I use the Alastair Method for categorizing expenses. I write them down, then dot under groceries, eating out, entertainment, etc, which makes it easy to get totals and see trends.
I guess I've been using the Alistair Method without even knowing! I use it to prioritize - making rows labelled "1, 2, and 3" and highlighting how important it is to get the individual task done. Has been helping me to not get overwhelmed with tasks!
I was just thinking this would be very useful for school notes where the class is not very organized and the professor just talks a lot and you can't categorize in the moment (as a history major i would probably have the categories of "concept", "process", "document/quote", "prof comment", "important/review", etc)
Could you elaborate a bit? It sounds interesting and I love learning about new methods of organization or documentation for university, but I don’t understand exactly what you mean :/
I had not heard of this until your video, but am apparently using it for my exercise log. I track the minutes I exercise each day in a monthly log, and have a few categories in columns to indicate the type of exercise done (walking, elliptical, strength).
I love this! I have always liked my tasks to be organized by category, but in the same list. I’ve tried color coding, but carrying several different pens for writing a brain dump/to do list is a lot of work. I can’t wait to give this a try!
Was thinking categorizing by high priority, priority, non priority would be a good idea for me. I’ll play around with it. Never heard of this method btw. Thanks for the info!
This is amazing! Never thought of using the Alastair Method for something else than a Future Log! I do categorise after the fact by colour but this is even more awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Your adaptation of using job/personal/social media is genius because I just started using the days of the week and I found I was procrastinating most things because I assumed I would “get it done tomorrow” and then I would end up overwhelmed with too much to do with not enough days left..... I am going to try this myself! I don’t work or post to social media but I will definitely have Household / FlyLady / Personal columns. FlyLady being cleaning only and household being everything that needs dealt with that isn’t just for my personal amusement lol. LOVE this, thank you so much for this video!... oh maybe a Finance column too 👍
I used to do like your previous method, and it drove me crazy so I stopped altogether. I much prefer this new strategy and can't wait to apply it!! Thank you for sharing :)
Great video! Well explained and executed! I couldn’t wrap my head around it until today and I like the idea of using it as a running task list for work, personal, school, and anything else I’m involved in. I’m going to give it a try and see what other ways I can use it!
I've seen various people using Alistair lists but never understood how it works until this video. And I never fill my future log! It always seems like a waste of space. Thank you for sharing, Caitlin!
The first time is saw something like this was in maryplethora's older bullet journal videos. She used it for her semester plans and task categorizing, but I couldn't understand how it worked until now. Definitely going to be useful now that i know
I think I might actually use this for menu planning. I like to pick out all the meals I want to make for the week and then make them according to the sell by date on the meat products that I buy so that I can make sure that I'm using the meat in a timely manner. This method makes it so I can list out my meals, make my grocery list and then decide which day I'm making them after I go grocery shopping instead of before, and then having to mess up my spread.
i use this for my week view, with letters of the days of the week above. also as a habit tracker - the top row shows the days of the week, and the right column has my habits, so i can dot them off for the day if i achieve them on a particular day.
I used a version of this from Plant Based Bride where I would just brain dump everything I needed or wanted to get done that week and that way things for work that I do everyday I wouldn’t have to rewrite the task every day, but would just have on the left of that list Monday to Friday and would put a dot on each day that I was going to do that task and for tasks that I didn’t know what day I would get to it I would just leave blank and whenever I found time to do the task I would just put a dot in the column for that day and check it off when complete. That is the way that I interpreted how to use it and found it the best for those busy weeks where I had a lot to do, but didn’t know when I could or would get around to each task. Anything that was blank at the end of the week I would decide if it was still important and move it to the next week or just cross it off if irrelevant or plan to do it in the future when I might have more time.
My first thought was: "an excel spreadsheet!" because I've been doing way too many reports at work lately. I use a variation on this for my period tracker, which is very useful since I've hit peri-menopause and like having the overall view of missed months vs steady cycles. I have tried several meal planning layouts, none of which have really worked for my ADHD brain. I may have to try the twist you gave yours with the type of meal (more likely based on main ingredient) and see if that helps keep the 'what do I make' monster at bay for a while. I do think this will be helpful in my work log since I tend to have lots of clients with similar requests and I spend way too much time sorting out who needs what exactly. Columns with client names: rows with their request/issues. Then when I do my reports, I can line through the note as I add it. Thanks for the inspiration!
Holy Cow! I thought, OMG she spelled stationary wrong. Then I realized, I've been spelling it wrong. (Well, I guess imagine-spelling it wrong cause I don't think it's a word I've ever actually written down.) A lesson in humility.
I have a list of books, movies/TV shows, songs, etc. that people have recommended to me, and I list them all out and indicate which of those things it is. I also have been using it in my weekly pages (M, T, W, Th, F, S, Su, or I don't know which day yet) but I think I might switch over to organizing it by category instead.
I use the method for gift ideas. For the columns, I fill in the people on my gift list, plus a column for gift exchanges. Then, if I see something out there that I may want to get for someone (or multiple someones), I'll write it down and mark the appropriate column(s). For anyone who a long gift recipient list, you can make multiple lists, and here are a few ways to divide: Birthdays (so those with upcoming birthdays are on one list), Family vs Friends vs Co-workers, Demographics/Tastes (so people who might want the same gift are more likely to be on the same list).
If you think about it, most Habit Trackers are a giant Alistair Method things. I use it for my weekly tasks/events/reminders/habits/everything. I go one week at a time in an A5 dot grid with 27 cells on one page (54 cells in the entire spread). In cell K1 to Q1, I have the day of the month. In Cell K2 to Q2, I have the days of the week (L, M, M, J, V, S, D for the days of the week in French). In A3 to J3, I add the task/event. I shade in the cell (currently with a Mildliner) in row 3 where the task and day cross to indicate the day that I think or want to do the task. I check it off if I did it on that day, or shade in another day, or leave it unshaded if I really don't know when I'll get to it.
That’s true! However, I think the main difference is that with the Alistair, you add in information (task or event) whereas with a habit tracker, all your info is contained in the placement of your dot or x ☺️ (your tracker sounds intense! But also very organized 😍)
I am going to use this in my christmas cleaning and cooking list! I have struggled how I do the lists as there always is something to add and not very much extra space.
I use it for pet health health check and a separate page for items I want to keep track of such as: car service, dental appointment, hairdresser, doctor appointment, therapist etc. It helps for a quick view. I use pink marker for me and blue for my husband.
I was using this method for a master cleaning list, but I'm thinking this may help track my pick up/drop off schedule. We're a one car family, meaning I'm basically a taxi for my family, lol. But keeping track of school, work, band, sports schedules for four kids is hard, it changes with the seasons too.
I do have a good fountain pen that I should use more. But, have laptop and iPad too. I note that one could use a spreadsheet and sort on the month columns, or whatever the column is used for. Hint: if the first column is sequentially numbered 1,2,3,... you can sort on it to get back to your original entry order. I tend to do this on every spreadsheet I create for this very reason.
Thanks for showing how you use the Alastair Method. Personally, it would drive me nuts not to have my future log in chronological order. Seeing dots under different months would completely throw me off. I can see how the method would work for recipes though.
It looks fancy and definitely saves space (& time if you would prepare your future log elaborately) but it's imho impracticable. If i were to look for a specific date to determine whether something is up then I'd first have too search for the number in the list and then check whether it's in the month I'm looking for (or other way around, look for month and check each dot for date). Same thing for your meal list. How do you actually FIND information on it, it seems to involve a lot of searching. The version that seems practicable to me is for the task list personal/job distinction, since it's a smaller timeframe and less info per frame. No hate, just saying I can't see it working for a wide application. But I'm definitely gonna look up the author, maybe I'll better understand then haha :D
I think the way most people probably use it for future planning is to go down the line for anything in, say, the December column, to then transfer to your monthly where it would be easily visible. However, I will say that I don’t use this method for future planning, so who knows! That’s part of the reason I abandoned it for recipes - I don’t usually follow recipes + I tend to make the same handful of dishes for a while, so I just never looked back at the list. I use it more when I’m in a rut and I want to see what I used to make more often, so in that situation, it’s not a bother to go through the whole list! Definitely an “to each her own” kind of system! I find that it works the best (for me) for my tasks, too ☺️
Oh well. I never heard of Alastair, but I made a version for myself when I was doing my bullet journaling last year. I put the date number in the box and wrote the event next to it. I used it for my future log. 🤔🤔🤔I couldah bin a contendah. 🙄🙄🙄😏😏😏
literally 3 seconds in I go... "wait... they're left handed!!!" and instantly subscribe - I love doing calligraphy but always find it a bit harder because of being a leftie #inspo
Please tell me someone has told you that you almost don't need and oblique nib holder? Lefties can do proper Spencerian Script with a straight nib holder. My sister used to and it made me so jealous
I’m always so surprised by what people write down all the time. I don’t even have a diary/calendar. Sometimes people even write down that they’re going grocery shopping
I do! I have two older videos that go through my collection bujo, if you’re interested! Basically, it’s where I keep collections I’ll need for a year or longer ☺️ (mostly goals & reading)
That’s a very good question- I don’t have a specific video but if I remember I used tombows during my HP lettering challenge - it would be the same style of writing; maybe check those out?
I use the Alastair Method for categorizing expenses. I write them down, then dot under groceries, eating out, entertainment, etc, which makes it easy to get totals and see trends.
this makes sense when it comes to dates on the other hand, this method seems unintuitive.
Love that idea!
You’d have to write the date in the task description...otherwise it would be chaos (and to be honest, I don’t use it for future planning, either!)
I've been doing this for months without realize it's an actual system with a name 😂
You track expenses by hand? That seems crazy to me... excel!!
I guess I've been using the Alistair Method without even knowing! I use it to prioritize - making rows labelled "1, 2, and 3" and highlighting how important it is to get the individual task done. Has been helping me to not get overwhelmed with tasks!
That’s awesome!
I was just thinking this would be very useful for school notes where the class is not very organized and the professor just talks a lot and you can't categorize in the moment (as a history major i would probably have the categories of "concept", "process", "document/quote", "prof comment", "important/review", etc)
Isidora Espinoza very smart idea!!!
What a great idea!!!
Could you elaborate a bit? It sounds interesting and I love learning about new methods of organization or documentation for university, but I don’t understand exactly what you mean :/
I'm starting my history major next month and you have no idea of how much this will be useful for me thanks
This is my first time hearing about this method. Sounds very interesting, might have to try it out for 2019. :)
I shall subscribe.
Finally found a fellow lefty in this right handed wirting youtube world ♡
I had not heard of this until your video, but am apparently using it for my exercise log. I track the minutes I exercise each day in a monthly log, and have a few categories in columns to indicate the type of exercise done (walking, elliptical, strength).
I love this! I have always liked my tasks to be organized by category, but in the same list. I’ve tried color coding, but carrying several different pens for writing a brain dump/to do list is a lot of work. I can’t wait to give this a try!
Very interesting. I’m just learning how to use a bullet journal and I am appreciative of all the info that is out there. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome!
This is the first I’ve heard of this method. I’ll have to try it when I start my next journal.
I like how you think outside the box, and allow ideas to function in different ways than originally planned.
Thank you! ☺️
Was thinking categorizing by high priority, priority, non priority would be a good idea for me. I’ll play around with it. Never heard of this method btw. Thanks for the info!
This is amazing! Never thought of using the Alastair Method for something else than a Future Log! I do categorise after the fact by colour but this is even more awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Brilliant! I've been looking for a way to organize meal planning and dish ideas. Didn't consider this method at all! Will certainly give it a go!
I love this idea! I think I will adapt it to an annual track of cleaning tasks that I don’t do every week. Thanks for the great video
Your adaptation of using job/personal/social media is genius because I just started using the days of the week and I found I was procrastinating most things because I assumed I would “get it done tomorrow” and then I would end up overwhelmed with too much to do with not enough days left..... I am going to try this myself! I don’t work or post to social media but I will definitely have Household / FlyLady / Personal columns. FlyLady being cleaning only and household being everything that needs dealt with that isn’t just for my personal amusement lol. LOVE this, thank you so much for this video!... oh maybe a Finance column too 👍
I'm going to use it for crafting (knit. Crochet, cross stitch, quilting, etc.)
I used to do like your previous method, and it drove me crazy so I stopped altogether. I much prefer this new strategy and can't wait to apply it!! Thank you for sharing :)
Great video! Well explained and executed! I couldn’t wrap my head around it until today and I like the idea of using it as a running task list for work, personal, school, and anything else I’m involved in. I’m going to give it a try and see what other ways I can use it!
I’m so glad it was clear!!
I've seen various people using Alistair lists but never understood how it works until this video. And I never fill my future log! It always seems like a waste of space. Thank you for sharing, Caitlin!
The first time is saw something like this was in maryplethora's older bullet journal videos. She used it for her semester plans and task categorizing, but I couldn't understand how it worked until now. Definitely going to be useful now that i know
This is great info! I'm going to use this method for listing changes to my bujo for 2019 and categorize if for Y,M,W or D spreads
That’s a great idea!
I think I might actually use this for menu planning. I like to pick out all the meals I want to make for the week and then make them according to the sell by date on the meat products that I buy so that I can make sure that I'm using the meat in a timely manner. This method makes it so I can list out my meals, make my grocery list and then decide which day I'm making them after I go grocery shopping instead of before, and then having to mess up my spread.
Looks nice method for set the weekly, maybe i should try if i can adopt it, thank you!
First time hearing about this method, I will follow up.
Uh this is so much better than the normal log.
I’ve been struggling with a space efficient way to record my meals list. This method is perfect!
i use this for my week view, with letters of the days of the week above. also as a habit tracker - the top row shows the days of the week, and the right column has my habits, so i can dot them off for the day if i achieve them on a particular day.
I used a version of this from Plant Based Bride where I would just brain dump everything I needed or wanted to get done that week and that way things for work that I do everyday I wouldn’t have to rewrite the task every day, but would just have on the left of that list Monday to Friday and would put a dot on each day that I was going to do that task and for tasks that I didn’t know what day I would get to it I would just leave blank and whenever I found time to do the task I would just put a dot in the column for that day and check it off when complete. That is the way that I interpreted how to use it and found it the best for those busy weeks where I had a lot to do, but didn’t know when I could or would get around to each task. Anything that was blank at the end of the week I would decide if it was still important and move it to the next week or just cross it off if irrelevant or plan to do it in the future when I might have more time.
That’s a cool idea! I kind of go through mine that way (ie if they’re relevant anymore or not) I just don’t separate by day 😅
I LOVE THIS! I think I’m going to start doing this to save time and keep things more organized! Thanks 😊
I liked your technique to use the method.....thanks
When you drew that first line I thought what in the world?! Ohhhhh okay she’s left handed. 😂 First video by the way.
😂😂 I actually know what you mean...and I’m a lefty, so I should be used to it!!
My first thought was: "an excel spreadsheet!" because I've been doing way too many reports at work lately. I use a variation on this for my period tracker, which is very useful since I've hit peri-menopause and like having the overall view of missed months vs steady cycles. I have tried several meal planning layouts, none of which have really worked for my ADHD brain. I may have to try the twist you gave yours with the type of meal (more likely based on main ingredient) and see if that helps keep the 'what do I make' monster at bay for a while.
I do think this will be helpful in my work log since I tend to have lots of clients with similar requests and I spend way too much time sorting out who needs what exactly. Columns with client names: rows with their request/issues. Then when I do my reports, I can line through the note as I add it.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Wow! I loved how you adapted it for your dailies. I think that's just what I need for my new BUJO system!
Holy Cow! I thought, OMG she spelled stationary wrong. Then I realized, I've been spelling it wrong. (Well, I guess imagine-spelling it wrong cause I don't think it's a word I've ever actually written down.) A lesson in humility.
def gonna use this method for my classes next sem! thank you for sharing your knowledge!
I have a list of books, movies/TV shows, songs, etc. that people have recommended to me, and I list them all out and indicate which of those things it is. I also have been using it in my weekly pages (M, T, W, Th, F, S, Su, or I don't know which day yet) but I think I might switch over to organizing it by category instead.
Incorporated this into my December spreads bc of you and I’m really excited to see how it worked out at the end of the month!
Awesome!! Hope it’s helpful!
Thank you to everyone who spelled the name correctly, for those who have forgotten, it's with an 'a' rather than an 'i', Alastair.
Super Idea! I will use it to see where things/ to dos have to be done... office... in town... or other places...
