STAY ORGANIZED WITH BULLET JOURNALING

STAY ORGANIZED WITH BULLET JOURNALING- Here's a quick overview of how to stay organized in your home and life using bullet journaling

I know I am a little bit behind the trend, but have you heard of bullet journaling? I’m a note taker and list maker but my notes can get lost and riffling through 30 small post-it notes is not the best way to organize! It wasn’t until I found the wonderful world of bullet journaling that I got a real handle on all my notes and found this marvelous way to get organized! Today is Practically Speaking so let’s talk about bullet journaling!

Today on Decorating Tips And Tricks we are talking about WAYS TO MIX WOOD TONES! What an important discussion! There is a whole lot to say these days about mixing glorious woods well!

Listen to episode  #215 below:

If you like to take notes and keep things on paper then I’m going to rock your world! I use my digital devices for taking notes and keeping a running tab of things, but for the day to day things I need to remember analog is the way to go!

However, there was one big drawback to making lists and keeping notes. I quickly could not find where my notes were to help me remember and to keep organized! Ugh! That made me feel anxious and downright frustrated!   Or I had a note and because it had no context I had no idea what it was for!!! That is until I found this one little why-didn’t-I-think-of-that gem of bullet journaling!

Now I keep all my business and daily life notes etc in one convenient notebook. And I keep my Bible Study in another. It’s okay to keep ALL your notes for every aspect of your life in one notebook. But since I am a Bible teacher I keep those notes separate.

My current journal holds my monthly blogging schedule and daily schedule, my podcast research for each episode, notes from great business seminars, ideas for blog post ( pages and pages of that), daily reminders, wise words, a list of my Pinterest boards, shopping lists, note to write, evening to remember and so so much more.

my journals

As long as I don’t lose my notebook I’m working smoothly!

You may be asking how do I know where everything is in my notebook? Well, that’s where the amazing gem of bullet journaling comes in. I keep a table of contents in the front of my journal! I think the technical term is “index”. But it’s just a good old table of contents!

Before I fill up a page with any info I number it. And add it to my Table of Contents. So when I’m looking for ideas for a blog post I can go to the table of contents and find them on page 6 and 9. And these pages below talk about SEO and Pinterest Things To Know.

Doing this one little thing changed the success of my day! Now I can find everything I need to do or things I want to keep. And it feels so good to check things off my list.

Using a couple of easy marks to the left of each entry I can easily see what I need to do with them. The video below will explain this so much easier than me!

Bullet Journaling is a huge craze. And some people make their journal a work of art. But if your life is like mine, you probably don’t have time to doodle… maybe someday. Just not today!

I keep my bullet journal very, very simple. It is a workhorse and not artwork!

 The video below is one of the easiest and best videos I’ve found to introduce someone to bullet journaling. Make sure you watch it

 

And below Noelle shows us how to create a “collection”. Such a fabulous idea! I use collections all the time. I don’t draw in my “BJ” (bullet journal). Mine is totally utilitarian. But Noelle’s bullet journal is so so cute!

 

You can find tons of ideas and other ways to bullet journal on YouTube. 

When my current notebook is filled I’ll start another. So let’s say that I need to find the notes from episode 112 of the Decorating Tips And Tricks podcast for some reason. Well, easy-peasy! I just have to look for it in the table of contents of past BJ’s.

Why take notes and bullet journal? Did you know that if you hear something you will probably only remember 10% of it? But if you listen, write, read and repeat it you can retain up to 90%? 

Now, find a notebook that works for you and get started!

Thought you’d might like these pretty ones!

 

 

1  sandia journal  ||  2  colorblock monogrammed journal  ||  3   penned posies journal trio  ||  4  omi  ||  5  hot chocolate purse notebook  ||  6  wild at heart notebook  ||  7 floral notebook  ||  8  wild at heart notebook

 

HAPPY JOURNALING!

You might like to follow me on Pinterest and see what I’m finding to pin every day HERE.

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26 Comments

  1. Absolutely love this idea!! I have post it notes all over along with an open calendar book! Crazy trying to keep things straight! I will be getting a journal!! Thank you!!

  2. I guess I have been bullet journaling since fourth grade but didn’t know it was called that. It’s the only way I can stay organized.

  3. Never heard of it, but am definitely going to pursue it! I am a list maker, but since I started blogging last October my lists are a mess! I have some beautiful blank journals just waiting for a good use like this. My yearlong preparations for an annual themed My Favorite Things Party will also benefit from this form of organization. Thanks so much for sharing.

  4. Joyce Gotsch says:

    If you are one who likes to be paperless, the app “keep” is great for your smart phone. It is great for staying organized as well and is the same bullet concept and color coded. I don’t use it for everything but find it very helpful to keep a “to do”, “grocery”, “misc to buy” “regular chores”..etc. The nice thing is you can link it with another person(s) so if you need some grocery items and hubby happens to be out and about, he could see the list and stop for items or other family members can add to the list if they use the last of something. I know the “feel” is very different from pen and paper but I always have my phone with me, not always my notebook.

