Discussion Forum > Bullet Journal --- had to laugh
Very interesting. You're right, I have been using something very similar recently.
It spawned out of my attempts to revive Superfocus. I have been postponing posting its description as I thought it wouldn't be interesting.
However, the ad hoc 'system' that I have been using is fully digital. But does away with complexity. (Love hate relationship carrying around a notebook).
I will post it anyways later today when I have a bit of time. It might be interesting after all.
It spawned out of my attempts to revive Superfocus. I have been postponing posting its description as I thought it wouldn't be interesting.
However, the ad hoc 'system' that I have been using is fully digital. But does away with complexity. (Love hate relationship carrying around a notebook).
I will post it anyways later today when I have a bit of time. It might be interesting after all.
September 20, 2013 at 17:32 |
GMBW
GMBW
Unfortunately, this is so similar, that its going to seem as if I'm attempting to hash bits and pieces of the above system. Anyways, I think its different enough and great for those who like analog systems , but in reality found it tedious to fit in their life. Yet easier to manage than the complex digital systems out today.
September 20, 2013 at 17:37 |
GMBW
GMBW
Hello Cricket,
Thanks for posting this! Interesting system and really well presented! I've been playing around with a "free-form notebook" myself recently, so I may try out some of these ideas.
Thanks for posting this! Interesting system and really well presented! I've been playing around with a "free-form notebook" myself recently, so I may try out some of these ideas.
September 20, 2013 at 20:06 |
Keith
Keith
Cricket:
Thanks! I've converted a pocket journal full of miscellany to this simple indexing system.
Thanks! I've converted a pocket journal full of miscellany to this simple indexing system.
September 22, 2013 at 9:04 |
Michael B.
Michael B.
Cricket, thanks a lot. Just a remark: I cannot help myself, but I hear the irony in "I had to laugh at the way this ground-breaking new system". I must defend its author a little bit - As bullet journal has been quite often linked from many productivity webs in previous months, I looked at it several times and I liked the approach.
Its author never calls it ground-breaking system. It is simple, common-sense way how to handle tasks. And why not? My idea was: yes, and why not, why should task management systems be considered complicated "inventions", counter-intuitive, wow producing approaches? It is not rocket science. TM system is "just" a way how to write down tasks, choose them, do them. OK, everybody needs different approach, but when something is common sense, it may (by definition) mean that it is what majority (can) use.
And I have to confess that I am returning more and more to "common sense" approaches when planning my tasks. Anyway, thanks for sharing it here. It is inspirational.
Its author never calls it ground-breaking system. It is simple, common-sense way how to handle tasks. And why not? My idea was: yes, and why not, why should task management systems be considered complicated "inventions", counter-intuitive, wow producing approaches? It is not rocket science. TM system is "just" a way how to write down tasks, choose them, do them. OK, everybody needs different approach, but when something is common sense, it may (by definition) mean that it is what majority (can) use.
And I have to confess that I am returning more and more to "common sense" approaches when planning my tasks. Anyway, thanks for sharing it here. It is inspirational.
September 22, 2013 at 12:15 |
Daneb
Daneb
You're right, she doesn't claim it's "ground-breaking". I was amused to see such a professional presentation of a low-tech system, that doesn't try to sell us anything. You're also right that a system doesn't have to be high-tech to work. I've experimented with several, and always come back to a single low-tech notebook for my daily work. Simple, reliable, and can handle any type of note at any time.
September 23, 2013 at 0:24 |
Cricket
Cricket
I believe it's he not she.
September 23, 2013 at 2:34 |
Ilse
Ilse
GWMW
Please do post your digital version. I like many things about the bullet journal, but prefer to be able to back up and make notes on my phone. Thanks
Please do post your digital version. I like many things about the bullet journal, but prefer to be able to back up and make notes on my phone. Thanks
September 24, 2013 at 23:00 |
Erin
Erin
<< I believe it's he not she. >>
Yes, Ryder Carroll - a man!
Yes, Ryder Carroll - a man!
September 25, 2013 at 6:51 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
This is an exceptionally good system. It can be as complex or as simple as you would like. His video presentation is one of the best I've ever seen--clear and concise.
