First things first, you’re probably asking yourself what a bullet journal is – just as I was when one of my professors introduced the concept to me during my senior year of college. With an internship, multiple finals and papers due, a study abroad, and a job to find, I was about at my wit’s end.
The short version? A bullet journal can be whatever you want it to be. Something to doodle in and take notes, your calendar and the holder of all your lists, your go-to place to jot down your schedule and everything important in your life – you name it. For now, I’m going to focus more on the ways bullet journaling can help you de-stress more than the how-tos of the methodology. But if it sounds like something you might be interested in, I’ve provided some more intensive links at the bottom!
1. Everything All in One Place
Remember when I said I used my bullet journal to keep my schedule, lists of things I wanted to do, and important events or data I needed to remember? Yeah, I wasn’t kidding about that. One of the coolest things about creating a bullet journal is the ability to keep all your information in one place. Of course, you also need to keep track of it so you don’t lose it, but that’s another matter.
Now, I’m not suggesting you keep your passwords and personal identification information inside the pages of a book you carry everywhere you go – rather your calendar, schedule for the week, lists of things you need to get done at home or work, books you want to read, a section for birthdays you need to remember, whatever it is that’s important to you. I’ve even got a list of my favorite restaurants so that I can pick something quickly when I’m hangry, rather than be frustrated when I need to find something to eat but can only think of the same two places.
2. The Wonders of a “Brain Dump”
If you’re anything like me, then your brain has the capability to constantly and simultaneously loop through dozens of separate pieces of information. Usually all at once. Trying to fall asleep? Instead, of focusing on your much needed rest, how about thinking of that thing your friend said earlier which reminds you of the movie you watched last week which makes you think of…
And so on.
Enter: the Brain Dump. Known by many names, the Brain Dump functions as a catch-all list of anything and everything that you want to or need to remember – like the idea for a new project that just popped into your head or a song you heard from a passing car that you want to look up the lyrics for. The best part? You don’t need to worry about keeping everything organized or in categories. If you think of it, write it down. Once you’ve emptied your brain, then you can go back and organize it into your calendar, lists, or other areas if you want to.
I know it sounds crazy, but you would be amazed at how much easier falling asleep became. For someone who has 50 different things on their mind all at once, being able to keep my bullet journal on my nightstand became a game changer. Now I can write down whatever it is I just thought of and don’t want to forget before the next day. And the sleep, knowing I wouldn’t forget whatever it was in the morning? Ah-may-zing!
3. Get Organized
Can you never seem to remember when you have something due or in what order you need to get something done? Or even what day it is in the black hole that is COVID? Bullet journaling could be the answer to your troubles. Flip back to that ever so helpful Brain Dump and start moving things over to your monthly, weekly, or daily spreads – whatever it is you use. This method has done wonders for my multi-tasking and productivity. Bonus: I know I won’t forget to include anything when I get sidetracked by a specific topic because it’s already written down in the Brain Dump!
4. Make the Format Fit Your Needs – Not the Other Way Around
I don’t know if it’s just me, but some days, nothing stresses me out more than having to fit my thoughts into a predetermined format. What if I don’t have enough pages for what I need? What if my schedule collapses during COVID for weeks or months at a time and it turns out I bought the planner for nothing?
Fear not! Bullet journaling is a blank canvas! Which yes, I know, can be a different kind of stress. But! It’s much easier than you think when you start out slow. No perfection needed! Don’t know if you want to draw out a full calendar yet? Make a running list of the dates you need to remember instead. Don’t think you have a big enough schedule to fill one or more pages every day? Try a weekly spread!
The best thing of all? If you try something and it doesn’t work – change it up! Maybe do something different every week or month until you find what schedule or layout fits your groove. That’s what I did in college, followed by a completely new design when I started working and living on my own. I had a totally different set of things I needed to keep track of, and being able to mold my bullet journal to my needs made that transition so much easier.
5. Plan it Ahead of Time
Do you have a major project due at work or school? Write it in the weekly spread or on your calendar, then flip the page back a week. Write it again as a reminder for the prior week. Better yet? Set this as your new deadline to finish it! Flip the page back one more week and write a reminder for the “new” due date. This way, if you don’t finish it by your own deadline… BOOM! You magically have another week to complete it. Although I don’t actually recommend relying on that system time and time again – rather if something comes up unexpectedly and you need to buffer yourself a couple of extra days. Then suddenly, your procrastination habit might just turn into a finish-the-assignment-early habit!
6. Write to Remember
Believe it or not, it’s not just a rumor or something your parents say because they didn’t grow up in the technology age – physically writing things down does actually boost memory retention! Not only does the act of using a pen or pencil to write activate the part of your brain associated with learning, but studies have found that reading handwritten text also stimulates your muscle memory. So put down your phone and reach between the couch cushion for that pen you lost forever ago – you’re going to need it.
7. Honing Your Habits
Last, but certainly not least, introducing… The Habit Tracker! The perfect tool for anyone who can’t seem to remember if they took their vitamins that morning, or wants to stop drinking so much Diet Coke everyday (ehem, cough cough). All you have to do is check a box, and voila! Not only can you track your good habits and add that little bit of serotonin to your system every time you get to check off a box, but you can also see how your bad habits may plague you more than you thought. Make them daily, weekly, monthly… Whatever keeps your boat afloat!
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