Start a bullet journal they said. All you need is a notebook and a pen, they promised. It will be easy. Yeah right. They failed to tell me I’d have to have to master the art of penmanship, purchase a bunch of art supplies, and spend hours of my day figuring out the bullet journal system. No thank you. I think I’ll just stick to using my iPad and whatever scrap paper I find lying around.
What the heck is a bullet journal?
In case you somehow missed all the hype, a bullet journal is actually a variety of things all contained in a single notebook. A bullet journal can be used for to-do lists, a day planner, diary, art book, a place for inspiration and more. I encourage you to browse Pinterest, YouTube as well as Instagram for all the information you’ll ever need about bullet journals. Really, on Instagram alone, there are over 500,000 #bulletjournal posts. There are thousands of ways you can customize pages in a bullet journal. You can have pages for monthly budgets, grocery lists, errands to run, goals to achieve, favorite Bible verses, inspirational quotes, bucket lists, etc. The possibilities are endless.
Why I have been unable to convince myself to use a bullet journal
The main reason I haven’t hopped on the bullet journal express is due to the fact that I am a minimalist. While I am sure there are many minimalists who use bullet journals, I cannot be one of them. You see, one of the reasons I turned to minimalism is because of my personality. I am an all or nothing kind of person. If I am going to do something, I am going to do it right. Which means a simple notebook and pen will not do. Oh no, I would need to purchase every art supply known to man before I even attempted to start a bullet journal. I’d buy a multitude of markers, highlighters, gel pens, watercolor paints, stamping supplies, stickers, as well as notebooks. In case I messed up the first one.
The cost of these items alone would be enough to send my budget of a financial cliff. Just thinking about how much I spend on school supplies each year is enough to bring a tear to my eye. Imagine if I had to have $200 worth of supplies in order to create my very own bullet journal.
Also, the fact that I am a minimalist prevents me from wanting to fill my home with clutter. Clutter stresses me out. Say I went ahead and purchased everything I (thought) I would need for my journal. Then, I would have to find somewhere in my small home to put it all. More than likely I would have to acquire some storage containers so I could keep everything all neat and tidy.
My heart is starting to race just thinking about it.
There are only so many hours in a day
Another reason I do not use a bullet journal is that (again because of my personality), I would end up spending hours upon hours each day trying to make it absolutely perfect. I just know I would waste hours of my precious time scanning Pinterest for ideas on what pages to include in my journal, which colors I should use, and how other people use their planners.
As a result, I would waste all of my time “planning” and would have little time left over for “doing”.
Between homeschooling, blogging, cooking, cleaning, and everything else that comes with being a wife and mom, I simply do not have the time for a bullet journal. And I am not interested in it enough to want to make time for it.
I’m organized, but not THAT organized
I consider myself to be a rather organized person. I try to stay on top of the things that need to be done (to the best of my ability). In fact, I know where everything is in my home. (I really do). I’ve watched more than my fair share of YouTube videos on how to properly utilize a bullet journal. And, oh my goodness! It’s stinking complicated!
There are special symbols you need to use to represent whether you’ve completed a task, moved it to another day, or otherwise altered it in some way. You’ll need to create an index, as well as daily, monthly, and yearly log pages. And there’s more. So much more.
When I have something I need to get done, I write it on the dry-erase calendar on my refrigerator. When I have finished the task, I erase it. Sometimes, I use the “notes” feature on my iPhone or iPad. I use bits and pieces of scrap paper to jot down my groceries list as well as errands that need to be run. Then, I toss them in the trash when I am done. When I am feeling really lazy, I’ll say, “Hey, Siri remind me to…”
My handwriting stinks
The final reason I cannot use a bullet journal is that my art skills are lacking and I have really ugly handwriting. Honestly, I am not just saying that. When I was in elementary school (the prime time for perfecting one’s handwriting), I was hospitalized for an extended period of time. No big deal, right? I could have just done my schoolwork while I was in the hospital. Except for the fact that the nurse put the obtrusive IV in my right arm. AND I am right-handed. I begged her to put it in my left arm, but she apparently liked the veins in my dominate hand better.
Upon my release from the hospital and subsequent recovery, I fell way behind in my handwriting practice. Eventually, I was able to make-up all of my schoolwork, but the damage to my penmanship was already done.
It’s not surprising, then, that I now prefer the keyboard over the pencil.
If you like to use bullet journals, I support you
If you absolutely love bullet journals and you feel you would be lost without yours, I fully support your decision to use one. I actually enjoy seeing other people flex their “creative” muscles. In fact, I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to all things bullet journal.
I just don’t see myself purchasing hundreds of dollars worth of art supplies, spending hours of my time, or endeavoring to make my handwriting legible enough so that I can even read it. At least, not anytime soon.
