Welcome!
My name is Mariana and I learned about the Bullet Journal system by accident while reading an article on the Internet. I got curious and I ended up on Ryder Caroll's Bullet Journal web site. At the time, I was struggling to juggle a full-time job and my personal life. I had always pride myself in having this very reliable memory. Well, that was out the window the day when I went back to work full-time after having my daughter. Soon after I was getting anxious, exhausted, and I could hardly keep track of anything. The only one who didn't suffer during that time was my daughter. I made sure she had everything she needed at all times. She became my priority. Unfortunately, all else fell through the cracks. I would forget the simplest of things, things that I would have otherwise never forgotten before.
When I found about bullet journalling, the system clicked with me right away. I work as a project manager and I know how to plan and coordinate with my eyes closed. However, with growing responsibilities at work and then a growing child at home, as well as an aging parent I provide for, I started to run out of ideas on how to keep track of everything I needed to do in and out of the office. I have also been in the process of starting a new business for a while and, of course, ideas would pop up at the worst of times, like when changing a diaper. If I wouldn't or couldn't write it down right away, then I would completely forget. Evernote became my tool of choice for jotting those ideas down. I had been using it for many years prior to having my daughter. It had become the number one tool for me to take care of many things, as well as my Google calendar on my phone. The problem with these tools: I couldn't reach for those when changing a diaper. Besides, I am a visual person and brains usually don't run out of battery in the worst possible moment. Either way, I can remember things much better after writing them down instead of having to log in to a computer and check some page that doesn't fit completely on my screen. (Gosh! Drives me nuts when I have to scroll and scroll to see something.)
The Bullet Journal system clicked with me because of that very reason: My being a very visual person. You should see my office at work: There is a white board, sticky notes, magnets, flow charts, dashboards, many markers, and the list goes on. I use different systems for tracking different projects. It all depends on their complexity. I use several online tools that are readily available at work for people with job positions like mine. However, as beautiful and efficient as those tools can be, they are only useful when you are in front of a computer. I think much better and I'm a lot more creative when I'm sitting at a desk with paper, pencil, and something to drink (for most part warm tea with a bit of milk or a glass of Diet 7-Up.)
The week I found about the Bullet Journal, I was buried in a handful of projects. Reading Ryder's web site, a big bulb turned on. I had always been a lot better at getting things done when I could track on paper. I was already doing many of the things that Ryder suggests on his web site; however, his framework seemed much better tuned. I decided to give it a try, I grabbed a composition notebook from the stationary cabinet at work, a couple of extra pens, and got to it right away. Several months later, I'm still using composition notebooks for my job bullet journal because that's all I need. For my personal bullet journal that I also started that very same day, I first tried a Piccadilly notebook that was at a discounted price at a nearby store. After a couple of months of using it, it proved to be too big to be carried around and I was going crazy trying to draw vertical straight lines on its pages. That's when I decided to get my hands on a Leuchtturm1917. I'm still using my Piccadilly (lots of unused pages in there,) but I use it mainly to jot down ideas for spreads and the likes.
At this time, I have four Bullet Journals: The one for my job (regular composition notebook,) the one where I get really "dirty" and "gritty" with ideas and jotting things down on the fly (the Piccadilly,) one for the business I one day hope to start (Leuchtturm1917 squared grid,) and the nice one that has my future log and monthly trackers, more than anything else (Leuchtturm1917 dot grid.) For my daily log, I'm still using the Piccadilly because it just didn't make sense to me to be going back and forth with some things between two notebooks. Next month, the dailies are going to find a new home for good in my Leuchtturm1917 (dot grid.) (Update: I completely switched to the L1917 and have not used the Piccadilly for other than sketching ideas on new layouts.)
When I found about bullet journalling, the system clicked with me right away. I work as a project manager and I know how to plan and coordinate with my eyes closed. However, with growing responsibilities at work and then a growing child at home, as well as an aging parent I provide for, I started to run out of ideas on how to keep track of everything I needed to do in and out of the office. I have also been in the process of starting a new business for a while and, of course, ideas would pop up at the worst of times, like when changing a diaper. If I wouldn't or couldn't write it down right away, then I would completely forget. Evernote became my tool of choice for jotting those ideas down. I had been using it for many years prior to having my daughter. It had become the number one tool for me to take care of many things, as well as my Google calendar on my phone. The problem with these tools: I couldn't reach for those when changing a diaper. Besides, I am a visual person and brains usually don't run out of battery in the worst possible moment. Either way, I can remember things much better after writing them down instead of having to log in to a computer and check some page that doesn't fit completely on my screen. (Gosh! Drives me nuts when I have to scroll and scroll to see something.)
