Benefits of a Bullet Journal

A year ago, my mom told me about something called a “bullet journal”. I did a quick search on Pinterest, saw lots of complex “keys” and “indexes” in intimidatingly neat handwriting, and went back right to my Robin Pickens planner. Also, the name “bullet” journal is kind of intimidating.

However, I recently came across a beautiful youtube channel called studyign. It is part of the “studyblr” community on tumblr (blogs that try to motivate and help each other study, to my understanding). It was so motivating and I found myself looking at bullet journals again, as the channel has a whole playlist dedicated to hers.

Last week I bought my first bullet journal, and I’m already noticing so many benefits.

1. Wait I can actually be productive??

I had work the second day of bullet journaling, so I created a to-do list with broken down tasks of all the little things I was responsible for completing that day. Even though these aren’t tasks that I am particularly thrilled by (I love four year plans as much as the next person, but ya know…), I flew through the tasks way quicker than I normally would have. I finished a huge project, and I felt so happy about it! I think if I had finished it without the bujo (bullet journal) I honestly would not have been as proud because I wouldn’t have gotten to check the box. I know it sounds dumb but it is REAL!

Also, it helps to know that other people out there are trying just as hard as you to be productive, even during the summertime. And seeing beautiful spreads makes it feel way less nerdy and lame (lol).

(above) the key of my bujo

2. Slow down racing thoughts/anxiety.

The day I got my bullet journal, I had actually experienced an anxiety attack/flare up/whatever. I won’t go my anxiety too much (yet), but writing down everything I had to do/my goals really helped me. Sometimes I get in this phase where my thoughts are racing constantly and I have a lot of trouble slowing down and just breathing. The bujo helps because I could get it onto paper in a nice organized way and not have to store it in my mind constantly.

3. A place for your ~memorabilia~.

If you want, you can make your bujo a planner meets scrapbook meets vision board. They are as customizable as planners get. So you have a place to put that card or those ticket stubs you wanted to hang onto. I feel like I will want to keep my bujo after I’m done with it to look back on, because it’s more personal than a traditional planner. It has a little more heart in it. ;) (See what I did there? Heart? The Heart? This blog? ok.)

More of my BUJO...

#minimalism #theheart