What is a Bullet Journal?

There is no better description than the one by their creator, Ryder Carroll:

The Bullet Journal is a customizable and forgiving organization system. It can be your to-do list, sketchbook, notebook and diary, but most likely, it will be all of the above. It will teach you to do more with less.”

Simply put, it is a customizable organizational system that works for you, exactly how you want it to work.

How do Bullet Journals work?

In short, a bullet journal is made up of four key components.

The first component is the Index. The directory at the front organizes the following pages, making it easier to locate entries made. Numbered pages are noted down and added to the Index as you journal.

The second component are the entries themselves, sometimes called Collections. Examples of Collections include Monthly or Daily Logs, Task Pages, Calendar Pages, Shopping Lists or Meeting Notes.

The third component is one that is exclusive to Bullet Journaling: Rapid Logging. By using Bullets and Signifiers to show the priority and type of a task, it can take a seemingly unmanageable list and make it much more realistic to handle.

The fourth component of a Bullet Journal is Migration. Touched on briefly in the Key, it's the process of moving a task forward or back should it be completed or be better tackled another day.

Who are Bullet Journals for?

To put it succinctly, everyone. Well, everyone who wants to get organized. Whether you're a college student wanting to organize your assignments, an athlete looking to keep a record of their workouts, or even just someone wanting to keep track of a new hobby, Bullet Journaling could just be for you.

So how exactly do I get started?

As the quote by Arthur Ashe goes, "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." As much as you may think that a certain type of journal or a specific $20 pen may make you more focused, neater or more organized, start with what you have. All you really need is something to write with and something to write on.

Where can I get ideas for it?

There are large and active Bullet Journaling communities on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Search the hashtags #bujo or #bulletjournal for a wealth of ideas and potential sources of inspiration.

Grab your pens, get set and journal!