If you don't want to set up your Bullet Journal from scratch, you can use the Leuchtturm1917 (I ordered mine from Amazon) or the At-A-Glance Planning Notebook 80-6205 by Mead (available at Office Depot and other retailers). They both have the Index already in place. The Leuchtturm1917 has light grid dots and numbered pages and is the size of the large Moleskine. The At-A-Glance Planning Notebook has 31 numbered lines per page and is approximately 9" x 11".
I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and I love it for a lot of things, but nothing beats picking up a notebook and just seeing it all right there on paper.
If you don't want to set up your Bullet Journal from scratch, you can use the Leuchtturm1917 (I ordered mine from Amazon) or the At-A-Glance Planning Notebook 80-6205 by Mead (available at Office Depot and other retailers). They both have the Index already in place. The Leuchtturm1917 has light grid dots and numbered pages and is the size of the large Moleskine. The At-A-Glance Planning Notebook has 31 numbered lines per page and is approximately 9" x 11".
I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and I love it for a lot of things, but nothing beats picking up a notebook and just seeing it all right there on paper.
September 25, 2013 at 16:08 |
whiteswan
whiteswan
Sort of similar - Patrick Rhone's Dash-Plus system:
http://patrickrhone.com/2013/04/22/the-dash-plus-system/
http://patrickrhone.com/2013/04/22/the-dash-plus-system/
September 25, 2013 at 19:34 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
Yes, Bullet Journal is a lovely system. There are lots of them and this is one of the nicest.
But you end up bogged down in a (long) list of tasks, just like most of the other systems out there.
So how do you decide what to do now, and next? You turn to Mark Forster's systems and techniques, that's how.
But you end up bogged down in a (long) list of tasks, just like most of the other systems out there.
So how do you decide what to do now, and next? You turn to Mark Forster's systems and techniques, that's how.
September 25, 2013 at 22:49 |
Wooba
Wooba
An alternative to the Dash-Plus system:
The Circle
http://font.is/the-circle-a-simple-todo-system-to-get-more-things-done/
The Circle
http://font.is/the-circle-a-simple-todo-system-to-get-more-things-done/
September 26, 2013 at 2:26 |
Michael B.
Michael B.
Wow, I love that. A lot, actually. I've been using FV with Evernote for quite a while but this is really appealing to me. I can imagine using the tools of FV to process it.
September 26, 2013 at 18:42 |
Sarah
Sarah
I love the concept and the way the Bullet Journal is presented. It's undoubtedly a fine effort in combining note taking with tasks, something I have wrestled with for a long time...A concern for me though is having potentially seemingly unlimited tasks buried amongst potentially many pages. Also, the provision made for a calander is not satisfactory (as noted above).
I feel it might overwhelm me personally. Let's face it, it also looks like a prime time opportunity for endless tweaking (no sarcasm intended), however it would be good to hear some feedback. In all honesty I have not trialled this method so am not speaking from any hands on experience.
I feel it might overwhelm me personally. Let's face it, it also looks like a prime time opportunity for endless tweaking (no sarcasm intended), however it would be good to hear some feedback. In all honesty I have not trialled this method so am not speaking from any hands on experience.
September 26, 2013 at 19:30 |
Leon
Leon
For years, I would draw a little checkbox in the margin of my notebook, to indicate the presence of a task. Worked great!
Now I just keep one (maybe two) sheets of paper in my pocket, and assume everything is an implicit task.
If something MUST get done, I draw a couple of big circles around it.
I don't like having more than one sheet of paper, so if it gets to be more than that, I bang through the oldest sheet and complete or delegate or delete everything.
At least that's what I mostly do.
But all this is for the incidental stuff that comes up during the day. I try to spend as much time as possible on my "current initiative".
Now I just keep one (maybe two) sheets of paper in my pocket, and assume everything is an implicit task.
If something MUST get done, I draw a couple of big circles around it.
I don't like having more than one sheet of paper, so if it gets to be more than that, I bang through the oldest sheet and complete or delegate or delete everything.
At least that's what I mostly do.
