Updated video here: • How to Bullet Journal bulletjournal.com Facebook: / bulletjournal Twitter: / rydercarroll The notebook featured in this video: goo.gl/0KT6BS
Thank you! Tips: Keep your Bullet Journal with you and jot things down as they happen. Before you go to bed, spend a couple minutes reviewing the day. Add things that come to mind for either that day or for the day ahead. I find it inspires motivation for the next day. Check out the website (link is in the description) for some more pointers. I hope you find the system useful.
Do you realise what a grat idea you were working on? People have made career our if it, you tube, insta, pinterest and not to forget BuJo manufacturers 😂. You are too humble in your videos and interviews ❤️❤️❤️
Dude I really love this. I feel like my life has been so unorganized in the past few years, and with procrastination taking over, tracking life feels like an impossible task. This looks so neat - I can keep everything in one journal! I'm getting started now!
I have been looking for this video! Finally I found it. I think your setup it's the best or is in the best ones. I like your site. I'll spread your system into my Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. For all we like productivity and systems.
After years of trying to start a bullet journal and getting frustrates when it didn't turned out as cute as everyone else's, finding your video was a godsent. So much easier and simpler, this method - extremely fast and straight to the point - is exactly what I needed. Thank you for that.
Watch Claudia Kai and like how to bullet journal and 5 mistakes I made with bullet journaling. She is very simple and minimalist also reminds that it’s not about looks but the functionality
I love how the originator's system is thorough & not full of embellishment. His video tutorial is under 3 minutes. There are numerous other tutorials that have appeared to share other personal versions of the method. Of the ones with the word Minimalist in the title, the shortest video I found was a little over 9 minutes. Ryder Carroll thank you for your KISS presentation. I dropped my PDA for a PAA some time ago at the daily level. I still track everything electronically, but start each day with a written list. I believe I'll add some bulletjournaling to my written approach. Thanks.
The first bullet journals I've seen were these really pretty but complicated ones that scared me off bullet journaling and then I heard about your video! It's much simpler which is a relief I'm trying out bullet journaling now
@liecheepaint One of the things I found out quickly was this: it is very easy to google bullet journal and find all the instagram/facebook/blog accounts where journalers have made these elaborate and beautiful journal pages ... and they leave the raw beginner no idea how to start, create, or maintain the finished product in the pictures. I discovered that was the missing piece of the puzzle: I was looking at the END PRODUCT, the end of the learning process. When I realized this, I no longer felt intimidated. The little voice that said "You could never do this. Your pages will never look this nice. You will never be this organized ..." (you know the voice I mean, right?). Well, it shut the h*ll up! I realized that I COULD do this, that I was free to make it my own way. And that was a very liberating thought, an incredibly wonderful feeling. Ryder Carroll has provided an easy framework, but I get to flesh it out. HOW COOL IS THAT?! Thank you, Mr. Carroll! @liecheepaint -- don't let the pretty pictures intimidate you! Just pick up a pen or pencil and put it to paper. It gets easier the more you do it. ^_^
You got it. Other than the very first month, you always cull the previous month's pages for active to-dos and add them to the next monthly calendar's task page.
How the hell did the bullet journal go from a task planning calendar do tracking your moods and habits? Bullet journals now are all about the aesthetic and take up so much time to set up with a ruler and washy tape, when orginally, bullet journals are with one pen and a few simple shapes and are a organized task planner. I like this idea so much more.
well it is a personal thing so if people want to doodle they can. If they want to track their mood, they can. There's no one way to bullet journal so chill
Moods and habits can be an important thing to people friend especially the mentally ill as it helps for therapist appointments (hi, I'm the mentally ill lmao) However, I do those AND the tasks and happenings. And keep em MINIMAL in looks and use. Just what's NEEDED. No deco, I'll use my art books for that
This technique is a gold mine. It's saved my ass time and time again. I track everything more accurately than my colleagues that don't use a bullet journal. A tip: use a cheap notebook (Mead v. Moleskine). That way youre more inclined to use it on the fly..instead of trying to keep it pretty.
@@jamietherelentless2670 Tip: you can use rubber bands to help reinforce and keep the spine together (it’s not perfect but it helps it last longer and keeps it in one piece while you finish using it up)
I leave them where they are (until the migration at the end of the month). It creates a friction to see those unchecked boxes that raises my motivation level OR makes me realize that the task just isn't really worth the effort after all. As always, do what works best for you. Try it both ways.
I have constantly failed when attempting to use a diary or planner. I even got a planner for Christmas and can't get used to the system. Then I found this. YAY! I've finally found a system that works! I LOVE the fact that you can keep track of everything in one place. Just wish I realised before I asked for a planner. Anyway thank you!
Thank you so much for simplifying the bullet journal for a newbie! I was intimidated by all the artistic displays on Pinterest and elsewhere. This video makes sense for this minimalist's heart, but also satisfies the occasional urge to just doodle! Unfortunately, I found your video after attempting to complete a bullet journal set-up. Fortunately, I used a small 3 ring binder and was able to store my elaborate attempts in the cupboard and begin again with fresh pages using the basic video method.
Honestly, I really needed this. I have been so restless the past few days because I want a reliable planner system but am unable to find one. I kept a bullet journal for 3 years but I had over-complicated it with unnecessary decoration and doodles to the point where it was no longer functional. Now, a year later, I want to get back into bullet journalling as I haven't found a better system for myself yet. This video helped me realize that a bullet journal isn't about how aesthetic it looks, irs about how functional it is. If you can make it look beautiful, great! If not, then just leave it. As long as it helps you stay organized it's good enough.
@exley01 is exactly right. The daily calendars are for all the notes that come to mind AFTER you created the list of tasks on the monthly calendar. View the monthly calendar as a starting off point, it's a way to see what you didn't do from the last month and the large items you would like to get done this month. The rest is for the daily calendars.
I can totally see this working for myself, I am very art-driven and I love seeing stuff in perfect lines and beautiful handwriting. The only problem is I'm crazy perfectionist, and I don't know if I could concentrate on my actual plans if I draw a crooked line...
