Identifying what worked and didn't work with my personal BuJo experience.
A few months ago, I decided to give Bullet Journaling a try. I previously shared my experience in setting up My 1st Actual Bullet Journal.
In short, I gave Bullet Journaling a try to better organize my priorities. I wasn't sure if it would be pertinent for me as an unemployed bum.
After three months of Bullet Journaling, I've identified several things I liked most about it. I've also determined what traditional aspects of Bullet Journaling doesn't work for me and what managing two separate journals is like.
Organized Tasks and Thoughts
I started my Bullet Journal (BuJo) with hopes of better organizing my daily priorities. At first, I only listed tasks I felt needed to be done on a given day. For example, on Sunday I may only list "laundry" as the sole task for the day.
After a couple weeks, I realized I'd note other tasks I completed each day. With the earlier example, if I only listed "laundry" as a task for Sunday, I'd later note that I also completed a craft project, researched a topic of current interest, and reorganized a part of my master closet.
Towards the end of my first month, I started listing at least five tasks to do each day. Some tasks were quick or simple. Some tasks required time to complete. Some would be completed through multi-tasking.
Noting additional tasks that I didn't originally list only meant I had a productive and busy day. However, sticking with at least five tasks a day helped me narrow my focus to even better prioritize my priorities and efforts.
There were days where I completed more than what I had listed but sticking with the five encouraged me to take breaks or spend more time completing certain tasks well.
When I left my last place of employment, people often questioned how long it'd take before I got bored and returned to the workforce. I'd joke about aspiring to be a lazy bum, but I keep myself busy learning and trying new things. There are just so much interesting things to learn about and do in this world! I'm a workaholic at heart and still forget to take time to relax.
I not only learned to better organize my tasks and thoughts, but I learned to devote time to enjoy the simple thing I like most in my life. There were still days when I kept myself busy and preoccupied, but I'm getting better at relaxing. My dogs certainly appreciate their extended and more frequent cuddle times.
Project Management
When I started listing five tasks a day, I'd sometimes have extra time to contemplate long-term projects I wanted to start and complete. In fact, there were projects I started last year and never finished because I'd get distracted with other things.
Having organized my daily tasks and thoughts allowed me to also focus on project management in my BuJo. I'm still figuring out the best way to manage it in my journal.
I started with dedicating a blank page or two when I started setup for a month. Unfortunately, there's a few projects taking me longer than a month to complete. I don't like jumping back to a page in the previous month's setup to update it or see what information I need to transfer to the current month's page.
I'm thinking about devoting several pages towards the back of my journal to long-term projects. I'd setup sections for identifying the start date, end date, benchmark dates (when I want a phase or part of the project completed by), goals, and tasks. If you're familiar with project management, project plan worksheets, and action plans, my setup would likely be a simplified version of that.
Reflection Habit
Crossing off a task completed at the end of the day gave me a sense of accomplishment. If I didn't complete a task, which was sometimes the case, I'd determine if I wanted to list it for the next day, migrate it as a task for another time, or forget about it.
At the end of each day as I crossed off a task, I was developing the habit of reflection. In a way, I reflected daily in my other journal by tracking my habits, mood, and highlights (good memories). In my BuJo, I was learning to also reflect on my priorities, task completions, and project progress.
Reflecting helped me become self-aware of what worked, what needed improvement, and what changes I could make in my BuJo or life. I mentioned earlier that I'm managing long-term projects in my BuJo. Collection pages within a month's setup isn't working well for me, so I'm trying to determine another location and layout for tracking my project's progress.
Limitless Customization
A traditional calendar or planner purchased from a store consists of pre-designed layouts with sections that may or may not be utilized by a buyer. I've used many planners where I didn't use or repurposed a section.
For example, I once had a planner that had a section on every page dedicated to expenses. While this is beneficial for some, I never tracked expenses on physical paper and therefore left it blank. It felt like wasted space.
Setting up my own BuJo granted me flexibility to create a calendar/planner/journal/etc. to fit my needs. Over the past three months, I made changes to the layout to better match what and how I wanted to list or record. There's little wasted space when I'm creating my own setup.
When I first setup my BuJo, I created a few collection pages (three total) for documenting uploads and changes made to this blog website, my Simply Jelly Jam YouTube channel, and my resume/CV website. I later found it easier to track uploads and changes for this blog website and my YouTube channel on a single page for each month. After all, I manage these sites on the same days.
I seldomly make changes to my resume/CV website. I decided to document anything related to this site towards the front of my BuJo. Fortunately, I left a few blank pages when I initially setup my BuJo for the first time.
It's convenient to make changes as I'm discovering the best ways to use my BuJo.
What Doesn't Work for Me
In my initial setup of my BuJo, I highlighted headers and sub headers on my pages to add a splash of color. I eventually quit adding any colors. The only decorative elements are lines used as section dividers and boxes drawn around the day's date. Otherwise, my BuJo is minimal, plain, and simple with no distraction or unnecessary elements.
I noticed I never reference my index and future log pages. This may be because my journal has two ribbons that I utilize to flip to my most visited pages. I have a ribbon the current month log and website collection page where I note uploads made to this site and my YouTube channel. I have another ribbon where I'm currently listing my daily tasks.
During the first week I referenced the key of symbols Ryder Carroll suggested as identifiers for tasks, events, notes, thoughts, and statuses. It didn't take long to get used to the symbols. There are a couple symbols I don't use (i.e., migrated and future task symbols), but only because they're not pertinent to me.
One or Multiple Journals?
When I initially did research on starting a Bullet Journal, it seemed many people were curious about managing one or multiple journals. Many wanted to know if they should separate professional and personal priorities.
Ryder Carroll, the creator of the Bullet Journal method, mentioned in at least one of the videos on the Bullet Journal YouTube channel that it's up to each individual to determine if one or more journals is worthwhile. In his case, a single journal is sufficient for organizing his professional and personal life.
I worried about managing two different journals when I gave my BuJo a try a few months ago. Would it be more work than its worth? Should I keep everything within a single journal?
For me personally, it's not too much extra work to manage two separate journals. This is mostly because I don't add decorative elements or put in any creative efforts towards the setup of my BuJo.
However, I remembered managing multiple journals or notebooks in my past with ease. I've maintained a journal/diary since I was a teen for personal venting and reflection. I've always maintained a professional work journal for recording notes. Lastly, I maintained a notebook for my educational and professional training pursuits. Perhaps it was overkill, but it was easier for me back then to keep those things separated.
Now that I'm taken to Bullet Journaling, I'd continue to have two journals. I'd still maintain my journal/diary for personal life reflection and memory keeping. I'd also maintain my separate BuJo for organizing my priorities related to everyday tasks, work-related notes, and trainings.
My Thoughts
As I hoped when I started Bullet Journaling, I'm able to organize my priorities. Yes, I could also do this digitally through calendars and apps, but I like the traditional method of putting pen to paper. I don't have the distraction of notifications that pop-up onscreen or the slip of the finger that accidentally starts up a mobile game.
The best part of Bullet Journaling is when I cross off my tasks with a sense of accomplishment. It's a motivator to see on paper that I did something productive and don't have to worry about it for a while.
I'll continue Bullet Journaling and making changes to my monthly setup. It's convenient to be able to make changes and adjustments based on my needs at the time. Flexibility helps make the Bullet Journal method right for me.
What's Next?
By publishing this post, I'll cross off my last task for the day. Today was an exceptionally busy one for me, so I'll probably relax and watch TV with my dogs.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam
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