But all this is for the incidental stuff that comes up during the day. I try to spend as much time as possible on my "current initiative".
September 27, 2013 at 4:18 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
What Seraphim said reminds me of Jamie Dimon's 'piece of paper' :-) , see halfway down:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=nw&pname=mm_0608_story1.html
The Bullet Journal sounds good, slick video presentation gets people interested. I wonder if long term the rewriting might be a bit of a pain.
Bullet Journal also reminds me also of Bill Westerman's 'Getting Sh*t Done':
http://blog.utilware.com/gsd
Myself for some time I've been keeping a project notebook and using it more and more, expanding it to cover related tasks, and related thoughts and ideas.
And each day I make very a simple list which gets thrown at the end of the day :D
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=nw&pname=mm_0608_story1.html
The Bullet Journal sounds good, slick video presentation gets people interested. I wonder if long term the rewriting might be a bit of a pain.
Bullet Journal also reminds me also of Bill Westerman's 'Getting Sh*t Done':
http://blog.utilware.com/gsd
Myself for some time I've been keeping a project notebook and using it more and more, expanding it to cover related tasks, and related thoughts and ideas.
And each day I make very a simple list which gets thrown at the end of the day :D
September 29, 2013 at 12:47 |
smileypete
smileypete
I am vindicated! LOL
September 29, 2013 at 19:41 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
It is an interesting site and yes it is like many others systems. I also am a fan of writing in one place. Like this and the circle idea at one point I used RAW. Results actions and waiting. You used an R for a new result ie goal, an A for an action you had to take and a W for an item you were waiting for from someone else.
The truth is for the last six months I have not been using any system and recently realized it is not a good thing. I have way too many pads of paper of varying sizes on my desk and in my briefcase. Enough things have slipped through the cracks that I am going to go back to writing in one place. The problem I used to battle was that I like to be able to remove notes from my notebook and being left handed I don't like spiral notebooks and legal pads get messy.
I am going to try a simple composition notebook and add an index so I can retrieve notes if I need them.
Gerry
The truth is for the last six months I have not been using any system and recently realized it is not a good thing. I have way too many pads of paper of varying sizes on my desk and in my briefcase. Enough things have slipped through the cracks that I am going to go back to writing in one place. The problem I used to battle was that I like to be able to remove notes from my notebook and being left handed I don't like spiral notebooks and legal pads get messy.
I am going to try a simple composition notebook and add an index so I can retrieve notes if I need them.
Gerry
October 8, 2013 at 19:04 |
Gerry
Gerry
As I posted a year ago exactly, this is a terrific system and is becoming quite well known: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1562027630/bullet-journal-journaling-at-the-speed-of-life
September 25, 2014 at 0:42 |
whiteswan
whiteswan
I tried this system out for a bit when this thread was started last year, but I found I couldn't make it work at all. I just ended up with a huge list of tasks with a lot of non-tasks mixed in. This didn't seem to be any more helpful than the systems I was already using, so I abandoned it.
Maybe it just didn't fit my style. It sounds as if a lot of people do find it useful.
Maybe it just didn't fit my style. It sounds as if a lot of people do find it useful.
September 25, 2014 at 9:24 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
Many years ago (about 1990 to 2003) I used a system very similar to that bullet journal.
It was feasible as long as I wasn't assign too many tasks at work. In 2003 I ended up with several spreads of tasks per day. I found I my bullet-journal-type system to be too confusing, esp. the indexing. Got overwhelmed and started using GTD in 2003 (which I gave up in 2009).
If you don't add many tasks into your journal (like in the video), I think this bullet Journal will work.
It was feasible as long as I wasn't assign too many tasks at work. In 2003 I ended up with several spreads of tasks per day. I found I my bullet-journal-type system to be too confusing, esp. the indexing. Got overwhelmed and started using GTD in 2003 (which I gave up in 2009).
If you don't add many tasks into your journal (like in the video), I think this bullet Journal will work.
September 25, 2014 at 13:22 |
Rainer
Rainer
My system varies, but one of the early warning signs that I'm about to drop too many balls is when I start using loose paper rather than my Everything Books. (I have two. One for my purse, one for my desk.) (Either I feel overwhelmed and don't want to look at the Everything Book, or I'm over-confident. Either way, a warning sign.)
