Enter stage left...my bullet journal
Who knew a to-do list would bring me joy?
I have written several times in this forum about my fraught relationship with daily to-do lists…
…and notebooks.
Specifically, the iconic notebook known as the Bullet Journal.
Finding the right notebook can seemingly change peoples lives. There’s this guy Ryder Carroll, who invented this thing called the Bullet Journal. It’s the simplest, most incredible looking thing. It’s sexy AF. It actually seems to change people’s lives, if you believe the gushing testimonials. And it’s way too intimidating for me to ever actually consider using.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, times have changed.
Please welcome to the stage…my bullet journal.
I’m not sure exactly what prompted me to overcome my fear, my intimidation, my lack of faith that I could take on such a potent symbol of order, productivity, and self-improvement.
I probably owe some credit to my bestie-from-the-West-Coast Kimberly Jane Nasrul , who came on the show in May to talk about to-do lists, to-done lists, and super intense workouts.
While I have yet to take a bar method class or get my keister back to bikram yoga, the talk of lists seems to have had some effect...
And yes, the things that Mr. Carroll claims this journaling method can do are actually happening for me to some degree:
More is happening in less time. I somehow have been able to check off more things than I was before. And they feel more manageable, not as big of a deal.
My shoulders have relaxed a little. I feel less stress when I think about what’s in store for the day, or the week, or the season. I have some level of confidence that there’s a place for it in this notebook and, by having a place, it will eventually get done, or moved to a better time and place for it to get done.
I’m thinking about what I’ve done and what’s to come. I just wrapped up the month of June, which entails putting everything important, interesting, or exciting from the month in an easy, at-a-glance list. And it was really nice to take a moment and look at it. Who knew a to-do list would cause me to smile, would bring me joy?
The oddest feature I’ve encountered so far of my bullet journal is its addictive quality. I feel a compulsion to keep it near me, to check in and see how I’m doing in working through my dotted to-dos. When I’m out in the world and something pops up that I need to remember, I look forward to the time when my BuJo and I are reunited so that I can jot it down.
But this is an addiction that I hope stays with me.
❤️
Adam
What have your to-dos done for you lately?