One month ago I officially started using the bullet journal system – I’d been doodling with different ideas from it for a while but a few things encouraged me to get started on a proper one. I think in the back of my mind I had this idea that it had to be this incredibly arty and creative notebook which I knew I wouldn’t have time for and then I saw this great vlog by Boho Berry all about how it can be whatever you want it to be. I’d been reading her blog for a while and she has the most beautiful bullet journal but she also shares some amazing minimal bullet journals. It made me realise that I should just get started on it rather than worrying about planning it all perfectly.
I found Boho Berry’s blog and YouTube channel first of all and that led me to the Bullet Journal website and then onto Pinterest were I started my journal board. I have recently seen Taming Twins, The Reading Residence and Parker & Me all blog about their own systems and I felt inspired to start my own. I wasn’t sure I was going to document it on my blog at all and then I realised I’d like to see how it progresses as I go along and track what does and doesn’t work. It’s not all picture perfect and I’m afraid my photos were a little rushed this month as I had with three small people about but you get the idea.
So, here is my first month, some pages I like more than others but that is the great thing about this system – you just adapt as you go along. You can see what works for you and what doesn’t.
I decided to go for a Leuchtturm notebook which seems to be the bullet journal of choice as it has numbered pages and an index. It also has dotted paper which makes it easier to draw grids and titles. I used some pens I already had but I’m going to buy a Faber-Castell Pen which don’t bleed through the pages, you’ll be able to see that my current one does.
When I sat down to start my bullet journal I watched a few vlogs and made notes of the pages I wanted in mine. First up is the index and then I went for a full year calendar so I have something to refer to. I mark on it days that I’m busy too so I can look quickly and tell someone if I’m free that day. Then I added a future log to mark down events and appointments in the coming months and a brain dump which surprisingly I haven’t used at all yet.
I decided that I really liked the large monthly calendar and I just do a small weekly to do, meal plan and blog posts page. I’m actually going to change this calendar for August, as I never decided what to do with the extra space in the July spread. I’m either going to put a monthly goals or a monthly tasks in for August. The meal planning is brilliant as every Sunday I plan out our meals, write my shopping list and I know I have it sorted for the week. It’s something I’d wanted to do for a while and this really works for me. Finally there are my daily to do lists – I must admit I don’t do these every day. If I know I have a few jobs to do or appointments then I write my daily list and check it off or move it forward.
I started a tracker for July but I didn’t keep it up – these are going to be a busy couple of months and we aren’t in our usual routine as it’s the school holidays so I may try it again in September. Then I did A Little Bit Lately page which helps me remember what I’ve been watching, reading and listening to this month to go into my monthly blog post. One of my favourite spreads is my Memories page which I’ll definitely keep up each month, it’s lovely to look back on and see what we’ve been up to.
One of my favourite things in my bullet journal are the pages in which I can add lists and all other little things I find useful to write down. I love these as I can just add them in when I have the time to work on them and they are handy to refer to. These three are my favourites – my books read and statistics page, an Instagram hashtags page and our summer bucket list. I’ve got inspiration from the amazing Bullet Journal community on Instagram and Pinterest and I love seeing what everyone else does with theirs. I plan to write another post about how it helps me personally but I’d love to hear if you use the bullet journal system and what you think of it.
19 Comments
I am loving your Bullet Journal – its a lovely way to get creative without having to invest in all the trappings of a planner / agenda. I have wondered about starting one myself. I might watch a few YouTube videos too & have a think about it.
July 31, 2016 at 10:50 pmThe Youtube videos are quite addictive. I tried a few bits out from it in a normal notebook before buying the fancy orange one. I am finding ti flexible which works for me, I think you’d like it!
August 3, 2016 at 4:52 pmI really loved reading this post – I’m fascinated by Bullet Journals, and yours looks really lovely. The LBL page is a great idea, and I love the colourful bucket list page. You’ve made me want to make a start on a bullet journal right now!
