Project Planning in my Bullet Journal
September 11, 2017
Why I Stopped Making My Bullet Journal Pretty with Katie
October 1, 2017
Hello friends! It has been heavy in the swing of things as the students return to classes and instructors begin teaching again – which means I have been buried in to-do’s. Usually my weekly bullet journal layout can handle the tasks I have, but since the school year started I’ve needed to adapt my style a little bit – more on that later – in my trusty Rhodia notebook. In that spirit, Rhodia and I have been having fun partnering so we’re back with another bullet journal giveaway!
Update: October 7, 2017
Winners have been drawn and contacted!!! 🙂 If they fail to respond in 48 hours, I will choose a new winner!
We are raffling off not just one but THREE Rhodia Goalbooks. These are newer in the line and everything you love plus more. A few highlights of the new notebook:
- Same great 90gsm paper quality
- 240 pages- INCLUDING index pages and page numbers (big win for me)
- 2 ribbon bookmarks
- So many colors
- Not quite a soft cover but not a hardcover
If that sounds like something you’re interested in, join me for a quick giveaway! (More details under these terms and conditions)
RHODIA GOALBOOK GIVEAWAY
The rules of this particular giveaway are simple.
- Follow @rhodiapads on Instagram
- Follow me, @prettyprintsandpaper on Instagram and like the giveaway photo. Tag a friend if you wish!
- Comment below with 1) the Instagram handle I should look for and 2) What has been the most challenging or rewarding about using the bullet journal system?
- I will be doing a random drawing based on the comments on this post!
- YES it is open Internationally!
I will stop counting comments for the giveaway by midnight CST on Tuesday, October 3, and contact winners via Instagram Direct Message within a few days after that. Winners will have 48 hours to confirm their prize before I move on to another winner.
Let’s get started!
452 Comments
Bullet Journaling has giving me greater focus for all the little roads in my life. My favorite parts are having lists in one place, being able to be creative as the time and mood strike, and probably the best part is that when I get off track it is so easy and forgiving to pick it up again. @revcathy
@dee.fuji
I have been using my bullet journal for a few months now and my favorite thing is that it is so forgiving. I used to be the worst kind of perfectionist. The first journal I used probably had half the pages ripped out but I have since learned to give myself some slack and it shows not only in my journal but also in my life. Where I used to do and redo assignments borderline obsessively until it was absolutely perfect, I am now able to do it and move on. I get so many things done now! It’s amazing and I’ve shared this system with my boyfriend as well.
@kateberly the most challenging thing is keeping to it, but the most satisfying is when you do and you can see everything becoming more in order 🙂
@jone3991
I love my bullet journal cuz now I have a place to put any thought down. From my to do list to lettering concepts to prayers.
@rusthawk1
the best thing is how it keeps me organized and focused
@trackie_chica
The hardest thing for me is being afraid of making mistakes, but now I have erasable pens, it makes it much easier 😂 but bullet journals make my life so much easier, especially tracking habits.
I’m an accountant with severe ADHD (let’s cut to the chase why don’t we xD)
I used to have a agenda filled with all my lists, tasks, overwritten labels and weird symbols.
I crave structure in my planning and I try to achieve it but my tries always failed.
That was until I started my bullet journal.
I share a desk with my direct colleague and she can read the open pages of my journal (week overview). When at the office, she will occasionally glance over to say “you’ve got a client coming in half an hour, maybe you should start preparing” or “You planned on leaving an hour early today, don’t forget to watch the time”.
She also loves the journal since she can actually understand my planning and me a bit better. (And she can read it. That’s an achievement on it’s own)
Now, I’ve finally got a journal that gives me a structure but is completely suited for my head. My lists and tasks and everything are actually organized. And not only for me, for those around me too. I’m no longer a burden asking “what did I mean when writing this” and I can feel them liking me a bit more without all the chaos.
Now I only need a proper journal instead of the ruled notebook in which a even a pencil could bleed through.
I love the idea of the giveaway and I’m grateful to even be considered.
Love, Irene
There are so many things to love about the bullet journal system! The most rewarding part is being able to customize it however you’d like. I went through tons of planners, agendas, and notebooks over the years to try and find one with a layout that worked for me but nothing worked until I started using a bullet journal. I love it!
handle: andreakingg
I am @tarihuffaker on instagram. I used to be a die-hard Franklin planner junky. That is where I learned the value of daily planning and journaling. When I saw my first Bullet Journal youtube video I was hooked. I love how much more personal a bullet journal can be…including creativity. I love that I can go back and see what happened on any given day. I love that I can keep my affirmations in front of my all the time. I love that I have a place to keep “collections” of things that feel important to me. And I have amassed a huge collection of colored pens…wow…and I love that I have learned how to track my habits. I think it is safe to say that there is not ONE favorite thing about bujo-ing. It is all very important to me (mother of 4, grandmother of 14, potter, event coordinator, health coach, etc.)
Thanks so much.