Fifi González I have updates! I've been working with mine for the whole month of december... it is a lovely method (although I did give up on making it look TOO nice) but you still definitely have to motivate yourself to do any of the tasks you write down... haha
I'm crying real tears. I tried this a couple of years ago but never found a bullet journal. After buying many regular journals later, I just found the video again and I'm going to the store right now. Thank you for this ♥
I've been doing a basic bullet journal process daily for 5 years. I don't know what my life would be without this simple method. I have a big family with 7 kids, I run the family budget, I run a design agency, and write and release music. My notebook has replaced all of the apps on my phone to where I don't even need a smart phone. It is my calendar, task manager, music playlist, etc. My life would be total chaos without my bullet journal.
So this is where it all started. Thank you sir for creating the BUJO and sharing it. This will be my first one. 😊 Your video puts my mind at ease compared to other videos I've watched. Love the simplicity of it. Bless you.
I've been bullet journaling for the last year and a half and it's changed the game for me in every aspect of my life--now I have more focus and I'm able to get more done every day, including those "ugly" to-do's that are easy to put off when you're not holding yourself accountable. What's interesting is that I either misunderstood the original set up or I read a different tutorial about how to get started, because I use the month and day functions in a different way. I use the month page(s) to plan rather than to record what happened on those days. And I only write one day of tasks and meetings at a time, migrating tasks that didn't get done to the next day. It's worked really well for me. Thank you for spearheading this movement Ryder!
For the few items that will happen in future months or don't need to be addressed now, I create a 'future tasks' collection. I add all the tasks there, then add it to my index. Then, on your current month's task page, add the task 'check future task list #(insert page number)'. That way, at the end of every month, you'll be reminded to review your future task collection and see if the month ahead has any items. You can also continue adding to that collection over time so nothing gets lost.
This is quite (pre)historical! It has gone through a couple of changes since then. I'm not talking about the artsy ones, I'm talking about the new and modify system, with future logs, habit trackers, the notebook itself... just beautiful.
You can create a collection called 'future tasks'. Add that collection to your index and that way you can group all items that are not actionable anytime soon.
So I've been trying to bullet journal and it was working and then i got overwhelmed with appearance and after watching this, it simplified everything for me! Definitely recommend watching this before you start and all of the other episodes.
holy moly gaucamole this is where it all began! I have been bullet journalling for the past 2 months, and honestly i have never ever in my life been so GOOD
amazingly, ive been using this system for 10 years now and even though i still stumble across people's derivative "bullet journals," from the aesthetic to minimalist, no one else's system ever actually embodies the spirit of bullet journaling. this system, in its original form, is probably the only analog task management system effective for people who genuinely have adhd.
今日初めてバレットジャーナルというものを知りました。とっても機能的でシンプルなのに、人間性溢れる温かみがあって最高の記録であり、未来であり、生きていく目的を見つけさせてくれる。 Thank you for sharing this idea. I hope the actions you take will change my future, and the actions I take will help someone else.
Thats an actual possibility now. You can buy a Smart Notebook, which is uploading pages if you make a foto of it. Although they can only save it to your cloud and email account, you could use a webhook to tunnel that to your Google Calendar(that is if the OCR of the provided Smart Notebook app is good enough. And even then you have to write clearly. Also the webhook costs money if its supposed to be good). But its not worth it if thats the only thing you're doing with it so....
HEY GUYS... so although I'm a fan of the Moleskine and the bullet journal system... I have to say that for THIS EXACT type of journaling, I find that the Leuchtturm 1917 Agenda Squared does the job that tad much better!! WHY? Well apart from the inside pocket, elastic band etc that Moleskine also has, the Leuchtturm has pre-numbered pages, and the first 3 pages are already assigned for the Index. Another plus is that it's slightly wider than the Moleskine (I'm referring to the Large size)... therefore an added bonus as there is extra writing space. Just thought I'd share, as Ive been using this system for a few months now, using the typical Moleskine, however, today I purchased my first Leuchtturm (the one stated above).. and I have to say I prefer it. Just my two pennies worth :)
I make my calendar and task page just like Ryders. However, I prefer to do all 12 months at once so I don’t need to use a future log. I leave 1 blank page between each month for notes. There is still plenty of room in the back for any collections and daily journaling if I feel like it. It’s very simple but it’s all I need. I’m not a very artsy person but like a few stickers and highlighters for color!
I know this is a very old video, but thanks for sharing this concept. I just started this method (on my birthday :)) and use it for school and personal tasks. However, I personally made some changes. For the index, I didn't know how many pages I would need, so I placed the Index page on the back of my book. Instead of a square for the task, I used a circle. I record my progress of the task by filling a quarter of it (If I've done 25% of the task) or half of it and so on. I fill in the circle completely if I have finished the task. Anyway, that's how I modified it. Thanks again for sharing this. I am now more organised than before. :)
Most collections live independent of time (unless it is a time-based collection i.e: "December"). Just be sure to add the title of your collection to your index!
this is a very brilliant idea. after trying so many "productivity" apps, this reminds me the days in high school where I used only paper and pencils to make myself more productive. your system focuses on making things right instead of making them fancy. I'm gonna grab back my notebooks and start using them again. Thank you
The original bullet journal system is super efficient and epically minimalistic. The other bullet journal ideas on YT give me anxiety... with all the art work and extensive calendars.
Though you can preemptively add events to the monthly calendar (birthdays, dinners etc), I mostly log events on my daily pages as they happen so no check box required. Also events are usually (hopefully) more memorable than tasks so I've never felt the need to mark/check off events. I migrate events back into the monthly spread after so I can have an overview of the month. Hope that helps.
Sorry to hear about your troubles. IMHO I think people who care about you and want to spend time with you would be flattered. The act of you recording them shows that what they say matters to you. Also, I suggest looking into sketch note techniques by Mike Rohde. They can work well with Bullet Journaling, and I find drawing things helps to remember them. I'm always doodling in my books and most people don't seem to mind. It can even work as conversation starter. I hope this helps. Good luck!
I leave open tasks where they are as it can quickly become a real pain to transfer on a daily basis. If you really NEED to to get something done from a previous day, put a star signifier next to it. I usually end and being my days looking for those stars. Priorities can also be moved into that month's monthly task list so you can find it quickly without flipping around. Do what works best for you.
