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What Is Bullet Journaling? And Will It Help Me Be More Organized

Example of bullet journaling
Elena Dy/Getty Images

There are a million and eight apps designed to help you keep notes and calendars and the like. And while these certainly have a time and a place, there’s something refreshing about managing your to-dos with simple pen and paper. Enter: Bullet Journaling, a customizable and straightforward way to organize your life (that’s kinda taking the Internet by storm).

Here’s how Bullet Journaling & Rapid Logging works

Bullet Journaling uses the method of  “Rapid Logging” to keep things super efficient. For monthly and daily calendars, you Rapid Log your tasks. If you don’t accomplish them, the world doesn’t end; you just move things to the future. Oh, and everything requires a super-simple shorthand, like this:

• = New task
X= Completed task
> = Task that carried over from a previous list or month
< = Task that’s been scheduled for a specific time
O = An event
- = Note to self
* = VIP note
! = Inspiration

Here’s what a typical day might look like:

WednesdayFebruary 20, 2018

> Enter the Hamilton lottery (again)
X Make an appointment for haircut
  Do at least 20 minutes of exercise (you can do it!!!)
X Buy more dog food
• Research the best three-day vacation spots
! “It’s all fun and games until you have to pee in a jump suit.”
- New coffee shop down the street to try
* Dry cleaner closes at 8 p.m. 
X Call Mom
O Talent show

Here’s what you'll need: 

A notebook and a pen. (Seriously, that's it.)

In short: It’s an analogue to-do list, sketchbook, notebook and diary all in one. And it looks super cute and tidy.

The Best-Selling Panda Planner Is Like Bullet Journaling for Dummies



DaraKatz

Executive Editor

  • Lifestyle editor and writer with a knack for long-form pieces
  • Has more than a decade of experience in digital media and lifestyle content on the page, podcast and on-camera
  • Studied English at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

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