Is Bullet Journaling For You?
Will a bullet journal improve your life? The best way to find out is to simply start one. It is such an easy and useful productivity tool that you’ll be happy to make bullet journaling a part of your business or personal life.
Who it is Good For
You have most likely seen these journals on a friend’s desk, online in YouTube videos, on social media, or even in your local bookstore. You might have opened up this notebook to see what this hype is all about and upon opening the book, seeing a bunch of geometric dots all over the page, being extremely overwhelmed, confused, just to shut the book and continue on with your daily life.
Curious if it might be for you? Here are some people that the bullet journal is perfect for.
People whose minds wander and have a LOT of to-do lists:
There are a lot of people who are content with making a to-do list on a daily basis and checking off their responsibilities in a monotonous manner. However, some people are overwhelmed if they can’t keep track of almost everything in their life, they are always planning in advance. These people will have lists for everything, today to-do lists, tomorrow to-do lists, this month to-do lists, event lists, goal lists.
If you are one of those people who is not satisfied with one list and need a better organization system in your planning life, a bullet journal would work for you. The Bullet Journal gives you the flexibility to write all the things on your mind in an organized fashion.
There are no lines in the notebook, like the usual journals, just dots. And it allows you to create shortlists, calendars, you name it. It will organize and separate all the things that are important to you without getting them disheveled and mixed together.
People who are creative and enjoy journaling, scrapbooking, and other artistic projects:
The great thing about bullet journaling is that it is a technique more than a product. Sure, the notebook is filled with symbols, boxes, and intricate layouts, but for the most part, the bullet journal is empty and gives you enough room to design your journal in a creative fashion.
You are given a blank canvas to which you can start organizing your entire life, stay on top of things, keep track of important dates and events, and have fun with it. When adding colorful scraps and additions to your bullet journal, you don’t interrupt any intended process that the bullet journal means.
This type of journal is not restrictive in any way and allows you to add your own creative flair without losing any productivity. Other agendas and calendar journals are super restrictive; they have set planning box sizes and dates and uses a format that you are restricted to sticking to. This can become boring and make the routine of logging and planning tiresome; making many lose interest all together.
People who have tried to get organized, but have failed using normal agendas:
Many people really have a yearning to get organized, productive and aware of their daily planning. However, they have bought tons and tons of notebooks, agendas and journals and time and time again, have stopped using them after a few weeks. If the standard journals, the ones that resemble the ones we have all grown up with since receiving them in middle school, have failed you every single time, it might be time to bullet journal.
You have tried the basics, now it’s time to try something totally different and take journaling into your own hands instead of following and using the strategies and books everyone else is using.
The traditional journals are often too basic and might not accommodate the complications and disorganized thoughts in your head. The bullet journal allows you to address every single issue you have had with Journaling and lets your deal with them in your own way, with no restrictions and only minor guidance. If you have the final say in how you organize your life in the bullet journal, you are more likely to keep up the habit of using a Journal.
Everyone else:
There are no specific requirements for a person to use a bullet journal. The main goal is organization in an individualistic manner. Anybody who has interest in this might benefit from trying a bullet journal. Even if you never had a major journaling or planning phase, the experience of trying out a bullet journal is one that is worth the try for any person of any age. It is definitely worth the time and effort you put into it.
As you can see, the bullet journal is something that is fit for everyone. It provides an extensive list of benefits for better organization, planning, and the added bonus of reducing stress and overwhelm in your life.
How Bullet Journaling Can Help You
Bullet journaling is a great way to track what you’re doing throughout the day. It’s also a wonderful record keeper. You can look back and see how far you’ve come in any given week and month. If you’re considering giving bullet journaling a try, I hope these big benefits will have you grabbing a pen and notebook to get started.
It’s Easy And Customizable
You don’t need to go out and buy a big planning system or download a fancy app to your smartphone. Instead, all it takes is a notebook and a pen or pencil. Chances are you have an old notebook lying around. Grab it and give it a try. Setting up a basic bullet journal is simple. The entire process can be explained in a few minutes. Set up your key, index and monthly spread and you’re good to go.
Because it is such a simple system, it’s easy to customize it for your needs. If you need ideas, head on over to YouTube or follow a few bullet journal enthusiasts on social media. You’ll get plenty of ideas to help you customize your bullet journal for your needs. Because it’s an analog system (just pen and paper), your bullet journal will work anytime anywhere, no power or Wi-Fi required.
It Helps You Stay Organized
Once you get in the habit of recording and checking off anything important, your bullet journal will help you stay organized in all areas of your life. Keep track of work tasks, dentist appointments, and your grocery list in one convenient place. The key and index make it easy to keep track of everything.
Since it’s nothing more than a notebook and pen, you can carry it around with you everywhere. Throw it in your purse, keep it next to you on your desk, and review your day before you head to bed at night. Once you get in the habit of using your journal throughout the day, it will become second nature to carry it around with you, the way you keep your phone on you.
It Frees Up Brain Space
By far the biggest benefit to using a bullet journal is that it frees up a lot of brain space. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how much of a difference this will make. Most of us don’t realize how many appointments, tasks, and random pieces of information we keep track of. Writing them down allows you to use those brain cells for more creative and productive endeavors. You may even find that you sleep better because you’re no longer worried about forgetting an important task or appointment the next day.