I've been using this method for a year now, and I have never been more productive! I've been showing it to all my friends at work and my family and they all love it as well :)
This is brilliant. Why didn't I think of this. My desk is a mess, papers everywhere and I can never find the one I'm looking for where I wrote previous notes on even though I know I didn't throw it away. It's just under other to-do lists of tasks and other odd notes from phone conversations or what-not. I can't wait to begin my first bullet journal and see if I can organize my life and time a little better.
Thank you David, I appreciate it. Good suggestions! I'm listening to the audience to learn what parts I need to elaborate/improve on for a follow up video and an update to the site. In the meantime I'm happy to answer any questions I can.
I started bullet-journaling at the beginning of the year. I kept changing the structure until things got too hard to handle and I stopped completely by July-August. This video reminds me why I started in the first place. I'm gonna give it another try, Ryder.
I just started this, but I've been making post-it note to-do lists for years now. My post-it note lists are always weekly, so I decided to do weekly lists instead of daily ones. This way, I don't have to migrate tasks every single day, and I can write down larger tasks that I have to get done before the end of the week but which I don't know exactly which day I'll be able to complete (or that I might have to complete in five or ten minute spurts over the course of several days). For example, I'm a teacher, so my first entry in every week is lesson plans for next week. Sometimes I get those lesson plans written on Monday, if I happen to be doing something that allows me to be in front of my computer for a long time on Monday, but sometimes I don't get them finished until Friday because I've only had five minutes here, ten minutes there to plan throughout the week. In this way, working with a weekly to-do list makes more sense for me than a daily one. As for the calendar, I just started planning events for November that I needed to put on the calendar, so I went ahead and wrote in November's calendar even though it's only October 9th. I can easily go back and add November to the index, even though things in October will be written after November's calendar, so I will always be able to find it quickly.
When I go back to simplicity things get clear in my mind. I have tried omnifocus, things, and some other apps i have found in the app store and they get complex and confusing. With just a pen and note pad I can do magic. Thank you Bullet Journal for showing me the way of simplicity and efficiency.
If I have to write something long-form, I usually just put it down in the day. If I feel like it's just beginning of something, I will start a collection. As always, do what works best for you. Good luck.
I have this issue too and I came up with a way to manage it that might work for you. Its much like what Ryder describes, but modified slightly. One the next blank spread after my monthly calendar, I make a weekly page on left and note any significant tasks/events that I need to keep track of. On the right hand side of the spread I start my daily calendar. Then when the next week rolls around, go to the next spread and start again. Hope this helps.
This is so good! I started bullet journalling two months ago and started sharing them on RUclips. I just wanted to say thank you because this helped me break down things and introduce me nicely to Bullet Journalling! :)
Theres alot of people in the comments here complaining about "what bujo has become". This artsy idealised version that is just barely reminiscent of Ryder Carroll's original system... But if you think about it... the core idea of bullet journalling is that it can adapt to what you need. Those people probably just have a higher need for artistic outlet than others, making that the perfect setup for them. It makes sense that people who lean more into the artistic style of bullet journalling are more likely to share their spreads online because they're the most idealised version of bullet journalling. People wouldn't want to share a coffee stained piece of paper with a future log scrawled out on it because that doesn't portray the perfect, organised version of themselves. I'm certain that this in no way reflects the entire bullet journalling community. My bullet journal is definitely not aesthetically pleasing enough to hold up to RUclips bujo-ers, but I love it that way because I know that's what works for me. I need to be able to jot down notes quickly using whatever stationery is on hand and not worry about how neat my handwriting is. What's important is remembering that you're doing it for you. Not for anyone else. You.
I came up with a nearly identical system for myself, the only real difference being that I reorganized on a weekly basis and didn't have enough "events" to justify a category for it. For me it was "ideas," "tasks," and "concepts" considering I do more engineering and plan out ideas I have in the journal as they come to me. I then go in on the week and fold over the corners of the previous week to make it easy to find the groupings of which week is which pages and jump to the latest page. I'm still playing with the folding over idea, as I previously used sticker tabs, but didn't like how bulky they were, so I ditched them. I like the idea of using an index and numbering the pages, so I may adopt that. I find a month is a nice overview for long term tasks though, as it makes a good minimum unit of measurement (you often measure long term tasks in terms of months rather than weeks), so I may adopt that too.
Woah! I’ve been following Ryder’s method for about four years now, but this original version of the bullet journal is so embryonic it doesn’t even use the modifiable dot bullet (i.e. task / in progress / completed / migrated). Instead, it’s relegated to a mere static _note_ bullet?! Blasphemy!! 😆 It’s great to see what the bullet journal truly is at its absolutely raw core, and how adaptable it can be for your current needs.
Wow wow wow!! Such a breathe of fresh air after all these years of trying to plan and or doing a bullet journal instead!! Thank you now this I can do and follow through with each day! Hugs you may have changed my life forever!! ❤ Tfs! - Christine
I started a bullet journal recently but I don’t know if I should call it that. I draw out the month calendar style. I don’t do daily tasks. I use my journal for tracking my sleep, my spending, etc. I also write notes on subjects non-school related that I want to learn about. Am I still bullet journaling?
What's awesome about youtube, is when you find out that the "wheel" you thought you invented has been already invented and re-invented and improved so many times :) Thank you so much for sharing this!
I have been through so mannnyyyyyyyyy videos of bullet journalling and that was all mess for me. I always found myself not adapting to those methods because they were complex and so much fancier that I could not adapt. Thank you so much for the tutorial I found from your TEDx talk. Thank you for saving my life.
I LOVE this system. I used it for the months of Nov-Dec (2014)and it was a lifesaver! I just shared your video on my YT channel (and did a video myself) so all my followers could stop by here and see your video. I also linked your website. Thanks for sharing such a simple system with all of us :)
I think using a system like this (or any app) depends on how organized you *need* to be (e.g.: executives, directors, etc.) and how comfortable you are with using such a system. From my personal experience, using no system is the best solution. But this happens because I don't really need to maintain a calendar, etc. Forcing yourself to do something like this is just unproductive. I remember reading once that Aristotle Onassis became one of the richest people in the world, and the way he managed his companies was writing scraps of paper that he kept on his back pockets and then delegating work to his employees. So, I really think you should use whatever system works for you.