(Much as I love EverNote for archiving, pen and paper are still more reassuring for note-taking.)
Loose paper or a separate book works fine if I know I'll always have it when needed. Notes from my voice lessons live in a book in my lesson bag. Programming notes live in a file by my computer. However, if the right place isn't handy, the Everything Book works fine.
If the page looks like a schedule or todo list, then that's what it is. Each line is an action item. No need for special marks. Cross out when done. Dot on the left during triage.
Otherwise, action items get a circle on the left, and items I want to archive get a box drawn around them. Stroke through page when I can tear it out (once the other side is done). Tear corner when no action items but an item to archive might be lurking. (Yeah, dual system for archive. Box means I thought of it then. Corner is the final pass.)
I still struggle with "do at meeting" vs "do at home". Theoretically, a square box means do at the meeting, either as part of the formal meeting or during refreshments, but in the moment I often put a circle. I tried circle on one side for "at meeting" and the other for "at home", but kept putting them on the left.
Check through circle means done. (If no circle, line through text.)
"msg" and the date means I left a message, but item still open. Arrow through the circle means item copied to other list. (I don't cross it out, since crossing out feels like done.)
And my circles aren't very neat. About half an inch diameter.
++++
For indexing, haven't tried it, but looks useful:
http://blog.highfivehq.com/posts/a-little-known-hack-from-japan-to-get-your-notebook-organized
The front (or back) page is the index, one topic per line. Mark the edge of on that line on each page with the topic, so when you close the book you see the mark. Easier to see than describe.
(Much as I love EverNote for archiving, pen and paper are still more reassuring for note-taking.)
Loose paper or a separate book works fine if I know I'll always have it when needed. Notes from my voice lessons live in a book in my lesson bag. Programming notes live in a file by my computer. However, if the right place isn't handy, the Everything Book works fine.
If the page looks like a schedule or todo list, then that's what it is. Each line is an action item. No need for special marks. Cross out when done. Dot on the left during triage.
Otherwise, action items get a circle on the left, and items I want to archive get a box drawn around them. Stroke through page when I can tear it out (once the other side is done). Tear corner when no action items but an item to archive might be lurking. (Yeah, dual system for archive. Box means I thought of it then. Corner is the final pass.)
I still struggle with "do at meeting" vs "do at home". Theoretically, a square box means do at the meeting, either as part of the formal meeting or during refreshments, but in the moment I often put a circle. I tried circle on one side for "at meeting" and the other for "at home", but kept putting them on the left.
Check through circle means done. (If no circle, line through text.)
"msg" and the date means I left a message, but item still open. Arrow through the circle means item copied to other list. (I don't cross it out, since crossing out feels like done.)
And my circles aren't very neat. About half an inch diameter.
++++
For indexing, haven't tried it, but looks useful:
http://blog.highfivehq.com/posts/a-little-known-hack-from-japan-to-get-your-notebook-organized
The front (or back) page is the index, one topic per line. Mark the edge of on that line on each page with the topic, so when you close the book you see the mark. Easier to see than describe.
September 25, 2014 at 16:07 |
Cricket
Cricket
Cricket:
<< Much as I love EverNote for archiving, pen and paper are still more reassuring for note-taking. >>
I take lots of notes in handwriting, but then scan/photo them into Evernote. It will even have a good go at reading my handwriting and indexing the note contents.
<< Much as I love EverNote for archiving, pen and paper are still more reassuring for note-taking. >>
I take lots of notes in handwriting, but then scan/photo them into Evernote. It will even have a good go at reading my handwriting and indexing the note contents.
September 25, 2014 at 16:23 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
Has anyone actually watched his videos???
The newest one is at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1562027630/bullet-journal-journaling-at-the-speed-of-life and the original one is at http://bulletjournal.com/ . Watch them both.
There is a very active Bullet Journal group on Facebook.
Mark: Are you listing every single task on your daily list? That's not the way it's done. That's what the Monthly Task Lists and Master List are for. No wonder you're overwhelmed.
