Do you BuJo? Truth be told I never use that term when talking about Bullet Journaling but it made for a snappy open. The question does remain, do you, or have you ever kept a bullet journal? I started it a few years ago and never in a million years thought I would keep up with every month for this long. For me bullet journaling gives me a place to be a little creative, and keeps me accountable of all my monthly goals. It's my happy place, the book that comes with me everywhere and I take joy and pride in updating it.
I take inspiration from a lot of people on YouTube and Instagram. My two favorits are Amanda Rach Lee and Temi Danso. I love their approach to journaling and I have used a lot of their monthly themes as inspiration keeping in mind that I have very little drawing talent, but this is my space to practice right? I have planners and traveler's notebooks where I keep a calendar and daily agenda and notes so my bullet notebook is for my monthly goals and trackers. I always include a list of goals, and I always include a daily yoga tracker. I like to tie my tracker into the theme for the month and over the many months I've had a lot of fun with this.
The Pac-Man ghosts was probably one of my favorite yoga trackers, I feel when it's fun it encourages me to do the yoga so I can draw another little ghost! I don't get caught up in the fact that my bullet journals don't look like anyone else's, I take the inspiration and run with it. Bullet Journals were meant to make order out of chaos and I feel mine do that for me. Trackers, brain dumps, lists, goals, all organized in a notebook that is playful and creative and mine.
Over time I have added different trackers, when I write, when I create, what we watch, what I read, what new recipes I try. These trackers motivate me to try and watch new things, I want to fill in the boxes, I want to be able to look back on this book and have something tangible showing future me what I've accomplished. Trackers have changed, I used to track aerial classes I took and now I just track workouts that aren't running or yoga. I have gone from tracking new recipes to just tracking food I cook, I like seeing the patterns of what I make every month and what new things I try. I allow my book to change with me and my needs.
Here are my tips for starting on the path of Bullet Journaling:
Track what you want to track - Don't compare yourself to what other people track or use their journals for.
You don't have to be an artist - You don't have to be an incredible artist to keep a bullet journal, you can draw as much or as little as you want, you can use stickers, paper, washi tape. Do you!
Treat yourself to a good book - I use Archer & Olive books. Heavy weight paper is key for me as well as strong binding. I purchased a low quality book and all the pages fell out and I was disappointed. If you have something nice to use you will be more inspired to use it.
Bust out the pretty pens and markers - Add color with markers and pens, let yourself go and enjoy it!
BE YOU - I basically say this in every one of the above tips but it is the most important. Track what you want, keep your calendar, draw, use stickers, add photos, whatever you want to do, whatever you want to share, whatever you have to say - this is your place to say it, draw it, write it, track it!
I share my adventures in bullet journaling with you because it is something that has made a difference for me. It is also something I have been able to easily adjust to fit my needs during these months of being home. Keeps me grounded, makes me happy and allows me to play and I encourage you to do the same. Have you tried bullet journaling? Would love to hear about or see what you have created.
The Pac Man one kills me! 😍