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I think your problem is just what you see, for example, I started a bullet journal under 10 pounds (yes, you can do!)
The thing the real problem is that people are over fantasing the organic thing because if you go to bulletjournal.com and see Ryder Carroll’s first journal, it’s just notebook, pen and paper. People are gradulally drifting from what it is.
Great article. I watched the Bullet Journal video on YouTube and halfway down I closed it. Gave me a headache. I need to “migrate” what? Left arrow vs right vs asterisk what? It may look organized on paper but so much clutter in the mind.
Then I Googled ‘bullet Journaling is complicated’ and landed here. I’m sure it has worked for some but for me, a fresh page in my notebook and a pen is enough. I know exactly what I’ve done and need to do without assigning multi icons.
Very much I completely agree with your comments about bullet journals:
Many years ago I went full in using the Franklin Planner system, for me it helped keep my in check. However, when smartphones began appearing with apps such as Notes, Reminders, and their ilk, and they could sync to the cloud then onto my other devices I stopped using the Franklin Planner.
What I notice with bullet journaling is much activity, without productivity. Similar to folks at work that are moving at the speed of light, but not actually accomplishing much.
Writing something down on paper is very good; when it is finished cross it off “el-done-o”, toss the paper. As a guy fancy-smancy does not get it. Similar to how guys shop we are mission shoppers, when we go to the store we are on a mission to get something, get it then leave.
A bullet journal to me is not useful, again activity not productivity. For on the go quick notes that later will be transferred to my smart phone or iPad, all I need is a pocket spiral note pad, a writing device. My righting devices of choice are the fountain pen or rollerball pen. They create zero hand cramps, each does not need pressure to operate, gravity and capillary action does the work.
As for carrying around a journal with its requisite accoutrements, I am not a mule and do not play one on TV. My pen, a 3×4 note pad or 3×5 spiral shirt pocket note pad, keys, phone, I am golden. My observation, and what others tell me, I am more productive than folks futzing with their bullet journals.
Many of the journals we see on the web are gorgeous, have amazing drawings, full of outstanding detail, are beautiful yes very much they are. My question for bullet journalist, “okay, what have you accomplished, how quick did you accomplished it, and instead of futzing with the journal could you have had the time to accomplished the task sooner having more time to relax?”
My anecdotal observation is many bullet journalist are more enamored with the appearance of their journal than actually being productive with it. Again, that is what I have observed.
Cordially and respectfully submitted,
FYI: in your blog you write, “…the cost of these items alone would be enough to send my budget of a financial cliff…”, I believe you mean “…my budget off a financial cliff…”.
This is a really good system, I try to do something similar to this, but in Bullet journal sort of style. I have my main one which does my day-to-day tasks or maybe things to try and complete within a month or something.
Then I have a separate book for more long-term to-dos, stuff like maintenance tasks or home improvements. That way I don’t clutter up my day to day stuff with tasks that I know I’m not going to complete for a while.
With the small stuff I just don’t write it down unless I think I’ll forget it. I guess I just find it quite nice to write them out onto paper instead of on my phone. I’d love to have it all out on a whiteboard but I don’t have the space for it.
This is an interesting post about this. I started a bullet journal to try and get myself a little more organized and keep track of tasks compared to making lists in loads of random books. I hardly use the index, I don’t have any collections or trackers in it (bar 1 map of countries I have visited) and I don’t do any weekly spreads. I guess mine is pretty minimalist, at the start of each month I write some monthly to-dos, but other than that I just try to use it at the start of each day to set a few achieveable tasks for the day, or note down things I need to do. The other thing I use it for mainly is doing a meal plan for the week, and this just slots in wherever. When I first started I was planning on making it look super pretty, but it doesn’t really, almost everything is just black pen which is functional. But I’ve come round to the idea that it doesn’t need to be the same across the whole book, so if one day I feel like adding a banner or a doodle I can, but it doesn’t matter if I don’t (although usually i don’t since I’m bad at drawing…)
It’s not for everyone but it definitely doesn’t have to be anything fancy like what there is on pinterest, there’s not enough time in the world to do it like that all the time.
Justyn,
Wow! Thanks for sharing. I love the idea of breaking things down into “none”, “little”, and “big”. I think that mentality fits better with the natural rhythm of life, don’t you? I too would feel as though I should fill every page with to do’s, which is why it’s a good thing I stay away from bullet journals. 🙂
LOL!! I am all-or-nothing and I made the mistake of starting a bullet journal. Yepper, I went all out and bought the pens, markers, etc. and I really, really tried to make it work for me. Sadly, it’s just too complicated to do it well and enjoy it. As a lady who is enjoying all thing minimalism, it is just. too. much.