I use the method for gift ideas. For the columns, I fill in the people on my gift list, plus a column for gift exchanges. Then, if I see something out there that I may want to get for someone (or multiple someones), I'll write it down and mark the appropriate column(s). For anyone who a long gift recipient list, you can make multiple lists, and here are a few ways to divide: Birthdays (so those with upcoming birthdays are on one list), Family vs Friends vs Co-workers, Demographics/Tastes (so people who might want the same gift are more likely to be on the same list).
Excellent idea! And I love that you can cross-reference depending on the info you need!
If you think about it, most Habit Trackers are a giant Alistair Method things. I use it for my weekly tasks/events/reminders/habits/everything. I go one week at a time in an A5 dot grid with 27 cells on one page (54 cells in the entire spread). In cell K1 to Q1, I have the day of the month. In Cell K2 to Q2, I have the days of the week (L, M, M, J, V, S, D for the days of the week in French). In A3 to J3, I add the task/event. I shade in the cell (currently with a Mildliner) in row 3 where the task and day cross to indicate the day that I think or want to do the task. I check it off if I did it on that day, or shade in another day, or leave it unshaded if I really don't know when I'll get to it.
That’s true! However, I think the main difference is that with the Alistair, you add in information (task or event) whereas with a habit tracker, all your info is contained in the placement of your dot or x ☺️ (your tracker sounds intense! But also very organized 😍)
The adapted Alistar method is awesome! I'll try it for 2019. Thanks!
This is exactly what I was looking for for my 2019 bujo! THANK YOU!
I am going to use this in my christmas cleaning and cooking list! I have struggled how I do the lists as there always is something to add and not very much extra space.
That’s an awesome idea!
Also could use it to manage my "ideas" for clients :)
I love this method for tasks! Definitely going to incorporate it this year.
I use it for pet health health check and a separate page for items I want to keep track of such as: car service, dental appointment, hairdresser, doctor appointment, therapist etc. It helps for a quick view. I use pink marker for me and blue for my husband.
Excellent ideas! Thanks for sharing ☺️
Ah..I love this...Fianally a way to track by delegated and employee tasks!!!!! As an old boss used to say, I will still with pride! Thank you!!!!
Very inspiring, thank you for sharing this. Definitely worth to try it out.
I was using this method for a master cleaning list, but I'm thinking this may help track my pick up/drop off schedule. We're a one car family, meaning I'm basically a taxi for my family, lol. But keeping track of school, work, band, sports schedules for four kids is hard, it changes with the seasons too.
That’s genius!
I use it for project ideas, so my categories are like sewing, crafting, knitting, writing ect
Such a great idea. Thank you for sharing.
I do have a good fountain pen that I should use more. But, have laptop and iPad too. I note that one could use a spreadsheet and sort on the month columns, or whatever the column is used for. Hint: if the first column is sequentially numbered 1,2,3,... you can sort on it to get back to your original entry order. I tend to do this on every spreadsheet I create for this very reason.
That’s an excellent idea for spreadsheet people !
This is so smart! Thanks for the information!
I use it for my weekly plan with 5 day columns.
this would be great to distribute tasks in groups and make a list of items to take on a group vacation
I use it to categorize my index. Instead of dots, I put page numbers!
Oh! Cool idea!
Perfect!!! Gonna try this at work tomorrow. I'm a web developer and this might me really useful.
Thanks for this. Found it really useful and will be using for work related stuff.
i'm gonna give this method a try come the new year. Thanks!
Thanks for showing how you use the Alastair Method. Personally, it would drive me nuts not to have my future log in chronological order. Seeing dots under different months would completely throw me off. I can see how the method would work for recipes though.
You’re welcome! I agree about using it for a future log, but it’s definitely useful for other things!
So helpful! Thanks for sharing this, friend!!! Just in time for my 2019 set up!! 🥰🥰😘😘😘😘
Clicked cuz i saw a fellow lefty and stayed for the quality content
Aw thank you!! And welcome !
Such s great idea. I’ve never heard of it before but thank li for sharing 💕
Thanks for the video!
I didn't know of this before, will check out the blog post for sure
I’m going to try this for my PhD planning.
Thank u very very much for sharing! Amazing method!!
Every left handed gifted of a good ideas.
This is amazing, it's the first time I heard about this method and your ways of using it seems very usefull. You just got a subscriber!!!
