If the collection of sticky notes framing your monitor or the shopping list written on a scrap of paper has you feeling disorganized, bullet journaling might be the solution for you.
Touted as an all-in-one solution, bullet journaling can help you organize and plan for what matters most to you – tracking spending, planning a vacation, or remembering special events.
Learn more about what bullet journaling is and how you can get started.
What is Bullet Journaling?
At its core, bullet journaling (or BuJo) is all about using a notebook to organize your life, plan, and live intentionally.
Created by digital product designer Ryder Carroll, bullet journaling is an analog alternative to keeping notes on an electronic device or in your head. Deceptively simple, bullet journaling is based around a key using the following three symbols:
- A bullet point for tracking tasks •
- An open bullet point for tracking events °
- A dash for other notes -
Together, these symbols help make up the system of “rapid logging” - a quicker method of writing notes than traditional journaling.
If you browse social media, you’ll likely come across pictures of intricately-designed bullet journal pages with beautiful calligraphy. And while bullet journaling encourages creativity, you can make your journal as simple or complex as you like.
There are “official” bullet journals with dotted rulings; however, you can use any notebook you like best.
How to Create Your Bullet Journal
The beauty of bullet journaling is its flexibility – allowing you to create a system that works for you. There are four core components that every bullet journal should include. The AARP describes them as:
- Create an index by numbering all the pages of your journal (or using a pre-numbered notebook) and listing a table of contents at the beginning to help you easily find things.
- Create a future log just after the index with key plans and dates for the upcoming year.
- Start a monthly log with noteworthy events and priorities.
- Begin a daily log to keep track of events and to-dos. Mark off tasks as you complete them.
Beyond these basics, how you use your journal is up to you. Here are just a few of the things you can include in your journal, depending on your goals, lifestyle, and preferences:
- Logs to keep track of things like exercise, eating habits, sleep, and more.
- Reading lists with books you want to finish.
- Goal charts to help you track and reach your goals.
Why Should I Keep a Bullet Journal?
Many bujo practitioners say journaling is more than just an easy way to stay organized. It is also a way for them to cultivate mindfulness as they plan daily, weekly, and monthly.
One of the original tenets of bullet journaling - migration - includes looking back at your notes at the end of a month, thinking about how you spent your time, and then deciding which tasks to continue and which to leave behind.
A bullet journal also provides a screen-free way to spend some time and stay organized. Whether you love to doodle or just like crossing items off a to-do list, there are a multitude of ways you can use your journal.
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