Bullet Journaling with the Nourished Planner

There are a million and one ways to plan, organize and create structure in your life. None of them are necessarily right or wrong, better or best, it’s just mere preference. Although we know from experience that a thousand sticky notes floating around your work space and home is probably not the most efficient of systems. That’s why we bring you one more technique, bullet journaling.

The goal is not to be perfect but to be you. To work in flow and harmony with your personality, your dreams, desires and all the ways in which you tick. Today, we want to introduce you to one more way you could be planning your day, your life and how to use it with the Nourished Planner.

It’s called bullet journaling. A bullet journal, as stated by the founder of bullet journaling, Ryder Carroll, is the cross between a planner, diary, notebook and to-do list. With the overall goal of teaching you to do more with less. The idea with bullet journaling is to use it as a method of note-taking that uses bullet points as the core structure. Ultimately it becomes a beautiful picture of the layout of your life, built in a way that fits you and your needs.

If you’re looking to try out bullet journaling this is what you need to know to get started. First up is keep it simple. The bullet journaling system uses a lot of fancy language that seems to make everything so confusing, but stick with me, this it the only thing you need to know:

1. Symbols: The clear known symbols that will help you to know how important the task is, if it is an event or appointment. Basically the quick way to note without writing words.
2. Rapid Logging: This is using the above symbols as you create lists of events, to-do’s, appointments, etc.
3. Logging: This can be done through tables and charts that help you to let what is happening in your mind out into one organized space.

The main idea behind bullet journaling is that you jot down quick notes instead of writing full sentences. This is also known as rapid logging where you use symbols with a few words to quickly get across what needs to get done. The method of working to keep the complex simple.

As you complete the task, go to the event, achieve a goal you can cross it out with an “x” to symbolize those events that are finished. This leaves them visible helping you to see what you’ve achieved.

The idea of the bullet journal is that once you understand the basic symbols and approach, you can use it to record and organize any task, thought, idea or project monthly, at home, personally at work or even school. It lays it all out in one space for you to come back to daily helping you to meet all that you’ve set out to do.

Choosing symbols could be the most important task in using bullet journaling. Once you create specific symbols, make sure you write them out in a log so you don’t remember and can continue adding symbols as they come up. Some ideas to get you started:
• period {.} = to-do
• circle {o} = event
• cross {x} = complete
• less than sign {<} = scheduled
• dash {-} = note
• greater than sign {>} = move to later

Your symbols can be different and vary. Maybe you would prefer to draw boxes you can put a check mark in or color code tasks and events. The point is not using the “right” symbols but creating ones that work efficiently for you. Remember these are used in place of words so keep it clean and easy.

We know bullet journaling can be just another thing to add more time to your day, but we promise it is supposed to be anything but that. In fact, bullet journaling should be used as a way to save time. The answer to get more done in less time, keep your mind organized on paper and reach more goals.

There is definitely no denying that it can be overwhelming when you initially start. So take it slow, try your basic weekly tasks with the appropriate symbols and slowly add charts and boxes for other goals, habits, and projects you are working to achieve.

Don’t get overrun with mistakes {made in pen} it happens to all of us. Just roll with it, stick to it and find a rhythm to help you de-stress, become more motivated and creative with your thoughts.

Bullet Journaling is certainly not for everyone, but it is highly effective and freeing for others. The good news, the complexity or commitment to journaling is only yours to know. Especially when using the Nourished Planner to help you lay out the basics of each week and day and then allowing you to use the white space to complete the rest of your bullet journaling needs.

While we personally love bullet journaling, we don’t love to draw out monthly, weekly and daily spreads. That is why we have created a planner with the basics and left plenty of white space to make it what you want.

From decorations, to simple charts helping you to map out tasks on your next project. Use the weekly spread to use rapid logging to map out your week and the lined white spaces in the back to keep track of budgets, projects, and habits.

Basically we want you to make it yours. To be fully you when you plan with the starting point to hold you accountable and keep you on task. There is no right or wrong way to schedule life. That is a choice and one we hope you enjoy!

Try out bullet journaling for yourself using our free weekly planning page. Print it out, start rapid logging and even add a chart or two wo manage your next work project.

Make sure you take a picture of how you’re using the Nourished Planner to schedule life and/or bullet journal and tag us at #nourishedplanner. We can’t see how this simple step can allow you to get more done in less time!