Thank you so much for giving me an alternative option to organise my thoughts and tasks for this year! Having a planner just didn't seem to work for me, I'll give this a try!
An analog calendar - how retro! But seriously, this is a pretty good way of organizing tasks, but the fast-motion of the video makes you realize how much easier it is to manage a computer journal. In either case, using a journal is a great way to keep track of events and goals.
It's a good system if you only have to plan for a month but for a student i think this would be only a gateway to getting organized. It lacks the ability to plan ahead because of the freedom of the journal. This a good method to get your thoughts organized but not structured enough to be a life/school planner.
I saw this one around the time it was posted, but I only started Bullet Jounaling with the new video with the new Signifiers and the Future Log. Those improved the system dramatically for me :)
Very good job, I have used a similar system, believe or not. and it has worked wonders for my organizational skills - not just externally but internally - those hundreds of tabs and browsers opened in my brain sometimes gets all too daunting to even work out but learning how to visually and experientially organize things helps develop the skills. I use it with my clients and it has worked for some, the others prefer the day planners or monthly planners, either way, it reteaches your brain to reorganize and and prioritize by doing things more efficiently. BIG THUMBS UP!!!
I'd suggest using an "Explore" (eyeball) signifier when you write it down. At the end of the week or month, maybe move it to a Collection titled "Ambitions" or something similar. You could also just create the Collection for ideas like that and write the notes directly into the collection. The first way theoretically lets you record it for revisiting later and lets you get on with your day, which is why I like that option better.
I leave them where they are. I tried migrating them daily, but it became too much of a hassle. If you need to get the item done, add that star signifier to the left of it and just review your book every day. Always do what works best for you.
This is truly flexible!!! It can be applied to blank notebooks or incorporate the ideas to existing pre-printed agendas. Even add pages in a ringed notebook. Use as many or as few of the ideas as needed. FLEXIBLE! I'm trying the idea of coloring the edge squares of a page type to quickly locate it. Color a few squares at the edge-top of the accumulating INDEX pages. then afew squares down, color the edge of each accumulating MONTH pages, and so on. each PAGE TYPE has a small mark at a particular level on the edge of its page. NOW, fan the pages of the notebook to quickly find the location of each page type. So, referencing back and forth is a little quicker.
I would add that as a future month task/event to your monthly task list like "Moving in November" - it obviously won't get checked so you will migrate it to the new month's task list. Once you get to the month it applies to, add it to the appropriate day on your monthly calendar list.
I can see where parts of this could be adapted to be very helpful, particularly the INDEX, but I don't see any value in writing out a monthly calendar by hand for every month. That just seems like extra work and taking up 12 pages of journal space every year that could be put to better use. If you don't want to *buy* a planner to carry with you, then listing the dates, one per line, on a single page with just a letter for the day of the week is a good substitute. (If you get any free planners that you don't use, be sure to give them to someone else who can use them!)
This man made a whole career for sooooo many ppl.
Lol, right
Chiiiiiiild
@@missnurseeri p
@@maryanne2025 p
@@missnurseeri p
Thank you!
Tips: Keep your Bullet Journal with you and jot things down as they happen. Before you go to bed, spend a couple minutes reviewing the day. Add things that come to mind for either that day or for the day ahead. I find it inspires motivation for the next day. Check out the website (link is in the description) for some more pointers. I hope you find the system useful.
Do you realise what a grat idea you were working on? People have made career our if it, you tube, insta, pinterest and not to forget BuJo manufacturers 😂. You are too humble in your videos and interviews ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks
500,000 Views! Thank you all for your support and ideas. Stay tuned...
Dude I really love this. I feel like my life has been so unorganized in the past few years, and with procrastination taking over, tracking life feels like an impossible task. This looks so neat - I can keep everything in one journal! I'm getting started now!
I have been looking for this video! Finally I found it. I think your setup it's the best or is in the best ones. I like your site. I'll spread your system into my Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. For all we like productivity and systems.
Kevin Mise What kind of journal are you using? Any tip?
gmansi Moleskin gridded/dot notebooks are perfect for this!
Kevin Mise Thanks
After years of trying to start a bullet journal and getting frustrates when it didn't turned out as cute as everyone else's, finding your video was a godsent. So much easier and simpler, this method - extremely fast and straight to the point - is exactly what I needed.
Thank you for that.
You know his was the original, based on simplicity and functionality. Everyone else made it based on looks.
Same....I even wrote about that on my blog.
I can relate to that.. it gave me stress and I didn't even bother filling it last year due to that
Watch Claudia Kai and like how to bullet journal and 5 mistakes I made with bullet journaling. She is very simple and minimalist also reminds that it’s not about looks but the functionality
@@hermitthecrab3765 it can still be functional when it looks good. Just depends on the person
I love how the originator's system is thorough & not full of embellishment. His video tutorial is under 3 minutes. There are numerous other tutorials that have appeared to share other personal versions of the method. Of the ones with the word Minimalist in the title, the shortest video I found was a little over 9 minutes. Ryder Carroll thank you for your KISS presentation. I dropped my PDA for a PAA some time ago at the daily level. I still track everything electronically, but start each day with a written list. I believe I'll add some bulletjournaling to my written approach. Thanks.
It’s sad how the idea of a bullet journal was originally supposed to be a nice neat planning system, but now it’s turned into a beauty competition.
Exactly.. it gives me anxiety as I already am suffering from OCD 🙃
Fr..
😂😂😂
Then simply follow Ryder’s system, it’s basic, simple and efficient 😊
just do you, ignore and forget the bloat
The first bullet journals I've seen were these really pretty but complicated ones that scared me off bullet journaling and then I heard about your video! It's much simpler which is a relief I'm trying out bullet journaling now
it is because who is talking is the genius creator of BULLET JOURNAL
@liecheepaint
One of the things I found out quickly was this: it is very easy to google bullet journal and find all the instagram/facebook/blog accounts where journalers have made these elaborate and beautiful journal pages ... and they leave the raw beginner no idea how to start, create, or maintain the finished product in the pictures.
