FYI, for tasks assigned to you by someone else, it is always a great idea to capture the date you were told about the assignment along with the date the assignment is due. I can't tell you how many times I've been approached with, "You aren't done yet?!" and then I come back with, "Well you only assigned it to me on ___."
Important point. I worked at one job where others did 'some' of my tasks while I was off duty. One 'covering' worker submitted a request to administration that requires a legal response/ decision the next week. They failed to let me know about this and it wasn't documented in the general file. Admin was supposed to send out a legal notice to the responsible worker at least 24 hrs in advance, so they knew the request was accepted and the worker could 'prepare' an good argument. Well, I received my 'notice' about 2 hrs AFTER the appointed hearing time, slid under my office door (internal office mail was late that day). Thankfully, I was already at the meeting place for another case that I DID know about.. While it was a shock to discover the agenda included this request and I h ad to wing it, I got the job done. But I chose not to work there again.
I do this for my "waiting for" answer or task from someone. I write down the task, include the date we discussed it, and their "promise date" to have it back to me. I scan this list/collection everyday.
My mother’s did, after we found out that her mother had been lying to her for years. It turns out that she was pregnant before she got married in 1937, so she moved the date of my Mum’s birth to cover her own deception.
I'm someone who gets stuck on details too much, so end up trying to perfect my monthly and future logs, slightly annoyed that I can't magically sync them up when I change stuff around. This video is great because it's helping me understand that you're actually using the monthly log as 1. a bird's eye view, and 2. to note down tasks and habits AFTER they're completed (not before, and feel overwhelmed by it. this makes so much more sense now!) I can't stand other bujo vids by people who fluff it up and make it so pretty, it puts unnecessary stress and anxiety that mine isn't the same. But this video's great because it's straight to the point and is FUNCTIONAL. thank you for doing that!
It mkaes a lot of sense and i guess i'm just a typical beginner stressing out BUT where am I supposed to write sure appointments and evens that I need to have into account if they're one month ahead?? I'm definitely not going to carry them on each days review and I can't wait until they're done to be writeen cause first I need to remeber they're going to happen! And I feel that I won't have enough space in the future log to all the fix appointments...
@@paulabadabadumI came to find this out too. @rydercarroll? I think what happens is either 1) just go with it and put it in left side of monthly log spread, 2) just keep it in the daily log on the day you heard about it and review alll of your month’s daily logs every day (phew) to know if an appointment is ready for tomorrow’s daily log. Number (2) seems crazy because you might have up to 30 daily logs to check, and won’t have a bird’s eye view of your upcoming days, which is kind of necessary to not double book things. So I have started entering appointments into the monthly log with square brackets if they haven’t happened yet, in pencil, then I can erase the brackets if they happen, or amend/erase if they didn’t happen. Failing all of that, create another page per month exactly the same as the monthly log where you list only the planned events for that month, which will go next to your log of what happened that month. That means 3 pages per month. Just an idea!
1.0 0.00 Intro Music/Android App? 2.0 0:55 Multiple projects/classes and collections -2.1 1:42 Dedicated indexes for projects and classes -2.2 2:05 Multile index columns 3.0 2:19 Scheduling deadlines and events -3.1 2:29 Enter in monthly log -3.2 2:48 Enter in daily log and migrate --3.2a 2:51 Review daily log* --3.2b 3:23 Migrate to monthly log* --3.2c 3:33 Example -3.3 3:58 Add to future log -3.4 4:24 'Recap of three options 4. 5:21 Monthly logs -4.1 5:32 Three or four short items per date -4.2 6:00 Logging events after the fact -4.3 6:47 Tracking habits
This is exactly the kind of video that I find helpful!! Many thanks!! I like it because 1: it's coming from the guy who originated the concept and 2: it's like a brief little coaching session. Looking forward to more episodes....
Cool idea for an index devoted to one project. I surveyed my subscribers and "breaking down a big task into bite-sized portions" was their #1 challenge.
oh, I love that habit tracker thing! A lot of people have a dedicated spread to it, and I just find it unweidly and hard to manage. Also never thought to log events that happened on what day in the monthly log AFTER it happens. I like this.
Thank you Ryder! I'm VERY late to the Bujo game. As a compulsive list maker this has been a game changer. The fact that you encourage people to make it their own is the key. Thanks for your contribution!
For the monthly log, I quite like using it to plan ahead because it gives me an idea of what my priorities should be (2-4 items per day max. requires you to be critical of how you will spend the bulk of your time each day). However, precisely because plans can change, for planning, I write in pencil. Then, when I'm looking back over the day, I see what I meant to do, then write in pen what I actually did and it makes it easier to reflect on what I thought my priorities were going to be, what they actually were, and why they changed.
Great video. To the point without a bunch of rambling. For a hopefully helpful critique, I would like to see it zoomed in a little more on the journal. I watched this on my kindle fire and I couldn't make out anything in your sample journal. Thank you so much for the idea of bullet journaling. It has been a tremendous tool for me, both at home and at work.
Teri Hermans I second this. I watched on my phone as I usually do, and couldn't make out any words at all. but there is so much table surface in the surrounding shot. it could be zoomed in a little for sure.
I'd never heard of bullet journaling until now. I really like this idea. Congratulations on passing along all of your tips in such a great format so that thousands can benefit from your theory.
The reflection process of flipping through my pages is very relaxing. I really enjoy handling my pages, admiring the different color ink I used, and the filled in bullets.
Thanks for this, Ryder. I bought into your idea in April and have been Bullet Journaling ever since. I especially appreciate that your examples and descriptions are extremely clean and neat. It makes it very easy to use your ideas as starting points, and imagine how I can apply your ideas to my own situation. I'm not a "flowery" guy, so my journal emphasizes the information, not the decorations, and your video helps me stick to the point. Thanks, and I'm looking forward to future episodes. Congratulations on the entire endeavor, and best of luck as you move forward!
Thank you for this system. I have looked for 20 years for an organisational system that works for my brain! this is the best I have found. 10 days into using it, it has transformed my capacity to get tasks out of my head and onto a page (which significantly reduced stress). It is also helping me track (and then delete) tasks which in the moment make sense but on reflection I dont need to do.
This was incredibly helpful. I posed a question on Twitter yesterday to you and realized this morning I hadn't really looked for the answers online. Then, it was in this first episode! Thank you for time and assistance.
