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You are here: Home / Uncategorized / How To Start A Bullet Journal

How To Start A Bullet Journal

Nov 9 by Amy 19 Comments

If you’re reading this blog, it is likely that you are a mom and the odds are that your car and purse are full of paper scraps with the never-ending lists of things to do. Until August, I was you! But, now, I have a “magic” notebook and the scraps are gone.

A bullet journal is a fun and easy way to get yourself organized! Here is a step by step guide on how to start a bullet journal!
Yes, I have a smart phone. I also have a laptop. I rarely go anywhere without at least one in my car. However, I have yet to find a comprehensive program that lets me put in everything I need to keep my life, my kids’ lives and my husband’s life (outside of work) running smoothly. I’m also attached to paper and pens.

So, I’m not lacking in tools to keep me organized. In fact, by nature, I’m an organized person. Mostly. I’m also overly ambitious and usually have too many things going on at one time and something is always neglected.  I was constantly running out for one last minute “something” to finish whatever. Those days are gone.

I ran across a method of notebook keeping that absolutely works for me and I think it will work for you as well. It’s called a bullet journal. Stick with me, it’s fairly simple!

This is how it works:

  1.  You pick up a notebook. I chose a 5×8 Moleskine  in plain black because it is sturdy, fits in my purse and hides a lot of stains and dirt. There are tons of options out there. Choose a size and cover that you can carry easily – EVERYWHERE.
  2. Do NOT buy a planner – you want a notebook with lines spaced at no more than 1/2” or completely blank (great for you artists/sketchers).
  3. Start where you are! Once you have a notebook (and a nice pen), get going. Don’t worry about the date or if it’s in the middle of the month. On the first two lined pages, you will create an index. Here you will list everything by topic and page number (not hard and worth picking up the habit)
  4. Once you have labeled your index, turn to the next two pages and number them 1 and 2. With the month you’re in, use page 1 to list Month’s Events. Going down the left side of the page write 1-30/31, one line for each day of the month. These are things like birthdays, kids’ events, things that recur or that you are committed to doing. On page 2, list Month’s Projects – these are undated things you’d like to get done this month but have no specific dates. Go back to your index, write the name of the month and after it put p. 1-2.
  5. Now, think about things you are constantly wanting to keep track of and always losing. For me, I created several more pages. Number them as you go, no need for a specific or logical order because you have the index to guide you. Just always number your pages and write down what is on what page in the index. My next pages included: Books to Read, Christmas Gift Ideas, Christmas Gifts Bought, Things to Find in Thrift Stores, Kids’ Clothing and Shoe Sizes, Books Read, etc. Make pages for anything upcoming or ongoing in your life. Vacations, weddings, wishes, gifts, whatever works for you!
  6.  Once these pages are installed and indexed, you start really using your notebook. I start with a list of things to do each day. I mark the date on a page, make a list with squares on the left to check off when I finish. I mark the page on my index.
  7.  If I have things on my mind that are not to-do things, I add them to my daily list with a solid circle next to them. When I have time I move them to the things-to-do each month category or to a page that fits.
  8.  At the end of the day, things I have finished get checked off. If I did not get to something, I put an arrow to the right of it and move it to the next day or to whatever place is appropriate.
  9. Since I write, my daily lists are often interspersed with notes for articles or notes for ideas. I index these at the end of the day as well.
  10. If you have a child that writes and spells reasonably well, have him/her hang on to the notebook when you’re in the car. You know those great car ideas that always get away from you? No more! Have your child jot your ideas down.
  11. One unexpected benefit of the notebook has been that my sons and husband know I always leave it on the kitchen counter when I go to bed. Every now and then I will get up ready to start my list for the day and I’ll find a little note or picture from one of them. It’s more personal than a text and I have it forever.

I still use my big family calendar on the fridge so that everyone knows what’s going on – I mark appointments, dinner menus (that sometimes actually happen), birthdays, etc. But, everything I need for the family and ME is in the notebook. It takes a little getting used to, but it’s worth it.

I’ve only been using the “magic” calendar since (hang on, I’m looking it up in my magic calendar) August 21, 2014. However, I’m sold. I think I will just use the notebook I have until I run out of pages and then start a new one. Think about it for yourself. Maybe ask for an awesome notebook and pen over the holidays. Get going on January 1 – this is one resolution you might be glad you made.

The great thing is, the magic notebook is like a journal. You can keep old copies on a shelf and it’s easy to look things up because you have the index. I’ve taken to taping or stapling receipts in my notebook in case I have to return things or if I want to compare prices. I’ve just started page 75 and I’m not even half-way through my notebook. BONUS: If the police need to know what happened on September 15 in my world, I can tell them. (Not that police question me on a regular basis!)

**This is not my own original idea. I must give the folks at the Bullet Journal full credit. If my explanation seems garbled and confusing, check out their beautiful website and great illustrations.

Do you think this is something you could see yourself using?