  5. Theresa at Winterberry Lane says:

    I have been journaling for the past five years now. It is a great way to organizing your thoughts,ideas and it can be therapeutic. I always write in the front cover of my journals this is the beginning of my thoughts notes, quotes,notes,doodles and more. Have fun journaling Yvonne!

  6. I’ve been wanting to start bullet journaling, but was unsure where/how to start. Thanks for sharing these great tips. I can’t wait to get started. Now I’m off to find a cute notebook!

  7. A must quite Emily says:

    Wow – thanks Yvonne! I didn’t know bullet journeying was a craze, and at 74 I’m so glad to find I am right up to date (even if I didn’t know it). I’ve been doing this kind of thing all my life so while I suppose I’m up to date in one area, I am obviously quite outdated in another (that of seeing what is hot and new to the younger set on youtube). The journal in the video did have great ideas though and the books you presented are lovely and make my old school notebook look really bad. Think I’ll have to continue my journaling but i must get a updated, lovely book.
    Your posts are always inspiring and beautiful.

  8. Bullet journaling is wonderful! Edie Wadsworth of Lifeingraceblog.com has great blogs on it. You need to check her blog site – amazing!

  9. Good videos…. Its amazing how things evolve isn’t it? doodling, calendars, timelines, goals all rolled into one! On a side note.. she is a millennial!

  10. ritajandj@yahoo.com says:

    It’s like the Franklin Covey planners are making a it full circle. May be I need to pull it back out…LOVE this and ALL you do, actually. GLad there’s YOU.

  11. Been doing it all my life too! Good video.

  12. Lori Margo says:

    What size is your bullet journal?? I love this concept for blogging. I have a Bible study bullet journal, but could see how this would help me organize all my blogging thoughts. I have scraps of paper and post-it notes everywhere!

    1. Hi Lori, I keep a large journal. It’s 8 x 11. I wish I could get used to one that I can fit into my purse, but I write too much.

  13. I agree with all of this! A beginning bullet journaler myself, the index is the thing I love most–a list of my lists! My garden ideas, “to sew” and “to read” lists are right there! The only artsy type thing I add is across the top of the weekly page I will write a quote, verse or idea to focus on for the week. I haven’t adorned them yet, but it helps keep an idea forefront.
    Thanks for sharing, I love your blog!

  14. Recycled Franklin planner !!! I have journaled forever and keep a daily book for my list, a skinny one for my purse with grocery lists and holiday food to collect. Example – the prep for our trip home to pick up estate items required a list – I opened my book containing my list (made while listening to a class) and packed by my list without having a goat rodeo.

  15. I absolutely love this post – I have kept my “notebook” for close to 48 years of marriage! It started as a newlywed trying to handle all the details of daily life – meal planning, finances, home maintenance, vacation planning, seasonal goals, and goals for the next 2 years!! Even at this stage of life it helps us (me!) plan. It gives you a real sense of accomplishment as well as something to look forward to. The notebook goes everywhere with me – grocery shopping, vacations, etc. I buy a notebook with dividers and use the different sections for meal planning and recipe sources, a section for upcoming vacations, a section for home maintenance plans, etc. It helped me as a 20 year old trying to cope with all these details, and I think it has helped us maintain a high quality of life along the way. One time I almost left the notebook in a grocery cart seat and a friend said that someone would find that notebook and read it – and then write a book about home management using it as a guide!!

  16. Wonderfully encouraging post Yvonne! I’m a journaler/bullet journaler “wanna-be”.
    The first video made me anxious and I’m not artistic, too many steps in the first one for a beginner. I’d love to see a more simpler, straightforward method. Please explore this subject more or have your readers share some ideas. It’s seems since I’ve retired my life is even more chaotic and sticky notes everywhere are making me crazy!
    Faithful follower, seldom commenter,
    Beverly

  17. Nancy Davies says:

    My next project is to have a Bullet Journal!!!!! I do admire these highly organised and artistic journallers. I start these things, then get distracted. Oh dear!

  18. Mary Nell Harding says:

    I have been using notebooks for years. I actually have three going. I have one for sermon notes, one I use as a grateful journal, which I write down things I’m grateful for. It helps me to be more thoughtful of saying thanks to God and others, to appreciate even the smallest gift or blessing of the day. Sometimes, I may simply say thank you today for….or I may add some thoughts of how the blessing touched by heart or made me think of just how good God is everyday.

    My third journal is my everything journal. This one has my to do list, my grocery list, a sheet (or two) for each room in the house where I list what it needs to complete it, etc. Everything in this one notebook to keep me on track and keep my head from exploding from getting too overwhelmed. Yes, journals/notebooks are very useful.

  19. Love what you have to share and the way that you do it. I have been wanting to make some changes and feel your ideas are great and will be very helpful. I like your delivery.

  20. Hi, when you say you keep your monthly schedule in here do you use it as he suggests in the video like a list of dates? Just wondering. I recently found the Planner Perfect facebook group and I’ve been really inspired again to create some goals and track them. Thank you for this post!

  21. Barbara Hewitt says:

    Thank you for sharing the two meanings of faith.