Anyone still using a Bullet Journal?

[Fairislefandango]

It was such a big thing a few years back! I'm still loving mine (I think I'm on my 8th annual one now!), and I like to start a thread on here once in a while to see if anyone's got any great new ideas or systems, or if there's anyone keen to start using one. I've just kind of changed the way I do mine, and it's definitely better.

I'm retired and so now haven't got the need for a proper bullet journal but I really should get into the habit of recording absolutely every task I do in the garden in bullet style. I might rejig and restart sept 1st

I currently have two, one for home and one for work (even though I work at home!). Until recently I was only one one project and we managed all tasks in Jira, so work was pretty much sorted except for a few admin tasks. I'm now on six projects across multiple companies, so I use Microsoft Planner to keep track of all the task detail, but use a bullet journal to plan my days and set goals for the week. I'm working solo on a number of these projects so it's really helped me stay organised.

Oh this is timely, mine’s been gathering dust since the last time I posted, so using the new school year as a jumpstart could be exactly what I need. I still get very tempted by the lovely new diaries in shops but I never end up using them so must force myself not to look at them.

I used to bullet journal properly every year, complete with beautiful layouts which I really enjoyed making and found v mindful to do! However, quite literally the day I went into hospital to have my baby (now 2) was the last entry. It simply says "c-section" and then nothing!!

However, I still retain that 2020 journal (and the others) as I used the index extensively and am often looking up things I journaled before (when I had the time).

Master lists were a fave and I do re-visit those a lot. The most useful was the master Xmas day groceries shopping list with menus, a master list of every meal I know how to cook (for when I need inspiration) and (in lockdowns) a master of ever film or box set I'd like to watch. Many of those have been ticked off.

I also use monthly planner to plan my goals and break them down onto monthly steps and weekly focus. This has helped me in the past.

I am really looking forward to the day I find time to bullet journal again.

I am really looking forward to the day I find time to bullet journal again.

I find that the times I'm too busy to bullet journal are precisely the times I most need to bullet journal!

Agreed, @Fairislefandango . I assume that @tiredmum83 you associate bullet journal with beautiful layouts (and from YouTube I see people do the most amazing art in theirs). The most artistic thing in mine is that sometimes I use a coloured pen to underline 😆My ds is 17 and I don't have enough time (or skill) to do beautiful bullet journal spreads, so I wouldn't wait until your toddler leaves you with more time on your hands!

I find that I don't tend to use habit trackers, or if I use them I start to feel bad then I see the misses I've had.
I also see continuous bullet journalling creating the problem of needing space for storing bullet journals. Overthinking aren't I?

"I find that the times I'm too busy to bullet journal are precisely the times I most need to bullet journal!"

This is always the case for me. But sometimes I need limiting so I also use a journal specifically desired for ADHD brains which LIMITS me and prevents overloading myself, overwhelm and resets me.

I have months where it is used and months where it is barely looked at.

Most useful spreads: meal plan bingo, present list, term time calander with mine and Ds's term times on for coordination (when i was studying last year), I love my alastair method rolling to do list for those annoying jobs that need repeating, mostly i love the fact that my month overview can have a sunday start but my weeks can have a monday start

I find that I don't tend to use habit trackers, or if I use them I start to feel bad then I see the misses I've had. I also see continuous bullet journalling creating the problem of needing space for storing bullet journals.

I hate habit trackers! I tried lots of times with them and they just don't work for me. I'm on my 8th Bullet Journal. I store them in the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet. I definitely don't begrudge them the space!

I have no idea what a bullet journal is but having just read this thread, I feel like I need one in my life 😂

Is it like a filofax? I use my phone more and more for calendar things, and put little notes in the notes bit of my phone but then forget about them.

I'd love to know more! Sorry to crash your thread.

I'm intrigued by the Alastair method, @HillsBesideTheSea , but I can't decide if it would work for me. If I did try it, it would be the weekly version I think. Do you use it for monthly and weekly?

Make up as i go along tbh, some times 1 week, sometimes 2 weeks, sometimes monthly. Depends what i need in the moment.

My favourite bit of the bujo system is it literally is what i need from month to month and not static in any shape or form.

I got into them last year after seeking an ADHD diagnosis (still waiting!). I use it like a planner - monthly overviews with habit/mood tracker and to-do list, and then weekly double page spreads that include to-do lists and leave a bit of space for decorating if I have time, or to add extra detail for that week.

