Table of Contents / Easy Nav.
Who created the Bullet Journal? Ryder Carroll
What is it?
A notebook customized—by you—to meet your needs & accommodate your flow.
Boho Berry: Bullet Journal 101 – What is a Bullet Journal?
BuzzFeed: WTF Is A Bullet Journal And Why Should You Start One? An Explainer
The Lazy Genius Collective: How to Bullet Journal: The Absolute Ultimate Guide: includes digital vs analog discussion
Page Flutter: The Bullet Journal: What It Is & Why You Need It: covering the typical components of a bullet journal, with illustrative pages

When would/should one adopt a Bullet Journal?
Mid-year, mid-month, mid-week. The time for starting a bullet journal mirrors the time you feel a need to
get it togetha. That’s the joy of a planner/diary you create: it’s your world, so exploit it!
DNSimple Blog: The Bullet Journal: when reliability and practicality outweigh technology: Trello, FourSquare & TripIt ~ BuJo style
Paper Planning: Using Your Bullet Journal to Have a Productive Day… When You Feel Brain Dead: includes “How to write an idiot’s guide to your day” 🤗
Writesquire: When Apps Pluck Your Last Nerve, Create a Bullet Journal: when one too many devs perceived loyal customers as personal piggy banks to be raided, offering no or irrelevant new features, I rebelled
Where can this type of planner prove helpful?
✧︎ Businesses
Being Boss: Creative Entrepreneurs: Getting Started with a Bullet Journal: quick yet efficient discussions re Weekly brain dumps, daily schedule and tasks, and tools
Small Business Bonfire: How to Use a Bullet Journal as an Entrepreneur: concise yet informative; best section → Things to Remember ← I absolutely concur!
Working Mom’s Balance: Bullet Journal Basics for Working Moms
✧︎ Home Offices: Freelancers / Writers SoloPreneurs
Boho Berry: Bullet Journal for Freelancers & Writers: tracking clients, content, and more
Page Flutter: 14 Bullet Journal Lists to Supercharge Your Writing Skills: Flabby Words, Grammar Anatomy and other gems
Bullet Journal: The Writer’s Answer to Getting Things Done: I agree ~ productivity skyrocketed after adopting a bullet journal (the magic phrase – enhanced focus via writing)
Something Delicious: A Fiction Writer‘s Bullet Journal: bonus ~ additional resources
Writers Edit: The Complete Guide To Bullet Journaling For Writers: “complete” indeed; and, excellent points presented in the Notebook section.
✧︎ Legal Field
Attorneys At Work: Pen on Paper Works! The Bullet Journal: Litigator/Writer
Reluctant Law Student: A look at my Bullet Journal: conquering the “where to start” dilemma inherent in a list of tasks
✧︎ ︎Medical Field
University of Nebraska Medical Center News: My New Obsession: The Bullet Journal: “Let me tell you something: the concept of a bullet journal is amazing.”
✧︎ OnLine
Little Coffee Fox: The Bullet Journal for Bloggers – 13 Easy Ways to Organize Your Blog: project checklists, Pinterest maintenance, habit tracker, daily planning & more ~ a plate full of delectable goodies for your plan-a-blog meal
So Not Together: Bullet Journal for Blogging: unique “get published” and “online engagement” spreads
✧︎ Schools: Educators / Students
A Waldorf Journey: Bullet Journal for Teachers
Alexandra Plans: My Teacher Bullet Journal Setup
BulletJournal: Bullet Journaling for Teachers: pertinent statistics
The Candid Teacher: Bullet Journal for Teachers: "Use it as part of a three-pronged approach to classroom organization"
∷︎︎ ∷︎︎ ∷︎︎
Blessedly Busy: 10 Tips for a Successful Student Homeschool Bullet Journal
Boho Berry: Inside a Student's Bullet Journal with Sareena
Fresh U: 7 Reasons Every College Student Should Start a Bullet Journal
How to Bullet Journal: A Student's Guide to Bullet Journaling
✧︎ Streets & Parks: Runners.
Bullet Journal Joy: How My Bullet Journal Helps Me Run
Runner’s World: 11 Impressive Bullet Journal Designs Runners Are Using: The title makes a promise, and the article delivers.
Why use a Bullet Journal?
Heightened focus. Everything, or relevant pointers, in one location. And more.
Bumbling BuJo: How bullet journaling changed my life in 3 months
Bustle: This Teen’s Bullet Journal For Tracking Mental Health Is Going Viral & Everyone Is Following Suit
Medium: 5 Reasons Why Bullet Journal Will Improve Your Life
NY Mag: Why the Bullet Journal Works: It Soothes Your Panicky Mind — Science of Us
Reader’s Digest: Stressed? Here’s Why You Need to Start a Bullet Journal
Self: I Started a Lazy Bullet Journal and It Low-key Changed My Life
Slate: Why is bullet journaling popular? It makes you feel productive for doing just about anything
Yahoo News: The Bullet Journal helped me get my life in order — and it can seriously help you, too
How do I create/use one? How do I set it up? How can I find layouts and ideas?

