Life is hectic—there’s no getting around that. Whether you’re a young adult trying to navigate your next steps in life or a parent keeping your house from falling apart, you need to have an outlet to organize your thoughts and actions. While you may be a fan of digital methods of organization, the benefits of bullet journaling are becoming a trending topic amongst people from all walks of life.
From organizing your day-to-day tasks to simply unwinding and straightening out your own thoughts, bullet journaling can be customized to your unique needs.
Bullet Journaling vs. Traditional Journaling
When most people hear the words “bullet journal,” they automatically think of the umbrella term of journaling. While traditional journaling and bullet journaling share a few common aspects, they are two quite different outlets.
Traditional Journaling
Traditional journaling is often defined as a way of expressing your personal thoughts and desires in the written word. These journals can take on various forms but are usually notebooks with simple lined paper that allows the users to jot down their thoughts as they come.
Bullet Journaling
Bullet journaling, however, is a creative outlet for just about anyone. What makes a bullet journal different from a traditional journal is using an undefined dotted paper instead of typical lined paper.
This dotted paper allows for total freedom. While lined paper doesn’t necessarily restrict a user’s creative liberties, some prefer the dotted paper because it allows them to create their own structures and/or organizational systems. This allows people to write as they would in a traditional journal, draw and sketch, or simply have a place to loosely take notes.
What are the Benefits of Bullet Journaling?
One of the biggest benefits of bullet journaling is that there’s no wrong way to do it. You can use it as a daily log, a calendar, a sketchbook—it’s all about what matters to you. If you’re not sold on the idea just yet, then you’ll want to check out this handy list of bullet journaling benefits:
Simple to Start
For those who have become accustomed to certain methods of journaling and organization, bullet journaling may have a bit of a learning curve. However, once you’ve let go of any preconceived notions of what bullet journaling “should” be, you’ll find just how easy it is to get started.
100% Customizable
If you’re looking for a truly customizable experience, bullet journaling is the perfect solution. There are no real rules to bullet journaling. How you use it and what you create with it is 100% up to you.
Inspires Productivity
A bullet journal’s visual element helps inspire productivity. If you’ve laid everything out in a visually appealing way and you’re using this as a way to “check off” items from a to-do list, then you’ll enjoy physically checking those items off the list.
An Excellent Way to Track Goals
If you’re looking for a way to inspire yourself, a bullet journal is an excellent way to keep track of both your short- and long-term goals. Whether it’s in the form of a visual bar chart to help you reach certain milestones or another creative tracking method, bullet journals help keep you on the right path by allowing you countless ways to keep track of what’s important to you in a unique, meaningful way.
5 Ways to Get Started with a Bullet Journal
Think you could enjoy the many benefits of bullet journaling but not quite sure where to start? Here are five simple ways to get started with bullet journaling:
1. Chore Chart
Keep track of your daily/weekly/monthly chores in a fun, different way. Write down a list of your household chores and find creative ways to check off each task by coloring in a block, using stickers, or doodling.
2. Habit Tracker
Trying to dedicate more time in your day to bettering yourself? Consider creating a habit tracker that allows you to keep track of your workout schedule or reading goals.
3. Sleep Tracker
Getting adequate sleep each night is an important part of staying healthy, so why not track your sleeping habits? From time spent asleep to quality of sleep, the options are endless—and they can give you a peek into ways to improve your bedtime routine.
4. Meal Tracker
Keeping your diet on track is always best done on paper, and a bullet journal is a great way to plan out your meals accordingly. If you’ve been counting macros or tracking calories, you already know it can get a little tedious. Luckily, your bullet journal can make tracking simple, colorful, and fun.
5. Brain Dump
Sometimes our brains simply feel too cluttered to get anything accomplished. If you’ve never done a brain dump before, now’s your chance to get the thoughts from your brain onto paper. This can be a cathartic experience, especially for those dealing with chronic stress.
Brain dumps are also an excellent way to get creative ideas down quickly. The goal is to get your idea on the page, and you can sort out the rest of the details later on.
Bullet Journaling Benefits are Numerous—So Give It a Try
Of course, these are only a handful of excellent ways to use a bullet journal. Remember: there is no wrong way to go about this practice, which is why it’s so beneficial for those who need help with organization or expressing themselves.
So, if you’re looking for an outlet for your thoughts or a creative way to stay organized, why not give bullet journaling a shot? You may be surprised by just how much you get out of it!