@calligraphybyzoej
the best part about a bullet journal is looking back through it and seeing all the progress you have made. and the hardest part is actually remembering to keep it😆
Blondebear1
The most rewarding part of bullet journaling for me has been the relaxation part of just taking “me” time at the end of a hard days work and getting in touch with my creative side. I just love it….
IG @laura_garn
I love bullet journaling… it feeds my need to be creative while also helping keep me organized. But the biggest challenge is setting aside time to set up each week & month with 3 small children! (Still totally worth it though)
As a woman in the sciences, I’m held together by routine. Organization is everything. I have found it therapeutic and productive to bullet journal in the mornings. New Yorkers, after all, love their mornings. Who knew such an impact could be made by such a simple act? Thank you for sharing your inspirational systems and skills with us!
@evziez
I’m new to bullet journaling and I’m still trying to find a weekly spread that works for me – my greatest challenge so far. I hit upon my perfect monthly straight off the peg so I know the right weekly is just waiting to be discovered.
My IG name is Scarletwren.
Bullet journaling absolutely keeps me grounded. The most challenging part is committing to doing it, and setting up the beginning of a month. I don’t mind at all though because it helps me stay focused throughout the rest of the month. @gold.pony
So so so Pretty!!!
@creativemem
Honestly the most rewarding thing about bullet journaling has been the community; y’all are great! The most challenging thing for me is keeping up on those weeks when I don’t use my journal as much as I should.
@keloise13
The most challenging thing is arriving to it and not getting overwhelmed. Once I miss a few days and feel like I need to go back and fill things in, or procrastinate setting up for the next week or month, I usually end up just skipping the whole month. But the most rewarding is that it truly helps me to feel more productive and accomplished while using it. It helps organize my ADD brain.
Typo: *”sticking to it”, not “arriving to it”
@baxification
The biggest help for me is offsetting what I call Mom Guilt. No matter how much I’ve done, I focus on what I haven’t, and I put a lot of negative emotions in it. Bullet journaling help to quantify what I need to do (so it doesn’t feel so overwhelming) and I see what all I have accomplished.
@tamhead I love my bullet journal for so many reasons! But I guess my favorites are the ability to change up my weekly spreads as I feel like it or need something different, and the stress relief that comes with making it pretty!
I love this!
My insta is @lowangharad
and my biggest challenge with my bujo is when I was trying to set up a two-page spread grid for July’s monthly view, because I had a really busy month and needed the space, but managed to create 8-day weeks instead of 7!!
@hellen_benassi
I love my new Bullet Journal but it’s not easy at all! This September was my first month so the biggest challenge was just doing it, tracking everything day by day, but I’m dealing with it 💪
My biggest challenge is figuring out which layout works best for my needs which change over time. I especially find the collections the best way to track my many lists.
@janemay Bullet Journaling has allowed me to discover an artistic quality I didn’t know I had!
My IG is cocktailcarseat.
For me, the most rewarding thing is that I feel like I’ve finally found the perfect planning system with bullet journaling. I always struggled with other planners, as there was never a place to just brain dump. I love the flexibility and how you can make it whatever you want to, and can make it pretty or not. I love everything about it!
@ijssel08
For me, the most rewarding thing about using the BuJo system is the adaptability. I can change it up when I want to, but I can also keep it minimal and simple. It allows me to color outside the lines or go outside the box.
@lin2250
After I retired I found myself somewhat unmoored. I starting using the Bujo which gives me structure to my daily living. I like the flexibility of the Bujo system and have changed it many times. I am an artist and started out making my Bujo pretty but found it too time consuming and took away from my drawing time. Making my Bujo direct and simple works best for me.
@guissoo
I’m new to bullet journaling. I find it great to organize myself and get my thoughts in a book. I find it hard to use regularly. Also, other people work seem so much nicer than what I can do. Regardless, I keep
@frankopotamus
I *just* started bullet journaling this week! I’m excited about the malleability of the system: I’m confident that I’ll be able to adjust it to fit my needs as I go. The open-endedness is definitely the most challenging- it was hard to know where to start! Thanks for hosting this giveaway and being an ambassador for bullet journaling!
@inisaoliveira
Because my notebook has plain pages, I struggle a lot when doing my spreads. Sometimes they are uneven or something like that, LOL.
And also, one of my biggest challenges is to figure out habit tracking. I switch between tracking them daily, weekly and monthly.
http://www.redyouthblog.wordpress.com
@PaperInkAlchemy
And I’m self employed so bullet journaling lets me mix work and life, and keep in top of everything in one book 🙂 x
@dacamilos
Love bujo for great comunity,always can change something,always something new,love checking tags of the list,making in for my own needs.
@anam_t
I would say the rewarding thing has been that it can be adapted into any notebook/diary system! I’ve gone from an A5 dotted Rhodia journal to a passport size notebook I recently found in my drawer! The challenging part is not getting to full it in every day or not getting things done. I get pretty bummed up about that.
