10 ways to improve your bullet journal
Technology has helped millions of people stay organized with the creation of reminders, but some people still like keeping it old school by using their journals to write down schedules. Online, everyone makes bullet journaling look easy with their gorgeous artwork and organized pages. Believe it or not, you too can learn how to improve your bullet journal to become a beautiful work of art, not just a boring old book.
Bullet journaling has evolved to incorporate various techniques, making it adaptable to individual preferences. If you've started bullet journaling but feel like you're not making the most of it, or if you're a newcomer looking for ways to enhance your journaling, this article on how to make a bullet journal is for you Let's explore some valuable tips and tricks to improve your bullet journal and unleash its full potential.
At this stage, you should already know how to make a bullet journal. However, knowing how to make it does not mean that it will be easy. These 10 tips will help you improve your journaling skills.
Simplify Your Layouts
Bullet journaling can be visually stunning, but the Bullet Journal Method created by Ryder Carroll was just a simple way to organize schedules. All the complex designs and fonts people use may overwhelm you in the long run if you start and can’t keep up with it.
Start simple and focus on the essential elements. Clean, straightforward designs will make your journaling experience more enjoyable. Also, refrain from creating unnecessary pages. Some people create pages for habits they don’t already have but wish they had. For example, you can’t create a gym tracker page when you don’t go to the gym but plan to in the future. Create simple, necessary pages to reduce your workload.
Make Pages In Advance
People create their journals differently. While some would first spend days designing most of the pages for the year, others would prefer to create the pages as they go and that can become tasking. On a day where you’re feeling drained, taking up your ruler and creating pages for your journal wouldn’t be high up on your list, so it’s best to make as many pages as possible when your creativity is high.
You don’t have to fully design the pages with fancy font or stickers, just draw the necessary boxes and move to the next page. When you are ready to write on that page, you can bring out your fancy colors and stickers to upgrade it.
Create Collections that Align with Your Goals
Collections help organize related information, ideas, and goals in one place. If bullet journaling is becoming boring for you, create fun collection pages to make it fun again. It should not just be about your schedules. First, identify the collections that best align with your goals. Some popular collections include habit trackers, gratitude pages, and brain dump pages.
Another fun way to enjoy your journal is to have a movie or book tracker page. You can divide the page into what you want to read or watch and what you have already watched and read. This way, you get to track the number of films and books you’ve seen for a long period like a year.
Use Color Coding for Clarity
Color coding is a powerful visual aid that can improve your journal's organization and readability. If you are struggling to find certain pages, instead of relying on the index, use color codes like blue to represent monthly pages and another color for weekly pages. This way, you can flip through your journal and settle on a page easily.
You can also color code your tasks when writing them down. For example, you could use red for urgent tasks and green for personal goals. This simple technique will help you quickly identify and focus on what needs attention.
Embrace Mistakes and Imperfections
Bullet journaling is a journey; like any other endeavor, it's natural to make mistakes along the way. Embrace imperfections and see them as opportunities to learn and grow. Allow yourself to experiment, and don't be afraid to try new layouts or techniques.
Add Creative Elements
While productivity is the main aspect of bullet journaling, don't forget to nurture your creativity. While we have added that using complex designs may overwhelm you, that does not mean that you should ignore creativity altogether.
Add artistic touches to your spreads through hand-lettering, doodling, or using decorative elements. One important tool you will need is a colorful set of markers; they are perfect for small artistic touches and doodling. You will also need stickers and washi tape to make your pages stand out.
Experiment To Know What Works For You
Don't be afraid to experiment with different journal layouts to find what works best for you. Some popular formats include weekly spreads, daily logs, and monthly overviews. Not many people will have all 3, so experiment with monthly-daily style and monthly-weekly style. You may discover that the style you are using may prevent you from using the journal appropriately.
Tailor the layouts to suit your style and needs. Remember, your bullet journal is a reflection of your unique personality and preferences. Regularly review your bullet journal to track your progress on various tasks and goals. Assess what's working well and what needs improvement.
Have a Ritual
Making the journal may be the first step, but some people find themselves never actually using it. To prevent this, create a ritual where you set out time to write in your journal. You could write your tasks for the day every morning and stick to that ritual every day, or you can write down tasks for the entire week on Sundays. What works for everyone may be different, but to make journaling a habit, you have to set out time for it.
Create A Spot For Your Pen
If you notice that you’ve stopped using your journal because you just can’t find your pen when you want to write in your journal, then you have to attach the pen to the journal. You can do this in two ways; use a spiral-bound journal so that you have a spot for your pen, or use your DIY skills to glue an elastic band to the front of your journal to store your pen.
If you love carrying your journal around with you, then attaching a pen will allow you to update your tasks anywhere.
Always Leave Room For Extra Notes
When designing weekly or monthly spreads, leave room for extra notes. Life is unpredictable, and unexpected events or ideas can pop up at any time. By allocating extra space, you give yourself the flexibility to record these occurrences without disrupting your planned layouts or collections.
A well-maintained bullet journal can become your ultimate tool for organization, productivity, and self-expression. By starting with a clear purpose, keeping it simple, being consistent, and utilizing various techniques and layouts, you can improve your bullet journal significantly.
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This article was originally written by our freelance writer Umm-Kulthum Abdulkareem and edited by us.
