to back up the laptop, start going through and organizing those online photos, etc.

Here's what my weekly spreads look like at the moment, although I tend to change layout styles fairly often. I was going to post a filled-in week, but then realised how much outing info it had on it! Also including a photo of my year's calendar which I stuck in, and my one prettified page (though I'm not that good at drawing!)

I've got my Leuchtturm in my Hobonichi cover, so a) at least the ridiculous amount I spent on the Hobonichi wasn't entirely a waste and b) I get pen loops, pockets and 4 book mark ribbons!