I discovered that was the missing piece of the puzzle: I was looking at the END PRODUCT, the end of the learning process.
When I realized this, I no longer felt intimidated. The little voice that said "You could never do this. Your pages will never look this nice. You will never be this organized ..." (you know the voice I mean, right?). Well, it shut the h*ll up!
I realized that I COULD do this, that I was free to make it my own way. And that was a very liberating thought, an incredibly wonderful feeling.
Ryder Carroll has provided an easy framework, but I get to flesh it out.
HOW COOL IS THAT?!
Thank you, Mr. Carroll!
@liecheepaint -- don't let the pretty pictures intimidate you! Just pick up a pen or pencil and put it to paper. It gets easier the more you do it. ^_^
True
jeez, he is the one who ''created'' and devised BULLET JOURNAL. Lol
I thought bulletin journaling was for people with their life together and I really thought it wouldnt be useful at all.
You got it. Other than the very first month, you always cull the previous month's pages for active to-dos and add them to the next monthly calendar's task page.
this is the essence of the method. i saw a million videos in which the essence is replaced with beautiful pictures. Thanks.
Does this get recommended every December to harshly remind me of my lack of discipline?
yes it does
Mohaamd_7 same :(
Lels
😂😂😂😂😂
yes
How the hell did the bullet journal go from a task planning calendar do tracking your moods and habits? Bullet journals now are all about the aesthetic and take up so much time to set up with a ruler and washy tape, when orginally, bullet journals are with one pen and a few simple shapes and are a organized task planner. I like this idea so much more.
well it is a personal thing so if people want to doodle they can. If they want to track their mood, they can. There's no one way to bullet journal so chill
Moods and habits can be an important thing to people friend especially the mentally ill as it helps for therapist appointments (hi, I'm the mentally ill lmao)
However, I do those AND the tasks and happenings. And keep em MINIMAL in looks and use. Just what's NEEDED. No deco, I'll use my art books for that
- but then that is not a bullet journal but a personal journal - they are not the same thing.@@nmoomoo
This technique is a gold mine. It's saved my ass time and time again. I track everything more accurately than my colleagues that don't use a bullet journal. A tip: use a cheap notebook (Mead v. Moleskine). That way youre more inclined to use it on the fly..instead of trying to keep it pretty.
@@jamietherelentless2670 Tip: you can use rubber bands to help reinforce and keep the spine together (it’s not perfect but it helps it last longer and keeps it in one piece while you finish using it up)
I leave them where they are (until the migration at the end of the month). It creates a friction to see those unchecked boxes that raises my motivation level OR makes me realize that the task just isn't really worth the effort after all. As always, do what works best for you. Try it both ways.
I have constantly failed when attempting to use a diary or planner. I even got a planner for Christmas and can't get used to the system. Then I found this. YAY! I've finally found a system that works! I LOVE the fact that you can keep track of everything in one place. Just wish I realised before I asked for a planner. Anyway thank you!
Am using the planner I got as a bullet journal :)
Good system, just remember to adapt it to your needs, and not be strict with it.
Thank you so much for simplifying the bullet journal for a newbie! I was intimidated by all the artistic displays on Pinterest and elsewhere. This video makes sense for this minimalist's heart, but also satisfies the occasional urge to just doodle! Unfortunately, I found your video after attempting to complete a bullet journal set-up. Fortunately, I used a small 3 ring binder and was able to store my elaborate attempts in the cupboard and begin again with fresh pages using the basic video method.
Robynne Leighe he did not simplify it. He ''created'' and devised bullet journaling. Lol.
Yeah he actually created it and what you see here is what bullet journalling is in reality
Is this the first bullet journal video EVER? I love the idea of it🤩
This is the original, uncorrupted video, imo
Humans have such a bad habit of overcomplicating things
😅
Honestly, I really needed this. I have been so restless the past few days because I want a reliable planner system but am unable to find one. I kept a bullet journal for 3 years but I had over-complicated it with unnecessary decoration and doodles to the point where it was no longer functional. Now, a year later, I want to get back into bullet journalling as I haven't found a better system for myself yet. This video helped me realize that a bullet journal isn't about how aesthetic it looks, irs about how functional it is. If you can make it look beautiful, great! If not, then just leave it. As long as it helps you stay organized it's good enough.
Can you narrate my life? You have a great voice.
You look like my friend.
In middle school.
@exley01 is exactly right. The daily calendars are for all the notes that come to mind AFTER you created the list of tasks on the monthly calendar. View the monthly calendar as a starting off point, it's a way to see what you didn't do from the last month and the large items you would like to get done this month. The rest is for the daily calendars.
I can totally see this working for myself, I am very art-driven and I love seeing stuff in perfect lines and beautiful handwriting.
The only problem is I'm crazy perfectionist, and I don't know if I could concentrate on my actual plans if I draw a crooked line...
+Jenna Kim This is meeeeeee! I totally understand what you mean. Perfectionist problems
Fifi González I have updates! I've been working with mine for the whole month of december... it is a lovely method (although I did give up on making it look TOO nice) but you still definitely have to motivate yourself to do any of the tasks you write down... haha
Jenna Kim mini ruler?
Jenna Kim Washi tape will fix that problem
Washi tape will fix all of your problems in life
meh... OCD
I didn't know they had RUclips in 1948
Yewtubular - sending you a telegram via pneumatic tubes.
LOL 🤷♂️
I'm crying real tears. I tried this a couple of years ago but never found a bullet journal. After buying many regular journals later, I just found the video again and I'm going to the store right now. Thank you for this ♥
My Notebook used to look like a mess, been using your method for 3 months now and I actualy find stuff and stay organized more easily. Thanks.
THANK YOU!! I am not an artist and cannot understand these other fancy videos, my add won't allow it. This, is what I need.
I've been doing a basic bullet journal process daily for 5 years. I don't know what my life would be without this simple method. I have a big family with 7 kids, I run the family budget, I run a design agency, and write and release music. My notebook has replaced all of the apps on my phone to where I don't even need a smart phone. It is my calendar, task manager, music playlist, etc. My life would be total chaos without my bullet journal.
how tf is ur notebook ur music playlist??
