Ryder Carrol first introduced us to bullet journaling in 2013. The method is simple, and no one can explain it as well as he can. Over the years, I have watched many videos and read multiple articles that didn’t help me half as much as Carrol’s explanations. Go here to learn from the master.
Although Bullet Journaling began as a simple method with pen and paper, over the years, the community has taken this method and blown it up into an entire way of life. You will find bullet journals now that include intense artwork and unbelievable detail, various types of trackers and spreads, and various collection ideas. However, it is essential to know that none of that is necessary to start bullet journaling or to use it in your daily planning.
What Is Bullet Journaling
The Bullet Journaling method focuses on rapid logging and ongoing task lists. The journal will consist of a key, index, future log, monthly log, daily log, and collections. The daily logs implement a signifier next to the entries that keeps you in check and helps you make sense of the lists. Sounds complicated, right? It isn’t. Once you see it in action and try it, it makes keeping up with things much more manageable.
Utilizing Carrol’s system (as it is or with changes) will help you discover what needs to be in your life and what doesn’t. It can help you stay on track with projects, hold yourself accountable for goals and lifestyle changes, and keep your entire life organized in one place.
How I Began Bullet Journaling
When I began bullet journaling, I put it all in there. I tried lots of collections and lots of tracking. Over the years, I have scaled it down to what is necessary and what I want to use or know. I still look at and love the spreads that others design and use. I love the artwork-filled spreads as well as the minimalist designs. However, I have slashed, cut, folded, kneaded, and tweaked Carroll’s system to exactly what I need. That sentence alone defines how flexible bullet journaling truly is.
While the method is flexible, I suggest you try using the actual method first. That way, you get a feel for the method and what does or does not work for your lifestyle. The easiest way for me to test methods is to build fake logs. When I began, I sat down and wrote all of the pages. Then, I got my planner and started filling in the month prior. I was able to see how my actual month looked with the system. I was on about page three of the dailies when I knew this was something I wanted to use.
How To Get Started Bullet Journaling
First and foremost, you should go to BulletJournal.com and watch the introduction video. Or, if you’re a shortcut kind of person, just read this page. It’s more inspiring than anything you’ll find here or elsewhere! But you can always keep reading for a brief introduction.
The Pages
The original method only utilizes a few pages: the key, index, future, monthly, and daily log. Here they are briefly described :
The Bullet Journal Key
The key is where you will jot down the symbols (signifiers) you will use to mark each entry. While many people dedicate a page to the key, some put it on a sticky note or bookmark so that it can move along with you as you write. Below are the basic symbols used by the bullet journal method.
Click here to see Bullt Journal Key page examples on Pinterest!
Tasks, Complete, & Irrelevant
All tasks are marked with a simple dot to the side. As you can see in some of the other symbols, this dot changes as the task’s status changes.
Once a task is complete, you mark an X over the dot.
Sometimes, as our to-do list goes along, we realize something has become irrelevant and needs to go away. That’s when you cross it out. But it is essential to learn from the tasks you mark as irrelevant. Sometimes, we can save ourselves time in the future by not writing them down in the first place.
Migration
In the Bullet Journal method, migrating tasks is the very heart of the whole process. If I have laundry on my to-do list today and it doesn’t get done, it must be moved to another day. This scenario is where migration comes into play. The right-pointing arrow means you will migrate it to the next day.
The left-pointing arrow means you will migrate it back to the future or monthly log to complete later.
Events, Notes, & Feelings
Events use the open square box symbol. While ‘going to the doctor at 3 p.m.’ is on my ‘to-do’ list, it’s also an event or scheduled appointment. When browsing your list, one could easily overlook appointments or events if they didn’t have a different signifier.
A simple line signifies that you need to note this. Notes can be anything from thoughts, ideas, quotes, information about the day, etc.
Because so much of Carroll’s method is centered around mindfulness, a signifier (the equal sign) for feelings has also been added. This signifier can be helpful for keeping notes about how you feel throughout the day, separate from the rest of the list. Again, having a separate signifier makes it easy to glance over your day and find those notations easily. You can see how some tasks or events cause you stress or anxiety or how they get you motivated and excited. The awareness of these feelings can help you be more mindful of your actions.
The signifiers can be customized to meet your needs. Change them, and make your own key. It’s okay, and it’s entirely up to you!
The Bullet Journal Index
The index page is pretty straightforward. You save yourself a couple of pages at the beginning so that you can keep track of where everything is inside your journal. However, there are many different ways in which people have indexed their journals. Some of these methods include inking the outer edge, adding tabs, lining the paper edges with washi tape, color coding, and more. I always return to the index no matter what tabs or tapes I have used.
Click here to see Bullet Journal Index page examples on Pinterest!
Threading
Threading is a trick to link or stitch collection pages together through the book without going back and forth to the index. I use the physical area of the page to indicate the direction I need to go. If I go backward in the book, the previous list’s numbers will be on the left-hand side of the page or spread. If I am going forward, it will be written on the right side.
