One of the major reasons that I suspected the Bullet Journal would work for me is that it doesn’t have to be a continuous planner. I’ve always used it as little or as much as I needed to but the last few months I have hardly picked it up. I never use it the same way in school holidays as we aren’t in the same routine but I’d already trailed off in July, my monthly spread has gone mostly unused and I didn’t even bother with an August one. This has been the biggest break since I started it last June.
Now September is looming and the back to school vibes are back it feels like the perfect time to break open my Bullet Journal again. I always feel so motivated this time of year and I set more goals in the Autumn than I do in the new year – this has always been the best time for me to start afresh, update and create whatever I want to, I love it!
With that in mind I was more than ready to get using my Bullet Journal again so I thought I’d share what I’ve done and a few tips if you want to get back into the habit of bullet journalling again.
- Make sure you’re really ready – like I said before, the great thing about this system is that you don’t have to use it every day and you can set your journal down for weeks and just pick it back up and start again. Don’t feel guilty about it and if you aren’t itching to get back into it then don’t do it, it will only start to feel flat again. I can see my last few pages haven’t been used or I’ve made a half-hearted attempt. I obviously wasn’t feeling it but I now I’m bursting with ideas and I can’t wait to dive back into it.
- Look for inspiration – when you’re feeling that excitement again it’s the perfect time to have a look at all the things you’ve pinned or saved. I save Bullet Journal pins on Pinterest nearly everyday, I bookmarks posts and I have a collection on IG with pretty, pretty pages. Even though I don’t really achieve that kind of look I think it’s great to look though them and feel all that inspiration.
- Review & plan your pages – it’s a good idea to have your journal to hand when looking through Pinterest to jot down any ideas you like the look of. I went back though my journal and wrote down everything that I wanted to keep going forward. Then I highlighted the pages I still have active in the index so I remember to go back and use them, things like my Books I’m Reading page and blogging pages. I had a list of new pages I wanted to add in, some I’ve put in already and some I’ll add over the month.
- Start with purpose – get your Bullet Journal ready a few days before you want to start using it. I went back to the last page I used, I skipped a page that I’m going to doodle on and started my monthly double page spread, my blogging planner and dailies straight away. I’m adding in a few more bits and bobs before the 1st of September so I’m ready to go. If it’s all ready to use straight away it’s so much easier to pick it up and work with it.
- Freshen things up – Keeping the things that work is great and I’d be lost without my monthly spread but it’s also good to freshen things up as well. As I started to set up my new pages for September I moved a few things round to get the most from my pages and added new things in. I brought back my memories page that I’d stopped using but love to look back on and I’ve added in a projects page, future log and my new favourite a ‘recommendations and inspiration’ page. I’m using this to keep a note of all those things I read and think I like to try/read/watch/listen to. I always intend to check them out but inevitably they go right out my head but keeping a note of them here I’ll be able to come back to if I have a few minutes to spare. Here are a few other pages I’ve found that I want to add into my Bullet Journal; list of 100 brainstorm, master grocery list, workout schedule, project planning, and writing journal
I think I’ve probably got another couple of months in this journal so I’ve started afresh without buying any new supplies. I’m currently using a Leuchtturm 1917 with dotted paper in Orange, and Fabel Castell Pen (size small) for pretty much all the writing and grids. I also have these Staedtler Triplus Fineliners for colour, and I just use normal felt tips and pencils for other bits and bobs. I’m going to refresh my pens and stationery when it’s time to move into a new journal!
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5 Comments
I love seeing you page layouts – I have not stuck to my journal religiously but like you said that is part of the beauty of them. They’re a great tool not only for organising but also to look back on to remind yourself of memories. I need to do my Sept layout – I am secretly excited for Autumn
August 28, 2017 at 3:02 pmThis is a great post – it has really inspired me to pick my bullet journal back up and get organised. I have realised that I have missed it these last few months.
August 28, 2017 at 8:48 pmGreat post Hayley – love all your new spreads! I’m exactly like you and left my bullet journal completely unattended over the holidays. That’s one of the things I like best about it – you can fit it so well around what works best for you xx
August 29, 2017 at 11:37 amI love seeing other layouts (it’s proper stalker-like, but acceptable where bullet journals are concerned). I wish I had left more space at the beginning of my bullet journal for more master lists as I see so many to be inspired by… and now I can add a couple more.
August 30, 2017 at 1:36 amI love your bullet journal and I know it’s a private book but I would love to flick through it. I would never be disciplined enough to keep it up but I am slowly being tempted 🙂
August 30, 2017 at 8:30 am