Bullet Journals vary, in terms of both form/layout and substance/content.
As regards form, the artistically inclined find relaxation in drawing elaborate eye-candy filled pages. Others, like yours truly, opt instead for minimalism. What's best is whatever keeps you faithful to the system.
With respect to substance, some prefer a one-notebook-handles-all approach. Others may relegate certain components (e.g. logs, lists, trackers) to companion notebooks. Different folks; different strokes.
Suggestion: Consider your lifestyle as well as your needs/desires within the context of planning. Wisdom suggests taking your maiden voyage in an old notebook. A month or so in, you'll have a better feel for the system, allowing informed tweaks. At that point, you may want to pinpoint a notebook and pen/pencil promising to emerge as faves. What we like, we want to use. Critical, since any self-management scheme worthy of the name mandates regular use!
✧︎ Key
Quick experiment: grab a piece of paper, jot 3 items, and mark one with a shortcut signifying super-important. That signifier your intuition gifted? Your first item for the key, essentially, a list of your signifiers / symbols. Please, don't get swallowed by elaborate examples. The immediate goal: fashion a bujo that works for you, not vice versa.
Crazy Little Fish: Bullet Journal: How to Make Your Key Work for You: good example of tweaking a standard, to reflect personal needs
Flickr: Mario Valdez: Bullet Journal Key: the classic version
Indulgy: Bullet Journal Key: helpful additions
Jacqueline Gonzalez: How to Bullet Journal, Part Two: Rapid Logging, the Key: pics, each with explanatory narrative
→ → Pics / Examples: Flickr, Instagram
✧︎ Index
Short version = what's where, e.g. lists, logs, particular spreads, etc.
BulletJournal.com: Index Mods, and Variations
Mountains of Pens: I love my 2015 bullet journal index
We Heart It: Bullet Journal – Index by Daniela Paillaguala
→ → Pics / Examples: Flickr, Instagram
✧︎ Daily Log
Flickr: Bullet Journal – Daily Log | Here’s a daily spread
Hannah Emily Lane: Bullet Journal: 5 Daily Log Layouts
Scrively: The Bullet Journal-Workshop: Color-coding the Daily Log & note taking
→ → Pics / Examples: Flickr, Instagram
✧︎ Weekly Spread
Christina 77 Star: 25 Weekly Spread Ideas for your Bullet Journal
Forever Good Life: Ideas & Inspiration: Bullet Journal Weekly Spread
How to Bullet Journal: 11 Weekly Spread Ideas for your Bullet Journal
Krafty Owl: Weekly Spread Ideas for your Bullet Journal
→ → Pics / Examples: Flickr, Instagram
✧︎ Monthly Spread
To Feel Comfortable: SetUp of my Monthly Spread in my Bullet Journal
HowToBulletJournal: 11 Monthly Spread Ideas
Hip Home Schooling Blog: 5 Creative Monthly Spread Ideas for your Bullet Journal
→ → Pics / Examples: Flickr, Instagram
✧︎︎ Future Log
Jacqueline Gonzales: How to Bullet Journal, Part Three: The Future Log: delightfully comprehensive discussion
Kim Alvarez: Future Log Inspiration – Bullet Journal: good “food for thought” collection of layouts
→ → Pics / Examples: Flickr, Instagram
✧︎ Daily Time Bar
Mike Rohde: The Daily Time Bar in a Bullet Journal: time tracking gem
→ → Pics / Examples: Google
✧︎ Dutch Door
Christina 77 Star: Dutch Door Ideas for your Bullet Journal: delightfully informative pics, up the wazoo
Passion Themed Life: Using a “Dutch Door” In Your Bullet Journal
Dutch Door Tutorial / How To: YouTube & more
→ → Pics / Examples: Google
✧︎ Collections / Lists / Logs
Book Riot: Bullet Journal Ideas for Books: variety of Reading Lists
→ → Pics / Examples: Instagram, Google
A Few BuJo Spreads, Writesquire Style
Blogger's BuJo: Articles Log

