Bullet Journal Hacks for the Anti-Planner

I believe that while the bullet journal system is simple and effective, it takes discipline. The idea was created by Ryder Carroll who wanted to organize his “impatient mind” (The Bullet Journal Method, p. 4) and to keep his focus. This system resonated so well with others who were also in need of a system that would organize their lives.

Bullet journaling is not for everyone, that’s for sure. Maybe they don’t like writing down things. Or they don’t believe that this is an effective productivity tool. Some don’t think that they have time for it. And some fear that they have nothing substantial enough to write down.

I have met a few who are fascinated with the idea of bullet journaling but they can’t bring themselves to start. I’ve been there. I love lists and I love planners but I always fail to use them at some point. I failed keeping my “planning momentum” when I see so many blank pages on my planner. When that happens, I always lose sight of the importance of the planner and then come back to this disorganized state.

If you love the bullet journal but don’t want to do the whole nine yards, keep reading because I have a few tips for you!

Ease into it by Using an Undated Planner

I always give this advice to those who are just starting out. You don’t necessarily need a blank notebook to “bullet journal”. You can easily adapt some modules and techniques from the bullet journal system such as rapid logging, or the use of signifiers. Undated planners are a godsend. It’s a happy medium between a blank notebook and a pre-dated planner. I give this advice often because I understand that there are a lot of people who aren’t accustomed to using planners in the first place. Using an undated planner gives you some kind of foundation or introduction and also relieves you of the pressures of the “starting from scratch” concept of a bullet journal.

No tasks? Write down notes or your thoughts using the rapid logging system!

So maybe you’re not a list-maker – that’s okay! You can also start a bullet journal. The Bullet journal isn’t just a planner, it’s supposed to be the jack of all trades. It can be a planner, a journal, a diary, a to-do list, a sketchbook all in one notebook. That being said, you can always use your bullet journal as a way to keep your notes or your thoughts.

I use my bullet journal for whatever I could think of. When I have slow days, I usually just talk to myself and write down my musings. I use rapid logging, which is a note-taking technique – “a short-form notation paired with symbols” to quickly capture thoughts. I have never kept a diary or a journal up until I started bullet journaling. Rapid logging made me feel more confident and secure about writing about my day. I was more inclined to journal because writing in bullets felt more structured and logical compared to traditional long-form journaling.

Stay away from weekly logs and use daily logs instead!

Weekly spreads on a bullet journal are great. They’re structured and familiar because they are similar to what a typical planner looks like. I think that’s why quite a number of bullet journalists seem to gravitate towards weekly layouts rather than daily logs.

I’ve tried using weekly layouts but I eventually went back to daily logging because daily logs require less maintenance. Weekly layouts require a bit of preparation time, even if your layouts are minimalist in style. Daily logs on the other hand are created as you go along. Weekly logs are also less flexible compared to daily logs because when you create layouts, you essentially create boundaries. Best part of daily logs is that you don’t need to write every single day. Daily logs are the way to go especially if you’re the type of person who is always on-the-go.

Use the Recap Sequence Technique

A friend of mine uses rapid logging in her bullet journal too. She’s a fairly busy person (she’s a law student) so most of the time, she doesn’t have the time to take out her bullet journal and write. When she does, she writes a recap of the missing days in most recent daily. It’s brilliant. You write things down so that you have an idea of what happened during the missing days just so you would still be able to offload your thoughts even in retrospect.

An example:

Use A Monthly Log Only

If you have had a difficult time keeping up with daily logs and weekly logs at all, I suggest just stick to using a monthly log alone. It functions a bit like the “recap” system wherein you simply write highlights/important events but this time in a monthly calendar. There are different forms that you can try – you can either use a full-page calendar to write things down or the vertical monthly log that Ryder Carroll uses on bulletjournal.com.

Just use “collection modules”

Fill your notebook with lists, notes, or drawings called “collections” – affectionately known in the bullet journal community as “spreads”.

I recently taught my own father how to use a bullet journal. I knew that he wasn’t the type of person who would use a planner because he already has a system for that. He also wasn’t the type of person who would write about their day or even their milestones.

I did notice that he was always writing down notes – especially whenever he asks me something about technology. Most of his notes are answers to his FAQs about technology such as “how to import music from CD to iTunes” or “how to backup files to Google Drive”. He doesn’t have a system for it so his notes are everywhere – post-its, scratch paper, memo pads; his system literally looked like the intro to Ryder’s “How to Bullet Journal” video.

I had a spare grid/graph notebook and I taught my dad how to use a bullet journal that will suit him best. All he needed was an index (so that he can track content) and collection pages (mostly instructions on how to do something).

Adapting the concept of indexing and a series of lists or notes (and even sketches!) is a great way to use the bullet journal without the whole planner and journal obligation.

The bullet journal is a flexible system. There is a guide on how to go about it but you can (and should) make it work for you. The system wasn’t created for people who are already organized to begin with but for people who aspire keep their thoughts organized. It’s not for everyone but if you know how to tailor it to fit your needs, you can easily maximize the use of your bullet journal.

• Ease into it by Using an Undated Planner
• No tasks? Write down notes or your thoughts using the rapid logging system!
• Stay away from weekly logs and use daily logs instead!
• Use the Recap Sequence Technique
• Use A Monthly Log Only
• Just use “collection modules”