The Bullet Journal system clicked with me because of that very reason: My being a very visual person. You should see my office at work: There is a white board, sticky notes, magnets, flow charts, dashboards, many markers, and the list goes on. I use different systems for tracking different projects. It all depends on their complexity. I use several online tools that are readily available at work for people with job positions like mine. However, as beautiful and efficient as those tools can be, they are only useful when you are in front of a computer. I think much better and I'm a lot more creative when I'm sitting at a desk with paper, pencil, and something to drink (for most part warm tea with a bit of milk or a glass of Diet 7-Up.)
The week I found about the Bullet Journal, I was buried in a handful of projects. Reading Ryder's web site, a big bulb turned on. I had always been a lot better at getting things done when I could track on paper. I was already doing many of the things that Ryder suggests on his web site; however, his framework seemed much better tuned. I decided to give it a try, I grabbed a composition notebook from the stationary cabinet at work, a couple of extra pens, and got to it right away. Several months later, I'm still using composition notebooks for my job bullet journal because that's all I need. For my personal bullet journal that I also started that very same day, I first tried a Piccadilly notebook that was at a discounted price at a nearby store. After a couple of months of using it, it proved to be too big to be carried around and I was going crazy trying to draw vertical straight lines on its pages. That's when I decided to get my hands on a Leuchtturm1917. I'm still using my Piccadilly (lots of unused pages in there,) but I use it mainly to jot down ideas for spreads and the likes.
At this time, I have four Bullet Journals: The one for my job (regular composition notebook,) the one where I get really "dirty" and "gritty" with ideas and jotting things down on the fly (the Piccadilly,) one for the business I one day hope to start (Leuchtturm1917 squared grid,) and the nice one that has my future log and monthly trackers, more than anything else (Leuchtturm1917 dot grid.) For my daily log, I'm still using the Piccadilly because it just didn't make sense to me to be going back and forth with some things between two notebooks. Next month, the dailies are going to find a new home for good in my Leuchtturm1917 (dot grid.) (Update: I completely switched to the L1917 and have not used the Piccadilly for other than sketching ideas on new layouts.)
What is Bullet Journaling anyway?
I'm not going to cover in here the basics for bullet journalling. I'm going to point you to incredible web sites that are out there that cover all of that in depth. I would advise you to first start with Ryder's web site. Ryder is the creator of the Bullet Journal system. Start there. Watch the introductory video. If you think the Bullet Journal is for you after watching the video, then explore the rest of his web site to learn more about the system.
If you think you need more ideas than just the ones that Ryder shares, I would then advise you to visit Tiny Ray of Sunshine. The lady behind that fabulous site is Kim. She always has incredible, new creative ideas on what you can do or try with a bullet journal. As she states on her web site, she likes change and she tries different layouts, hacks, and ideas all the time. She has also published articles on Ryder's web site. So go ahead and check her site, too!
Finally, if you are a little more on the creative side, you will definitely want to check out Boho Berry. Kara is a very creative lady. Her pages are full of colour and ideas, as well. I'm sure you will find inspiration on her site, too.
(Update: I fell in love with Christina's site as soon as I stumbled upon it! She likes colouring her pages and uses drawings, too. And you may also want to check Megan's Page Flutter. She's a writer out in Oklahoma and I have enjoyed many of her articles tremendously. She has some very practical ideas for some people like me who have very extended collections, mostly at work.)
Now, don't be overwhelmed by what is out there in Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, and so many other places. Many people bullet journal. However, the key thing to remember is that it is a flexible system and what works for someone, may not necessarily work for you. That is what happened to me. After I had started to use a bullet journal, I realized that some of the original concepts or formats, such as the monthly log, didn't work for me. Therefore, it didn't take long for me to be all over those web sites, trying to get ideas and see what other people were doing. Eventually, if you are not careful, you will get carried away, overwhelmed, or both, and you will want to abandon the system since you probably started to bullet journal because you needed a more efficient and faster way to organize your life. I don't know about you, but with a toddler, a full-time job, a husband, and a parent I'm responsible for, I do not have the time to draw, paint, and create doodles. I'm not saying that is a waste of time. In fact, I'm a very creative person myself and I still draw quite a bit, especially during boring meetings at work or when I have something that requires thorough analysis. My mind can work better at resolving problems when I pick up a notepad and a pen or pencil. I'm just saying that the original idea was to keep it simple and minimalist.
What I'm trying to say is that, in my particular case, I need to get to the point, jot down this or that, and move on to the next thing requiring my attention. Yes, while I like adding colour and some drawings here and there to my pages to make them more interesting and motivating to me, I do not spend hours on it. I can't. I don't have that luxury. If you are starting to feel that you are spending too much time decorating your bullet journal and that you are feeling you are not accomplishing much or you are getting frustrated and confused, then it might be time to simplify and get back to basics. After all, the bullet journal system is supposed to help us live more meaningful lives, not to complicate it, right?
If you think you need more ideas than just the ones that Ryder shares, I would then advise you to visit Tiny Ray of Sunshine. The lady behind that fabulous site is Kim. She always has incredible, new creative ideas on what you can do or try with a bullet journal. As she states on her web site, she likes change and she tries different layouts, hacks, and ideas all the time. She has also published articles on Ryder's web site. So go ahead and check her site, too!