Thanks, that was great. I like the simple format, options for accomplishing the goal, and the variety of questions. My bullet journal is so plain, but when I try to get too fancy I lose the point of the whole thing.
It doesn't have to be filled with hearts and flowers. I also keep it as minimal as possible because it's a tool. Adding to much fuzz only distracts attention.
SAME HERE! I tried to do decorative stuff at one point, because it looks cute and fun, but I only did it for like 3 pages before I got fed up with the distractions and the time spent decorating - and I only went as far as putting a little strip of washi tape next to each day's date in my daily log! LOL. Clearly not my thing. But then I'm one of those ADHD people (I mean for real - I have a Dx) for whom the Bullet Journal system is *magic* for helping me to cut through distractions and remember stuff. So...no more putting distractions into my distraction-buster.
Reoccurring tasks? Paying Bills (Specific Dates), weekly cleaning (days of week rather than specific dates), etc? Do you add that to its own collection ? Monthly overview (though "weekly cleaning" doesn't seem that level of importance)?
Keep your videos coming! There are too many copycat books,articles,and videos,etc.,which for me (ADHD since birth, have Masters Degree in Education, and have been an educator for over forty years) is very confusing. I have purchased three so called “Bullet Journals” and have yet to successfully start a “Bullet Journal” of my own. Fear of failure is probably my # one issue and I will never waste my time making cutesy doodles and pics like I have unfortunately witnessed on the internet too many times. I finally wised up and logged onto your website, as this “baby” is your creation! And yes, I am a perfectionist in some ares of my life (actually most of my life) and I find your down to earth writing style and video vocalization(reminiscent of my favorite author, Ernest Hemingway ) easy for me to internalize (that means for me to pay attention and not let my mind zip all over the place). I preordered your book and I am looking forward to reading it. Once a bookworm,always a bookworm!CW
Love this format. Your "talking hands" are great :-) Also like the summary (although the tutorial is quite short). Really cool. About the monthly log: I heard about the 5x3-method, where you write down the 3 most important tasks per (working)day. So I got the idea, not to write more than 3 tasks in the monthly log...
These "ask the bullet journalist" episodes are fantastic! I've just started using your method, and I'm learning tons of great ideas to incorporate into my own journaling.
Thanks for the explanations. At the end what I like of bullet journaling is the fact that you have a framework and can do whatever you think suits you. I already filled up 200 pages only between may and June. This method helps me not only to have everything in one place but to have a better knowledge of everything I do because I really need to write things down in order to remember it. I will be waiting for more videos like this one.
It's interesting to hear that you log your month **after** the fact, instead of scheduling events ahead of time as I had learnt from reading the bullet journal instructions. Many people have modified the bullet journal system to suit their needs (based on the many youtube "plan with me" videos), what do you think about it? Have you considered modifying the system after using it for years?
I have the same question, what does he think about the way a lot of people use the bullet journal? I guess at it's core it's still a lot like the "original". I found it cool that he mentioned he uses a habit tracker, tho.
I use a form of habit tracker for multiple projects so that I can see at a glance each week what needs to be done in one place. For example, Project 1 may have 4 tasks, so it has 4 boxes, Project 2 6, and so on. This gives me an overview of each projects volume of work and compares it to others. It stops me 'dropping the ball' on one by becoming too focussed on another.
Like a summary, mini Gantt chart? That's awesome! I put running collections on Google sheets so when I migrate to a new book next quarter, I can just print them out and stick them down in the back of the journal.
I'm a new bullet journal user - just getting my feet wet and found this very useful. More episodes, please! Also an Android user - there's gotta be a developer out there who can build the app for Android. Hope you find the right person soon!
Fill monthly calendar with events after they occurred or those that are unlikely to change, like birthday. Bird-eye view of the month, Thank you for sharing your preferences.
Thank you so much for sharing your style and strategies! I started bullet journeying about 4 years or so ago... I didn't even know this was a thing with a name! I jus needed something to organize what was in all my notebooks. I use one for multiple things and had to dig through every page to find what I was looking for, so I started creating indexes to make searching simpler. Your process and strategy are way more elevated than my simple index of pages. You just took my Journaling and task writing from caveman to futuristic! Thank you so much!
Ryder I love what you've created and I'm retired but still like time for reflection and to write and create what I'm up to, so Thankyou . My new one is in the mail and I'm looking forward to a new year with my journal.
I think this video series is a SPLENDID idea! Thanks, Ryder, for sharing your thoughts in this way. Eric here, and my question is this: What about those of us who already use a daily/weekly/monthly planner for tracking our schedules? What are some strategies to motivate these types of people to use their BuJos? I often find myself going days, even weeks, without writing in my BuJo, which I find disheartening because I was looking forward to using the official Bullet Journal notebook when I first bought it. Thanks again and looking forward to seeing your ideas.
These episodes are very helpful. The first episode answered a question I had about the monthly log so thanks for that. Please keep making these as I find them quite useful.
My question is do you do a weekly log or page? I didn't at first, but I found myself needing a place to keep a lot of tasks that had to be done that week as well as wanting a closer view of my week. Recently though, I've had a harder time keeping up with it. I really like this series idea, video, and especially the different options given for each question. I wasn't sure at first if this would be useful to me, but I hadn't thought about the monthly calendar as an index or view for what happened that month. That might be a lot more helpful than the way I use it.
Very nice to hear how you would approach these things since you designed the system. Nice video, short, to the point, clear and easy to follow. Thank you.
Happy so many people have shared and I'm learning more and more every day!!! One thing I'm struggling with is consolidating. I've gotten rid of 5 separate journals so far maybe a few more Mole Skins and various differs sizes, mainly all work, goals and calendar related. Still left - I have a vmail log journal, an exercise planning journal - logging all workouts as well as upcoming ones - calories burned length of time etc... and food journal - recipes and plan for the week. What I'm struggling with is do I add all of that info to the work / goals oriented bullet journal?Or should I keep it in a separate one? And measure my tracking and progress in 2 place for health and wellness?! Ahhhh I really want to simplify!!! And don't want to over think it. But do need help with a solution ;-) thank you to any and all who have advance!!!
