How Bullet Journal Works For Me

September 30, 2016

October will be the fourth month that I’ve been using the Bullet Journal system and since I shared a little about my first month I’ve had a few people ask me how I use it. As we are about to go into a new month I thought I’d share a few photos of how I set at the start of the month and some other things that I’m loving about my Bullet Journal.

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I start each month with a double page monthly spread and I really like the calendar layout. I’ve tried a few and this works best for me. I fill it in from my future log and the big family calendar I keep in the kitchen and I also add things we do over the month. On the right hand side I have space for some goals, I mostly pop personal ones in there.

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Underneath I keep track of my social media accounts and blogging statistics. These are handy to have if someone asks me and it’s nice to see how I do month on month. I usually doodle a little quote in the free space just to brighten it up.

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This blog planning spread is one I tried out last month in an attempt to be a bit more organised with my blog posts. It is basically a blog editor and I love it, I write out the posts I’m planning in each box and tick them off as I do them. I aim for three a week but often I don’t manage it so the ones I’ve missed from September will go into the ideas box for this month. My A Little Bit Lately page is solely for my A Little Bit Lately blog posts and it helps me remember what I’ve done over the month.

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The memories page is one of my favourties each month, I love filling it in with all the things we’ve got up to and it’s nice to look back on over the month. My completed one for August is below if you want to see what it looks like all filled in. This month I’ve giving a gratitude log a go, I love the idea of listing something I’m thankful for each day so I’m looking forward to using this. I think it’s a great way to stay positive.

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The last pages I set up for the month are the first full week and the start of my dailies. I don’t always do a weekly spread if I’m honest. The biggest thing I use it for is meal planning so I thought I’d try this layout which is quite simple and see if I keep it up. I usually do my daily to do lists most week days but hardly ever on weekends. I read a great article about how you should have no more than six items in your to do list; they should be in order of importance and you don’t move onto the next one until you’ve completed the one above. Anything that is left goes straight to the top of your next days lists. I’ve been trying to do that most days and it works really well for me.

bullet-journal-key-hayley-from-home

I have a little key stuck into the from of my bullet journal which I use for my daily to do’s and I always use my full calendar at the front to plan for the month. I’ve stopped using a monthly tracker as I find I just don’t use it, they look so pretty and I think it’s great if you have habits you want to keep up but I’m not that interested in it. I haven’t kept on top of my waiting on list either but I did find that useful so may start it up again, it’s handy to know what parcels I’m expecting. I’ll do another post about what I do track in my bullet journal – I love my reading pages the most!

Check out my Pinterest Board if you’re looking for more Bullet Journal inspiration and let me know if you’re giving it a go.

 

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21 Comments

  • Mrs H

    Oh Hayley, I love this! I adore having a nose around people’s bullet journals. It is always interesting to hear what works for different people. And that is why I love my bullet journal because it really can be whatever you want it to be. I might have to steal your blog planning page. Hugs Lucy xxxx

    September 30, 2016 at 8:22 am Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      The blog planning page is my new favourite, I can’t remember where I saw it now…maybe Taming Twins but it really does help. I love looking at what other’s do with theirs too as it’s great inspiration for your own xx

      October 1, 2016 at 11:15 am Reply
  • Vicki

    Love this Autumnal layout! You’re getting very creative with this. I still haven’t started mine yet. Maybe I am just too lazy to even keep a Bullet Journal

    September 30, 2016 at 9:21 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      I’m really enjoying keeping mine as it find it quite relaxing when I have the time, maybe you should start in the new year…fresh start 🙂

      October 1, 2016 at 11:17 am Reply
      • Vicki

        I think starting in the New Year is a good idea. The I have plenty of time to research layouts & buy all the pretty pens.

        October 3, 2016 at 9:55 pm Reply
  • Stacie

    Your bullet journal looks fab! I absolutely LOVE the blog planning layout. I’ve been playing round with ideas for ages, incorporating them into weekly spreads but this would be so much simpler! I find the calendar spread really helpful too! xx

    October 2, 2016 at 7:19 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      I’m sure I saw the blog planner somewhere but I can’t remember where now!! I love it though, it really does help me stay on track, probably the most useful thing in my bullet journal at the moment! xx

      October 5, 2016 at 11:04 am Reply
  • Memeandharri

    I love this idea and could do with getting organised But I am always rushing around I’m not sure if I would actually use it. Hmmm I will see x

    October 3, 2016 at 4:12 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      The only reason it works so well for me is that I can pick it up and use it when I want too, I can go days without even touching it and it doesn’t matter as can just start a fresh. It does get addictive too though 🙂 xx

      October 5, 2016 at 11:05 am Reply
  • Not A Frumpy Mum

    Ooh, I love your blog planning page for the month, fab idea. I cram a blog to do bit in my weekly log and it doesn’t really work. I also love the idea of a gratitude log. Lovely doodles too. xxx

    October 3, 2016 at 9:02 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      The gratitude one is a new one for me so I’m going to see if it works, I keep forgetting about it though to be honest!! xx

      October 5, 2016 at 11:06 am Reply
  • Siena Says

    I’ve been bullet journalling for about 3 months now and am more than a little obsessed! I love yours, so pretty!
    I have been trying to plan my blog posts too and I love the way you have done yours, I hope you don’t mind if I ‘borrow’ it?!
    Great post xx

    October 5, 2016 at 9:31 am Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Haha, of course! I definitely got the idea from somewhere else but I can’t for the life of me remember who it was now!! It has really helped me stay on track the last month so hoping it works as well this month too! xx

      October 5, 2016 at 11:07 am Reply
  • Mary Smith

    Love it Hayley. I have really enjoyed keeping my bullet journal since i saw it here…though I think next year I will arrange it a little different. You are so good to all of the doodling haha x

    October 6, 2016 at 7:12 am Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      I only doodle because I’m such a daydreamer, happy to do anything that puts off my real work, haha! Glad to hear you are enjoying yours too xx

      October 11, 2016 at 8:53 pm Reply
  • Morgana

    I’ve just started a bullet journal and find posts like this so helpful. I’m still trying to find my feet with mine but so far so good. I feel more organised already. I need to be a bit more creative though! xx

    October 10, 2016 at 1:33 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      I think only now I’m really starting to make the most of it, there is some stuff I really love the idea of but it just doesn’t work for me. I swear I sleep so much better since I’ve started using it. I’d love to see yours, I’ll keep an eye out 😉 xx

      October 11, 2016 at 8:57 pm Reply
  • Caro | The Twinkle Diaries

    That’s SO funny!!! I’ve been doing this for a couple of months now — loving it — but definitely need a bit more structure!! I love your blog planner… perhaps, instead of just lists, this is something that I should do. LOVE your new header too pet xxxx

    October 12, 2016 at 8:25 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Thanks love, time for a bit of a refresh 🙂 Yes the blog planner is amazing for me! I have a few pages that are just random stuff and a few that a more structured, it’s changing my life!! xx

      October 13, 2016 at 1:49 pm Reply
  • Lauren

    Love this post Hayley! I’ve wanted to try having my own bullet journal but couldn’t get my head around it. Yours totally makes sense. Especially the blog planning page xx

    November 21, 2016 at 11:19 am Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Ah thank you, I’m glad you’ve found it useful, it always helps when I see what other people do then I can borrow all the best bits 🙂 The blog planning page has made a massive difference to me, at least feels a bit like I’m on top of everything even if I’m not! xx

      November 22, 2016 at 4:09 pm Reply

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