The hallmark of this system is the sense of control over your life it gives you, and the knowledge that, done correctly, nothing is slipping thru the cracks.
When people run into problems, it's because they start doing modifications before they've used it long enough to understand how it works.
I really hope some of you will give it a try. If you need a calendar for forward planning, simply put monthly calendars in your book. You MUST use an index and numbered pages. It's easiest to use a Leuchtturm1917.
The newest one is at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1562027630/bullet-journal-journaling-at-the-speed-of-life and the original one is at http://bulletjournal.com/ . Watch them both.
There is a very active Bullet Journal group on Facebook.
Mark: Are you listing every single task on your daily list? That's not the way it's done. That's what the Monthly Task Lists and Master List are for. No wonder you're overwhelmed.
The hallmark of this system is the sense of control over your life it gives you, and the knowledge that, done correctly, nothing is slipping thru the cracks.
When people run into problems, it's because they start doing modifications before they've used it long enough to understand how it works.
I really hope some of you will give it a try. If you need a calendar for forward planning, simply put monthly calendars in your book. You MUST use an index and numbered pages. It's easiest to use a Leuchtturm1917.
September 26, 2014 at 17:39 |
whiteswan
whiteswan
whiteswan:
<< Has anyone actually watched his videos??? >>
Yes,
<< Mark: Are you listing every single task on your daily list? That's not the way it's done. That's what the Monthly Task Lists and Master List are for. No wonder you're overwhelmed. >>
It's a year ago and I can't remember the details, but you can be quite sure I did it exactly according to the instructions in the video. I would point out that there is no reference to a Master List in either video, unless you mean what he calls "Collections" in which case it would help if you used the same terminology as he does.
<< When people run into problems, it's because they start doing modifications before they've used it long enough to understand how it works.>>
I used it without modification exactly as described in the video and quickly found it was no better for me than any one of hundreds of other methods.
<< I really hope some of you will give it a try. >>
Well, I have given it a try and found it's not for me. But I'm not trying to argue anyone else out of using it.
<< Has anyone actually watched his videos??? >>
Yes,
<< Mark: Are you listing every single task on your daily list? That's not the way it's done. That's what the Monthly Task Lists and Master List are for. No wonder you're overwhelmed. >>
It's a year ago and I can't remember the details, but you can be quite sure I did it exactly according to the instructions in the video. I would point out that there is no reference to a Master List in either video, unless you mean what he calls "Collections" in which case it would help if you used the same terminology as he does.
<< When people run into problems, it's because they start doing modifications before they've used it long enough to understand how it works.>>
I used it without modification exactly as described in the video and quickly found it was no better for me than any one of hundreds of other methods.
<< I really hope some of you will give it a try. >>
Well, I have given it a try and found it's not for me. But I'm not trying to argue anyone else out of using it.
September 27, 2014 at 7:50 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
Mark, I believe that the systems "clicks" for most people when they do their monthly migration. The author urges people to stick with it for at least a couple of months for that reason.
I also think it should be possible to run FVP on top of a bullet journal!! I'm gonna try it anyway.
I also think it should be possible to run FVP on top of a bullet journal!! I'm gonna try it anyway.
October 24, 2018 at 17:12 |
Naomi
Naomi
Naomi:
<< I believe that the systems "clicks" for most people when they do their monthly migration. The author urges people to stick with it for at least a couple of months for that reason. >>
Does that mean that you have done it yourself for a couple of months?
<< I also think it should be possible to run FVP on top of a bullet journal!! I'm gonna try it anyway. >>
Let us know how it goes.
<< I believe that the systems "clicks" for most people when they do their monthly migration. The author urges people to stick with it for at least a couple of months for that reason. >>
Does that mean that you have done it yourself for a couple of months?
<< I also think it should be possible to run FVP on top of a bullet journal!! I'm gonna try it anyway. >>
Let us know how it goes.
October 24, 2018 at 18:41 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
Hi,
I am just about to start my bullet journal. I know what the aim is but I was wondering if you need to keep the pages consistent. Can I add a random page like a quote page in the middle of my weekly or daily spreads?
