A beginner’s guide to bullet journaling

In these times of uncertainty, it helps to have something constant in your life. So, if you have an endless flow of tasks, commitments, and reminders bogging you down, or if you're looking to become more organised, keeping a bullet journal can be productive. These aesthetically pleasing blank notebooks, turned into works of art, have become popular on social media during the last decade. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you start bullet journaling.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

The premise of bullet journaling is simple: you need a pen and a notebook. Do not overwhelm yourself with stock of stationeries and complicated designs. As a beginner, you can follow printable templates and maintain a log of your daily tasks.

MAINTAIN A THEME

Experiment with new themes according to your moods. You can find many ideas and inspirations under the 'bujo' hashtag on Instagram. Designate separate pages for maintaining your records and lists. For example, you can keep track of books you want to read or movies you have watched in a particular month.

ENJOY THE PROCESS

Bullet journaling helps in reducing anxiety, and is a brilliant way to indulge in self-care. You can choose to be artsy or minimalistic with your journal. Remember to follow your personal style and enjoy the process of making the spreads.

MAKE IT A HABIT

The key to success with bullet journaling is to keep at it— and the best part is that it generally requires less time commitment than other types of journaling because of the rapid logging. Take your time to set up your main pages then make a habit of giving at least 15 minutes to it every day.

EXPAND YOUR PRACTICE WITH TIME

There are several groups and communities dedicated to bullet journaling. You can join their discussions and follow the ones you like. Instead of starting off with monthly spreads, do it on a daily basis with monthly recaps. You will find ways to improve on it with time.

The author is a freelance journalist who likes reading, scribbling and planning. Write to her at mislammonamee@gmail.com.