Very helpful,have adapted to use in my job,to keep confidentiality.I work as a carer.Useful to monitor tasks done.To reflect on care done.Changes in shift. Patterns
Thank you! I have been journaling for a long time and the whole migration from journal is the piece missing. Plus your system is more concise than the one I I just got with all the pages pre-set. I will be following you on RUclips and on the blog.
Found this very helpful and sharpened up a few points I hadn't considered (e.g., the retrospective monthly log) and that I've fallen away from too often (systematic reflection). You've done a fine job. Thanks
Howdy Ryder - nice video and tips. I've been 'officially' Bullet journaling since Autumn of 2016. I do a hybrid version. I'm still experimenting with my projects/events but this is working so far: For my events/projects/tasks with specific deadlines, I use 2 dates: the date it is due, and work backwards to the day (or week(s) OR MONTHS) before it is due. That is the PREP day(s). Both dates go on my Monthly, Weekly, Daily. My projects and events (that I coordinate) each get their own uniquely titled collection in my BuJo. The collections all have the same format on the 1st page (right side of spread), including date and my initials. Second page (back or left side depending on project/event complexity) for the projects and events could be drawn/written in any format. I create a lot of inventions so some collections have a lot of drawings on the second page. I use washi tape and 2 stamped cartouches on the 1st page of each project/event collection. The project tile is at the top center of the page with a strip of washi tape underneath. The 1st cartouche is for the date and my initials. The bottom cartouche is labeled REWARD. From another collection called REWARDS, I select a reward for each project's/event's completion. I'm a recovering procrastinator so the rewards really help motivate me.
I re-listen periodically to refresh basics. Weekly calendars not necessary, because daily five minute reflection morning and evening allows to migrate tasks for a specific date on that day. If task date is several weeks or months out it can be written in the future log. Monthly log can be used for recapping highlights.
Question: How many pages do you typically save specifically just for the index. Is it best to have the index pages in the back of the journal in case you need more index pages in the future? Thank you
Oh. So the monthly log tracks notable events in the past. I thought of it as a compressed version of the daily log but at a month's glance. Thanks for the clarification, Ryder!
Thanks for such clear and useful explanations, Ryder!! I'd like to know more about how you track habits on the monthly log, which looks very convenient! Thanks again!
What I do for Q2 is that I keep a wall callander (I prefer a yearly one) and mark that date and write the task on top of the date. So when I get to that month I can write it in my bullet journal
Thank you so much for doing these videos. I've just watched both Ask the Bullet Journalist videos and have picked up helpful tips and answers to questions I've been struggling with as a BuJo newbie!
You may not remember me but I did email you directly and I was really happy to see that you answered me as well as with a great response to my question. I love that you add the items of the monthly after the fact as an index. I will try that. I also have a weird schedule so I have a weekly schedule in my bullet journal but what I do when something comes up for a different week is I add a piece of paper the same size as the book as a overview of next weeks schedule so I am still able to track my work but without messing the book up until that week.
I'm having a difficult time making a bullet journal that functions well with school life. I'm entering college, and I want to finally find a bullet journal style that will allow me to track homework, events, quizzes, and due dates with fluidity and ease. I tried so many things my senior year in high school, and nothing seemed to really click. Other people's solutions don't quite do what I need it to. When I get a homework assignment, I want to see it both when it was assigned (so I can sit down at the end of the day and see in a list what was assigned that day) and when it is due. You addressed this in this video, but it doesn't quite work for homework and such. With so many tasks given in school (seven different classes each giving 1+ different assignments), I can't just put it in the monthly section or the future section as it would be a crammed unorganized mess. There are too many things. Doing the reflection and looking back is a more viable option, but I want to be able to see the due date in an organized manner and in one place. I need to be able to look at what is due in the future in a quick way that doesn't require page flipping and rummaging during reflection when there are a lot of things due. Basically: see what has ever been assigned, when it was assigned, when it will be due/when it takes place, how many things are due in a single day in the future, and what assignment is due "today" so I know to bring it in. TLDR: Do you have any tips on how to make a bullet journal function well for someone with many many small and large tasks with set due dates to do over a few days/weeks/months, particularly for students? Thank you!!!!
MrMikk532 there are several folks on RUclips who document how they do their school life (college and graduate school) in a Bujo. Search studying + Bullet journal. 💛
So I know you wrote this three monts ago, but I'm still gonna answer ;) I'm in college and I have a page specifically for assignements and exams. I divide it into my classes and then write down what I need to do and when it's due (you could add the date it was assigned, I don't do that). You can go to that page during the reflection and copy due assignements (or tasks you need to complete for that assignement) into your daily log. I don't know if that would work for you if you have many assignements, I don't know how college works where you live. But it helps me keep track. And it feels great at the end of the semester when I can check all the assignements/ exams that I have completed :) Also, I like working with colors if I need extra structure (like coloring all the assignements that are due before christmas in blue, those that I should do during christmas break in green and those that I don't need to start until next year in yellow. Or coloring group assignements in a different color. Whatever helps.)
You could have a separate collection for homework/quizzes/assignments listing all the relevant info (assigned date, due date etc), then in your future or monthly log (depending on your time scales) only log your due by date...?
Hey, thanks for this helpful video and answers to many questions! I‘m trying the bullet journal, for the idea behind sounds very inspiring. I do not realy have to structure my personal day, because I’m at work and have not much time that needs to be „structured“ in any way. BUT: I have many regular appointments as well as meetings at a specific day AND time. So I need some help with my question: do you use a calender in addition to the BulletJournal? Or how do you make sure, there is no conflict of different appointments two or three weeks/months from now? Am I doing it „wrong“? I‘d love to stick to my bujo and am very thankful for help and ideas!
Have you considered starting the Index on the last page and working backwards to ensure you never run out of room? I think that's how I'll start mine. I've been using Moleskine notebooks with no organization other than writing the date at the top of each page, and folding colored labels around important pages I need to reference often. Meanwhile, I scan my pages with my phone into Evernote, where its handwriting recognition automatically indexes everything I have written. (Evernote uses the pre-printed grid and lines made of dots to assist in recognizing handwriting.) However, Evernote doesn't make the notebook itself more useful. Your system looks compatible with what I've been doing, and it looks useful.