@@nightwing8666 I write down the albums I want to buy. And then go buy them. Then listen to them.
So this is where it all started. Thank you sir for creating the BUJO and sharing it. This will be my first one. 😊 Your video puts my mind at ease compared to other videos I've watched. Love the simplicity of it. Bless you.
So this is where the cult started
Lol 😆
Exactly 🤣🤣🤣
I've been bullet journaling for the last year and a half and it's changed the game for me in every aspect of my life--now I have more focus and I'm able to get more done every day, including those "ugly" to-do's that are easy to put off when you're not holding yourself accountable. What's interesting is that I either misunderstood the original set up or I read a different tutorial about how to get started, because I use the month and day functions in a different way. I use the month page(s) to plan rather than to record what happened on those days. And I only write one day of tasks and meetings at a time, migrating tasks that didn't get done to the next day. It's worked really well for me. Thank you for spearheading this movement Ryder!
Rachel Kanarowski I do the same shit Rachel. Good luck for our sorry asses.
For the few items that will happen in future months or don't need to be addressed now, I create a 'future tasks' collection. I add all the tasks there, then add it to my index. Then, on your current month's task page, add the task 'check future task list #(insert page number)'. That way, at the end of every month, you'll be reminded to review your future task collection and see if the month ahead has any items. You can also continue adding to that collection over time so nothing gets lost.
This is quite (pre)historical! It has gone through a couple of changes since then. I'm not talking about the artsy ones, I'm talking about the new and modify system, with future logs, habit trackers, the notebook itself... just beautiful.
You can create a collection called 'future tasks'. Add that collection to your index and that way you can group all items that are not actionable anytime soon.
So I've been trying to bullet journal and it was working and then i got overwhelmed with appearance and after watching this, it simplified everything for me! Definitely recommend watching this before you start and all of the other episodes.
I like the intro with a journal devouring the wild notes 😂
holy moly gaucamole this is where it all began! I have been bullet journalling for the past 2 months, and honestly i have never ever in my life been so GOOD
amazingly, ive been using this system for 10 years now and even though i still stumble across people's derivative "bullet journals," from the aesthetic to minimalist, no one else's system ever actually embodies the spirit of bullet journaling.
this system, in its original form, is probably the only analog task management system effective for people who genuinely have adhd.
If only my handwriting were legible
No way!! Hi Nate :)
This sounds ciringy but ur an inspiration!
I thought you were a model from america’s next top model lmao
Omg Hi Nate!
You should learn.
Not handwriting , Your Font😂😂
今日初めてバレットジャーナルというものを知りました。とっても機能的でシンプルなのに、人間性溢れる温かみがあって最高の記録であり、未来であり、生きていく目的を見つけさせてくれる。
Thank you for sharing this idea.
I hope the actions you take will change my future, and the actions I take will help someone else.
i'm starting a journal in january since i got one for christmas and i'm so glad i came across this today :) perfect timing
Does it sync with Google Calendar? (Just Kidding)
That would be all kinds of awesome :D
Thats an actual possibility now. You can buy a Smart Notebook, which is uploading pages if you make a foto of it. Although they can only save it to your cloud and email account, you could use a webhook to tunnel that to your Google Calendar(that is if the OCR of the provided Smart Notebook app is good enough. And even then you have to write clearly. Also the webhook costs money if its supposed to be good). But its not worth it if thats the only thing you're doing with it so....
Got it in Spanish version so I can show it my Spanish speaking friends. This is awesome for those who are trying to learn English and organize things.
HEY GUYS... so although I'm a fan of the Moleskine and the bullet journal system... I have to say that for THIS EXACT type of journaling, I find that the Leuchtturm 1917 Agenda Squared does the job that tad much better!! WHY? Well apart from the inside pocket, elastic band etc that Moleskine also has, the Leuchtturm has pre-numbered pages, and the first 3 pages are already assigned for the Index. Another plus is that it's slightly wider than the Moleskine (I'm referring to the Large size)... therefore an added bonus as there is extra writing space. Just thought I'd share, as Ive been using this system for a few months now, using the typical Moleskine, however, today I purchased my first Leuchtturm (the one stated above).. and I have to say I prefer it. Just my two pennies worth :)
I use the Leuchtturm 1917 as well and it's great. I mainly use a fountain pen to write with and the paper holds up better than Moleskine.
Good tip
I make my calendar and task page just like Ryders. However, I prefer to do all 12 months at once so I don’t need to use a future log. I leave 1 blank page between each month for notes. There is still plenty of room in the back for any collections and daily journaling if I feel like it. It’s very simple but it’s all I need. I’m not a very artsy person but like a few stickers and highlighters for color!
I know this is a very old video, but thanks for sharing this concept. I just started this method (on my birthday :)) and use it for school and personal tasks. However, I personally made some changes. For the index, I didn't know how many pages I would need, so I placed the Index page on the back of my book. Instead of a square for the task, I used a circle. I record my progress of the task by filling a quarter of it (If I've done 25% of the task) or half of it and so on. I fill in the circle completely if I have finished the task.
Anyway, that's how I modified it. Thanks again for sharing this. I am now more organised than before. :)
This seems like it could be a game changer. Just bought a grid paper journal on Amazon to give this a shot.
I have been using it for 4 months now and it has definitely increased my productivity. It's a great journaling system and very easy to pick up.
IT DID END UP BEING A GAME CHANGER.
Most collections live independent of time (unless it is a time-based collection i.e: "December"). Just be sure to add the title of your collection to your index!
this is a very brilliant idea. after trying so many "productivity" apps, this reminds me the days in high school where I used only paper and pencils to make myself more productive.
your system focuses on making things right instead of making them fancy. I'm gonna grab back my notebooks and start using them again. Thank you
The original bullet journal system is super efficient and epically minimalistic. The other bullet journal ideas on YT give me anxiety... with all the art work and extensive calendars.