Finally, if you are a little more on the creative side, you will definitely want to check out Boho Berry. Kara is a very creative lady. Her pages are full of colour and ideas, as well. I'm sure you will find inspiration on her site, too.
(Update: I fell in love with Christina's site as soon as I stumbled upon it! She likes colouring her pages and uses drawings, too. And you may also want to check Megan's Page Flutter. She's a writer out in Oklahoma and I have enjoyed many of her articles tremendously. She has some very practical ideas for some people like me who have very extended collections, mostly at work.)
Now, don't be overwhelmed by what is out there in Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, and so many other places. Many people bullet journal. However, the key thing to remember is that it is a flexible system and what works for someone, may not necessarily work for you. That is what happened to me. After I had started to use a bullet journal, I realized that some of the original concepts or formats, such as the monthly log, didn't work for me. Therefore, it didn't take long for me to be all over those web sites, trying to get ideas and see what other people were doing. Eventually, if you are not careful, you will get carried away, overwhelmed, or both, and you will want to abandon the system since you probably started to bullet journal because you needed a more efficient and faster way to organize your life. I don't know about you, but with a toddler, a full-time job, a husband, and a parent I'm responsible for, I do not have the time to draw, paint, and create doodles. I'm not saying that is a waste of time. In fact, I'm a very creative person myself and I still draw quite a bit, especially during boring meetings at work or when I have something that requires thorough analysis. My mind can work better at resolving problems when I pick up a notepad and a pen or pencil. I'm just saying that the original idea was to keep it simple and minimalist.
What I'm trying to say is that, in my particular case, I need to get to the point, jot down this or that, and move on to the next thing requiring my attention. Yes, while I like adding colour and some drawings here and there to my pages to make them more interesting and motivating to me, I do not spend hours on it. I can't. I don't have that luxury. If you are starting to feel that you are spending too much time decorating your bullet journal and that you are feeling you are not accomplishing much or you are getting frustrated and confused, then it might be time to simplify and get back to basics. After all, the bullet journal system is supposed to help us live more meaningful lives, not to complicate it, right?
Why BuJo Mom?
While learning more about the Bullet Journal, I realized that had I found it earlier and when my daughter was a newborn (or even while being pregnant!), it would have made my life so much easier.
After my baby was born, I became very overwhelmed with breastfeeding, bottle feeding, diaper changing, keeping track of my baby's nature calls, sleep patterns, house chores, etc., not counting my own. I was using a couple of phone apps and some printable logs, too. But I was always misplacing the logs, my phone, or both, especially at the very beginning after delivering when I was still confined to a bed. I wish I had known about this system back then. It would have made my life a lot simpler and easier.
I wanted to share all the ideas and systems I had back then, but under the framework of Bullet Journaling. My baby is now a toddler that would put the Energizer Bunny to shame. I'm still working full time. I have a side business. I'm still responsible for all the things I was responsible for back then and even more. My hope with this blog is to give other moms out there ideas that I hope will make them feel more in control of their lives, something that many of us do not feel when a new bundle of joy comes into our lives and we are still expected to be professionals, educators, etc. While I was feeling out of this world in happiness because this new baby was in my life, I was also feeling out of control, like my life was not my life anymore. I do not want other women and moms to feel the way I did. If I can ease any uneasiness and feelings of losing control or that chaos is now the new boss of your life, if I can help you avoid those feelings or at least minimize them, then my mission is being accomplished.
I hope that you can find something, anything, useful in these blog pages.
Happy Bullet Journaling!
After my baby was born, I became very overwhelmed with breastfeeding, bottle feeding, diaper changing, keeping track of my baby's nature calls, sleep patterns, house chores, etc., not counting my own. I was using a couple of phone apps and some printable logs, too. But I was always misplacing the logs, my phone, or both, especially at the very beginning after delivering when I was still confined to a bed. I wish I had known about this system back then. It would have made my life a lot simpler and easier.
I wanted to share all the ideas and systems I had back then, but under the framework of Bullet Journaling. My baby is now a toddler that would put the Energizer Bunny to shame. I'm still working full time. I have a side business. I'm still responsible for all the things I was responsible for back then and even more. My hope with this blog is to give other moms out there ideas that I hope will make them feel more in control of their lives, something that many of us do not feel when a new bundle of joy comes into our lives and we are still expected to be professionals, educators, etc. While I was feeling out of this world in happiness because this new baby was in my life, I was also feeling out of control, like my life was not my life anymore. I do not want other women and moms to feel the way I did. If I can ease any uneasiness and feelings of losing control or that chaos is now the new boss of your life, if I can help you avoid those feelings or at least minimize them, then my mission is being accomplished.
I hope that you can find something, anything, useful in these blog pages.
Happy Bullet Journaling!