Pages I like:

A 'highlights' page each month, where I write the best thing that happens each day. Encourages me to find something lovely in every day and it's lovely to look back on.

Brain dump and shopping list pages where I use washi tape to stick a bit of lined paper. So, the lists can be as ad-hoc/random as I like, then tear it out when I need and stick a new one in, always on the same page for consistency.

Weekly to-do lists separated into work/personal, and I recently added an "action by" column to avoid overwhelm and help me prioritise at a glance.

I swapped from a set 2-page weekly spread (drawn out in advance each week) to the more traditional free-flow dailies this year so that I was neither restricting my daily space nor giving myself more space than I'd use.

But I miss the overview and being able to plan things for the whole week ahead. So I'm wondering if an Alastair method weekly alongside free-flow dailies would work well for me... I'd forgotten about the Alastair method until you mentioned it, @HillsBesideTheSea so thanks for that! I don't think I could cope with tge Alastair monthly though - it boggles my brain a bit!

I really need to get back to my BuJo - I'm always a much happier person when I use it. I did it religiously until this time last year, when I went from part time to full time at work (I'm a TA). I couldn't really keep any work stuff in there, and then I was getting home and just feeling too mentally exhausted to do anything (full time 1:1 to a child with very complex needs) which, of course, meant I could really have done with the organisation! This year I'm not doing 1:1 so I'm hoping I can find the head space to get back into it. The house, my kids, and my mental health all benefit from my doing it!

The only thing I've kept up with consistently is my period tracker and the bookshelf I add books I've read to. I really miss my daily mood trackers and 'happy thoughts' page. Right before bed, I used to write one thing every day that had made me happy or that I was grateful for, and record my mood for thr day. I miss going to bed on that happy note!

I'm back in the Bujo room.

I've kept a diary since moving but it was a one or two liner as and when I remembered.

Now I have one double page per week, notes and 'to do' on the Left hand side [got recipes on it from this week], and the Right hand side, list of the days split evenly down the page, and I'm writing in as I do stuff.

It is right here next to me when I am at the table. Instead of on the sofa so I just update it now every evening.

@jinglejanglemorning , oh it is so much more than a Filofax!! . here you go

Ooh I've just looked up the Alistair method and I love it! Thanks @HillsBesideTheSea

For anyone not familiar this tutorial was v helpful.

I'm going to use it for the future log as I do like the way I can just migrate things to the next month and it will help me track progress on longer term projects.

I'm going to start a new bujo tomorrow for the academic year as I work in that sector and mindset. I've ordered a 2nd edition which I've not had before. I'm not sure if it's actually better than the original but I thought I'd give it a try.

I did it religiously until this time last year, when I went from part time to full time at work (I'm a TA). I couldn't really keep any work stuff in there.

That's going to be me from tomorrow. I'm a teacher going back to full time. I hope I don't fall off the Bujo waggon! I figure I'm going to need all the help I can get to keep my home life on an even keel, so I'm going to need my Bujo even if I can't use it for work.

I got my first job after I showed my bullet journal at a job interview! I now recommend it to clients who are struggling to keep on top of everything. I don't use it as much now as I did when I was unemployed as my job provides the structure.

OP, I think you’ve kick started BuJo and the Alistair Method 😏

I don't use it as much now as I did when I was unemployed as my job provides the structure.

That's what I'm wondering about. My day and week will be very structured!

I actually used my buju more when i was working as apposed to studying tbh. But mostly i just use it differently

@Fairislefandango Tbh i only Alstair method the repeating tasks (house stuff mostly) because i really need to "see" what I have done otherwise it gets lost in the omg god there is so much to do in this building site of a house that it is easy to get disheartened.

I run a 2 page weekly alongside in addition. Sometimes it is a 1 page weekly depending on the week/month and how much i am using the bujo in that moment. Sometimes it is a 4 page weekly, but those weeks are generally the kinds of week you draw a line under and have a stiff drink after

Mine evolved. I have one for work, and I e for home.

They basically have a things to do page every month and then pages for whatever I need to write down, all numbered and put on the contents page.

I use them a lot

I've seen the Alistair method mentioned a few times on YouTube so will be watching the videos. In terms of weekly spread vs free flow, I do a weekly planner on two pages but then do free flow for each day, referring back to the weekly planner for stuff I've noted there.