For example, a reading tracker is started on pages 41 and 42. When the spread is complete, I will start a new one on pages 73 and 74.
- On the bottom right side of the 41-42 spread, I write 73-74
- On the bottom left side of the 73-74 spread, I write 41-42.
- Additionally, I will write the next set onto the 73-74 spread at the bottom right corner when that second spread is done. (See image for an example)
Threading for single pages works the same way: on one page instead of two. BulletJournal.Com has a great article on index variations and threading.
The Bullet Journal Future Log
The future log covers the entire year. The notebook size you use can determine the number of months per page. In my book, I put six months on each page. My future log mainly lists birthdates and anniversaries. I also add appointments or events scheduled for months outside of the current month.
Click here to see Bullet Journal Future Log page examples on Pinterest!
The Bullet Journal Monthly Log
In the bullet journal method, you will use two pages for your monthly planning. On the left page, you will make a list of the days. Here, you will put your upcoming events and activities. On the right, you will list your monthly tasks that are not date-dependent.
Some people do not use a monthly task list but instead use the right page to list notable events for the month. I, myself, combine all of that into one page. My line might read ‘M 2 – Dr. Smith @ 7 – El Toritos – White Point Beach’. For me, this means I had a doctor’s appointment at 7 (because I do minor planning on that page and appointments get listed), but then the notable memories I want to keep up with for that day are that we went to El Toritos for dinner and I went to White Point to work.
Click here to see horizontal Bullet Journal Monthly Log examples on Pinterest!
Click here to see vertical Bullet Journal Monthly Log examples on Pinterest!
The Bullet Journal Daily Log
Now, we move on to the magical daily log. This log is where all of the signifiers really come into play. If you are familiar with day planners, you’ll know you get a set number of daily slots, sometimes broken down by time. Those are great if you need it. But I need more flexibility. I started with a to-do list on a piece of paper. Honestly, that piece of paper sometimes got used and sometimes didn’t. (I would love to say I used it religiously but didn’t.) It was a standard list; write the items down and mark them off when complete.
The daily logs allow me to use that list more actively and functionally. I bring forward what still needs to be completed, and I can actively see what I have accomplished. My timing is sometimes different from others. I may finish my log in the evening or the following day. It’s what works for me. That’s what makes this whole method so appealing!
Don’t Forget The Header
Your daily header can be as simple as the date or as complicated as you want. My header includes the weather, the moon phase, and two current daily trackers for how long I have gone without smoking and how many days I have used my purse traveler’s notebook. The notebook count is random, but I wanted to test the carry-it-everywhere notebook method.
After your header, you list the tasks and events for the day. As your day progresses, you actively use the list to reflect on what you need to do and what you have done. As a task is complete, you X it out; if it becomes irrelevant, you draw a line through it.
When you start your day, you will look at the day before. If you have incomplete tasks, you will migrate them onto today’s list first. This step has an aspect of mindfulness. You become aware of what you achieved the day before, which sometimes encourages you to do more today.
Click here to see Bullet Journal Daily Log examples on Pinterest
The Bullet Journal Collections
Collections are just lists or collections of data. Here is a list of samples of collections :
- Reading List
- Habit Tracker
- Mood Tracker
- Favorites (favorite music, movies, etc.)
- Quotes
- Brain Dumps
- Household chores, Auto Maintenance, etc.
- Goal or Workout Tracking
- Sleep Tracker
- Anything you want to keep track of, anything.
You can search for examples on any search engine, but I have found that the best place to find examples is Pinterest. There are thousands and thousands of beautiful examples. The most important thing to remember when looking at examples is that you do not have to go all out with the artwork. If you have that skill, that’s great, but if you don’t, it’s okay too. I wish there were more examples of Plain Jane collections! The above links will take you to my Pinterest boards for examples of those collections.
The Bullet Journal Method : On To The Next Month
You do have to start fresh every month using the original method. Some people can not function that way and create theirs all at once. But part of what makes this system flexible is having the ability to add in pages or collections or extra journaling as you go along.
When you build the month, you will migrate unfinished tasks from the prior month to your current log. It’s the same concept as the rollover on the daily page. Don’t forget to write the new month into your index!
Your Next Steps With Bullet Journaling
Now that I have explained bullet journaling, you can move on to your next steps.
Step 1. Get a notebook and pen
Step 2. Start writing!
But if you are still uncertain, go to BulletJournal.com and browse the videos and articles or take the course. I also have a Pinterest board full of bullet journal pages, spreads, covers, and more if you want to see examples.
I genuinely hope this helps you to move into the world of bullet journaling. There is only the basics to understand. From there, you can go anywhere you want to go. It is an entirely flexible and helpful method that you can swap, change, twist, tweak, and bend into what you need it to be. You can use all or part of it (like I do). No matter which way you go, I am confident that you will find it helps you out in the end.
Happy Journaling!
– Sarah G
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