So what is “Bullet Journaling”?

In my last post about bullet journaling, we talked about supplies and sections of the journal.  The better question is “what is bullet journaling”? or better yet, “how do you use it”? The bullet journal is an analog system of keeping everything organized. It a streamlined system where all data can be accessed quickly.  When you do decide to bullet journal, you will need to get a journal.  Anything can be used as a bullet journal, a notebook or the more commonly used dot matrix journals

That being said the system uses an index to place the page numbers and description of all of your entries, for example, on page 2 is the Key.  Bullet Journals use a Key of symbols otherwise known as signifiers, that are used throughout the journal to delineate tasks, events, appointments. In its very simplistic setup, the journal is “just the facts”.

The way the journal is set up is as follows, the index, the future log, the monthly log, weekly log, and daily log.  Because the system is so fluid and customizable you the author can mold these elements to fit your needs.  In fact, many bujos (bullet journalist) have come up with so many more creative ways to organize and track their daily lives. For instance the tracker pages.  You can have trackers for water intake, no spending, books read, fitness and mood, whatever you want to keep track of in your life: ‘there is a page for that’.

So HOW do I use the bullet journal? When you have your notebook set up your index pages.  Then you need to set up the Key or signifiers.  The symbols usually include a box for tasks, a circle for events, a triangle for appointments, a dot for notes, an exclamation point for priority. Then shading half of the shape indicates the task, event have been started.  If the shapes are shaded in all the way they are complete.  An arrow through the shape means that the event has been migrated to another day/time. And an X through the shape means the bullet has been canceled.  This is merely a guideline for organizing your year, month, week and day.  In the example below, bullet journalists also use icons or other symbols to delineate tasks and jobs.  This allows you to be a creative as you want, anything goes. You do, you!

So let’s do an example of a daily page.  Let’s use some or all of the signifiers and do a notes section we’ll call our shopping list.  Yes, it is simple, but again we are showing how to put all of this together.

1. Put the date in the header.
2. Place all of your tasks, events, appointments in a column
3. Mark of your tasks, etc. as they are completed.
4. Included notes, lists and any other information that you need to keep track of that day.
5. Doodle, make it your own.

Here is a little video of a weekly layout. Again, just a demonstration but hopefully this will spark some ideas for your own journals.

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Have an Artful day,

Andi