August 1, 2016 at 8:11 amThanks Sally, I would definitely recommend it. I love how you can totally make it your own, it’s really flexible. I’m having fun with mine xx
August 3, 2016 at 5:15 pmIt all looks lovely, I do love seeing how other people use theirs. I like my memories spread, too. My daily lists are my life!! Glad you’re enjoying it and thanks very much for the mention x
August 1, 2016 at 8:34 amI like seeing what everyone does with theirs too, that is the thing I’m loving most about it, how you can make it your own and pick what works for you. I’ve never stuck with planners but I think I’ll stick with this xx
August 3, 2016 at 5:16 pmIt looks like such s good idea and a brilliant way to get organised. I am so terrible at meal planning. It’s the one huge area I really need to improve at. I might take a look at starting one just for that!
August 1, 2016 at 8:37 amIt has helped massively with my meal planning – it’s a hard one to get sorted when the kids are little I think but I’m getting better at it now!
August 3, 2016 at 5:17 pmI loved reading this, I’ve seen lots of people writing about bullet journals and I have to be honest, I wasn’t really sure what they were. I love the idea of them but I’m rubbish at keeping up with writing in notebooks and I worry that it would end up abandoned after a few weeks. Yours looks lovely! xx
August 1, 2016 at 8:46 pmThank you lovely. That is what put me off starting too, I never stick with planners or anything but this is a little easier to keep up with as it’s so flexible. I just do as much as time allows xx
August 3, 2016 at 5:20 pmLove it…it looks great too. I honestly had never heard of it until I briefly saw some of your pins and then read this. I love it has everything and anything all in one place…hmmmm this could work for me! I might toddle off and do some research too haha x
August 1, 2016 at 11:13 pmHonestly Mary it is so flexible, I find ti really useful as I just pick it up when I need too. I actually enjoy writing in it as a therapeutic few minutes. People do so much with them, whatever you want to write down you can just put it in. xx
August 3, 2016 at 5:24 pmYour bullet journal looks great! I love how practical it is and how it fits in with your lifestyle and routines. I don’t use daily pages that often, unless I have tonnes of stuff I need to get done – I prefer using a weekly spread at the moment. Your memories page is lovely and love the idea of a summer bucket list!
Thanks for the mention too xx
August 2, 2016 at 1:31 pmI love that everyone uses it differently, that’s why it is so great to see what each person does and figure out what works for you. I knew I wouldn’t do both a weekly spread and dailies – at the moment the dailies work for me but I might try the weekly plan too xx
August 3, 2016 at 5:25 pmBrilliant post, lovely. I love seeing what other people include in their bullet journal. I started one in April and used it religiously at first. But then I got distracted towards the end of my pregnancy. I am trying to get started again as I need to get organised with two kids. I adore all your spreads. Hugs Lucy xxxx
August 3, 2016 at 8:46 amThanks Lucy! I think the beauty of it is even if it gets put to one side for a little while you can pick it up and just start where you left off, so flexible. I love my little bullet journal, have you done a post sharing yours? I love seeing other peoples’ too xx
August 3, 2016 at 5:26 pm[…] has been using the Bullet Journal system to get organised, and has posted an update One Month On. It’s a system that I’ve toyed with using, and I think I might give it a […]
September 4, 2016 at 4:59 pmI love your bujo! I love the memory page – I haven’t got anything like that in mine, as I think I would get annoyed at how messy my doodles would be – but I really love the idea and yours looks so great! I’ve got an instagram hashtags page too which I’ve found to be really useful! Thank you for linking up with #BuJoBloggers! xx
September 8, 2016 at 8:54 amWoaaah this looks absolutely amazing! It’s the first bullet journal I’ve actually felt properly inspired by, although I know I’d start it and give up all too quickly!
Kirsty | http://www.trackingtwenty.co.uk
September 19, 2016 at 7:14 pm