Blog No 162 – Diary/Bullet Journalling

Towards the end of every year, I always look forward to a new diary. It’s the one thing that I do obsess about. The diary needs to work for me and I’m very particular on its layout.

Back in May 2016, I discussed about doing a bullet journal in Weekly Blog No 77 – Bullet Journal. Then in Feb 2017, Weekly Blog No 94 – Bullet Journal Update, I gave the pros and cons of bullet journalling.

I’m always trying to improve how I set up my diary. Last year I attempted to use technology on my iPhone. Mr Zebrakat and I share calendar, so we are able to be more efficient. Subsequently I still maintain a hardcopy diary.

A diary allows Mr Zebrakat and I to check each other’s availability. We certainly don’t have to call each other up to see if an appointment is ok. If there’s no entry on the calendar, it’s free to book. This works very well for us both, therefore we shall continue this proven method.

I still have a hard copy diary and I’m able to glance on the monthly spread to see what appointments etc I have. I haven’t mastered that on a phone as yet. I can’t always look either, as I could be taking a call on my phone. Having a hard copy allows me quick access whilst on the phone

In Weekly Blog No 4 – Monthly Planner, May 2014, I discussed using colour to hi light appointments etc and my planner/diary was looking like a sea of pink. I have maintained using colour, it allows me to scan a page quickly. Maybe I’m a little OCD as I’ve maintained using colour for different things. This year Ive used Washi tape, a method picked up from bullet journalling.

This week I sourced bullet journal stickers from rebelinkco on Etsy (link below) to organise me better. I will use the monthly spread for appointments all colour coordinated of course. Red for Royal Free Hosp, blue for GP and yellow for scans etc etc. as

Colour is an excellent method for me to scan quickly when I’m searching for something in my diary. I did relay on my monthly calendar a little too much this year and hardly used the remaining diary pages.

Birthdays and anniversaries etc will move to weekly spreads alongside bills, pets meds and ordering medication etc. I will therefore use my diary a little more. See the various stickers above. I shall continue to use technology, my diary and bullet journalling methods. Surely I can only be more efficient and organised than ever before, let’s see, I will give feedback towards the end of the year.

• Rebelinkco
• Rebelinkco

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Weekly Blog No 94 – Bullet Journal Update

Sometime ago I mentioned that I was going to commence a bullet journal in Weekly Blog No 77. I failed my attempt after a couple of months and here’s why.

• It was time-consuming drafting and redrafting pages.
• At times my pages look quiet childlike and although they were organised, I didn’t feel professional when pulling out my bullet journal to schedule an appointment.
• I was never ahead with my monthly calendars
• I was constantly going backwards and forwards, flicking through with pages. As my monthly calendar was always between other pages.
• I was becoming stationary obsessed for washi tape and colour pens etc

I want to explain to everyone even though this was not suitable for me, I do like the principal of a bullet journalling. I had no problem filling in the content of the pages, it was setting up the pages that was time-consuming. With the knowledge that I gained along the way. I have maintained a moleskin book for recording various other important information to me, which is my one stop shop.

I have listed books read including specific authors pages. Now when I’m out shopping I can remember, which ones I have read. I recently created a moving out list of tasks, which I’m able to refer too. I have a yearly record of energy bills etc so that i can track the costs. I have an instant list of medical appointments to refer too. Lists of birthday gifts given and received. All the things you don’t remember necessary or even log. Yes you may log some of this stuff in a diary, but youre not going to keep 2 years of dairies in your handbag to retrieve the information. As you see, I’m able to utilise my moleskin in a different way, all inspiration from a bullet journal.

I have seen some amazing bullet journals on social media and kudos to all those people for their effort, discipline and creative genes. Thank you to the bullet journal community.

Weekly Blog No 77 – Bullet Journal

Image from pinterest.

I’ve  always used a diary but over the last few years, I’ve found shop brought diaries are not really working for me in one way or another.  I’m ok with technology but inputting everything into my phone is a weakness for me, I can’t seem to adapt to inputting all my info into my phone. I needed a solution to record all my important information into one tool. Furthermore I wanted Mr Zebrakat to be able to retrieve my tool that stored all my information like, GP details, current medication, recent op’s and recent appointments. A one stop shop tool for us both.

And then, I came across the answer to my problems whilst searching the internet. My new tool was going to be a bullet journal. Here’s the definition “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 the above”.

I was amazed to see that there’s a phenomenum of bullet journalists on social media. A very creative community letting their artistic  organizational and disciplined flow. I read a website called “bulletjournal.com”. Very inspirational. Bullet journals seem to be action by all ages as a resourceful tool.

This week I’m going to attempt a bullet journal and see how I get on, I want to purge all my information into one book. I was wondering if any of my followers use a bullet journal?