Bullet journaling is something I’ve wanted to try for some time now. YouTube videos and Instagram posts inspired me to start a journal of my own. I began bullet journaling in January, and I’ve had great luck so far. I’m able to keep track of everything I need to remember, whether that includes assignments I need to do or time I’ve set aside to spend with a friend. Here are some reasons to start bullet journaling.
- You can do it however you want
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Unlike regular planners that already have everything set up, every bullet journal page is a clean slate. If you don’t like a certain feature of a planner, you have to deal with it. But with a bullet journal, you can customize everything. Try different formats or styles out, and if it doesn’t work out, you can try something else. It took me a couple tries to figure out what works best for me!
- You can track your habits
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Track your bedtime, water consumed and social media activity. There’re countless ways to format your tracker. Use a simple table or write out a small calendar. Then, mark off the day once you’ve successfully kept up with that habit.
- It keeps everything in one place
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Before I bullet journaled, sticky notes littered everywhere, and I forgot to do things. With a bullet journal, all my assignments, events and things to remember are in one place. I never forget about an appointment or a study session with a friend.
- It’s relaxing
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The act of sorting my life out into a bullet journal is so therapeutic to me. I also like to doodle in my journal, which is very relaxing. I haven’t painted or drawn like I used to, but even getting some time to doodle is still very relaxing.
- It holds you accountable
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I check off things in my list for the day. My tasks are in one place, and I track whether I’ve completed them. If I have a rough day and am not able to complete all my tasks, then I can move them to another day. At the end of each month, I reflect on how that month went and write a reflection in my bullet journal. I note things that went well and what I can improve on. This helps me work toward bigger goals month by month.
One important thing to keep in mind when bullet journaling is that it’s easy to get caught up in the aesthetic Instagram posts and feel that your bullet journal is not pretty enough. But the main purpose of a bullet journal is not to be pretty, but it’s to be a functional tool you can use to keep track of your life. My bullet journal is far from perfect, but I’ve noticed the difference bullet journaling has made in keeping my life organized. Bullet journaling is one of many ways out there to keep your to-do list sorted, so definitely explore your options, and find out what works for you!