Should I Bullet Journal

Have you ever showed up at someone’s house, rang the doorbell, after they open the door you walk in and say, “Where is everyone?”.  Maybe even take a step back and look around for a moment.  You may even think, “there weren’t very many cars outside. ”  Then the home owner says, “Guess what the wedding shower was yesterday!” with a smile.  See, I can tell this story because I have done this before.  Yes I really have done this before.  I have also forgotten birthdays, appointments, parties, gifts I was to bring.  I have lost phone numbers, addresses and other little pieces of information that I was going to need later.

I have tried many different things to keep up with life.  I have even tried using my phone.  I know when I say this someone out there is giving my the eyes.  The phone just does not work for me.  I feel anxious when I am standing at the doctor’s office and they are spitting out my next appointment date and time.  My fingers fumble, I can’t find the app, and I have even put that down on the wrong month. frustrating!!!  Now I am sure the phone works for a lot of people, just not me.

I have also tried a very small spiral bound notebook, you know one of those little 2X4 notebooks.  I will also tell why I do not like this choice either.  For one thing it is too small.  Yes, just too small.  The pages are good for one good note, a couple of good appointments and maybe some measurements.  It is not good for much more than that.  They are flimsy and get all messy in my pocketbook.  As silly as that sounds I do not like messy.  They are also hard to write on in certain places.  Now I will say those little notebooks are pretty portable.  They fit in your pocket, in your purse or just about anywhere.  They are good for certain things, just not keeping you up to date.

What I love about bullet journaling is that it is so easy to make it yours, really easy.  I like to doodle.  I also like to be  on time and on the right date!  If you do not already know this bullet journals are on paper that has dots on it.  They are very small light dots.  The dots keep the things you write in your journal straight and very neat.  I like that. I love neat and I love straight.  There are lots of blogs about bullet journals.  I am not really going to tell you how to do that. I will link you to some that I like to look at.  One of my favorites is Bullet Journal.com    She is a master a Bullet Journals.  Now mine does not look like hers at all but I look at the ones she has done to find inspiration.  Another one is also called  The Little Coffee Fox.com  This particular post talks about the Ultimate Bullet Journal.

The last thing I will talk about is what you have to do to make it work.   You have to take it with you.  I am serious about this one.  If you do not take it with you it will not work.  Mine fits very neatly in my purse and if it does not fit I carry it with me.  I am very upset with myself if I leave it at home.  I have gotten so used to having it now that I can’t stand to forget it.  Since I have started taking it everywhere with me I put anything I need to remember in my bullet journal.  I not only put appointments in it but also phone numbers, goals, list, ideas, paints colors, address’.  You name it I put it in my journal and you know what?  My journal is not anywhere near full.  I even write thoughts that I have in there.  Sometimes when I read a book and a phrase jumps out at me or a quote I write in down.

The bullet journal has helped me in so many ways.  For one thing I can keep up with important dates.  Usually on Sunday night I glance at it and use the calendar that I made.  It helps prepare me for the week.  I am gently reminded about what is coming up.  Either the first of a new month or the end of  the last one I sit down and create a calendar however I want to.  I like different colored pins and I like to doodle.  I wouldn’t call it drawing because I do not consider myself a person that can draw, but it is very soothing to sit down and create a calendar for the next month and post some important dates in it.  Then on Sunday night when I glance at the week ahead I have already looked at these days once or twice before and it helps me.

A bullet journal is not an expensive hobby to start either.  If all you write in yours is appointments and birthdays I believe it will help you manage your time.  At least next time a group of people are talking about getting together for lunch you can pull your journal out and say, “Yes, I can do that.”

Some of the things you need 

• A good Notebook with dots on it. I bought mine from Amazon, but recently I saw some at Staples.  They were lined though and did not have dots on the page.  Northbooks.
• If you are like me you want good pens.  I love to write with good pens. 24 Fineliner Pens
• If you like to write with pencils then just get your favorite kind.

Remember it isn’t supposed to look like someone else’s.  It is supposed to look like yours.  So do whatever you want to do in it, but let it make your life more organized.  It will even help you stay sane!!!,  Sometimes!  Honestly, Janet

If you click on the Highlighted Northbooks and 24 Fineliner Pens it SHOULD take you to Amazon to order them.  🙂