Bullet Journal
I’ve always thought of investments in the classical sense; stocks, bonds, real estate, business, etc. But time is my greatest limitation. Which makes me think I need to broaden my definition of investments. Spending, investing, managing my time has become more important than I thought it would be at this point in my life.
The main reason I retired early was because my job had left me so time starved. Most of my waking hours were committed. I imagined the luxury of long stretches of time to do whatever I wanted….or nothing at all. What I eventually discovered was how much I needed structure. But I would be the one imposing it……..my agenda.
Without structure it was easy for me to waste a ton of time accomplishing nothing. The point of retiring early was for me to own my time to spend on the things that I wanted. Complete ownership also means complete responsibility. If I wasn’t happy with how the day went, well that was on me.
Starting from a blank slate was both exciting and intimidating. Gone were the old excuses. I had time. What I needed was a system that worked for how I wanted to work now. This was where the struggle started. All my life I had the structure imposed on me by either parents, school or work. Now I had to fill that blank slate. Who would have thought this would be so hard?
Then I discovered the Bullet Journal. It wasn’t love at first sight. In fact when I first saw it, I dismissed it as something that wouldn’t be that effective for me. But I have been converted. After using it for about a year and a half, I can’t imagine life without it.
For less than a $20 investment, I have a tool that has returned multiple times that amount in both time and money.
So what is a Bullet Journal, and why do I love it so much?
The Bullet Journal is a system developed by Ryder Carrol. Affectionatly referred to a a bujo for short. He describes it as where productivity and mindfulness meet. I think of it as my blank slate that becomes my Command Central. You can watch him explain the basic system in the video.
Here is why I love it!
It Cost So Little to Start
All you need is a pen and a notebook. A dot grid notebook is best. I have used both the Moleskine and the Leuchttrum 1917. You could also buy an official one from Ryder Carrol’s website. If you spend time on Pinterest or Instagram looking at other people’s bujos, you might get the idea that you need all kinds of other stuff; fancy pens, stickers, artistic skill, etc. But all of that is a distraction, especially in the beginning when you are learning how to use the system. Starting with his basics, I found, was the best way.
It Puts Order To My Chaos
I have a lot going on. I’m an investor, business owner, landlord, wife, mom, grandmother……the list goes on. With each of these roles, I have things I want to accomplish, things to improve, experiences to create, milestones to mark, things to remember, ideas to work through, meetings to document…….essentially anything I need to get out of my head and on to paper has a place in my bujo.
It’s More Than A Calendar And To Do List
If all I needed to do was show up for appointments on time and finish my to do list I would probably choose a digital solution. In fact I have tried several. When I found the Bullet Journal, I realized what was missing from the typical productivity tools……..mindfulness. This is a cliche word but covers the idea that getting the right things done is better than lots of things that don’t really matter. The process of writing it in a physical notebook helps you reflect. If you find yourself carrying over a task day after day, it will make you think about why you aren’t doing it. That is what I initially missed when I first saw the system. It seemed inefficient but now I see how useful it is.
I Can Compare My Progress To The Past Me
Progress creates happiness. We all want to feel like we are moving forward. Where I struggle is comparing my progress to where I think I should be or where someone else is. Tracking the past helps me see the progress I’ve made and set reasonable expectations for my future progress.
Documentation of Everything Important
Business meeting notes, goals, ideas we might want to follow up on later, events we want to remember, decisions on actions we need to take, financial calculations can all have their place in the bujo. The journaling concept is the most important part of my bujo. I want to be able to look back, remember and learn from past actions.
It’s An Adaptable System
Ryder’s format is a good starting point. But the real magic is that you can create whatever you need. Tons of people have made their own adaptation to his work. Some see it as an opportunity for creative expression. Their book is a work of art. Others use it to track habits or lists. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination. You don’t have to try to fit your life into a pre-made system. And if you try something that doesn’t work, you can change it tomorrow. This works well for my constantly changing life.
Managing time is as important as managing money. They are two sides to the same coin. The Bullet Journal has helped me stop trying to get everything done so I can focus on getting the most important things done. It’s still a work in progress………
What about you? Have you tried the Bullet Journal? What tips do you have to make it work for you?
Note: Some links may be affiliate links. Which means if you click on these links and buy the product, I will get a small payment at no additional cost to you.
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