The most challenging thing was to use my BuJo everyday. And to make the perfect page – I am not very good at drawing or calligraphy, but since I have a bujo, my art is getting better and better.
@petraagergely
@desireebecher
The most challenging things is finding the motivation to continue bullet journaling. I don’t always have to time finish a spread. But the most rewarding this is when you have a beautiful spread you are proud of and efficiently get everything done on your list. 🤗
@sleepykoi
I’m a mama of two working a office job in the day and staying up all night as an aspiring artist (and also thought it would be fun to open an Etsy store on the side??) , and I no longer seem to have many brain cells left to organize my life lol!! I’ve tried so many planners and never felt like they worked for me and then last month I learned about bullet journaling and it has been AMAZING!!! now I nickname it my Brain. I can’t live without it! It gives me the chance to tailor it exactly for my life and also gives me the opportunity to get creative and have fun!
@thejournallingjourney
Bullet journalling has allowed me the creative freedom to change my diary to fit my needs and creative desires as and when I please! Morning pages and the self reflection space it gives you has really helped me blossom towards the sort of person I want to be! On top of all that it keeps my messy brain in check as I can pour all my thoughts into it!
@audreyvanandruel
Using the bullet journal system for me is definitely relaxing, so the most rewarding thing for me has definitely been the calm that bujoing brings me. That being said the most challenging thing has been the creative side of things, I am one to prefer a more decorative and colourful bullet journal so my lack of any drawing skills whatsoever has been a challenge.
@mom.plan.blerd
The hardest part for me is staying in one journal before trying out a new on. I’m a stationary junkie and a sucker for a good notebook, lol.
*sorry if this is a duplicate post. I had login issues!*
I tried a simple form of bullet journalling once but never managed it…I didn’t have a proper key I stuck to!! Now I do a form of bullet journalling in my Filofax where I use a key but obviously it’s a diary. I want to start bullet journalling properly in the new year and this notebook would be ideal!!
<3 @rubyraquelle
@marydeathbecker
I’d say the most challenging part of my bullet journal experience has been the habit tracking. It’s a great idea, and I do like when I feel accomplished and fill in the habit tracker. But when I miss a habit, it’s kind of sad because I want to keep those boxes filled 🙂
@acatalds on instagram! I started bullet journaling my second year of graduate school. I was in school full time studying Voice and Opera, interning at a local arts organization, and working three part time jobs at school. I needed something that would help me keep track of all of my commitments and responsibilities, without adding to my stress! That’s when I started bullet journaling! I balanced all of my commitments with little to no stress, and I enjoyed doing it. I’ve been bullet journaling ever since!
I love the bullet journal system just because I can adapt it to fit my current needs. I just started a new job and I’m really feeling that the Bullet Journal I’ve started there will be filled with good, easy to find information. At home I go crazy with fun stuff in my personal journal. Instagram: @eitchy
@elizabethruizfit
Ever since I started bullet journaling I’ve become much more productive than ever before. I don’t lose track of things anymore. I’m organized and having the ability to just write things down has left me clear headed. I can focus more on what’s in front of me because I’m not worried about what I’m forgetting. I’m grateful I came across this method.
@_hermiddlenamewasboom_
I am still fairly new to bullet journaling and designing my own layouts for planning ahead. I am still trying to figure out exactly what I want to get out of utilizing the concept to become more organized in my life as I juggle full-time work and raising my now 3 year old son while still remembering to take time for myself. One thing I will always enjoy about using a journal is seeing my handwriting on the paper and the smell of the pages.
@scripts_by_nicole
Bullet journaling has been very rewarding to me. It helps me keep track of everything in one location and it has become a creative outlet for me too. I don’t miss having pieces of paper and sticky notes everywhere anymore.
@punkinsmama15
I love that bullet journaling is completely customizable. Having a place to write down thoughts and tasks throughout the day has really helped me feel organized and to be more productive. It also gives me a space to be creative.
@annacraig16
I love the bullet journal system! It works with my crazy work schedule of working 80 hours one week then off for a week. No other planner system has made sense for me. The most rewarding part is that it is completely adaptable. L have one day on a page for the weeks I’m off and one week on a page when I’m working. It’s helped me keep up with all the little things of being a working mom with little kids.
@princapecos
My biggest challenge is just keeping in the habit to USE it — write notes and then check it consistently! But I love it, the simpler the better (with occasional flashes of creativity).
Several months ago I would have said I had finally found the perfect organization system for work after watching your bullet journal videos and Following you on social media.
Fast forward a few months and the company I have worked for since college ( 28 years) sold and I’m juggling so much more and working a ton more hours and my organization is totally gone.
I’m constantly catching balls before they hit the ground and need a total bullet journal reset. Just about the time I think I’ll stop and reset there’s another crisis that pulls me away.
I drag home exhausted at the end of the day and do it all over again the next day.
I MUST get back on track for my sanity!
Mcirish86 on IG