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The term “bullet journal” always made me feel intimidated. It was not a term that I was familiar with and often associated with someone who had time on their hands to do that sort of thing.
As I have learned more about the art of bullet journaling, I have found that I can make it into anything I want it to be. There are no rules.
Once I started this practice, I found my life had more structure and felt more organized. It made my planning and creativity easy. I often refer to it as my “Brain Book”. The term is less intimidating to me.
Check out these tips to start your own Bullet Journal practice.
what is bullet journaling?
Great question.
It can be anything you want it to be.
It is a simple solution to keeping your brain in order. We all have a calendar or planning system. But, there are some things that you need to store before you forget.
Its purpose is to keep all your thoughts in one place.
Use it to hold running lists:
the grocery list
events and details to add to your planner
book titles you want to read
movies you want to see
baby names
business/side hustle ideas
pet names
recipes you want to make
Holiday / Birthday Shopping list
Freelancer or blogger? Make it your content “planner” to house your ideas and expand on them. Do you have something you want to say to someone without accidentally sending it in an email? Jot it in your “Brain Book.”
There are no rules to Bullet Journaling, but I do recommend you leave a few pages for your table of contents. This way you know what lists and pages you have started and can easily refer back to them.
designing your Bullet Journal
This is the fun part. There are no rules for what has to be in your book, or what it needs to look like.
You don’t have to use an “official” bullet journal. Grab a spiral notebook from a dollar bin or pick up a hardcover fashion journal from Walmart or Target. Whatever you get, make sure it will be something you will want to use and carry with you.
My favorite notebook is one that came in my Sparkle Hustle Grow subscription box. (Use my referral link to check it out.)
{Side note: Dot journals are popular, but I prefer a lined journal. Writing in a straight line is not something I am good at.}
I use a few office supplies to help keep it organized and creative:
sticky notes
washi tape
multicolored pens
page tabs
magnetic bookmarks
The book I use fits into this bag. It keeps all of the things I use for my journal contained in one place, and the pages stay neat.
{Side note: This bag is available through a Thirty-One Gifts & More Consultant. If you do not have one, you can use mine.}
A Visual Aid
Vision boards have become pretty popular. Goals and good habits are always thought about but rarely carried through. Use your journal to store your vision.
Create a vision board whenever you want and always have it within reach. Your ability to see your vision board will help you remember what you are trying to accomplish and create.
There’s an App for That
Technology is not bad, but it’s not always for me. If you found that app that works for you, use it. As a lover of hardcover books, I prefer my “app” to be more tangible. I love having a “book” to look back at and hold my random thoughts.
Believe me, I have a lot of random thoughts.
Your journal will keep you from getting distracted on your phone. How many times have you gone to use your grocery list app and found yourself on Facebook?
Your Brain Book will help you alleviate smartphone distractions. And, there’s something about writing it down to help you remember and expand your ideas when creativity hits you.
Girl, Give it a Try
The Bullet Journal practice may not be for you, but, it will keep your thoughts in one place, reduce your screen time and help you define and keep your goals. Try it out. Use your Bullet Journal to organize any part of your life that needs it. Your book can be anything you need it to be.
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