Bullet Journal: Just What is a Bullet Journal?

What Is A Bullet Journal? You’re probably heard someone in your life mention it, and then wondered “What the heck is a bullet journal?” Well, I’m hear to explain what it is and why I love it! If you love to-do lists and check-lists, like I do, then this is something you won’t want to miss out on!

Bullet Journaling has been a hot trend for a little while in the planner and getting organized communities online. Its perfect if you have too many things to remember or think about on a daily basis. This is a simple system to help you keep track! We all have a lot of different daily tasks, appointments, and various things we need to remember. Trying to keep track of everything in your head becomes exhausting. And if you manage a team at work or a family at home, it becomes near impossible. Just think of how much more productive and less stressed you’ll be if you can stop trying to remember all this “stuff”. Ummm HELLO! Wayyyy more productive, at least I have been since I started my bullet journal!

A bullet journal is a way of keeping track of everything you need to do in one notebook. It usually consists of three different parts.

#1 the index and key. They will occupy the first two pages of your journal and help you stay on track with what’s where and how the journal works.

#2 a monthly log or calendar, and then running daily entries.

#3 collections or lists. They are just that, lists of related things you want to keep track of. For example, you may have a list of books you want to read, or a list of clients you need to contact this month.

The idea with a bullet journal is that you set aside two pages for your index and then record things as they come up throughout your day, week, or month. At the beginning of the month you set up a monthly page. This is your space to record appointments, anniversaries and the like. Some bullet journalers will simply make a list of 1-30 (or 31) and then leave space to note appointments as they come up. Others prefer to draw a more traditional monthly calendar grid over two pages. The beauty of the bullet journal “system” is that you can get as creative as you want. Try both ways of organizing your month and see what works better for you. As you draw each monthly grid or list at the beginning of the month, make a note of what page it is on in your index.

On the next blank page, enter today’s date and start recording things you need to take care of, appointments to keep today, and anything else you need to keep track of including quick notes and ideas. This is where you key comes in handy.

The Key I use:

ᐧ (Dot) Task
X Completed Task
> Migrated Task
< Scheduled Task
– Notes

Pick the key system that seems most intuitive for you and start recording the things you need to keep track of and remember in your Bullet Journal. I used (and LOVE) this Getting Started Guide from the original creator of the Bullet Journal to teach me the basics and help me find my “sweet spot”.

The best way to think about your Bullet Journal is as the ultimate ongoing to-do list.

At the end of the day, review your list. Things that have not been completed need to either be crossed out because they are no longer relevant and important, or they should be moved to a tomorrow. If you don’t want to, or can’t tackle an item or two the next day, leave it open and make sure you review and work it in at a later date.

I’ve been using a bullet journal for the last few weeks, and let me tell you, I AM HOOKED! I love the flexibility, the opportunity to use ANY notebook, and being as creative as you want! Plus there are no real “rules”!

If you’ve been struggling to stay organized, keep track of your lists and actually accomplish the things you wet out to do, then a Bullet Journal maybe just what you’ve been looking for!

I’ll be back next week with a post about how I use my bullet journal! Plus more about getting started and what you need to make bullet journaling easy and effective!

Have you tried Budget Journaling yet?