& WHY I PLAN TO CONTINUE
Happy Friday! Today’s post is a fun one. I still consider myself a bullet journal newbie. I’ve only been at it for about eleven months now, but it has come time for me to evaluate how I am utilizing the practice (read: I have finished my first notebook). I try to keep daily tasks as simple as possible for myself. As my current bullet journal started to wrap up I knew I would need to reflect before purchasing and setting up a replacement. I decided to share the reasons I will keep journaling in this way with all of you, in case it might help.
BULLET JOURNALING HELPS ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS
The first and biggest reason to bullet journal is organization, of course. You can create whatever organization tool you need at the moment. Whether it’s a grocery list, a detailed budget, a planner, a project planner, or just a journal. My favorite thing about a bullet journal is that it’s super versatile.
BULLET JOURNALS ARE MEMORY KEEPERS
Memories! I have to list this one nice and early because it’s so near and dear to my heart.I already am looking back fondly on the things I wrote a year ago because so much has transpired. My daughter has obviously changed a lot in the last year but hello, COVID. The “old normal” is still so nice to see and reminisce on, and I’m glad I took photos and wrote my little notes about random things that happened day-to-day.
Read On: Documenting Quarantine & How to Journal the Hard Stuff
SAFE EXPRESSION IN YOUR BULLET JOURNAL
It’s cathartic to get your feelings and frustrations out, even if they aren’t directed at what’s making you feel that way. I can’t even guess how many times I have taken to my journal when I am angry or scared, and felt better, just because I was able to put my thoughts together on the page. Sometimes you can’t yell at people, but you can always write it out.
BULLET JOURNALS CAN PROVIDE CREATIVE SPACE
Creative space was the reason I first became interested in a bullet journal. As I read the book I realized that that’s not at all what the system is about, but it still allowed for creative freedom. I couldn’t stop myself from collaging if I wanted to, but thanks to my bujo I don’t have to. I get to glue down all sorts of random scrap papers anytime I want.I’ve also noticed that this has helped me keep my scrapbooks less junky, too. I don’t mind some bulk in it but I get all my clutter-y decorating out in my bullet journal, so I no longer need to in my scrapbook! It’s easier for other’s to digest the scrapbook when there’s more of a formula so this has been a personal added bonus.
TACKLING PERFECTIONISM
I’m one of those people who sees a fresh new blank page and can see both a beautiful masterpiece and a horrible disaster waiting to happen simultaneously. The perfectionist in me just doesn’t want to “mess up” a new journal or set of pages, and bullet journaling has helped me get out of that madness. Slowly (I’m still working on it) I am becoming much less wary these days. You can always turn the page and start anew, and there’s something poetic and perfect in that.
FINDING USES FOR MORE NOTEBOOKS
Using up all those journals is also a big incentive for me. This is probably my favorite reason to bullet journal. Too many of us are hoarding notebooks and notepads just waiting for some special reason to use them. Since I started my bujo I’ve started a notebook of notes to my daughter (made this one myself), a recipe journal, a book of love notes, and a book full of quotes and affirmations I love. Yes, I had that many notebooks just sitting either empty or with only a few used pages. But now, they are all in use!
BULLET JOURNALS TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
I read somewhere that “you don’t remember what you’ve forgotten” and it’s so so so so true. Much like “you don’t know what you don’t know”, bullet journaling makes you realize just how much can transpire in one day… and how far you may have come.
