The Bullet Journal, when used wisely, is a powerful productivity and mindfulness tool. And yet, there are a lot of people who have tried and failed at it.
Here are a few possible reasons why you’re having trouble keeping up with your bullet journal.
1. You don’t carry your notebook around
The Bullet Journal is meant to be the analog solution in the digital world, in more ways than one. Ryder Carroll believes that writing by hand allows us to slow down, and as a result, be more intentional with our actions.
One reason for failing at bullet journaling is when we refuse to write things down. To succeed at bullet journaling, we must have our bullet journal tools with us.
A standard sized notebook is bulky but you can always opt for a passport sized one!
2. You’re focusing too much on decor
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a decorative bullet journal. Using colored markers and washi tapes can be part of the bullet journaling experience. Sometimes, it even helps to add a splash of color just to bring life to the page – but it is optional.
The bullet journal gives us the flexibility to do whatever we believe would help us live an intentional life. This flexibility is a double-edged sword. Sometimes we get overzealous and decorate like crazy and eventually shift our focus on how the page looks rather than how it functions.
I have heard stories about bullet journalists who stopped using their bullet journal because they couldn’t think of a “theme” for the month. When you feel that you NEED to decorate before starting an entry in your bullet journal, then that’s where the problem lies.
3. You compare your journal with others
The online Bullet Journal community is a thriving and creative community. There are a lot of artists who bullet journal and also bullet journalists who write beautifully. And sometimes you can’t help feeling a bit inferior.
In one of my favorite articles written by Ryder Carroll, he talks about a woman who he had met at a book signing. In this conversation, the bullet journalist confided in him and told him that “I stopped Bullet Journaling because I wasn’t getting as many likes.”
This is one of the challenges that most of the people in the bullet journal community face. Every bullet journal is different and there is no such thing as an “ugly bujo”. If a messy bullet journal works for you, then great; keep going! If you are able to find balance between creativity and function in your bullet journal, then my hat’s off to you as well!
Don’t be ashamed, frustrated, or disheartened if your Bullet Journal doesn’t look the way you want it to, or think it should. Recognize these emotions for what they are: warning signs. It means that you’re getting distracted by what other people are doing. Don’t ruminate on what your Bullet Journal isn’t, celebrate what it can be. Focus on the only thing that matters: how it can best serve you.
Ryder Carroll, Back to Basics
Comparing yourself with others isn’t healthy at all so don’t let that get in the way of your bullet journaling. Use the bullet journal for yourself first and not for others.
4. You’re afraid of making mistakes
The bullet journal works best on a blank notebook. Blank notebook = blank canvas, and a blank canvas is daunting. Even with a guide. With a blank notebook, we’re always afraid to start a page for we fear making a mistake. Some aspiring bullet journalists struggle to start and take months to start.
It took me months to muster enough confidence to start my first bullet journal, and I wish I had started sooner rather than later. Mistakes are inevitable and they are part of the whole bullet journaling experience. The advantage of using a blank notebook is that if or when you have made a mistake, you can always turn to the next page and start all over again.
If you feel that you need to this tool to become more productive or organized, then get a blank notebook, start, and keep on going.
5. You think that skipping days is a failure
Another thing I’ve heard from other bullet journalists is that they stop using their bullet journal because they’ve missed out on too many days. Some feel demotivated when they see “blank spreads” because they equate it to not being productive.
This often happens with those who use weekly layouts in their bullet journal. Yes, in theory, weekly layouts are incredibly helpful because they give you an overview of the week. But sometimes, it’s not really the best because it defeats the purpose of the bullet journal’s flexibility.
If you prefer to use weekly layouts, just know that you don’t need to have a weekly layout every single week. You can switch back to daily logs once in a while especially when you have an idea of what your next week would look like.
- Read: Bujo Basics – Daily Log
6. You don’t know your “why”
In The Bullet Journal Method, Ryder says it’s important to know your motivations.
Before you figure out how to best do something, clarify why you’re doing it in the first place.
Ryder Carroll, The Bullet Journal Method
Maybe you’re failing because you don’t know why exactly you decided to start a bullet journal. If you want it strictly for organizing and planning, then don’t lose sight of that. If your reason for bullet journaling is to have a creative outlet, then so be it. Spend time with your journal as long as it serves its purpose.
It’s actually quite possible that you don’t need it at all. If that’s the case, then you did not fail to keep up with bullet journal – it simply does not suit your needs. And that’s okay.
It’s important to be aware of why we’re using a bullet journal in the first place. Having a purpose for it will serve as motivation to regularly work on your bullet journal.
A few articles that may interest you:
- How to Succeed at Bullet Journaling When You Live a Fast Paced Life
- Bullet Journal Hacks for the Anti-Planner
- How to Conquer the Bullet Journal First Page Fear
- You Don’t Have to Be Creative To Start a Bullet Journal
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