The Bullet Journal Method is a flexible planning system that can be adjusted to the needs of anyone. You can set tasks with different deadlines, record your thoughts and ideas, and monitor how regularly you adhere to useful habits. All of this is stored in just one notebook, thanks to several different methods of organizing information.
The creator of the system, designer Ryder Carroll, also recommends taking note of special events and feelings. We tend to remember things with inaccuracies, but by recording memories, you can recall exactly what you experienced at different moments in your life — thus enabling you to make decisions more easily in the future.
Materials:
A regular notebook with grids or dots, or an undated diary
A pen
Colored pencils and pens, stickers, magazine clippings, and any other creative materials
Instructions:
1. Number the pages.
2. Determine your system of notation: a point — a task (checking your mail); a circle — an event (lunch with a friend); a dash — a thought or idea (what to give someone for their birthday). Important or urgent items can be marked with an asterisk or exclamation point. If necessary, come up with other symbols: for example, you can mark income and expenses with the $ sign.
KEY
Tasks
- Incomplete task
- Complete task
- Future task
- Postponed task
- No longer relevant task
Notes
Events
- Inspiration
- Priority
Don’t use too many symbols — you might get confused. You can memorize your system or draw a key in your notebook.
3. Leave two blank pages for the “Index.” Here, we’ll include our chapters (“future log,” “monthly log,” etc.) and page numbers, just like a book. The index can be updated accordingly.
<img width="800" height="530" src="https://oyla.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Notebook2-1.jpg" alt="" loading="lazy" />
<h5><em>Update the index when you start a new chapter so that it can be easily found later on.</em></h5><p><b>4.</b> Set aside a two-page spread for your “<b>Future log</b>.” Here, we’ll write down items that relate to a specific month of the current year. We’ll return to them as time goes by.</p>
<img width="800" height="530" src="https://oyla.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Notebook.jpg" alt="" loading="lazy" />
<p><b>5.</b> Leave another spread for a “<b>Monthly log</b>.” Before the start of a new month, on the left page, we’ll list all the days of the month — each day on a new line. On the right page, we’ll specify all the events and tasks of the month: trips, exams, doctor visits, etc.</p>
<h4>Calendar Page</h4>
<h5>March</h5>
<p>1 Sun
2 Mon Finish stickers
3 Tue Rocket test
4 Wed
5 Thu
6 Fri
* 7 Sat PARTY
8 Sun
9 Mon
10 Tue
* 12 Wed Space flight
13 Thu
Task Page
March
- Study quantum physics
- Read Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám
- Write an article for OYLA
- Make a list of universities for applications
- Sign up for drums
We’ll analyze our results at the end of the month to determine whether our system works or if something is missing. We can always introduce new chapters or systems of notation.
6. Now, let’s move on to planning for a specific day. Specify the date and the day of the week on the new page, and put a to-do list at the bottom. In the evening, we’ll check what we’ve done and mark the completed items with a checkmark or an X. We’ll then transfer the uncompleted tasks to another day and mark these items with an arrow. We can also set plans for the next few days to get familiar with our schedule. At the end of the week, check which items are not completed and decide whether they are still relevant. Delete the irrelevant tasks and transfer the relevant ones once more.
03.04 Wed
- Buy dog food
- Report on test run
○ Tried churchkhela for the first time
03.05 Thu
– Had a dream about reptilians
○ First drum lesson
– Cool teacher
– Learned to hold drumsticks
– Discussed next month’s schedule
03.06 Fri
- Mom’s cake
× Order at the bakery
Pick up in the evening
– No nuts (allergy)
! – Comics book about insects
03.07 Sat
○ PARTY TODAY
- Buy snacks and drinks
- Pick up speakers
We can revise our schedule if there are a lot of important tasks left at the end of the week. This means that we’ve been planning for more than we can manage, or we’re putting off important things for later.
7. We have the option to add additional chapters. For example, moods, habits tracker, sleep schedule, health, income and expenses, workouts, books, podcasts, TV shows, online purchases, Instagram post calendar, birthdays, etc.
8. Pick and choose what you like! You don’t have to use all of these tools or even use your bullet journal every day. You can opt-out of making tasks for a month or even a year if you’re not in the habit of making long-term plans. Or, you can plan each day more carefully, breaking down tasks into morning, afternoon, and evening.
<img width="800" height="911" src="https://oyla.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Mood.jpg" alt="" loading="lazy" />
<p><b>9.</b> Fill in your pages: underline with markers, draw pictures, glue in clippings, or add stickers. Or don’t do anything. The most important thing is that you like your journal. This way, it will be fun and easy to keep up with, so your planning will be more effective.</p>
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