Though you can preemptively add events to the monthly calendar (birthdays, dinners etc), I mostly log events on my daily pages as they happen so no check box required. Also events are usually (hopefully) more memorable than tasks so I've never felt the need to mark/check off events. I migrate events back into the monthly spread after so I can have an overview of the month. Hope that helps.
Sorry to hear about your troubles. IMHO I think people who care about you and want to spend time with you would be flattered. The act of you recording them shows that what they say matters to you. Also, I suggest looking into sketch note techniques by Mike Rohde. They can work well with Bullet Journaling, and I find drawing things helps to remember them. I'm always doodling in my books and most people don't seem to mind. It can even work as conversation starter. I hope this helps. Good luck!
I leave open tasks where they are as it can quickly become a real pain to transfer on a daily basis. If you really NEED to to get something done from a previous day, put a star signifier next to it. I usually end and being my days looking for those stars. Priorities can also be moved into that month's monthly task list so you can find it quickly without flipping around. Do what works best for you.
I've been using this method for a year now, and I have never been more productive!
I've been showing it to all my friends at work and my family and they all love it as well :)
This is brilliant. Why didn't I think of this. My desk is a mess, papers everywhere and I can never find the one I'm looking for where I wrote previous notes on even though I know I didn't throw it away. It's just under other to-do lists of tasks and other odd notes from phone conversations or what-not. I can't wait to begin my first bullet journal and see if I can organize my life and time a little better.
Thank you David, I appreciate it. Good suggestions! I'm listening to the audience to learn what parts I need to elaborate/improve on for a follow up video and an update to the site. In the meantime I'm happy to answer any questions I can.
I think I'd offered $100, but the person who found it didn't take it... It's reassuring to see how compassionate people can be.
This is exactly what I need... I never pay attention to reminders on my phone. Thank you!
I started bullet-journaling at the beginning of the year. I kept changing the structure until things got too hard to handle and I stopped completely by July-August. This video reminds me why I started in the first place. I'm gonna give it another try, Ryder.
I just started this, but I've been making post-it note to-do lists for years now. My post-it note lists are always weekly, so I decided to do weekly lists instead of daily ones. This way, I don't have to migrate tasks every single day, and I can write down larger tasks that I have to get done before the end of the week but which I don't know exactly which day I'll be able to complete (or that I might have to complete in five or ten minute spurts over the course of several days). For example, I'm a teacher, so my first entry in every week is lesson plans for next week. Sometimes I get those lesson plans written on Monday, if I happen to be doing something that allows me to be in front of my computer for a long time on Monday, but sometimes I don't get them finished until Friday because I've only had five minutes here, ten minutes there to plan throughout the week. In this way, working with a weekly to-do list makes more sense for me than a daily one.
As for the calendar, I just started planning events for November that I needed to put on the calendar, so I went ahead and wrote in November's calendar even though it's only October 9th. I can easily go back and add November to the index, even though things in October will be written after November's calendar, so I will always be able to find it quickly.
When I go back to simplicity things get clear in my mind.
I have tried omnifocus, things, and some other apps i have found in the app store and they get complex and confusing. With just a pen and note pad I can do magic. Thank you Bullet Journal for showing me the way of simplicity and efficiency.
I love you. This made my productivity over double. It has been exactly one year since I first did this and my life had been so much better.
If I have to write something long-form, I usually just put it down in the day. If I feel like it's just beginning of something, I will start a collection.
As always, do what works best for you. Good luck.
I have this issue too and I came up with a way to manage it that might work for you. Its much like what Ryder describes, but modified slightly. One the next blank spread after my monthly calendar, I make a weekly page on left and note any significant tasks/events that I need to keep track of. On the right hand side of the spread I start my daily calendar. Then when the next week rolls around, go to the next spread and start again. Hope this helps.
This is so good! I started bullet journalling two months ago and started sharing them on RUclips. I just wanted to say thank you because this helped me break down things and introduce me nicely to Bullet Journalling! :)
Theres alot of people in the comments here complaining about "what bujo has become". This artsy idealised version that is just barely reminiscent of Ryder Carroll's original system...
But if you think about it... the core idea of bullet journalling is that it can adapt to what you need. Those people probably just have a higher need for artistic outlet than others, making that the perfect setup for them.
It makes sense that people who lean more into the artistic style of bullet journalling are more likely to share their spreads online because they're the most idealised version of bullet journalling. People wouldn't want to share a coffee stained piece of paper with a future log scrawled out on it because that doesn't portray the perfect, organised version of themselves.
I'm certain that this in no way reflects the entire bullet journalling community.
My bullet journal is definitely not aesthetically pleasing enough to hold up to RUclips bujo-ers, but I love it that way because I know that's what works for me. I need to be able to jot down notes quickly using whatever stationery is on hand and not worry about how neat my handwriting is. What's important is remembering that you're doing it for you. Not for anyone else. You.
I came up with a nearly identical system for myself, the only real difference being that I reorganized on a weekly basis and didn't have enough "events" to justify a category for it. For me it was "ideas," "tasks," and "concepts" considering I do more engineering and plan out ideas I have in the journal as they come to me. I then go in on the week and fold over the corners of the previous week to make it easy to find the groupings of which week is which pages and jump to the latest page. I'm still playing with the folding over idea, as I previously used sticker tabs, but didn't like how bulky they were, so I ditched them. I like the idea of using an index and numbering the pages, so I may adopt that. I find a month is a nice overview for long term tasks though, as it makes a good minimum unit of measurement (you often measure long term tasks in terms of months rather than weeks), so I may adopt that too.
Woah! I’ve been following Ryder’s method for about four years now, but this original version of the bullet journal is so embryonic it doesn’t even use the modifiable dot bullet (i.e. task / in progress / completed / migrated). Instead, it’s relegated to a mere static _note_ bullet?! Blasphemy!! 😆
It’s great to see what the bullet journal truly is at its absolutely raw core, and how adaptable it can be for your current needs.
Wow wow wow!! Such a breathe of fresh air after all these years of trying to plan and or doing a bullet journal instead!! Thank you now this I can do and follow through with each day! Hugs you may have changed my life forever!! ❤ Tfs! - Christine
Still your best video. I come back to this one specifically quite a bit for a quick refresher.
