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Bullet journaling is the hottest new trend involving something not so hot: organization. This intrigued me as a (formerly) very disorganized person, so I got myself a brand new Erin Condren planner and decided to give it the old college try.
The official bullet journaling website is full of intimidating jargon, but do not be deterred by these fancy terms. I have broken them down for you and if I can do it, anyone can. The concept is actually quite easy once you get the hang of it. Once you get into it, I promise you won’t want to stop!
What is it?
Essentially, “bullet journaling” is a fancy term for a combination of a planner, to-do list and a diary. Bullet journaling is all about, you guessed it, writing in quick, easy bullet points, rather than detailed sentences. The key to bullet journaling, and what makes it so unique, is its use of symbols. I’ve explained how to accurately and efficiently use these symbols below.
How do I get started?
To get started, you need a journal (duh) or planner or notebook of some sort. I’m using my beloved Erin Condren planner. Not only do I have ample room to write down my daily to-do lists, but Erin Condrens are artfully decorated and have cute, little, motivational sayings sprinkled throughout. Getting some fun new pens for your new organized life doesn’t hurt either, but that step is optional.
Daily lists: symbols are your friend.
- Use your classic, tried and true bullet point for the things you need to do on your daily list. This is similar to any other to-do list you have made in the past.
- If you schedule when that task is getting accomplished, write a less than symbol (<) over the bullet.
- When you complete the task (YGG), make an “X” through the bullet. It is also recommended at this point to reward yourself with some Ben & Jerry’s or reality TV (not optional).
- If you, for whatever reason, don’t get to all of the items on your to-do list, do not fret. Use a greater than symbol (>) to show that the task was not completed in the past and will be in the future. The bullet journaling website identifies this as a task that has “migrated.”
- For big or especially important events, use an open circle. These can be things like a midterm exam, your sister’s wedding, or even the season return of your favorite show—we won’t judge!
- The diary aspect of bullet journaling comes in with the dash. Any quick thought that pops into your mind during the day, write it down. Did you eat the best burger of your life? Did you meet the most adorable golden retriever puppy? Did you catch up with your freshman year roommate over some Starbucks? Write it all down! And mark it with a dash. It will be fun to go back and look at all the things you did each day and smile.
For example:
- Thing to do
< Scheduled thing to do
X Completed thing to do
> Migrated thing to do
- Big event
– Daily thoughts
Future log: your monthly calendar.
Along with their daily lists, bullet journalers also look ahead to the future. You can do this with a monthly calendar. Fortunately, Erin Condren planners come equipped with monthly calendars. You can also use your handy-dandy symbol system to jot things down in your calendar!
What makes bullet journaling so great?
My favorite aspect of the bullet journal is the inclusion of the random little thoughts, represented by the dash. This is so much easier than keeping a lengthy journal or diary but with the same effect. Also, the quickness and easiness of the bullet points make getting organized entirely doable. The symbol system can also be personally customizable; don’t overthink it! Do whatever is best for yourself and makes your busy life easier.
Do you love bullet journaling? Let us know how you stay organized in the comments section below!