Bullet Journal (and many right ways to do it)

I take great pride in staying well-organised and productive throughout the day and it does come pretty naturally to me. There are days, however, when keeping track of all my pending projects and activities requires some effort. Luckily, I have many systems in place which allow me to eliminate distractions, think clearly, and prioritise my tasks – even on the busiest of days.

I’m a fan of modern technologies and digital tools such as Google Keep, Trello and the ClearFocus productivity times but I still need my calendars, to-do lists, . So when I discovered bullet journalling, I knew this was something I needed to try.

The numbers behind this stationery phenomenon are impressive: the Bullet Journal Junkies group on Facebook has already reached over 144 000 members. For comparison, the Getting Things Done system has been around for 15 long years now and its official Facebook group has accrued over 83 000 proud fans. I think that most of you already know what a BuJo is, but for those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, it’s an amazingly simple yet methodical journalling system, especially appealing to creative types. It allows you to transform a humble notebook (or, in it’s less budget-friendly version, a Leuchtturm1917 or a dotted Moleskine) into a customized productivity tool.

The impact of the original system

It all started as a fun pet project a few years ago. A man struggled with his own organization problems, came up with a creative solution and developed a simple system that allowed him to be on top of things, then shared the idea with a friend in need. The man’s name was Ryder Carrol and his method became known as the Bullet Journal. I mean, seriously, how soothing this minimal layout is:

bulletjournal.com

So, I’d say it’s good enough as it is. If you need additional inspiration, you can watch the easy-to-follow YouTube tutorials, study the official website and read the blog. However, the encouraging adaptability of Carrol’s paper log system must have produced a sudden spike of interest in journalling in general, because if you perform a Google image search on “bullet journal”, the spreads look nothing like the original idea.

The Creative Superstars and the ordinary folks

The BuJos I see on Pinterest are usually extremely elaborate, spreads decorated with calligraphy, drawings, bright washi tape, stickers and doodles. And hey, it’s definitely a great thing (office supplies companies must be on cloud nine). I’ll support anything that boosts your creativity and allows you to organize your life in a better way. It’s enjoyable, relaxing, it encourages mindfulness. The talented bunch of people blogging and instagramming about bullet journalling includes a variety of artists, from my absolute favourite, minimalist Ursala @honeyrozes, to the amazing Heidi @thebulletjournaladdict, web famous Kara from Boho Berry or creative Natasha and her colorful illustrations on howtobulletjournal.com. The beauty of some of those journals is overwhelming. But then I attempt to create my own spreads… well, let’s just say the results are not as impressive.

And you know what? I’m totally ok with that. Seriously, try reading this very honest post by Shelby’s dyslexic husband and then tell me you lack the skills to try journalling.

It’s for everyone.

You don’t have to have exquisite handwriting, decorate your spreads with baroque ornaments and / or yards of washi tape. Lose sleep over a messed-up layout. If the journal stresses you out, you’re doing it wrong. Try out new things. Modify those that don’t work. Get inspired. Show it to others. Or don’t. Remember: it’s yours to wreck. In case you need some additional guidence, read this lovely post, but you totally don’t have to. Perhaps this generally inspiring flexibility of the system is where the BuJo’s charm lies. But if you ask me, I’ll tell you it’s the community. People in my Facebook group ask questions about spreads and pens, sure, but they also share moving personal stories, good and bad news, seek advice on how to include a new birth or the passing of a loved one in their journal. We inspire each other and we become vulnerable together. I guess my search for productivity helped me find my tribe.

2018 UPDATE

A short documentary about the BUJO community is coming up later this year: