Tag: bullet journal

Journaling - Scheduling

Journaling in June Part #1: Scheduling

Lori @ Touch of Organized1 Comment

This month we’re talking about journaling! We’ll cover scheduling, tracking, gratitude journaling, habits, and supplies. That’s quite a bit! Let’s start with scheduling, the most common use of a bullet journal.

Deciding which type of scheduling works best for you depends on how busy your time is.  For the most part, I personally use monthly since my goals are usually flexible but I know what I want to accomplish during the month.  Sometimes I throw in a daily or a weekly page if a particular time frame is more hectic and I need the increased organization.

Daily

I think that this type of scheduling works best for busy folks who are juggling multiple priorities within a single day and need a locked-in schedule system.  That could be work, kids, second jobs, aging parents, volunteer responsibilities, and so much more.  My work days are not really conducive to a “hard schedule” but if you are able to schedule blocks of time for certain tasks, a daily schedule will help keep you on track.  You can block off how much time one task will take, and then move on to the next one when the time is over.

Weekly

This is probably the best solution for many people.  It’s the good “medium” level of scheduling and organization.  This is the system I used prior to the pandemic in order to best keep track of everything.  Some weeks were busier than others so there were some unused pages, but other weeks filled right up.  It is one of the best things about bullet journaling – is that there is no one method set in stone!

Monthly

Lately, I have been leaning towards this one but that could change as the pandemic quarantine protocols are lessened.  I am really hoping my activities pick pack up, such as my book club or outings with friends.  If that ends up happening, I may switch back to weekly, but I do enjoy being able to see the month layout so that I know what days to squeeze in what activities.

Click to get your full printable planner today!

All said and done, a hybrid might work best – for example, monthly pages followed by weekly pages.  The only downside to a page-per-day system is that it ends up taking quite a bit of space in your journal of choice.  If you are bullet journaling with dot-grid pages, you get to make your own system so you can always adapt it as you need to!

use planner effectively

How to use my planner effectively

Lori @ Touch of Organized1 Comment

Have you been wondering how to use your planner effectively? Whether you are new to bullet journaling or a seasoned user, there are lots of ways to develop and grow your planner habit! In case you are unfamiliar — a bullet journal is a hybrid that combines your daily planner, your journal, your diary, and your to-do lists.

Bullet journaling has gained such a following in the last few years; it has become an industry to itself. I am always on the lookout for new tips and tricks, and love to collaborate with my fellow bullet journal lovers to share ideas. The amazing journalers linked below have some wonderful tips and tricks and hacks that can really take your ‘bujo’ to the next level!

how to use my planner effectively

5.The co-authors at Diary of a Journal Planner Bullet Journal Tips and Tricks recommend starting simple and to focus on the information instead of the aesthetics at the beginning. In order to develop the habit of using your new bullet journal, use it daily even if that is just for five minutes. Start with a quick outline of what you intend to use it for and use that to build your index.

how to use my planner effectively

4.Nancy from Sweet Planit has some great tips to share with us. First and foremost, to be patient with yourself — that not every page in your personal bullet journal has to be Instagram-worthy. And only create pages that you plan to use so that you don’t get overwhelmed. Using stamps, stickers, washi tape, and doodles to decorate really make the pages pop but minimalist is okay too if that is your style. After all, this is your bullet journal!

how to use my planner effectively

3.If you are already familiar with the basics, Shelby from Little Coffee Fox has some great hacks to take it to the next level. If you want to use your planner effectively, try color coding — along the outer edges of your journal makes things easy to organize and see categories at a glance. Markers and washi tape are great for color-coding and make sure to color-code and categorize your index to match.

how to use my planner effectively

2.Kalyn has two great page hack tutorials. I wish I had found her post earlier! She describes how to create a great dutch-door or the perfect flip-out page. It’s like making your bullet journal 3D! I love my flip out page because I can have my color coding “cheatsheet” readily available no matter what page I’m working on.

Over 100 things to track

1.One of the most common questions I get from everyone, new bullet journal folks and seasoned users, is what else can I track in my bujo. I have created a great list of over 100 things to track from all facets of life – calendar, celebrations, entertainment, faith, financial, food, health, hobbies, household maintenance, kids, pets, self-care, to-do lists, and even work.

Subscribe below and get the great cheat sheet to add something new to your bullet journal!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get the most out of my planner?

Your planner is your employee — it is here to work for you. That said, sometimes it can be hard to figure out just how to use all of those pages and features. My methods have certainly evolved and will continue to change as life evolves. Sometimes I’m good at using it and sometimes I’m not so diligent. But I keep at it. I love having my color-coded so that I can see at a glance what is coming up in my month.

What do I include in my planner?

Oh so many things! I highly recommend starting with a simple calendaring system and growing from there. You can also sign up below to get access to my library of printables which includes a terrific cheat sheet of tracking ideas!

How do I start using my planner effectively?

Block out a few minutes at the beginning and end of each day to focus on your planner habit. Over time, you will really see a difference in how effective it becomes when you figure out what needs to happen that day and when you plan ahead for the next day.

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