TIA
Emma
I am just about to start my bullet journal. I know what the aim is but I was wondering if you need to keep the pages consistent. Can I add a random page like a quote page in the middle of my weekly or daily spreads?
TIA
Emma
October 25, 2018 at 9:47 |
Emma
Emma
I, like Mark have also tried the bullet journal, but abandoned it. I actually bought, and am still using the dotted Leuchtturm1917, which I love as a notebook.
I tried to work the system as described, but found that I was a slave to it. Whenever I have a list of things I want to get done within a time frame like a day, or a week, or a month, then I usually don't end up finishing the list, and I feel like a failure. So far, I am finding good success with simple scanning. I have found over the years that I need a system that has low overhead to upkeep, captures everything, makes everything reviewable, and allows for maximum flexibility. Still trying to figure out a couple of nuances, but so far, SS has proved way more useful for me than the bullet journal.
I also think that the bullet journal can definitely work for many other people. Just go to the internet and look at the many people that are successfully using it as evidence. Why, I saw my niece-in-law setting up a bullet journal the other day. She's 20, so I wanted to congratulate her on being wise enough at such a young age to carry a central repository of her tasks.
I tried to work the system as described, but found that I was a slave to it. Whenever I have a list of things I want to get done within a time frame like a day, or a week, or a month, then I usually don't end up finishing the list, and I feel like a failure. So far, I am finding good success with simple scanning. I have found over the years that I need a system that has low overhead to upkeep, captures everything, makes everything reviewable, and allows for maximum flexibility. Still trying to figure out a couple of nuances, but so far, SS has proved way more useful for me than the bullet journal.
I also think that the bullet journal can definitely work for many other people. Just go to the internet and look at the many people that are successfully using it as evidence. Why, I saw my niece-in-law setting up a bullet journal the other day. She's 20, so I wanted to congratulate her on being wise enough at such a young age to carry a central repository of her tasks.
October 25, 2018 at 15:27 |
Cameron
Cameron
Emma, Yes, you can add a random page in the middle of the week in a Bullet Journal. The system is very flexible in what you record. The only things in that system that are not flexible are using it often, and experimenting as needed to find what works for you. There's lots of advice on the main site to solve common problems (threading, review, indexing, planning ahead). Many of the other sites are more about art than the actual system, but it's neat to see what other people consider worth planing and/or recording, and how they do it.
Cameron, If you don't finish the list for the day, then you're planning too much. That's setting yourself up for failure. I found time recording very useful. Some things took longer than I expected, so now I allow more time for them. Some things took less time, so now I resist them less. I wasn't giving myself credit for many of my accomplishments. Also, it showed me which distractions were safe(ish) (short, rejuvenating) and which led to wasted hours. If SS is working, and you're preparing well for future events, great! (I found I kept putting off things like buy present. Mon: Lots of time left. Tues: Still lots of time. Wed: Big meeting (prep, travel, stress, exhaustion -- all predictable if I bothered to think about it). Thurs: Unexpected emergency. Fri: Ooops.)
Cameron, If you don't finish the list for the day, then you're planning too much. That's setting yourself up for failure. I found time recording very useful. Some things took longer than I expected, so now I allow more time for them. Some things took less time, so now I resist them less. I wasn't giving myself credit for many of my accomplishments. Also, it showed me which distractions were safe(ish) (short, rejuvenating) and which led to wasted hours. If SS is working, and you're preparing well for future events, great! (I found I kept putting off things like buy present. Mon: Lots of time left. Tues: Still lots of time. Wed: Big meeting (prep, travel, stress, exhaustion -- all predictable if I bothered to think about it). Thurs: Unexpected emergency. Fri: Ooops.)
November 5, 2018 at 16:54 |
Cricket
Cricket
Hi! If you want a place to chat about bullet journaling come join! http://discord.gg/BMqByUk
May 27, 2020 at 16:38 |
Megan
Megan
If you're looking for a digital bullet journal, please support us @ www.bujojournal.com
February 14, 2021 at 2:23 |
Bujojournal
Bujojournal
http://www.bulletjournal.com