Your idea is really amazing ... I always do same things but they were not arrange. First time I see a photo of planning on Instagram and I found that this is like the same which I think the same time and I found today that you are they creator of bullet journal... This idea is really very helpful to complete task ..... Thanks for you valuable efforts... I made the same from many years but all those things were scattered on single pages.. Now I will use your technique to schedule/ organise tasks.... Happy New year 2019 I am asking myself why I don't get this things ( I don't search on internet for such a wonderful idea)1&1/2 year before when you posted... But I am happy as I get it today...
My approach to tasks that are scheduled ahead of time and need to be done that day (very rare for me) is to put it on a sticky note, especially if it has a lot of sub tasks and needs an elaborate plan.
Ryder (or team), what do you use the open square bracket " [ " bullets for? They are featured on some of the pages in this video. For instance at 4:15. Thanks, -PM
Part (a large part!) of the BuJo effectiveness is simply the beauty: the music at the opening and closing; the wood of the table, the line of the journal itself, and Ryder's calm, encouraging voice. These are the human elements of life that are retained in the BuJo. It's what makes us (many of us!) want to strive to be our best, and to celebrate others doing their best, too. So, thank you BuJo community!
Great video, I am just starting my first Journal and liked the collections idea for projects for clients. I have a question continuing on from this what is a good way to plan appointments with specific times using the future log then the monthly and then the collection? Or does the fact that you are using the collection mean it does not need to be entered into the monthly and daily because you are managing it in a collection. I don't want to over-complicate it. Any recommendations greatly appreciated, looking forward to the next video.
Gret idea, keep it up. Yes, useful, including to bring to the fore questins that we hadn't thought of but that need or deserve thinking about, en fait! Bravo! Think I'll try this out on a monthly journal to find my perfect fit, and then take on the 6 month one... Thank you to all the other people who shared below also. VEry helpful, appreciated!
Evernote recognizes scanned Moleskine notebook pages, using the grid or the lines made of dots to aid in handwriting recognition to automatically index handwritten notes. Until a more specific app exists, I'll be using Evernote, scanning my pages with my phone. Evernote runs on Android, iPhone, Windows, Apple, and they have a WebApp I use in Linux.
Thank you for this oh so helpful video. I am a single working mom who takes classes online for my BSN. I have classes coming up soon in August and would like to know if I should keep my class schedules, projects, assignments and papers in my everyday bullet journal. I also have elderly parents that I care for and they have their own appointments I need to track too. Do you recommend keeping it all in one journal? I really need to stay on track once school starts up again. I will also need to track my kid's school schedule. Suggestions? Ideas?
There seems to be a vacillation between logging as a form of planning for the future vs. logging as a form recording what has been done. I struggle with that. Would it be overkill to set up two pages of the monthly log side by side, on the left putting down plans ahead and on the write logging what actually got done? Maybe I’m overthinking it.
Very helpful, as well as well-made and easy to follow. Here's my question: if you use your monthly log to fill in things as they happen, how can you have a view of your month all at once? Maybe you don't need that, but I find that I do. It's my bullet journal version of the old calendar hanging on the kitchen wall (or fridge). But I also like the idea of filling in things as they happen. I'm trying to think of a good way to include both, so any ideas? Two-page spread for monthly log maybe?
I would consider using the Future Log for this. Also, I recommend checking out these two options: Future Log - Hope Method (Calendex): bulletjournal.com/future-log-the-hope-method/ Future Log - Alastair Method: bulletjournal.com/future-log-the-alastair-method/
Biggest glitch I see in this system is how the focus is on what happens after the fact. For someone who is anxious about forgetting things that I need to do, and who needs a tool that will be my brain's sidecar, it is not very clear on how the bullet journal assists in this. Are those items that must be accomplished written in the facing pages of the monthly log with the bullets, dots, and dashes? Is that how it works? Also re: collections. I'd like to see some example pages of those. And lastly, daily reviews? I hear talk of them, but want to know the exact process. Thank-you. JM
![Stromae, Pomme - “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1F3OGIFnW1k/mqdefault.jpg)
FYI, for tasks assigned to you by someone else, it is always a great idea to capture the date you were told about the assignment along with the date the assignment is due. I can't tell you how many times I've been approached with, "You aren't done yet?!" and then I come back with, "Well you only assigned it to me on ___."
Important point. I worked at one job where others did 'some' of my tasks while I was off duty. One 'covering' worker submitted a request to administration that requires a legal response/ decision the next week. They failed to let me know about this and it wasn't documented in the general file. Admin was supposed to send out a legal notice to the responsible worker at least 24 hrs in advance, so they knew the request was accepted and the worker could 'prepare' an good argument. Well, I received my 'notice' about 2 hrs AFTER the appointed hearing time, slid under my office door (internal office mail was late that day). Thankfully, I was already at the meeting place for another case that I DID know about.. While it was a shock to discover the agenda included this request and I h ad to wing it, I got the job done. But I chose not to work there again.
I do this for my "waiting for" answer or task from someone. I write down the task, include the date we discussed it, and their "promise date" to have it back to me. I scan this list/collection everyday.
"Birthdays, which are very unlikely to change." This made me smile :))
My mother’s did, after we found out that her mother had been lying to her for years. It turns out that she was pregnant before she got married in 1937, so she moved the date of my Mum’s birth to cover her own deception.
@@mareek. Your Mam's stalker: This information have been sawed…
(Sorry if I made a mistake, but my English is quite poor)
:D
I'm someone who gets stuck on details too much, so end up trying to perfect my monthly and future logs, slightly annoyed that I can't magically sync them up when I change stuff around. This video is great because it's helping me understand that you're actually using the monthly log as 1. a bird's eye view, and 2. to note down tasks and habits AFTER they're completed (not before, and feel overwhelmed by it. this makes so much more sense now!)
I can't stand other bujo vids by people who fluff it up and make it so pretty, it puts unnecessary stress and anxiety that mine isn't the same. But this video's great because it's straight to the point and is FUNCTIONAL. thank you for doing that!
It mkaes a lot of sense and i guess i'm just a typical beginner stressing out BUT where am I supposed to write sure appointments and evens that I need to have into account if they're one month ahead?? I'm definitely not going to carry them on each days review and I can't wait until they're done to be writeen cause first I need to remeber they're going to happen! And I feel that I won't have enough space in the future log to all the fix appointments...
