Bullet Journaling

This is my bullet journal. I've had it since 2015 when I was juggling school, a full-time job as high school teacher at a boarding academy (also a senior class sponsor), and an internship. This was my solution to organizing my life. After keeping at it for a couple of months, I found I missed a regular planner because the entire year was already laid out for me, and stopped using a bullet journal for my everyday tasks.

Now, I use my bullet journal as a mental health log more than anything, and so far, I've kept at it and still enjoy it. It keeps me accountable on when I go to bed, what I eat (to a degree - not in detail), how much I'm spending, how I'm feeling and why, and gives me something to look forward to each month. Not only with the layout design, but also with new goals, objectives, and monthly focuses.

If you're looking to start a bullet journal, I say do it. If you don't know where to begin, know that it took me a while to get my layout to a point where I'm content. And even then, I still tweak it slightly every month. I'm collecting highlighters (or mild liners/pastel highlighters), stickers, washi tape, and page ideas all the time. My bullet journal works for me, and that's the most important part. Make it work for you. Think about what things you'd like to achieve daily, what your lifestyle calls for organizationally, and how you can incorporate that into your layout.

Some people prefer a regular notebook with lines, some no lines, and others (like me) like a grid. I found mine on Amazon, but you can just as easily purchase a gridded Moleskine or other journal that meets your personal needs. Below are some links for getting started. Chances are if you're thinking about starting a bullet journal, you hopefully will enjoy the process. Don't get overwhelmed by the possibilities - get excited about them!

Resources

My first place to start would be tumblr. There are so many beautiful pictures of bullet journals that can give your creative juices a kick, and several posts about page ideas.

My next stop would be Buzzfeed as they have a lot of really fun, easy-to-read articles about the possibilities of bullet journaling.

Again, don't get overwhelmed. This is supposed to be a relaxing, creative process. When you sit down to map out your layout, use pencil, and think practically while also thinking about something you'll want to engage with! It can be so good for the soul!

Then, if you're still not 100% sold, you can do a general Google search. I used "Bullet Journal" and "Bullet Journal Ideas" in the search bar, and you get a lot of helpful information.

Hopefully this will inspire you to get started. I usually reserve one Sunday afternoon a month for planning out and designing the upcoming month. Sometimes, I'll go to Michael's or Hobby Lobby if I feel I'm lacking creative ideas. I'll pick up some stickers and maybe one or two rolls of washi tape, pick a color scheme, and then come home and design. Those prove to be some of my most relaxing Sundays, and then I feel I'm ready to take on the next month. I look forward to meeting my goals and completing certain tasks (even going to bed earlier so I can fill in that square each day).

If you've wanted to bullet journal, or are currently using one, tell me what you'd like to do with yours! What works? What doesn't? What kinds of pages could you see yourself using the most?

Happy journaling!