The Bullet Journal has been the cornerstone of Rediscover Analog. Over the past few months, I have written about the basics of each module (index, future log, monthly log, daily log) of the bullet journal. While it is true that there is no right way to bullet journal, it is important to know why and how the system was designed in the first place. The creator, Ryder Carroll, did not just wake up one day and created this system; it took him a few years and a few rounds of trial-and-error to get it to where it is right now.
The Bullet Journal Basics series was created for individuals who are new to the system or have been using the system but aren’t quite sure how to navigate through it. We mostly also discuss how to navigate through each, their purpose, and also share how others interpret them. In the Mastering series, we will discuss tips and tricks on how to maximize the use of each module. If you consider yourself a novice practitioner of the bullet journal method, this is the place where we can share how we can successfully use the system.
1. Don’t write dates ahead of time (if you use a blank notebook)
“Don’t set up Daily Logs way ahead of time. Create them as you go or the night before. You never know how much space you may need any given day.”
Ryder highly recommends this with good reason – flexibility.
We don’t know how much space we would need to write in a day. There are days when we are overloaded with tasks, and there are some days where we barely have anything going on. If we write days in advance then we are limiting ourselves to a box, just like how it is with a standard planner. The daily log allows you to write as much or as little as you can.
From 2017 to mid 2018, I used weekly layouts. They were great and I loved having structure but you will sacrifice the freedom to write. When I decided to go back to basics and use the daily log, I felt less pressured to write and also surprisingly felt more accomplished.
2. You don’t need to rewrite unfinished tasks every single day
What do you do with tasks that you haven’t completed yesterday? Do you write it over and over and annoy yourself into completing the task? I do this sometimes but apparently, you don’t have to.
Ryder has addressed this in the past in one of his old Q&A’s. He says that if you have open tasks from previous days, just leave it unmarked but he recommends reviewing entries daily. From there, you can assess the importance of each item and migrate when needed. If the task that you have listed down a few days ago does not seem as important, you can migrate it to your monthly task log just so you can come back to it when you actually need to. If it’s something that you have been forgetting to do, you can migrate it once you get to the next page.
3. Use signifiers to your advantage!
Taking it day by day is a challenge especially if you’re accustomed to a planner. I think that some people struggle with daily logging because they don’t know where to write “near future” events/tasks and when I say “near future”, I mean the next couple of days.
Let’s say that today is a Monday and you remembered that you have a task due on Thursday, how would you go about that? The simplest way to go about this is to write it down today as a note and append a date to your note (e.g. “due on July 4”). It’s simple but this might not be effective.
One modification to the signifiers that I find most useful is applicable to the problem presented earlier. If today is a Monday and I have something due on Thursday, I would use a “date signifier”. I use a simple “[Th]” on the lefthand side of my note just so I can easily see it when I go through my page. Then on Thursday, simply migrate that task from Monday so that you are able to prioritize accordingly.
Signifiers in a bullet journal makes it easy for you to spot a note whenever you skim through your pages. The most common signifier would be an asterisk or an exclamation point, both can signify importance or priority. Use signifiers so that the important dates and notes stand out and capture your attention.
4. It doesn’t have to be task-oriented
Because of its nature and structure, the bullet journal seems more like a planner than a diary/journal. Sometimes, we (both beginners and seasoned bullet journalists), forget that we can use it to document our day too.
This is one bullet journal habit that I am still working on. I want to write significant memories in my daily logs. My daily log entries are mostly tasks, events, notes, and ideas; but I rarely write memories. There are times when I try to recall what I did on a certain day and I couldn’t because I didn’t write them down.
5. Don’t force yourself to write
One of the advantages of daily logging is that you are not at all obligated to write especially if it’s not significant. I feel that a lot struggle with this. We worry that not using our bullet journal means that we haven’t been productive all day. Don’t worry about that. The number of bullets is not a measurement of your success and productivity.
“The point of reflection is to make sure that the things you’re pursuing continue to matter to you even as life changes around you. It will help you focus on the why rather than the what.”
Ryder Carroll
Skipping days is okay but make sure that you don’t make a habit of it because this might lead to not using the bullet journal at all. To prevent this from happening, you should try incorporating the habit of reflection. Take a few minutes a day to review your bullets in the current month. If you see open tasks that have not been marked, take this time to cross them out or mark them as complete. In doing this, you will still have feel a sense of accomplishment.
We all approach bullet journaling differently but at the end of the day, we all have the same goal, which is to become more productive and live a more intentional life. Remember, there is no right way to use a bullet journal but understanding the framework behind it can point us to how we want to live better through this flexible and forgiving system.
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