Continuing the mental health vibe, I was immediately captured by Lili’s posts on the Bullet Journal Junkies Facebook group – it was such a thoughtful way to use bullet journaling as a way to manage and cultivate mental health. Â I had to have her share her wisdom with the rest of us!Â
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I first learned about the Bullet Journal system in early 2016, when I saw the original video by Ryder Carroll. I started using it, and almost immediately found that I loved it as an organizational tool and as a therapeutic tool. Originally, I found drawing spreads and adding colors and the occasional doodle to be very soothing. As I continued with my journal, I further explored how I could make it my own and make it the most useful tool for me. After a fair amount of experimenting (which I continue to do to this day), I found that my bullet journal was most useful to me when it contained lists and reflections on mental health in addition to the future log, monthly, and weekly/ daily logs.
A lot of my life is spent looking at the world through a mental health lens. I experience Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression, and I treat these conditions through medication, therapy, self-care, and mindfulness. One aspect of self-care that has always been useful to me is finding a creative outlet. Over the years, this has included jewelry making, knitting, and collaging. When I learned about the bullet journal system and how it can overlap with creativity, I found my niche in making pages that support my mental health and are as colorful as I want them to be. I love that when I look at my journal, it is full of colorful pages that help me structure and live my best life.
Supplies: Leuchtturm dot grid, Mildliner highlighters, Micron marker tip pen
I find inspiration for my mental health pages from a wide variety of sources. I keep a lookout on social media (Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, etc.) and save pictures, lists, and articles that I think I may want to use in my journal. I also sometimes do more specific searches if I notice that I am struggling with a particular issue and want to help myself work through it. Additionally, I sometimes receive articles and educational materials from my doctors and therapists, and I frequently transfer the ones I strongly relate to. Lastly, many sweet friends, both from my offline life and who I’ve met through the bullet journal community, send me articles and links, which is always highly appreciated.
Once I find an article or list that I feel would be beneficial to me, I pick out my materials and transfer it over. Because I love rainbows, I almost always choose a rainbow color scheme, but whatever color scheme or other theme works great too. Depending on the length of the article, I sometimes add decoration such as drawings, stickers, or washi tape. These embellishments serve no practical purpose, but they do make me happy!
Adding these mental health lists and articles actively supports my mental well being in two ways. First, when I copy the lists, I am actively reading and absorbing the content. These lists often include strategies I am trying to incorporate into my daily life, so taking the time to write them down helps me solidify my knowledge. I think of it as a very decorated way of taking notes.
Second, once I have these mental health lists in my journal, I can refer back to them whenever needed. Sometimes I read through older lists when I feel that I need a refresher. Sometimes I have high levels of anxiety, and reading these lists can help me work through those times. When I am in an anxious state, it can be hard to think straight and remember my coping strategies, so having them written down can be a great reminder during a difficult moment. I have shared some of these lists and my Instagram account with loved ones, and it has educated them on ways they can help me when I am upset. Additionally, because I have made the pages look exactly as I want them to (with copious amounts of rainbow colors!), just looking at the pages can also feel soothing to me. As a part of a larger system of mindfulness and treatment, my journal is a highly useful tool in keeping myself calm and grounded.
Supplies: Staedtler Fineliners
Supplies: Kuretake Clean Color Real Brush Pens
Like this article? I write more about managing anxiety and self care, and Alec writes about his mental health in his bullet journal
Lili is a teacher and bullet journal enthusiast from Portland, OR. She hopes inspire others to use their journals in a way that helps them lead their best lives, physically and mentally. You can find her on Instagram @rainbowbulletjournal.
28 Comments
I love these spreads. Although I don’t have anxiety, I do have depression, codependency issues, and low self-worth, so I loved to see how you use the bullet journal as a therapeutic tool. I think I will definitely begin to incorporate these ideas into mine! Thank you for the post!
Natalie | http://nataliesalchemy.wordpress.com
What a great post! Love all of the mental health aspects you took and the action plan steps of how to deescalate those feelings!
[…] We are continue the conversation about how to use our bullet journals for managing mental health with today’s guest, Lili @rainbowbulletjournal. … More Bullet Journal as a Mental Health Tool with Lili @rainbowbulletjournal […]
This is a great article! Thank you for sharing it. Also, thank you for mentioning the FB group, I requested to join! I’m doing a lot of experimenting with my BuJo myself. I just learned about BuJos this past May. I love it!
great ideas. I am in the researching phase of bujo. I have several mental health issues and may copy a couple of yours. thank you for sharing.
I can SO relate to overthinking; I took a screen shot of that page to make in my BuJo. Lately when I catch myself overthinking I say “Do it or Don’t…but stop thinking about it!” It’s really helped me stay present and move on.
I love bullet journaling but it has been a while since I have written in mine. Your article is such an inspiration to get back to it. Thank you for sharing!
Wow, love your journal. So beautiful and colourful.
I adore this post. There are SO many good tips in it. I love that the importance of writing to absorb an article’s meaning is emphasized; taking the time to handwrite something gives your brain the chance to catch up with and permanently store what you’re writing about.
– Shannon | http://www.goingwithhappy.com
This post is fantastic! I am going to use some of these tips for my 10 year old son who struggles with anxiety, and I’ll add the overthinking strategies to my BUJO because I too struggle with that. Thanks so much for sharing!
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Reblogged this on journeyofhealingc-ptsd and commented:
And another reblog for another post she did on bullet journal and mental health…
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I love using my bullet journal for everything! I’ll have to add this to ig
This post is brilliant – and such a good idea! I particularly love your ‘I know that’ page and of course all of the rainbow colours you have used!
This really motivates me to stop writing my ‘To Do” lists on the back of old Walgreens receipts lol
https://damngirlgetyourshittogether.com/
I love this! Gonna try some of it out 🙂
I LOVE these! I was just discussing anxiety with a loved one the other day and different coping techniques I have – but biggest if just remembering that it’s temporary, and not to make any decisions or actions on these things until you’re feeling better! It’s so hard. Thank you for the great ideas!
Such an awesome idea & one Im definitely going to do 🙂 such a good thing to refer back to & fill in 🙂
Totally love this idea! Thanks for sharing
Thank-you so much for sharing this! I’m looking into bullet journaling to help with my mental health, and this gave me some great new ideas.
These are great! Thank you for sharing your ideas. I can’t wait to implement them in my bujo.
THE RAINBOW EFFECT IS AMAZING
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