@@paulabadabadum This is what I want to know! I came to this video to find out the answer to this. Can anyone help? @bulletjournal
@Bullet Journal
@@paulabadabadumI came to find this out too. @rydercarroll?
I think what happens is either 1) just go with it and put it in left side of monthly log spread, 2) just keep it in the daily log on the day you heard about it and review alll of your month’s daily logs every day (phew) to know if an appointment is ready for tomorrow’s daily log. Number (2) seems crazy because you might have up to 30 daily logs to check, and won’t have a bird’s eye view of your upcoming days, which is kind of necessary to not double book things. So I have started entering appointments into the monthly log with square brackets if they haven’t happened yet, in pencil, then I can erase the brackets if they happen, or amend/erase if they didn’t happen.
Failing all of that, create another page per month exactly the same as the monthly log where you list only the planned events for that month, which will go next to your log of what happened that month. That means 3 pages per month. Just an idea!
1.0 0.00 Intro Music/Android App?
2.0 0:55 Multiple projects/classes and collections
-2.1 1:42 Dedicated indexes for projects and classes
-2.2 2:05 Multile index columns
3.0 2:19 Scheduling deadlines and events
-3.1 2:29 Enter in monthly log
-3.2 2:48 Enter in daily log and migrate
--3.2a 2:51 Review daily log*
--3.2b 3:23 Migrate to monthly log*
--3.2c 3:33 Example
-3.3 3:58 Add to future log
-3.4 4:24 'Recap of three options
4. 5:21 Monthly logs
-4.1 5:32 Three or four short items per date
-4.2 6:00 Logging events after the fact
-4.3 6:47 Tracking habits
Thank you for making this list.
This is exactly the kind of video that I find helpful!! Many thanks!! I like it because 1: it's coming from the guy who originated the concept and 2: it's like a brief little coaching session. Looking forward to more episodes....
Cool idea for an index devoted to one project.
I surveyed my subscribers and "breaking down a big task into bite-sized portions" was their #1 challenge.
oh, I love that habit tracker thing! A lot of people have a dedicated spread to it, and I just find it unweidly and hard to manage. Also never thought to log events that happened on what day in the monthly log AFTER it happens. I like this.
Thank you Ryder! I'm VERY late to the Bujo game. As a compulsive list maker this has been a game changer. The fact that you encourage people to make it their own is the key. Thanks for your contribution!
For the monthly log, I quite like using it to plan ahead because it gives me an idea of what my priorities should be (2-4 items per day max. requires you to be critical of how you will spend the bulk of your time each day). However, precisely because plans can change, for planning, I write in pencil. Then, when I'm looking back over the day, I see what I meant to do, then write in pen what I actually did and it makes it easier to reflect on what I thought my priorities were going to be, what they actually were, and why they changed.
Great video. To the point without a bunch of rambling. For a hopefully helpful critique, I would like to see it zoomed in a little more on the journal. I watched this on my kindle fire and I couldn't make out anything in your sample journal. Thank you so much for the idea of bullet journaling. It has been a tremendous tool for me, both at home and at work.
Teri Hermans I second this. I watched on my phone as I usually do, and couldn't make out any words at all. but there is so much table surface in the surrounding shot. it could be zoomed in a little for sure.
Teri Hermans I 3rd this
4th this exact concern. Great video. Thanks!
It might have been deliberate tbh - I use my bullet journal to write personal things including names and details
I'd never heard of bullet journaling until now. I really like this idea. Congratulations on passing along all of your tips in such a great format so that thousands can benefit from your theory.
The reflection process of flipping through my pages is very relaxing. I really enjoy handling my pages, admiring the different color ink I used, and the filled in bullets.
Thanks for this, Ryder. I bought into your idea in April and have been Bullet Journaling ever since. I especially appreciate that your examples and descriptions are extremely clean and neat. It makes it very easy to use your ideas as starting points, and imagine how I can apply your ideas to my own situation. I'm not a "flowery" guy, so my journal emphasizes the information, not the decorations, and your video helps me stick to the point. Thanks, and I'm looking forward to future episodes. Congratulations on the entire endeavor, and best of luck as you move forward!
I love Anita's question, and am so glad you answered it!
Thank you for this system. I have looked for 20 years for an organisational system that works for my brain! this is the best I have found. 10 days into using it, it has transformed my capacity to get tasks out of my head and onto a page (which significantly reduced stress). It is also helping me track (and then delete) tasks which in the moment make sense but on reflection I dont need to do.
This was incredibly helpful. I posed a question on Twitter yesterday to you and realized this morning I hadn't really looked for the answers online. Then, it was in this first episode! Thank you for time and assistance.
Thanks, that was great. I like the simple format, options for accomplishing the goal, and the variety of questions. My bullet journal is so plain, but when I try to get too fancy I lose the point of the whole thing.
I love this video and the format (right to the point). I love my bullet journal, but it's not full of hearts and flowers. Just a bullet journal.
It doesn't have to be filled with hearts and flowers. I also keep it as minimal as possible because it's a tool. Adding to much fuzz only distracts attention.
Same here. I use ruled notebooks, no artwork, no calligraphy. I'm not an artist, just someone trying to get things done.
SAME HERE! I tried to do decorative stuff at one point, because it looks cute and fun, but I only did it for like 3 pages before I got fed up with the distractions and the time spent decorating - and I only went as far as putting a little strip of washi tape next to each day's date in my daily log! LOL. Clearly not my thing. But then I'm one of those ADHD people (I mean for real - I have a Dx) for whom the Bullet Journal system is *magic* for helping me to cut through distractions and remember stuff. So...no more putting distractions into my distraction-buster.
Aurore Folny this is funny because i'm the opposite; i'm not really an artist at all but my bullet journal has turned into a creative outlet for me!!
Lexi Barnes I go back and tape or glue in artifacts of the day, throw down some color, or jot notes and reflections.
Reoccurring tasks? Paying Bills (Specific Dates), weekly cleaning (days of week rather than specific dates), etc? Do you add that to its own collection ? Monthly overview (though "weekly cleaning" doesn't seem that level of importance)?
Years going but I always come back to these fundamental videos. Thanks!!!
sometimes we need to go back to basic tips!
