I started my bullet journalling journey around August 2013. Around about the time I was finishing up my masters degree and feelings overwhelmed with the amount of work I needed to do. I thought I’d showcase a few pictures that I’ve shared in the bullet journal community in the last two years.
I started off using the bullet journal with a weekly layout. I noticed straight away from Ryder Carroll’s initial launch that I’d have a massive problem with no future planning solutions, so I stuck with a weekly layout on the left side with bullet journalling on the left lined page. Unfortunately, my first ever bullet journal was the victim of a clumsy crafting afternoon where I accidentally spilled PVA glue and the pages have since been forever glued together. Hence no picture.
I’ve tried to pick the 9 pictures that best show how many experiments and layouts I’ve messed with in the last two years. You can read about some of these pics in more details under the ‘bullet journal’ tag in my blog. You have been warned: there’s a lot of content and some terrible photos and writing haha
Picture 1 January 2014: this was in a Piccadilly ruled notebook. Double margins and some GTD contexts in use.
Picture 2 February 2014: alternative layout with wider margins and stylised dates. I did away with the GTD contexts because it got too confusing.
Picture 3 March 2014: my early habit tracking pages.
Picture 4 September 2014: a return to the weekly layout with notebook pages.
Picture 5 November 2014: playing around with dot grid paper. This was my monthly layout: three columns for morning, afternoon and evening, plus a little checkbox on the side to keep track of what day I was up to.
Picture 6 November 2014: also played around with a monthly ongoing bullet journal with no dailies. That failed pretty quickly but I grew fond of the little calendars that I drew on the corners.
Picture 7 March 2015: colour indexing akin to DIYfish’s method
Picture 8 May 2015: my time ladder hack featured on Ryder Carroll’s blog
Picture 9 November 2015: back to weekly with a runsheet of bullet journalling tasks and notes
I guess I’ve tried almost everything – from layouts, to different notebooks, grid, dot, ruled, etc. – but what I’ve learned through all this is that you have to make the system work for you. I can’t say that I’m a bullet journal purist because I keep going back to the weekly + notes layout but you know what, that’s totally OK. I took the best out of the systems that I’ve used and liked in the past and created a hybrid, a system that works for me, and has increased my productivity. Isn’t that what a planner is all about – making the system work for you and not having the system consume or rule you?
Anyway, I’m writing this in a haze of tiredness. I’ve been up since 2.30am and haven’t been able you get back to sleep. I’m off to work in an hour or so, but would love to hear your comments and thoughts about how you’re making your planning system work for you :) Happy Wednesday, everyone!
dm
Anne H says
Thanks for the pics & explanations. This is my 6th month & I find the weekly & monthly layouts work fine for me too. My journal is a regular college spiral bound notebook & I like the size. There’s plenty of room for the whole week on a 2 page spread. Think I would find the Leuchtturm too small. Your blog is an inspiration! What does GTD stand for?
Anne
Dee says
Hi Anne! Thanks for stopping by on my blog and glad you’re enjoying the bullet journalling system :) GTD stands for Getting Things Done
Kim says
Interesting how you keep going back to that layout after all the wandering ;) It goes to show how sometimes it takes a little adventuring to realize that we’re using the right thing already. Conversely, switching up your system according to what you need in your life at the moment. I love that you always keep the main framework of the system in place and experiment accordingly :) I love seeing the development of your system. <3
Elena says
“I can’t say that I’m a bullet journal purist because I keep going back to the weekly + notes layout but you know what, that’s totally OK”
YES – exactly! Don’t beat yourself up because you’re not following something to the letter. You have to make it yours. That’ll guarantee that you’ll stick with it because it’s a system you love.
As always, Dee, your journals, writing and photos are gorgeous!!
Aubrey says
I love your blog! I came across it via Pinterest and I’ve been obsessed ever since!
I’m trying to get into this whole bullet journalling. I decided to start this month, December, and then hope to bring it into the new year with me. Any suggestions? I like that you mention that it should be your own system.
You are on the list of my “daily” readings and I can’t wait to read more. Keep up the awesome work!
Dee says
Hi Aubrey! Thanks for the lovely words and for making your daily reading list :) I hope you’re enjoying the bullet journalling system. I’d suggest just keeping things simple going into the new year. Sit down and go through what has worked for you and tweak accordingly. Sometimes though, this can backfire and make things more complicated but just be mindful that you know what your planning needs are so you can modify the system to suit you. Good luck and would love to know how you’re going, if you’d like to share :)