We all get to a point as students where we have many things to do that we have post-it notes everywhere telling us that we have things to do and no actual time to fit everything in. If this sounds like you, then don’t worry, we have the perfect solution for you. Drum roll, please… Bullet Journaling. Not only will this change your life, but you will be able to streamline your notes, tasks, and plans all in one place.
What is a Bullet Journal?
First and foremost, let’s explain what a bullet journal actually is. In a nutshell, a bullet journal is a journal that can be used to take notes, make plans and write down your goals for the future. Bullet journaling can help you be more productive and log your daily/monthly to-dos. Reading logs, exercise/weight goals, and even budget and money are some of the popular bullet journal themes.
How do I start a Bullet Journal?
Creating a bullet journal can take a long time. However, it is customised just for you and is yours to use, so it’s good to make sure that it is perfect. Don’t worry if it is in the middle of the year. You can start today, tomorrow, or even in six months. Here are some tips on how to get started:
The Bullet Journal
The physical journal, as silly as it may sound, is the most important element when it comes to bullet journaling. Consider the following:
- The lining inside– the most common bullet journals are the dotted notebooks. You dont need to worry about your writings and drawings being straight and can be the messiest or the neatest.
- The size of the journal– The most popular bullet journals are A5; however, they can be whatever size you want them to be. Consider how many pages each bullet journal has else well when buying them.
The Plan
Before you start off your bullet journal, think of the reasons why you’re starting it and what you want to achieve by the time you finish it (whether that’s the end of the year, semester, or even the last page). As mentioned before, there are many themes that a bullet journal can have. Find the one thing that moves you to start the journal. Do you want to read all the books on your shelf? Do you want to exercise and become healthy? Whatever it may be, find what fits your lifestyle and stick to the bullet journal and succeed.
Gather Your Supplies
You don’t need fancy and expensive supplies to start a bullet journal. Some coloured pencils, coloured paper, and highlighters will do just fine! And don’t worry if you are like me and can’t even draw a stickman. There are plenty of other ways you can decorate your bullet journal! You can use things like stamps, washi tapes, stickers and even post-it notes.
The Title Page (Index) and Key
On the very first page, you can create an Index page where you can keep track of what is on each page of the bullet journal. Obviously, this is done once everything is done in the bullet journal or can be updated every time you add.
Some people (and you don’t have to) have their own key to signify different tasks. The ‘Key’ page can be a handy reference to remind you of what each symbol, colour or letters mean.
Create a Goals Page
Your goals page can be what you want to achieve by the end of the year or even the end of the month. You can do this across a couple of pages or even one page, whatever suits you!
Create Your Daily/Monthly Pages
The monthly spreads can be as complicated or as simple as you like. You can create a calendar for each day of the month and create a list of everything you need to do.
Create A Future Log
The future log usually has a yearly calendar/setup. This part of the bullet journal is probably the easiest and is useful for marking birthdays, holidays you may have booked and deadlines.
Remember to update regularly
Remember the entire reason you create a bullet journal. Go back to it regularly and update/complete tasks on there. There’s no easier way to live an organised, stress-free lifestyle than this.