Keep your videos coming! There are too many copycat books,articles,and videos,etc.,which for me (ADHD since birth, have Masters Degree in Education, and have been an educator for over forty years) is very confusing. I have purchased three so called “Bullet Journals” and have yet to successfully start a “Bullet Journal” of my own. Fear of failure is probably my # one issue and I will never waste my time making cutesy doodles and pics like I have unfortunately witnessed on the internet too many times. I finally wised up and logged onto your website, as this “baby” is your creation! And yes, I am a perfectionist in some ares of my life (actually most of my life) and I find your down to earth writing style and video vocalization(reminiscent of my favorite author, Ernest Hemingway ) easy for me to internalize (that means for me to pay attention and not let my mind zip all over the place). I preordered your book and I am looking forward to reading it. Once a bookworm,always a bookworm!CW
Love this format. Your "talking hands" are great :-) Also like the summary (although the tutorial is quite short). Really cool. About the monthly log: I heard about the 5x3-method, where you write down the 3 most important tasks per (working)day. So I got the idea, not to write more than 3 tasks in the monthly log...
These "ask the bullet journalist" episodes are fantastic! I've just started using your method, and I'm learning tons of great ideas to incorporate into my own journaling.
you're honestly not created enough, your bullet journal method is revolutionary 🙏🙌
Thanks for the explanations. At the end what I like of bullet journaling is the fact that you have a framework and can do whatever you think suits you. I already filled up 200 pages only between may and June. This method helps me not only to have everything in one place but to have a better knowledge of everything I do because I really need to write things down in order to remember it. I will be waiting for more videos like this one.
It's interesting to hear that you log your month **after** the fact, instead of scheduling events ahead of time as I had learnt from reading the bullet journal instructions.
Many people have modified the bullet journal system to suit their needs (based on the many youtube "plan with me" videos), what do you think about it? Have you considered modifying the system after using it for years?
I have the same question, what does he think about the way a lot of people use the bullet journal? I guess at it's core it's still a lot like the "original". I found it cool that he mentioned he uses a habit tracker, tho.
I love how simple and to the point! Yes, please fo a set up for a new month
I use a form of habit tracker for multiple projects so that I can see at a glance each week what needs to be done in one place. For example, Project 1 may have 4 tasks, so it has 4 boxes, Project 2 6, and so on. This gives me an overview of each projects volume of work and compares it to others. It stops me 'dropping the ball' on one by becoming too focussed on another.
Like a summary, mini Gantt chart? That's awesome! I put running collections on Google sheets so when I migrate to a new book next quarter, I can just print them out and stick them down in the back of the journal.
Thanks Linda! How did you know...??!! (Ps what a wonderful old fashioned name you have, lovely!)
As another academic, this is going to be a lifesaver. Thank you!
Ryder, you have done a fabulous job coming up with this video series. I LOVE IT! Great work!
I'm a new bullet journal user - just getting my feet wet and found this very useful. More episodes, please! Also an Android user - there's gotta be a developer out there who can build the app for Android. Hope you find the right person soon!
Love this! Thank you for the Bullet Journal system. It has been a life saver after trying so many others.
Fill monthly calendar with events after they occurred or those that are unlikely to change, like birthday. Bird-eye view of the month, Thank you for sharing your preferences.
FOLDING the paper in half to create more columns?! That's a GREAT idea!! I need to try this out
This was great, Ryder! Thanks so much for sharing your answers with the entire community :)
Boho Berry yay it's so nice seeing you here. I love your videos so much! ^^
Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing your style and strategies! I started bullet journeying about 4 years or so ago... I didn't even know this was a thing with a name! I jus needed something to organize what was in all my notebooks. I use one for multiple things and had to dig through every page to find what I was looking for, so I started creating indexes to make searching simpler.
Your process and strategy are way more elevated than my simple index of pages. You just took my Journaling and task writing from caveman to futuristic! Thank you so much!
Ryder I love what you've created and I'm retired but still like time for reflection and to write and create what I'm up to, so Thankyou . My new one is in the mail and I'm looking forward to a new year with my journal.
I think this video series is a SPLENDID idea! Thanks, Ryder, for sharing your thoughts in this way. Eric here, and my question is this:
What about those of us who already use a daily/weekly/monthly planner for tracking our schedules? What are some strategies to motivate these types of people to use their BuJos? I often find myself going days, even weeks, without writing in my BuJo, which I find disheartening because I was looking forward to using the official Bullet Journal notebook when I first bought it.
Thanks again and looking forward to seeing your ideas.
This man is awesome! I don't know why I didn't find him before! 😘
These episodes are very helpful. The first episode answered a question I had about the monthly log so thanks for that. Please keep making these as I find them quite useful.
thanks for your responses, the format was perfect and multiple options are always welcome. great !
My question is do you do a weekly log or page? I didn't at first, but I found myself needing a place to keep a lot of tasks that had to be done that week as well as wanting a closer view of my week. Recently though, I've had a harder time keeping up with it.
I really like this series idea, video, and especially the different options given for each question. I wasn't sure at first if this would be useful to me, but I hadn't thought about the monthly calendar as an index or view for what happened that month. That might be a lot more helpful than the way I use it.
Bygonya Raya I use a weekly log. I like the focus it gives me...
I am intrigued by this process and trying to learn to do it. These videos are a big help, thanks.
Very nice to hear how you would approach these things since you designed the system. Nice video, short, to the point, clear and easy to follow. Thank you.
Happy so many people have shared and I'm learning more and more every day!!! One thing I'm struggling with is consolidating. I've gotten rid of 5 separate journals so far maybe a few more Mole Skins and various differs sizes, mainly all work, goals and calendar related. Still left - I have a vmail log journal, an exercise planning journal - logging all workouts as well as upcoming ones - calories burned length of time etc... and food journal - recipes and plan for the week. What I'm struggling with is do I add all of that info to the work / goals oriented bullet journal?Or should I keep it in a separate one? And measure my tracking and progress in 2 place for health and wellness?! Ahhhh I really want to simplify!!! And don't want to over think it. But do need help with a solution ;-) thank you to any and all who have advance!!!
Having these videos to watch has been very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to create them.
