Sunday, January 28, 2018

bullet journals and me

So bullet journaling. Yep, I drank the kool aid. For me though, it really is a total game changer. I am not going to show you my lay outs. Sorry gang, no bujo porn here. Mine are 100% completely utilitarian and 0% pretty. Don't get me wrong, I love a pretty bujo (oh yeah I totally use all the lingo) layout. I obsess over them even. Half my instagram follows are bullet journalers, the other half remains food, bakeries and restaurants, so don't worry, same old Shanny here. My only attempt at pretty is some ink joy pens, fine line markers and an assortment of highlighters.

I had heard about bullet journals a lot around the net, as I am sure most of you have as well. It's right up there with being a vegan and/or into crossfit/orange theory fitness. If you're hooked you want the whole world to know. I didn't full appreciate what a bullet journal was or how to make it an effective tool in your life. The very first article I read that made this whole craze make sense was this one.

Yes, we already have a huge calendar on the fridge. That is more a whole family tool. Lets everyone know what is going on and coming up for the month and months ahead. A quick glance can tell the kids which weekend Dad is working. Or Mom who's pay week we are at. Who has a late night at school, who has a meeting, who has a dentist appointment. All that fun busy family stuff.

Yes, I have a calendar on my phone. Which is a carbon copy of the one on the fridge. It's an on the go version. So when I am out and about and someone says are you free next Tuesday for such and such I can give them an answer right away.

Both of those are very effective organizational tools that I use on the daily, but they weren't quite cutting it. I have tried many things to help get me more organize. I mean, we fall into what can be described as a fairly typical dynamic of me, the mom, being the family CEO, which I am happy to do, but it is easy to lose yourself in that role. As I have gotten older (and far cooler if you are asking me) and my kids are getting older and requiring less of me in a hands on type of way. They feed, clean and dress themselves now. Heck sometimes they even feed me! That hands more free time back to me and I am attempting to fill it up with a lot of super fun and pretty cool things.  The problem was, I was feeling disorganized and with not enough time to get to all the things I really wanted to get to. Obviously the very most important and time sensitive stuff got too, but a lot of other stuff would slide to the wayside. Things like laundry, dusting, yoga, drinking enough water and washing my own face. Not to mention, just a general half assing of a lot of things.

Enter the bullet journal. I use a standard lined notebook, because that is what I had on hand. I list my daily, must do items across the top, things like drinking my water, getting my steps in and taking my supplements. The "to do" lists changes daily with things like emails I need to answer, 30 minute walk with my walking buddy, social media posts for our charity group, a plan to do a face mask, change the sheets or write this blog post. Writing these lists helps me to better organize my plan of attack. I have an easier time stringing tasks together in the most efficient pattern. It also encourages me to tackle these little tasks that I might set aside because I have to leave the house in 30 minutes, even though the task will only take 6 minutes to complete.

I am not going to lie, I do slide right off the band wagon from time to time. When things get extra hectic around here, it's usually the first thing I stop focusing on, which is a total mistake and I always regret it because I less feel like I get less accomplished and that just makes me angry. So my goal for 2018 is just to be better with it. Anybody out there drinking the bujo kool aid?

3 comments:

Goofball said...

nope I'm not a bujo convert yet. I blogged about it though http://goofballsworld.blogspot.com/2017/10/im-not-hipster-i-dont-have-bujo.html

Shan said...

I don't think you need to be a hipster to appreciate a bullet journal. I drink far too much main stream coffee to ever be considered one of those. A couple of things from your post. I always have a pen on me, I'm like a girl scout always prepared. My bullet journal never leaves my house. It is strictly an at home practice. It is not a collaborative list, it is strictly for me and if it was lost tomorrow, I would just pick up a new notebook and move on. It has nothing truly irreplaceable in it. It is all info I can get elsewhere if truly necessary. As mentioned above I make use of apps as well as an old school hang on the wall calendar. I ave alerts and reminders set on my digital calendar, the stuff in the bujo doesn't need those as it is really just an accountability tool for myself. Just about every article you read lists writing things down and/or making yourself a to-do list makes you more productive and I certainly find that to be true. Other people, may not. No harm, no foul. Different tools work for different folks. I truly find this practice to be a game changing move, for me, in how I manage my time for myself, for my family and my obligations to others. Sign me up for anything that makes me feel like I can take on the world in a big way.

Goofball said...

My blog came after some "hipster" bloggers all posted their love and reasons why they use a bullet journal. So some of my comments are a reply to that.

As you say, different tools work for different folks, so please don't take my response and post as criticism. It just really wouldn't work for me. (hey, I am so anti-paper that I take pictures of training manuals I receive at work, then I add them in an digital notebook, add notes and drawings and I return the paper manual.).