Journal with a Purpose

November 10, 2017 Kristen Pierce

BUJO. Future log. Analog system. Rapid logging. Signifiers.

No, we’re not traveling through time. We’re BULLET JOURNALING.

This semester, Helena and I (Kristen) have taken up bullet journaling together. It started with a few used notebooks, and over time, we have acquired sharpies, fancy journals, colored highlighters and those super cool felt tipped paper mate pens. No stickers (yet).

The bullet journal was created by Ryder Carroll. It is a simplified planning and organization system meant to seamlessly adjust into any person’s life. Basically, it can be as intricate or relaxed of a system as you want.

As the BuJo craze swept the nation, Helena and I jumped onto the hype train. Here is why we adapted the method and what our favorite things to do in our bullet journals are.

 

Kristen

Why I Started

I was tired of writing “organize planner” on my to-do list. As a perfectionist, it was hard for me to find a planner that encompassed my every need. I loved the fancy ones with extras, like goal setting tabs, but found that I didn’t have time to fill them in consistently, and would get stressed over incomplete pages. The simplified ones did not have enough structure for me. I tried digital organizers, like reminders on my phone, but nothing stuck. I was also adding more and more incomplete journals to my collection by the week- I had one for gratitude, one for travel, one for my experiences in Atlanta, one for “general things” (what?!)… I was going mad trying to keep up with all of my thoughts and the systems I’d created for myself and expected myself to uphold. And then one morning, Helena walked into work and ask, “Have you heard of bullet journals?” My life was changed. I will never again get halfway through a planner before deciding it doesn’t work for me anymore and I need to get a new, better one today, wait, no, RIGHT NOW. With a bullet journal, I can keep all of my plans, to-do’s, and (neurotic) thoughts in one place.

My Favorite Things to BuJo

-Monthly spreads with tasks to complete that month

-Habit trackers

-Activity brainstorms when I’m going to be visiting a new place

-Quotes

-Lists!!! Packing lists, book lists, wish lists… etc.

 

Helena

Why I Started

I wish I was good at art. My art capabilities consist of drawing a stick figure. But I like the concept of doodles of plants and flowers, dreamy calligraphy, and colorful notes. I use my bullet journal as a creative outlet of physically putting down all my thoughts. I use it as my low commitment, whatever-whenever journal to make random lists, plans, ideas, and reminders. It’s filled with lists of places to go hiking, grocery lists, books I want to read, and meals I’ve ordered at my favorite restaurant in West Midtown. It’s filled with doodles of cacti, globes, and pumpkins. It’s all over the place and it’s not perfect. But for me, that’s enough. I want to be able to flip through it and remember everything that was on my mind and this point in my life. 

My Favorite Things to BuJo

-Gratitude log

-Spending log

-Weekly spreads of my really busy weeks

-Goals for the year

The bullet journal has combined planning, list making, and journaling all into one outlet. And if you’re like us and you love making lists and staying organized, what are you waiting for? Get started and journal with a purpose.