Very helpful,have adapted to use in my job,to keep confidentiality.I work as a carer.Useful to monitor tasks done.To reflect on care done.Changes in shift. Patterns
Thank you! I have been journaling for a long time and the whole migration from journal is the piece missing. Plus your system is more concise than the one I I just got with all the pages pre-set. I will be following you on RUclips and on the blog.
Love the format. Q & A is always helpful because so many of us have the same questions....
Found this very helpful and sharpened up a few points I hadn't considered (e.g., the retrospective monthly log) and that I've fallen away from too often (systematic reflection). You've done a fine job.
Thanks
Howdy Ryder - nice video and tips. I've been 'officially' Bullet journaling since Autumn of 2016. I do a hybrid version. I'm still experimenting with my projects/events but this is working so far: For my events/projects/tasks with specific deadlines, I use 2 dates: the date it is due, and work backwards to the day (or week(s) OR MONTHS) before it is due. That is the PREP day(s). Both dates go on my Monthly, Weekly, Daily. My projects and events (that I coordinate) each get their own uniquely titled collection in my BuJo. The collections all have the same format on the 1st page (right side of spread), including date and my initials. Second page (back or left side depending on project/event complexity) for the projects and events could be drawn/written in any format. I create a lot of inventions so some collections have a lot of drawings on the second page. I use washi tape and 2 stamped cartouches on the 1st page of each project/event collection. The project tile is at the top center of the page with a strip of washi tape underneath. The 1st cartouche is for the date and my initials. The bottom cartouche is labeled REWARD. From another collection called REWARDS, I select a reward for each project's/event's completion. I'm a recovering procrastinator so the rewards really help motivate me.
I re-listen periodically to refresh basics. Weekly calendars not necessary, because daily five minute reflection morning and evening allows to migrate tasks for a specific date on that day. If task date is several weeks or months out it can be written in the future log. Monthly log can be used for recapping highlights.
This was very helpful. I appreciate learning ways to be more productive. Thank you for sharing. 😊
Really enjoyed this. You have such clarity while explaining. You answered the exact question I was wondering about monthly log. Perfect!
Yes this is very useful... You always give clear simple answers. Please keep this going!
This is great. I'd also like to see you do full examples of a real journal in action. Sort of a bird's eye view of your daily use.
Question: How many pages do you typically save specifically just for the index. Is it best to have the index pages in the back of the journal in case you need more index pages in the future? Thank you
Oh. So the monthly log tracks notable events in the past. I thought of it as a compressed version of the daily log but at a month's glance. Thanks for the clarification, Ryder!
Thanks for such clear and useful explanations, Ryder!! I'd like to know more about how you track habits on the monthly log, which looks very convenient! Thanks again!
This is so helpful! I can really dig into the thinking behind the bullet journal by your sharing of applications.
outstanding presentation and format. wouldn't change a thing. thank you for this opportunity to fine tune our BuJo skills
What I do for Q2 is that I keep a wall callander (I prefer a yearly one) and mark that date and write the task on top of the date.
So when I get to that month I can write it in my bullet journal
Thank you so much for doing these videos. I've just watched both Ask the Bullet Journalist videos and have picked up helpful tips and answers to questions I've been struggling with as a BuJo newbie!
Excellent Ryder, it is useful to know different approaches of how to handle task and events into the three layout
You may not remember me but I did email you directly and I was really happy to see that you answered me as well as with a great response to my question. I love that you add the items of the monthly after the fact as an index. I will try that. I also have a weird schedule so I have a weekly schedule in my bullet journal but what I do when something comes up for a different week is I add a piece of paper the same size as the book as a overview of next weeks schedule so I am still able to track my work but without messing the book up until that week.
Tri-Angle Production please do make a video of this. I will watch it. Regards, Sousan
I'm having a difficult time making a bullet journal that functions well with school life. I'm entering college, and I want to finally find a bullet journal style that will allow me to track homework, events, quizzes, and due dates with fluidity and ease. I tried so many things my senior year in high school, and nothing seemed to really click. Other people's solutions don't quite do what I need it to.
When I get a homework assignment, I want to see it both when it was assigned (so I can sit down at the end of the day and see in a list what was assigned that day) and when it is due. You addressed this in this video, but it doesn't quite work for homework and such. With so many tasks given in school (seven different classes each giving 1+ different assignments), I can't just put it in the monthly section or the future section as it would be a crammed unorganized mess. There are too many things. Doing the reflection and looking back is a more viable option, but I want to be able to see the due date in an organized manner and in one place. I need to be able to look at what is due in the future in a quick way that doesn't require page flipping and rummaging during reflection when there are a lot of things due.
Basically: see what has ever been assigned, when it was assigned, when it will be due/when it takes place, how many things are due in a single day in the future, and what assignment is due "today" so I know to bring it in.
TLDR: Do you have any tips on how to make a bullet journal function well for someone with many many small and large tasks with set due dates to do over a few days/weeks/months, particularly for students?
Thank you!!!!
MrMikk532 there are several folks on RUclips who document how they do their school life (college and graduate school) in a Bujo. Search studying + Bullet journal. 💛
So I know you wrote this three monts ago, but I'm still gonna answer ;)
I'm in college and I have a page specifically for assignements and exams. I divide it into my classes and then write down what I need to do and when it's due (you could add the date it was assigned, I don't do that). You can go to that page during the reflection and copy due assignements (or tasks you need to complete for that assignement) into your daily log. I don't know if that would work for you if you have many assignements, I don't know how college works where you live. But it helps me keep track. And it feels great at the end of the semester when I can check all the assignements/ exams that I have completed :) Also, I like working with colors if I need extra structure (like coloring all the assignements that are due before christmas in blue, those that I should do during christmas break in green and those that I don't need to start until next year in yellow. Or coloring group assignements in a different color. Whatever helps.)
You could have a separate collection for homework/quizzes/assignments listing all the relevant info (assigned date, due date etc), then in your future or monthly log (depending on your time scales) only log your due by date...?
Terrific video. Clear. Concise. Helpful. Thanks.
Great value. Answering really helpful questions. Life is not easy to capture in any method so there will always be questions. Thank you so much!!
Hey, thanks for this helpful video and answers to many questions! I‘m trying the bullet journal, for the idea behind sounds very inspiring. I do not realy have to structure my personal day, because I’m at work and have not much time that needs to be „structured“ in any way. BUT: I have many regular appointments as well as meetings at a specific day AND time. So I need some help with my question: do you use a calender in addition to the BulletJournal? Or how do you make sure, there is no conflict of different appointments two or three weeks/months from now? Am I doing it „wrong“?
