How an Imperfect Bullet Journal (BUJO) Can Straighten your Life
Practical solutions for busy not so creative overwhelmed people.
By Annye Castonguay
Today’s world has us geared and groomed for efficiency. It’s a never-ending competition for who has the longest to-do list and who has accomplished the most. We feel overwhelmed because there never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything done, never mind working in some downtime.
Does your to-do list seem endless? Are you left at the end of a busy day feeling like you haven’t done enough? That you could have, should have accomplished more? You are not alone.
This feeling of impending doom leaves you unable to appreciate all you have accomplished because you can only see all that is left to do.
I had lists. My lists had lists. On pieces of papers, on the back of envelopes, on post-its, name it, if there was space, I had a list on it. The problem with loose lists is that they are not contextualized. They exist outside of your daily life, not taking into account all the other stuff that needs getting done, the mundane: grooming, cooking, eating and relaxing.
There was one thing that was common to all my lists: they were handwritten. For years, I tried to do the computer list, diary, daytimer, scheduling. Let’s face it: as soon as I flip down the screen, the list disappears from my existence. Hand-writing them actualizes them for me. Once I realized this, I knew it was time to find a different system, one that would help me organize my life, not make it busier.
I was desperately trying to get on top of things, to escape the feeling of the never-ending to-do list. In my quest for a solution, I read dozens of organizational articles: better filing, better time management, but when I discovered Bujo journals, I was immediately seduced by their beauty, their tidiness, their organization. They were amazing (Bujo Journal ideas). However, one thing was certain: mine would never in a million years look like them. Even the simple Bujo ideas were too elaborate and time consuming for my skill level and my lifestyle. Colouring inside the lines was never my forté, my handwriting is inconsistent, and my need for perfection, too great.
But I was missing the point. The point was not to have a beautiful journal. The point was to have a functional journal.
A Bujo Journal is an organizational system created by Ryder Caroll. The bullet journal (BUJO for short) is a tool to help you manage your life.
The Secret to a Functional Journal
The secret to a functional journal: keep it simple. The most important aspect is that your journal be a tool to help you navigate your daily life. As such, it will contain elements that matter to you. Nobody else can decide this for you. Reading articles, watching countless videos, and scrolling through hundreds of Instagram posts helped me gather ideas, see what other’s priorities were and how to represent them visually.
Since I am a bit of a minimalist, my main elements are:
- a monthly overview that I can easily add to
- a weekly overview that highlights the scheduled tasks
- and a daily overview, broken down into categories to help me manage my time and visually create balance.
Here is my basic Bujo layout:
A bit boring. Notice I use a pencil. That alone has dramatically reduced my “mistake” anxiety. If I have some extra time and feel like a little colour, I go ahead and highlight some lines. If I don’t, my Bujo still performs its duty.
On the monthly overview, I put in all my appointments (business, friends, shows, medical, etc.). It makes it easier to see how “booked” I am and lets me schedule some downtime. I like to add my exercises as I go: it gives me a sense of accomplishment and encourages me to continue or step up my game.
On the weekly overview layout, I write down my meetings and deadlines (or wishful thinking) for the week. That is where I plan a bit more in detail (deadlines, scheduling, outings). However, I try to avoid putting more than 4 obligations per day, ideally keeping it at 2. You will adjust your layout to your needs as you go. You will figure out what you like, what is pleasing and useful, what you have time to do. Don’t worry about getting it perfect the first time around. As you do it, you will discover what works best for you: remember you can change anything that doesn’t serve you. Don’t be afraid to try something different: if you don’t like it, you can always fall back to the old setting.
Finally, the daily layout. I like to spread mine over 2 columns divided into 5 or 6 categories, depending on the day. It’s easy to make a list of all the things you need to do, but it’s helpful (for finding balance) to include things you want to do (for fun). I write simple things such as laundry, grocery, freeze chicken, sweep, etc., because I don’t want to forget to do them, and I like to see where my time goes. I also include dancing, hang out with friends and talking to Mom.
My writing is big and a little messy, so I like to use a larger book (7 ½ x 9 ¾). I favour the unlined Moleskine. I like to start on a blank page. I choose to write in pencil: it makes it easier to keep my journal tidy.
When filling your Bujo Journal, focus on actionable items, things you can cross off your list once they are completed. I use a highlighter to cross mine off: I like the ease of reference the colour affords me. If it’s a big task that involves several steps, break it down so that you can cross off individual step such as:
- figure out menus
- make grocery list
- get food
- cook food
I don’t worry about putting dashes or circles before the tasks. If I didn’t complete the task as planned, I put an arrow in front to “push” it to another day or an “x” if I’ve decided to 86 it.
Use whatever notebook you have on hand. Use a binder if you don’t have a notebook. It doesn’t matter. Just get started. Play with it. Make it your own. I make mine as I go, one day at a time. I use as much or as little space as I need. It is for your eyes only. It certainly doesn’t need to be perfect to be useful. I like to use a notebook because I can keep everything in one place.
It is useful to put even the simple tasks on your list. That way, you can see where your time goes. The column layout forces me to balance my tasks better and choose how to allocate my time. It prevents me from just making an endless list of work duties. It enables me to find balance, even if it is only visually at first. I can see at a glance if my work tasks list is disproportionally long for the number of hours in a day. It helps me be more realistic about how much I can do in a day and how much I want to dedicate to working. If nothing else, keeping a Bujo journal will help you achieve a better balance and feel the satisfaction you have put in a good day’s work. You may not have accomplished as much as you intended, but you will end the day feeling that, indeed, you have done the best you could for the day.
Start small and resist the urge to put everything you need to do this year on Monday.