You might also like:

  • Organization Hacks For Busy Moms
  • Time Management Tips For Busy Moms
  • Start Your Week On The Right Foot

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Jenny says

    November 12, 2014 at 1:56 am

    I like that is like a journal and I like that you could pick one up anywhere, anytime, inexpensively. I have lots of spirals and journals sitting around, maybe I will try this system. I use my phone, but I am pen and paper person–it helps me remember to actually write it down.

    Reply
    • Jenny says

      November 12, 2014 at 8:14 am

      I am a pen and paper person to! 🙂

      Reply
    • Karen says

      November 18, 2014 at 7:29 pm

      wow…the absolute best thing I’ve read in years…and I’ve been reading for a LOT of years. I am homeschooling my youngest grandson – homeschooled his sisters through 12 years of school and his 3 cousins for a few years, too… never, ever, did I see a planner that made any sense. YOURS makes sense… I’m ready to try that starting right now! Yes, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. I’m 76 and I plan on learning a lot more in years to come. I use my computer a lot but not to plan things…since we have no cell phone service, the only cell phone we have is a tracfone for the car and it isn’t “smart”…it’s probably 15 years old!

      Reply
      • Jenny says

        November 18, 2014 at 7:48 pm

        Awesome Karen! Glad to hear that! Thanks for stopping by!! 🙂

        Reply
  2. Sonja Pound says

    November 12, 2014 at 7:07 am

    I love to be organized, and your notebook sounds great. Not sure how you are still sane homeschooling. I did it for three months – LONGEST three months of my life! High five to you, your notebook and your sanity.

    Reply
    • Jenny says

      November 12, 2014 at 8:13 am

      LOL! At least you gave it a try! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Olivia Schwab says

    November 12, 2014 at 11:19 am

    This is a great idea! I always am carrying around my planner AND a notebook to write everything in that I need that won’t fit in my planner. I also use my reminders app on my iPhone and have different lists (school, life, blog, grocery shopping, etc.) that makes it easy to check things off!

    Reply
  4. Kailey says

    November 12, 2014 at 12:18 pm

    I LOVE this idea! I am a big planner, organizing, to-do list person. This is perfect!

    Reply
    • Jenny says

      November 12, 2014 at 1:25 pm

      Yay! Me to! I used the entire front of the notebook just for my lists. I have so many list laying around and this helped me put them all in one spot. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Nada Manley says

    November 12, 2014 at 9:19 pm

    I am really transition away from paper in most things, because recipes and magazine articles had taken over my life. Now I save them all in Evernote. But in day to day organizing, I can’t give up paper. I LOVE this idea. Can’t wait to try it. I never thought of the index before. Love it!

    Reply
  6. Amy says

    November 12, 2014 at 11:38 pm

    So nice to meet other paper lovers. Sonja, you gave it a shot – you might do it again, who knows? Homeschooling actually gets easier the longer you do it and your kids make you (a wee bit) less insane. It’s hard to find what works for your own family because everything is always changing!

    Nada – I have been reading and testing Evernotes quite a bit lately. It’s an amazing app from what I’ve seen so far and I’m trying to figure out the best way to use it. At this point, I’ll never give up my notebook,but I like the idea of Evernote as well. Maybe a future post – if I figure it out????? 😉

    Reply
  7. GiselleR @ Diary of an ExSloth says

    November 13, 2014 at 8:28 pm

    I’ve learned recently that I’m a pen & paper kinda gal. But finding a journal/diary/planner out there that can handle the crazy in my brain is HARD!
    Gonna give this a try. Thanks 😀

    Reply
    • Jenny says

      November 13, 2014 at 8:48 pm

      I know what you mean! I stood in the notebook section at target for a good 15 minutes looking at all the different notebooks! LOL! I ended up getting a medium size notebook that had little folders on the outside and inside. Of course it had to be cute to! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Joyce @ My Stay At Home Adventures says

    November 15, 2014 at 9:10 am

    I love to use my notebook and my smartphone to keep me organize. The notebook is best for me when I think of something and I need to write them down fast. Its also easier to use. Thanks you for sharing, love this post.

    Reply
  9. Paris at My Big Fat Happy Life says

    November 15, 2014 at 9:27 am

    I love having a physical calendar to write in. I carry it with me in my purse to also jot down ideas. Thanks for the tips.

    Reply
  10. Corinne says

    November 16, 2014 at 5:26 pm

    This is really helpful! My current planner has cats all over it and I’m graduating from college in a month so I needed ideas for something more professional. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Jenny says

      November 16, 2014 at 5:34 pm

      I really love this method and I’ve tried so many different ones. Congrats on your graduation! How exciting!!! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Ashley says

    November 17, 2014 at 1:57 am

    This is a great idea! I’m doing this asap.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Making Your Time Count - How To Get Organized At Home says:
    April 13, 2017 at 4:32 am

    […] important that you learn to create lists that work for you, they are not all the same. I love this article describing the bullet journal system, while it works for some, others find that it is too […]

    Reply

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