Thank you! I hope you’ll find ways to incorporate the method ☺️
Like it - nice adaptation. Btw your daily set out looks great - have you done a video on your approach?
thanks! And I might have done - however this video is rather old so odds are I've changed it up since then!
wow love it. i need to start doing this !! also i didnt know they made a soft cover notebook.. i think i need to get that too lol
This is a great approach...thanks for the video! Oh, and early happy birthday!
Thank you!
Very useful, thanks!
It looks fancy and definitely saves space (& time if you would prepare your future log elaborately) but it's imho impracticable. If i were to look for a specific date to determine whether something is up then I'd first have too search for the number in the list and then check whether it's in the month I'm looking for (or other way around, look for month and check each dot for date). Same thing for your meal list. How do you actually FIND information on it, it seems to involve a lot of searching.
The version that seems practicable to me is for the task list personal/job distinction, since it's a smaller timeframe and less info per frame.
No hate, just saying I can't see it working for a wide application. But I'm definitely gonna look up the author, maybe I'll better understand then haha :D
I think the way most people probably use it for future planning is to go down the line for anything in, say, the December column, to then transfer to your monthly where it would be easily visible. However, I will say that I don’t use this method for future planning, so who knows!
That’s part of the reason I abandoned it for recipes - I don’t usually follow recipes + I tend to make the same handful of dishes for a while, so I just never looked back at the list. I use it more when I’m in a rut and I want to see what I used to make more often, so in that situation, it’s not a bother to go through the whole list!
Definitely an “to each her own” kind of system! I find that it works the best (for me) for my tasks, too ☺️
Wow! First time on your channel. Subbed. It'll be exciting to watch your 19k grow😎
Wow! I wasn't aware of this method! Thank you very much for this video! ^^
I need to try this. Thoroughly enjoyed this video, thank you for sharing.
i love these adaptions for alastair method. i have been searching for a better future log and one page weekly forever.. good inspiration!!! (huggles)
I didn’t even realize at first that the bullet journal was in french. Ahah the two language are so mixed up in my heads 😂
Really helpful. Thank you
Thank you, again 🍀❤️
wow! that's amazing
I am going to use this. Thanks
I'm gonna cross my fingers and hope this will pull my failing grades lol
Good luck!!
@@SunshineStationery Thank you!!
i believe in you!
@@taesfae-writes5773 Thank youuuu!
How did it go? :)
Oh well. I never heard of Alastair, but I made a version for myself when I was doing my bullet journaling last year. I put the date number in the box and wrote the event next to it. I used it for my future log. 🤔🤔🤔I couldah bin a contendah. 🙄🙄🙄😏😏😏
I like it! Will give it a try.
As a fellow lefty, I absolutely feel the paper kept under the palm during lettering😂 way to go pen smudges
Uuuh, I like it!!!! Thank you!!! 😀
I found your video by chance and my birthday is also the 29th of jan!
Yay!! Birthday twins! ☺️
Workout tracker, to tracj which exercises i do each day or study log for the different subjects i do each day
I learned something 😃
literally 3 seconds in I go... "wait... they're left handed!!!" and instantly subscribe - I love doing calligraphy but always find it a bit harder because of being a leftie #inspo
Please tell me someone has told you that you almost don't need and oblique nib holder? Lefties can do proper Spencerian Script with a straight nib holder. My sister used to and it made me so jealous
I’m always so surprised by what people write down all the time. I don’t even have a diary/calendar. Sometimes people even write down that they’re going grocery shopping
To each their own!
Sunshine & Stationery • of course! I’m just surprised people seem to really need it.
Thank you for making this!! This is super helpful!
It sounds like you have a separate journal for collections? Like to know more about this.
I do! I have two older videos that go through my collection bujo, if you’re interested! Basically, it’s where I keep collections I’ll need for a year or longer ☺️ (mostly goals & reading)
Love the meal list collection, not heard of the Alister method...
Do you have a video that shows your brushlettering you did at your intro?
That’s a very good question- I don’t have a specific video but if I remember I used tombows during my HP lettering challenge - it would be the same style of writing; maybe check those out?
this is so cool 😍
You could use it for workouts actually just rotate between 6-7 workouts over two weeks ! omg thats so cool i realised on the spot haha
Thank you))
Hi, this is beautiful! What pen have you used to write the days of the week in your journal.. (seen at 5:58)?
It’s a Tombow ! I don’t remember what number, though.... 😅
Thank youu