I‘d love to stick to my bujo and am very thankful for help and ideas!
Thank you!! Im starting my bullet journal tomorrow!!! I'm very exited!!
Have you considered starting the Index on the last page and working backwards to ensure you never run out of room? I think that's how I'll start mine. I've been using Moleskine notebooks with no organization other than writing the date at the top of each page, and folding colored labels around important pages I need to reference often. Meanwhile, I scan my pages with my phone into Evernote, where its handwriting recognition automatically indexes everything I have written. (Evernote uses the pre-printed grid and lines made of dots to assist in recognizing handwriting.) However, Evernote doesn't make the notebook itself more useful. Your system looks compatible with what I've been doing, and it looks useful.
David Lloyd You’re genius
This is great. Thanks. I am also a minimalist. No frills!
Loved the format, loved the questions (I had the same questions), loved the explanations... 😃
Your idea is really amazing ...
I always do same things but they were not arrange.
First time I see a photo of planning on Instagram and I found that this is like the same which I think the same time and I found today that you are they creator of bullet journal...
This idea is really very helpful to complete task .....
Thanks for you valuable efforts...
I made the same from many years but all those things were scattered on single pages..
Now I will use your technique to schedule/ organise tasks....
Happy New year 2019
I am asking myself why I don't get this things ( I don't search on internet for such a wonderful idea)1&1/2 year before when you posted...
But I am happy as I get it today...
My approach to tasks that are scheduled ahead of time and need to be done that day (very rare for me) is to put it on a sticky note, especially if it has a lot of sub tasks and needs an elaborate plan.
Ryder (or team), what do you use the open square bracket " [ " bullets for? They are featured on some of the pages in this video. For instance at 4:15. Thanks, -PM
Part (a large part!) of the BuJo effectiveness is simply the beauty: the music at the opening and closing; the wood of the table, the line of the journal itself, and Ryder's calm, encouraging voice. These are the human elements of life that are retained in the BuJo. It's what makes us (many of us!) want to strive to be our best, and to celebrate others doing their best, too. So, thank you BuJo community!
I love this voice 😃👍
and his hands. 😍
Nadine Maier LOL! Ryder has groupies. 😄
I love this voice, too.
Great!!! I just started bullet journalling and those were exactly my doubts. Thank you!
Great video, I am just starting my first Journal and liked the collections idea for projects for clients. I have a question continuing on from this what is a good way to plan appointments with specific times using the future log then the monthly and then the collection? Or does the fact that you are using the collection mean it does not need to be entered into the monthly and daily because you are managing it in a collection. I don't want to over-complicate it. Any recommendations greatly appreciated, looking forward to the next video.
It was perfect! I liked the format and that is short and sweet - Keep them coming!!! 🙌🏻☺️
Gret idea, keep it up. Yes, useful, including to bring to the fore questins that we hadn't thought of but that need or deserve thinking about, en fait! Bravo!
Think I'll try this out on a monthly journal to find my perfect fit, and then take on the 6 month one... Thank you to all the other people who shared below also. VEry helpful, appreciated!
Badass. Just started. 1/3 of the way through your book. 👍
This is so much fun. Thanks for clarifying about the Monthly Log. I am about to erase entries and instead record after it happened.
Thanks for a simple but very helpful video!
I like this and picked up some tips that I did not even think of...so that is a good thing.
Thank you!
Very helpful. Thanks so much. Love the format.
Evernote recognizes scanned Moleskine notebook pages, using the grid or the lines made of dots to aid in handwriting recognition to automatically index handwritten notes. Until a more specific app exists, I'll be using Evernote, scanning my pages with my phone. Evernote runs on Android, iPhone, Windows, Apple, and they have a WebApp I use in Linux.
Thank you! This video clarified so many situations for me.
Great video, Ryder! I would love to see more episodes! 😊
Thank you for the video! I appreciate the format a lot! Keep up!
Thank you for this oh so helpful video. I am a single working mom who takes classes online for my BSN. I have classes coming up soon in August and would like to know if I should keep my class schedules, projects, assignments and papers in my everyday bullet journal. I also have elderly parents that I care for and they have their own appointments I need to track too. Do you recommend keeping it all in one journal? I really need to stay on track once school starts up again. I will also need to track my kid's school schedule. Suggestions? Ideas?
Sue Belano exactly what I would like to see as well!
It was great, keep them coming...I need them, just started my 1st BuJo yesterday! c
There seems to be a vacillation between logging as a form of planning for the future vs. logging as a form recording what has been done. I struggle with that. Would it be overkill to set up two pages of the monthly log side by side, on the left putting down plans ahead and on the write logging what actually got done? Maybe I’m overthinking it.
Great 1st video-polished, simple and direct. Learned a lot. Could you walk through, "an evening 5 minute review?" Thanks
I love love love the bullet journal !!!!!! So so so so much !!!!!!!
love watching ur videos, thanks for sharing .
Very helpful, as well as well-made and easy to follow. Here's my question: if you use your monthly log to fill in things as they happen, how can you have a view of your month all at once? Maybe you don't need that, but I find that I do. It's my bullet journal version of the old calendar hanging on the kitchen wall (or fridge). But I also like the idea of filling in things as they happen. I'm trying to think of a good way to include both, so any ideas? Two-page spread for monthly log maybe?
I would consider using the Future Log for this. Also, I recommend checking out these two options:
Future Log - Hope Method (Calendex): bulletjournal.com/future-log-the-hope-method/
Future Log - Alastair Method: bulletjournal.com/future-log-the-alastair-method/
Thanks for keeping it real!
Biggest glitch I see in this system is how the focus is on what happens after the fact. For someone who is anxious about forgetting things that I need to do, and who needs a tool that will be my brain's sidecar, it is not very clear on how the bullet journal assists in this. Are those items that must be accomplished written in the facing pages of the monthly log with the bullets, dots, and dashes? Is that how it works? Also re: collections. I'd like to see some example pages of those. And lastly, daily reviews? I hear talk of them, but want to know the exact process. Thank-you. JM
Yes ! Very helpful and clear, I like it. Thanks for doing that !