Throw out the phrase “bullet journal” in conversation, and you’ll likely get a variety of responses: everything from “Oh, I’m not ‘arsty’ enough for that,” to “This is the single greatest tool I’ve found for organizing my life,” and a lot of reactions in between. While some take a more elaborate approach to bullet journaling, others use their notebook or journal to simplify.
A few different factors drew me to explore bullet journaling (the recommendation of a close friend, a flexibility not commonly found in pre-printed planners, a love of handwritten things), but what endeared it to me all the more is how it gives me a clear picture and record of life as a whole. Rather than separating areas of life, using a bullet journal became a way for me to see how my different vocations intersect with and impact one another.
You might be wondering what such a low-tech tool is doing on a blog about technology. Interestingly, bullet journaling holds a certain appeal for those entrenched in technology. One author talks about how this analog tool prompts reflection and gives him greater bandwidth for creativity in the constant stream of his otherwise tech-heavy world.
Backing up a bit, the concept of bullet journaling originated with Ryder Carroll with a focus on intentionality and productivity. Using a system of rapid logging, symbols and collections, this “method” as he refers to it, helps to facilitate “the art of intentional living.”
A driving purpose of bullet journaling is to give the flurry of thoughts inside your head a landing place. Organizing thoughts is a great thing, but the first step is collecting them. A bullet journal is just the place for such collecting. When thoughts are down in one place, then you know what you’re working with when it comes to prioritizing time, action, and energy.
Though the heart of this method is simplicity, Pinterest and other social media channels have become a showcase for intricate and beautiful layouts, hand lettering, spreads, and logs. While this appeals to some, they can also make the thought of setting up and keeping a bullet journal seem overwhelming or unattainable (I’m in this camp, as much as I admire more intricate layouts). As we discussed just a few paragraphs earlier, the idea is that a bullet journal would aid and serve you in your vocations rather than being a burden. If bringing a certain aesthetic to your journal does this for you, by all means, go for it!
The beauty of using a bullet journal as a tool for living and working more intentionally is that you make the rules for how you want yours to function and flow.
Here are the tools needed:
These resources are helpful starting places for setting up a journal, each with a slightly different flavor:
As you explore the world of bullet journals, you’ll likely encounter terms like:
Other helpful and fun areas to track include:
Bullet journaling falls more in the analog realm, but digital alternatives and
complementary tools can be part of the mix. The official Bullet Journal company offers their Bullet Journal Companion app ($4.99) with cataloging, note taking, reflection, and tutorial features. Many other apps for both iPhone and Android users allow you to record and organize content in a way similar to bullet journaling.
Apps native to your phone also play well with bullet journaling. I personally don’t use my bullet journal as a calendar; I find that keeping appointments and events on my calendar app works better. In different seasons and circumstances, I keep track of my daily water intake on an app rather than recording it as part of my daily log or in a habit tracker. I also use the note app on my phone for quick notes, thoughts, and reminders when I’m out and about, then transferring them to my bullet journal when I’m home.
So you want to give bullet journaling a try, or maybe try again with renewed perspective? In her book Dot Journaling: A Practical Guide, Rachel Wilkerson Miller gives three tips for getting started:
A few more thoughts and ideas when entering the bullet journaling waters:
Through the practice of monthly, weekly, and daily reflection and setup times, a bullet journal prompts planning, remembering, dreaming, goal setting, and brainstorming. It provides space for accountability and catalogs all the “small” things that add up to the bigger story of life. As I keep a chronological log of life—home, work, church, habits, and so on—I see a more holistic picture and am reminded daily of the various vocations to which God has called me.
Do you use a bullet journal or something similar? Tell us what you’ve found helpful in the comments!
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