Yesterday, I shared about my brand new bullet journal on Periscope. I love it! I seem to forget 50% of what I want to scope when I am scoping, so I am bringing you some more details here. (If you want to watch a replay of the scope, scroll down!)
NOTE: The links below are Amazon Affiliate links for your convenience, but I may receive compensation if you click through and purchase one of the products. *
I heard about this bullet journal in a scope by Ashely Schroeder (@schroedersshenan), and I absolutely fell in love with the idea. I created my own journal using a Moleskine notebook and my favorite Staedtler pens (affiliate links below).
Why do I love this journal so much?
1. Well, it could be because the journal is new, but I was on fire yesterday! I got so much done, even though I was with students for the majority of the day. (Mondays are my crazy day.) I knew what tasks I needed to prioritize, and I was able to use every precious minute to get things done. I used a variety of systems before starting this journal (e.g., Google Docs, notepads, fancy planners, etc.), but I love that I have a place to put things that I need to do NOW, as well as a place to put things I might want to do later.
2. I love that I have room to include “me stuff” (goals, inspirational quotes, book lists, thoughts/ideas, etc.). These things make this journal much more than just a to-do list. I also hope that having these things written out will help me remember my goals and help keep me accountable throughout the year.
3. Along those lines, I love that this journal combines my goals/plans/ideas with what I am actually doing on a day-to-day basis. I think it’ll help keep me focused on the important things.
4. I was able to add in little calendar templates from Moleskine.com. Check them out here. This makes it really easy for me to keep track of IEP/evaluation due dates and other big, important things (like days off of school?!).
5. There is so much space. If I need to, I can use a whole page for one day’s to-do list.
6. I also enjoyed customizing the journal by creating my own “stickers” using mailing labels.
7. I’ve had Moleskine notebooks in the past, and they are pretty durable. This guy is jam packed with content but fits easily in my bag.
8. My Moleskine also has a built in bookmark . This makes it super easy for me to open up to my “most used” page.
9. It’s not that expensive! I got my journal on Amazon for $12. I saw a similar one at Target for $20. I bet you could find a $1 notebook and make this happen, too.
Some possible cons?
1. It does take a little bit of time to set up. I took some time to set up the journal, draw in my own “titles,” etc.
2. It also sounds like a lot of people number their pages, so that they can find everything easily. This would take even more time. I decided to create my own “tabs” using stickers, which was a lot easier for me.
3. I couldn’t make this work to organize my whole life. I use Todoist on my laptop/phone to keep track of chores. I have recurring reminders set up (e.g., wash sheets every week, change water filters every two months). It is way more efficient for me to have Todoist remember these kinds of things; plus, I don’t have to keep writing down the same tasks.
If you’re looking for more ideas on how to set up your own bullet journal, check out bulletjournal.com and Pinterest for more ideas. I would love to hear how you set up your bullet journal and/or if you have a system that you just love.
I use a planner now and it’s a life saver.
I’m just now jumping on the bullet journal train and was so happy to find your post/video. It really simplified it for me especially from an SLP perspective. I know you posted this like 2 years ago so I’m just curious how you ended up liking bullet journaling? Did you stick with it or find something better to keep you organized? Thanks so much!!
That’s so good to hear, Chelsea!
I didn’t end up sticking with it for more than a year. I use Asana (digital tool) and a Panda Planner now! 😀