What in the World is a Bullet Journal?

Like most people, I have various meetings, appointments, tasks, and other activities that occur day-to-day. I can't keep them all in my brain without help, though, so like most people, I write them down in an effort to keep track of them. Over the years, I've tried all sorts of calendars, planners, and planning systems to keep track of school, work, family, medical appointments, hobbies, etc. I like calendars. A lot. Even now, I have a wall calendar at home, a wall calendar at work, a blotter calendar on my desk at work, a pocket-sized 2-year calendar in my purse, an Arc planner (sold by Staples here in the US) in my work bag... You get the picture.

I know, I know. I can track all of this on my smart phone. On my laptop. On my work computer. I can even sync them all. (I think I can, anyway. I'm not that conversant with the technology.)

The thing is, I LOVE pen and paper! I mean, I. LOVE. PEN. AND. PAPER. It's one of my "things," my obsessions. I collect office supplies the way some people collect baseball cards, or whatever people collect.

A calendar alone, though, has never met all of my needs. You see, I'm also an avid list-maker. To-do lists. Shopping lists. Birthday lists. To-be-read lists. Books I've already read lists. Project lists. Bucket lists. You name it, I've probably made a list for it. And I've probably LOST that list along the way, because it's often written on a separate sheet of paper tucked into a book, or my Arc planner. It falls out, and I try to recreate it on another piece of paper. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Enter the Bullet Journal.

My friend, Mel, was carrying her Bullet Journal around at an event we were both attending. I heard other friends make reference to their Bullet Journals. I went to my close personal friend, Google, to learn more.

I discovered Ryder Carroll's website, and this informative video:

After reading a few more websites and viewing a few more YouTube videos ('cause, you know, there's a YouTube video for just about everything you want to explore), I decided I HAD to give this Bullet Journal thing a try!

I ran to Target after work one Friday in August, bought a journal and some pens (even though I already own more pens than I can use between now and the age of 103), and dove in. As of this writing, I've been using my BuJo (isn't that a cute abbreviated nickname?) nearly six months. This is longer than I've stayed with any other sort of planning system.

What's the difference? Well, as far as I can tell, the thing that makes the BuJo work for me is that it's 100% customizable. The BuJo is not pretentious or selfish. It is willing to be whatever each user needs it to be. If you need flexibility, this is the system for you! 

I love the fact that I can keep track of all of my appointments AND all my lists. The Bullet Journal can accommodate both...plus whatever else I want it to hold. All in one book. It's brilliant! 

I'll be writing more about Bullet Journaling in future posts: my BuJo layouts (the good and the bad), my favorite supplies, sources of BuJo inspiration (there are some AMAZING people out there on the interwebz who share their BuJo goodness!), and things I want to try with my BuJo. 

Do you also keep a Bullet Journal? Do you use another planner or planner or system? I'd love to hear about it--please leave a comment!