When we hear the word “studying,” we generally tend to bring negative connotations to mind. Cal Poly has made us more than aware of the 25-35 hour rule for succeeding in our courses, but many of us still struggle when finding a way to organize tasks and prepare for exams. And when we start having obligations for clubs and work outside of school, things can get pretty chaotic. Fear not, for we have a potential and practical solution that’s helped us organize our tasks and stay on track: the bullet journal!
Bullet journals, as their name implies, are small notebooks that you can use to organize your ideas on a page and keep track of your tasks and meetings. You can find videos of them online and visit bulletjounal.com to see how others have designed them. It’s important to know that everyone’s method of organization can be completely different, and the primary purpose of the journal is to suit your needs. Therefore, it’s probably best to use the examples as a resource and build yours based on your comfort level. If you’d still like to know how to start, are some tips that I have:
Finding a Notebook:
If you want to use a bullet journal specifically, you can find them in this section at the university store for about $5. However, for the purpose of organization and practicality, any notebook (ruled, grid, or bullet) will do.
Creating Your System:
It’s important to know how you intend to navigate through the journal, so you should use a method that will work specifically for you. For example, if you intend to color code but know that too many colors will confuse you, it would be best to stick with a simple multi colored pen. However, if you’re like me and appreciate more variety, it would be ideal to use more colors, as long as you can ensure you’re consistent with your key.
Designing the key should be feasible, as its main purpose is to help you visualize your obligations as they’re assigned and completed. Here’s an example of a key that could work with a multi-colored pen:
Another thing to keep in mind is the amount of pages you’re going to use. If you’re going to refer back to a section, it would be a good idea to have an index in the first few pages.
Maintaining Consistency:
One of the great things about working with bullet journals is that you can carry them everywhere and continue to add things that come up, which helps you prepare for the unexpected. I used to type tasks on my laptop and take screenshots of the notes, but that method eventually plummeted when more assignments piled up. Using the notebook, however, I can now have it open next to my laptop and get a clear picture of my upcoming assignments, which has been critical in helping me prioritize. Here’s what my first two days looked like.
With this, however, it’s important to stay on task. During the first few days, it might seem difficult to build the habit of using the journal, but by the end of the first two weeks you should have an idea of whether or not it’s the right tool for you.
Personalization:
Making the journal your own is probably the best way to give it sentimental value and add your own touch. I added stickers and sticky notes to my journal, which bring color to the cover every time I bring it out of my bag, making me more excited to open it up and jot down my tasks. Others may use it for class notes or brainstorming sessions for projects. Bear in mind that there isn’t one specific way a journal should be made. Having this freedom is what lead me to try and design new pages like this:
Bullet journals are a great resource for staying organized and managing responsibilities. As an introvert, perfectionist and visual learner I can definitely say that I’ve benefited from sticking to this system, and I’m sure many others have come to enjoy it as well. If you’re looking to change your study habits and try something new, the bullet journal is a great place to start!