Besides all of that, I was getting overwhelmed with the sheer number of to-do’s that I was trying to cram into every bit of white space on each page. Yes, I was productive, but I was also exhausted. Getting more done is not the be all, end all of life. I LIKE my downtime. I NEED my downtime. Being so stinking productive drains me and makes life nothing but one big chore. 😛
What I do now and love, is this brilliant idea I ran across… somewhere. Sorry I can’t credit the source, but it’s too brilliant not to share. One my smartphone (paper or a dry erase board would work, too) I keep a “big things” list and a “little things list. The “little things” are anything I need to do (beyond basic daily life) that takes less than a day. The “big things” list has all my big projects like home renovations and other multi-day things.
Each day, I consult my energy level and my plans for the day, then I decide whether it’s a minimal day (no “extras”), a “little” day or a “big” day. Some days I just do my regular ol’ routines and that’s plenty. Other days I might knock out several “little” projects. Once in awhile, I spend the day on a doable chunk of a “big” project.
This method suites me so well and keeps me from overdoing it or getting so overwhelmed I can’t do anything. Hope it helps somebody else out there! 🙂
Exactly. I use a notebook and pencil. It helps keep me organized. I don’t ever lose little pieces of paper and always have a place for ideas.
Bridge,
Wow! You really went all out. I hope you find a taker for your stapler. 🙂
I so completely agree! I got swept away with all the Pin-candy. I bought papers and stamps and leather covers, even a special stapler to make journals. Then I realized……I hated it! I don’t like my handwriting, I don’t like to tote around stuff, when I am home I don’t want to sit down and write. I like my phone, I can capture a note or picture and it syncs online so I can access it everywhere. Why would I want to lug around a journal, and pretty pens and stickers and who knows what else I might need? So anyone want to
buy a stapler?
Danya,
I am so glad I am not alone. I guess there are just two types of people; those who “bullet” journal and those who admire from afar. 🙂
I feel ya! I’ve been thinking about starting a bullet journal but, like you, would have to buy TONS of supplies for it. I wouldn’t settle for just a pen and notebook. And time is something I don’t have with a 6 month old, 3 year old and trying to develop the blog I started in February. My head is spinning already. But they’re so PRETTY. Pinterest & Instagram have tried it’s best to suck me into the bullet journal world…this mama ain’t got time fo’ that. Maybe someday. For now I’m content with admiring everyone else’s 🙂
Mandy,
My sentiments exactly!
I have tried the bullet journal off and on for more than a year. It just doesn’t work for me. I’m not good with to-do lists. I’m better at jotting down quick notes here and there. A lot of bullet journals also include trackers. I get the purpose in theory but they do nothing for me personally. Overall I would just rather do stuff and complete tasks than sit down and carefully doodle those tasks.
I guess I just don’t see what all the fuss is about. ? I do carry a (small) notebook & pen to jot things down as I need to and I use a whiteboard at home for my (simple) to-do lists.
I use my phone a lot and love that I can just delet the notes on it without adding to the landfill.
I should mention, not only do I dislike my own handwriting, I also don’t like the act of handwriting itself. My hands cramp and go numb when I write for too long.
To start, just have a mini notebook, forget all the frills and foes. All you do is date the page and put a box beside each To do item. When it’s done, tick it. All the rest are add ons, not needed, just to help organise those pages better, provided you have time to spare.
Forget what other people are doing (colouring) and stick to the basics.
You missed the point of bullet journaling lol. All these post on Instagram and Pinterest, are modified forms, they are more scrap booking rather than bullet journals. Really, all you need is a notebook and pen. If you google bullet journal, the original format by the genius who invented the system (a very minimalistic guy) should come up first (if I’m not mistaken its bulletjournal.com). Hand writing don’t matter, no one else but YOU will be looking at it.
It’s an excellent system, have another look before completely dismissing it 🙂 it helped me stay organised and saved my purse from heaps of loose and forgotten post it notes.
Jayci,
Way to rock what works for you! ? I have a hard time reading my own handwriting, so I’m glad typing is a thing. I homeschool my 3 boys and have decided not to force cursive writing on them. As long as they can read it, that’s good enough for me! BTW, did you know that some of the most intelligent people have messy handwriting? It’s true!
haha! Love it! I totally feel you on this but I actually have a bullet journal and it keeps me in line. Like you, I just didn’t want to do it because the more I looked into it the more money I thought i would have to spend. Then I thought I am going to do this and do it my own way. The bullet journal itself was high priced but then I bought the cheapest markers, pens, and colored pencils I could find. My handwriting is crazy but I love it because it’s me. In school I always got in trouble over my handwriting because it slanted the wrong way so now i only write print and I privately think about my English teacher (that always gave me “C” because it wasn’t up to standard) and I feel like a rebel! So TAKE THAT 7th grade English Teacher! Oh and I can’t draw either, even my stick people are leaning to a weird side 🙂