I started a bullet journal recently but I don’t know if I should call it that. I draw out the month calendar style. I don’t do daily tasks. I use my journal for tracking my sleep, my spending, etc. I also write notes on subjects non-school related that I want to learn about. Am I still bullet journaling?
What's awesome about youtube, is when you find out that the "wheel" you thought you invented has been already invented and re-invented and improved so many times :) Thank you so much for sharing this!
Just found this video today... Perfect timing to start the year right. Thanks Ryder.
My son just showed the Bullit Journal to me for the first time. You guys NAILED IT!
I have been through so mannnyyyyyyyyy videos of bullet journalling and that was all mess for me. I always found myself not adapting to those methods because they were complex and so much fancier that I could not adapt. Thank you so much for the tutorial I found from your TEDx talk. Thank you for saving my life.
I LOVE this system. I used it for the months of Nov-Dec (2014)and it was a lifesaver! I just shared your video on my YT channel (and did a video myself) so all my followers could stop by here and see your video. I also linked your website. Thanks for sharing such a simple system with all of us :)
Read the Bible
Watching in 2019 so I can get my life together 😂
we will
I’m watching in 2020, The year of DEATH
Bobby Thebest That’s right! 💀 Death to bad habits and lack of discipline! New life to good habits, discipline, and achieving our goals! 💪🏾 🤓😂
Vaughn Dibiasi 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
Language Learning Lover same!!!!
I think using a system like this (or any app) depends on how organized you *need* to be (e.g.: executives, directors, etc.) and how comfortable you are with using such a system. From my personal experience, using no system is the best solution. But this happens because I don't really need to maintain a calendar, etc. Forcing yourself to do something like this is just unproductive. I remember reading once that Aristotle Onassis became one of the richest people in the world, and the way he managed his companies was writing scraps of paper that he kept on his back pockets and then delegating work to his employees. So, I really think you should use whatever system works for you.
Ok popularchannel
I bet a lot of those little papers fell or blew out of those back pockets too
Thank you so much for giving me an alternative option to organise my thoughts and tasks for this year! Having a planner just didn't seem to work for me, I'll give this a try!
I know this video is over 3 years old but it has helped me a lot starting my bullet journal (couple of days on it), so thank you.
After watching this video a few months ago, I started a bullet journal and find my life so much better organized.
Thanks for sharing such a good idea.
It's great to see the OG bullet journal! Thank you for sharing this great idea with the world, it changed my life!
and for ppl who are interested to start - the Leuchtturm notebooks have an index page and all pages are numbered.
An analog calendar - how retro! But seriously, this is a pretty good way of organizing tasks, but the fast-motion of the video makes you realize how much easier it is to manage a computer journal. In either case, using a journal is a great way to keep track of events and goals.
YES. An analog productivity guide. I cannot do google docs anymore. I get distracted!
Hello Ryder Carrol. I need to use this comment to thank you. 2021 is my 3rd year Bullet journaling, and it has helped me so much. Thank you. 👏
It's a good system if you only have to plan for a month but for a student i think this would be only a gateway to getting organized. It lacks the ability to plan ahead because of the freedom of the journal. This a good method to get your thoughts organized but not structured enough to be a life/school planner.
I can't link to it, but I just uploaded a video today showing how I use my Midori as a Bullet Journal. Love this system.
I loved the phrase, "the difference between being busy and being productive!" Oh, you had me at "Analog" I'm addicted to journals and calendars.
I saw this one around the time it was posted, but I only started Bullet Jounaling with the new video with the new Signifiers and the Future Log. Those improved the system dramatically for me :)
Very good job, I have used a similar system, believe or not. and it has worked wonders for my organizational skills - not just externally but internally - those hundreds of tabs and browsers opened in my brain sometimes gets all too daunting to even work out but learning how to visually and experientially organize things helps develop the skills. I use it with my clients and it has worked for some, the others prefer the day planners or monthly planners, either way, it reteaches your brain to reorganize and and prioritize by doing things more efficiently. BIG THUMBS UP!!!
I'd suggest using an "Explore" (eyeball) signifier when you write it down. At the end of the week or month, maybe move it to a Collection titled "Ambitions" or something similar. You could also just create the Collection for ideas like that and write the notes directly into the collection. The first way theoretically lets you record it for revisiting later and lets you get on with your day, which is why I like that option better.
I leave them where they are. I tried migrating them daily, but it became too much of a hassle. If you need to get the item done, add that star signifier to the left of it and just review your book every day. Always do what works best for you.
The development of an index that you update is critical to speed! Nice
Thank you for keeping this on youtube. This simple method with the month only was very very helpful..
I just heard about this today, and I cannot wait to try this system!
This is truly flexible!!! It can be applied to blank notebooks or incorporate the ideas to existing pre-printed agendas. Even add pages in a ringed notebook. Use as many or as few of the ideas as needed. FLEXIBLE!
I'm trying the idea of coloring the edge squares of a page type to quickly locate it. Color a few squares at the edge-top of the accumulating INDEX pages. then afew squares down, color the edge of each accumulating MONTH pages, and so on. each PAGE TYPE has a small mark at a particular level on the edge of its page. NOW, fan the pages of the notebook to quickly find the location of each page type. So, referencing back and forth is a little quicker.
Thank you and there more is on the way! Also be sure to check out the site as there is more info there.
Amazing, 3 years old and it's still growing in viewership. I am the newest subbie and commenter. Going for bullet journaling! :)
First time I have watched the OG version since back when I started bullet journaling in 2015. So simple!
I would add that as a future month task/event to your monthly task list like "Moving in November" - it obviously won't get checked so you will migrate it to the new month's task list. Once you get to the month it applies to, add it to the appropriate day on your monthly calendar list.
I can see where parts of this could be adapted to be very helpful, particularly the INDEX, but I don't see any value in writing out a monthly calendar by hand for every month. That just seems like extra work and taking up 12 pages of journal space every year that could be put to better use. If you don't want to *buy* a planner to carry with you, then listing the dates, one per line, on a single page with just a letter for the day of the week is a good substitute. (If you get any free planners that you don't use, be sure to give them to someone else who can use them!)