(Blue-Crowned Hanging Parrot, Asia. Snapped @ NC Zoo, Asheboro)
Goals/ EDC BuJo: Gratitude Spread

#gratitude #bujospread
#hobonichiweeks (Tadanori Yokoo 109-Faced Painter)
✦︎ Water, multiple times a day. Food, ditto. My spirit deserves at least as much. Notes jotted throughout the day; different color per day. (Carolina Wren, nodding a thx to Momma Pam. Snapped @ Triangle Area backyard, NC)
Word BuJo: Hobonichi Cousin: Daily Spread

✦︎ Dual time blocking: plan vs reality
✦︎ + 30 min increments ← Pomodoro
✦︎ = accountability
✦︎ 7 life categories (Mr. Eastern BlueBird. Snapped in my backyard, Triangle area, NC)
Blogger's MultiYear BuJo

→ 2017-2021 Blog Editorial Calendar / Record
→ Q4/2018-2021 Social Media Editorial Cal (FB, IG, etc)
(Carolina Chicadee. Snapped @ Triangle area backyard, NC 🇺🇸)
Self-Care BuJo Jibun Techo A5 Slim Standard: HeadCheck BookEnds

Conclusion
As you view the bullet journals folks on InstaGram, Flickr and elsewhere, feel no intimidation by the artistic flourishes. As noted by creator Ryder Carroll: "There are a lot of very beautiful and elaborate Bullet Journals out there on Instagram. This can be very intimidating. It's not about how your Bullet Journal looks, it's about how effective it is." 1 Effectiveness, in turn, requires multiple productivity-enhancing habits. For that reason, I've included the following Bonus Section.
Bonus Section (cuz a BuJo needs a Goals umbrella for true productivity enhancement)
List of time management & productivity blogs: sharing ideas to maximize your workflow
The Pomodoro Technique: Is It Right For You?: Some love it; some despise it; some massage it to better reflect their work circumstances. In any event, worthy of consideration.
Ten Thought-Provoking Questions Peak Performers Ask Themselves Every Morning
11 Things Smart People Don’t Say
12 Proven Productivity Hacks to Help You Win Every Day (Michael Hyatt)
Keeping a Time Log: How to Do It and Its Benefits | The Art of Manliness
PDF, Printable Template: the 15-minute increment time log: a sure fire method to fight procrastination - log your work day as you tackle tasks
3 Productivity Habits (Not Tools!) for Busy Professionals
Time Blocking -- The Secret Weapon For Better Focus: I use color-coded blocks, each representing a work category, e.g. Writing, Admin(istration), Author Platform, Prospecting (leads for submitting articles), Law (related to my legal practice)
10 Simple Steps to Exceptional Daily Productivity
How to Overcome Your Inner Dialogue of Doubt and Get Stuff Done: Understand, the moment you step outside your comfort zone—focusing on an unknown—the beast of resistance will attack, powering negative self-talk. I've learned running from that voice is like trying to unring a bell. Instead, I acknowledge the would-be pulverizing thoughts, respond & move on. (Yep, today I'm a dummie on this subject, but there are countless books for dummies. So kiss my skleeboop as I work my way through every dang dummie book 'out dere' focused on this new-to-me field!)
How to Set Up Your Workspace for Maximum Productivity (Infographic)
How to Become More Resilient So Nothing Can Keep You Down
The 2 Most Powerful Words for Reaching Your Goals (if/then)
Read More & Feast on the Thousands of LayOuts
The following Pinterest resources are updated daily, although I do tend to unplug completely on Sundays.
BuJo / Bullet Journal
Bujo-Planner Hybrids, Supplies
Whether you have a system calling out for tweaks, or you’re about to implement a life-management system to navigate your goal-quest journey, “now” is a friend: Be stronger than your excuses. (Eric Thomas)
Psst! → My BuJo's Theme Song
Footnotes
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/02/07/what-the-hell-is-a-bullet-journal-and-why-are-people-using-the/, last accessed 2/8/2017 (boldface emphasis added) ↩
- Specific :: Measurable :: Action-oriented :: Realistic :: Trackable :::: Example: At my age, setting a goal to become a famous ballerina defies nature's laws of physicality. But if I'm determined to become a premier grant-writer, I'd start at the end and work backward. In a nutshell, I'd sit down & scrutinize oodles of successful grant applications; find related (free) webinars as well as Kindle Unlimited & Audible books; feed my RSS reader with niche blogs; study job postings for grant writers to discern frequently stated requirements ... the list goes on. I'd then set quarterly milestones (what will be accomplished when), broken down further into monthly → weekly milestones, and finally, daily agendas. ↩
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