One of the best ideas behind the bullet journal is that it’s so deceptively simple, with only a few rules or guidelines to follow to make it work. This gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to making your bullet journal work for you.
And who doesn’t need a little more flexibility in their life? I know I sure do!
How to Make Your Bullet Journal Work For You
Take It For A Test Drive
Yes you can read all about using your bullet journal and watch a ton of YouTube videos to get ideas. But you won’t get a feel for what will work for you until you start to give it a try.
Start with an inexpensive notebook and just try it out. Follow the basic bullet journal layout with an index, a key and a monthly spread. Track your daily tasks and see how it feels.
Add in a few lists or collections and get a feel for what type of information is useful and what isn’t. Try trackers and various other “hacks” you come across and determine what works for you.
This system is all about finding what works for you so that you’ll actually use and LOVE it!
Start Small and Don’t Track Too Much
When you first start out bullet journaling, you may be tempted to write down and track every single thing. DON’T DO IT!
The enthusiasm is wonderful, and while it’s perfectly fine to try a bunch of different stuff, you may over-commit and start tracking too much. Which can be overwhelming and cause your bullet journal to become a dreaded chore.
It’s a tool. Start small and figure out what works and what’s sustainable for you to write down and track. Always keep in mind that this is supposed to be helpful, not add to your workload.
Don’t Be Afraid To Rip Things Out And Start Over
If you find that something isn’t working for you, don’t be afraid to rip it out. I have!!
Did you think the weekly reading collection was a good idea, but now it is a dreaded task? Rip out that page. And if your overall layout for your bullet journal isn’t working for you, don’t be afraid to toss it and start over.
This is exactly why you start out with a small and inexpensive notebook. Grab another one and start over. It might be a process of trial and error, but you’ll find the setup and system that’s right for you.
Tweak It And Change It Until It Works For You
Expect some testing and tweaking, and changing stuff around until you come up with something that works well for you. We all lead different lives and our brains work differently.
Our bullet journals should reflect that.
Keep working on it until you come up with a system that feels natural. You’ll know it when you get there. The end goal is to have a bullet journal setup that makes your live easier and helps you stay organized without feeling that writing in it is a chore.
I have ripped out many a page over the last few weeks, but I think thats why I have come to truly LOVE using a Bullet Journal. The “no rules” thing takes the pressure off, and because I am using basic note books I already had on had to start, there’s not guilt about ripping and tossing lists that aren’t working for me!
Have you started your Bullet Journal Yet? What are you waiting for?
Check out these posts about the basics of a bullet journal and 3 ways to start your bullet journal!
Looking for a little visual inspiration? This youtube video covers all the basics and shares some fun and creative layouts that are perfect for beginners!
I could definitely use something to make my life easier! I have so much going on that I know I continually forget things that I intended to do that day lol. Agreed on the part of you saying, don’t write down everything. That can end up overwhelming. Thanks for sharing!
I need a journal for business ideas/tasks and am always looking for one that will work for MY needs. I love the idea of ripping stuff OUT! (too many lists!)
I love all of your tips, Jennifer. I’m definitely in need of starting a bullet-journal…my “post-its all over the place with ideas” situation is truly a joke in my house! Love that it’s so simple…I truly couldn’t handle much more than that!
I love the idea behind bullet journaling. I’ve thought about doing something like this for awhile now, but I just haven’t committed to it yet. Your tip of ripping things out if it isn’t working is a good one. I tend to be a perfectionist, and I can see myself getting frustrated if it didn’t look right.
I love planners but I’m always changing how I want to organize things, so very specifically laid out planners tend to only work for a few months at a time. That’s the awesome thing about Bullet Journals, you can lay them out however it works for you and that can even differ from month to month or week to week!
I’ve tried bullet journaling in the past and paper methods just don’t work for me. I do however use the concept with my electronic reminder apps and it works well. Sadly I have a horrible memory and need to electronic alarms to remind me of everything, something a notebook can’t do.
Great post though. I’ve read a few posts on this and yours have great instructions on how to start!
Thanks for the “turn it up Tuesday” link!
That is exactly why I love my bullet journal over any planner I can purchase. My bullet journal works for me exactly how I need/want it to be!!
Great post! I keep seeing these around but haven’t used one yet. I really like your idea of using an inexpensive notebook to start out though, so you can rip pages out and find what system is best for you!
-Lauren
Great tips! I find bullet journals SO intriguing, but I’m scared to start one!
Don’t be afraid! They’re so easy! Just start with any old note book and go from there 🙂
Thanks for these tips, I really want to give bullet journaling a try, but it’s a little overwhelming. 🙂
Thanks for the tips. I just started a bullet journal but I’m not sure if it works well for me yet. I really like it for keeping track of blogging ideas but I’m not sold on using it for everyday just yet. I guess it takes time to get used to a different system.
Love bullet journaling! It makes keeping track of things much easier 🙂