How to start a bullet journal...and why I think you should!!

Before I begin, if you have any interest at all in starting a bullet journal please go to www.bulletjournal.com. Ryder Caroll is the amazing man who created and shared the Bullet Journal. Everything you need to know is there!! There is an amazing video that explains it in detail! It's where I started - its were you should too!! 

So...what is a bullet journal? Well... a bullet journal can be many things. A planner. A diary. A sketchbook. A bullet journal is anything you need it to be. When I started my bullet journal I needed it to be a place where I wasn't judged and I could be myself. I needed a place to call mine. I think the thought of it can sound overwhelming to many people. Its unlike any other planner system out there. The pages are blank so everything comes from your mind. But that is a reason why it works so well. It can be as simple as you want or it can be as artsy as you want. Once you open that notebook it's all what you make of it.

You'll need some supplies before you get started. All you need is a notebook (any will do, but I am quite found of the LT1917 Dotted Grid) and a pen (again, any will do but I prefer Tombow Mono Drawing pen in 03). I think that a reason as to why some get overwhelmed is because they see all the beautiful spreads on Instagram and Pinterest and they think theirs will never look that way. I had the same thoughts! But it really doesn't need to be fancy. Really - that is all you need is a notebook and a pen.

First things first, after you get your supplies... learn the 'lingo'. A Key will help you keep track of any tasks. I use a very simple key. A Future Log is a glimpse into the oncoming months. Any birthdays, appointments or anything else you need to know can be put here for you to see. A Monthly Log is the current month laid out with the tasks from the future log migrated there.

Weekly Logs can be added to see a bigger view of the week and Daily Logs start from there. It is recommend that you go day by day BUT you can do whatever you need to do to plan your days. My Dailies can be simple and plain - or they can have pops of color and lettering. I tend to mix it up. No week is ever the same! Below is one of my favorite spreads where I used brush pens to create a water color effect for the background.

This is actually in my friends Bullet Journal - but I love it so much!

Collections - in my opinion - is one of things that makes the bullet journal amazing. This is a notebook that is supposed to be for everything! Those little scrap pieces of paper - toss them and put everything here. I use collections to help me with my budget, to have record of funny things my kids say, notes for my calling, grocery shopping - I even used it to help me plan this blog post! I also doodle and hand letter- I make it mine. My journal is a place for me to be me! Some pages are beautiful - some are a complete mess. But that's what I love about! I love to look back and see what I've created.

Which brings me to - why I personally think YOU need to start a bullet journal. A bullet journal can be an extremely personal thing. In Relief Society we had a night were we spoke about finding Joy in our lives - the entire time my bullet journal was on my lap and I kept thinking as to how happy I was to come across this creation. If I am having a bad day or an anxiety moment - my bullet journal (along with my scriptures) helps me in so many ways. It brings me JOY. It can calm me down in any given moment - even if I'm just crossing off my habit tracker. If you have the same 'problems' I have with anxiety or depression and need an outlet, your own space - a journal is the 'cure'. Don't delay in starting - don't get overwhelmed by all the artsy spreads, all the beautiful handwriting. This isn't for THEM its for YOU. It's a place where you will not be judged. It's YOURS. Plan, Organize...CREATE. Finding something in you that you didn't even know was there.

My hope is to inspire you, in any way. Find that JOY in anyway shape or form!

Love - Stefanie