Productivity and organization are something everyone strives for, so it's no wonder that there are entire businesses built on the backs of people trying (and failing) to get their lives in order. Every person's needs are different, meaning the one-size-fits-all approach of many planners doesn't actually work for many people.
I've tried dozens of different planners, and inevitably I end up leaving whole pages blank on lazy weeks — and then have not nearly enough space on those busy days when I need it. Plus, such pre-fab planners don't have the flexibility to track many non-task items, like books to read or movies to see. I thought I was doomed to never find the right solution.
Yes, I've also tried digital options, but my love of putting pen to paper made those systems hard to stick with. And then I discovered the Bullet Journal method.
"But Amy, what on earth is a bullet journal?" I pretend to hear you asking.
The most important thing to remember is that a bullet journal (or "BuJo" for the converts) isn't a physical product, it is a system. This means that all you need to get started is a writing implement and something to write in.
The system was created by Brooklyn-based artistic director Ryder Carroll as a way to organize his personal schedule.
When he kept being asked about his tricks, he finally created a website for it and the system's mix of simplicity and customizability quickly made it take off. There is now a companion app that aims not to replace the analog tools, but to complement them.
The system starts with four basic modules (or "spreads"): the Future Log, the Monthly Log, the Daily Log, and the Index.
So in a nutshell, what's coming up in the future, what's happening this month, what I need to do today, and a place to look up where to find previous notes. 
Simple, right? So simple, in fact, that the community exploded with creativity and now you can find incredible examples of people's personal BuJos online.
The important thing to remember is that a BuJo can be as simple or fancy as you want it to be. Minimalist spreads are just as beautiful as artsy ones, and both are great for planning your day.
I guess it went pretty well, since I'm now using an official Bullet Journal notebook!
Though the official book wasn't a hard sell for me since I actually use the Leuchtturm 1917 notebooks regularly.
The wax seal I added myself because I'm the type of person who owns a seal and wax — and if that impresses you, you should see my vintage pen collection.
At first I just tried all sorts of layouts and projects, from keeping track of the weather to meal tracking to Instagram challenges.
Over time I figured out what worked for me and what didn't.
It's also fun to be able to look back at bullet point reminders of events even if I didn't have time for proper journaling. Like the incident listed on August 2nd where a skunk got himself trapped in my garbage bin. And you can cover up mistakes with photos or stickers like I did with the butterfly pic.
It took a few months of experimenting, but I eventually settled on a comparatively simple daily layout.
The brush pen calligraphy isn't just for show. By writing out the dates, it forces me to get that little bit of calligraphy practice in every day.
In terms of colors, I have no set system, save that I always list media I'm starting/finishing in orange.
For the most part, I spend maybe 10 minutes a day in my BuJo before bed. I jot down any extra notes for the day, write out the next date, and add any to-do list items required.
The exception is my monthly spreads. I like to take the time to draw out a proper calendar and pick a theme, such as November being National Novel Writing Month.
I also draw a little bookshelf on every monthly spread to track my monthly reading.
That's pretty much the basics, but I will also use my bullet journal as a project planner and for keeping track of collections...
I discovered that my BuJo is the perfect place to plan out projects, since I can keep ideas, sketches, and schedules all in one place.
Like with this cupcake dress I made for a cousin's bridal shower.
It was a complicated, time-sensitive project and the BuJo was perfect for keeping things on track. It's also good to look back on the initial concept and the final result, so I can learn from each project.
It's also great for trip planning! (Hamiltonis awesome, BTW!)
The washi tape along the edge of some pages marks where a monthly spread is, allowing me to quickly flip back when I don't have a bookmark to spare.
Another fun experiment has been with keeping track of what movies I've watched this year.
Since I was starting a whole new notebook, I was able to take the time to play with layouts, such as movie popcorn. This is really cute, but I think I'll try something different once this page is full.
More successful has been my TV show tracking spread, where I lined up simple old TVs to fill out as I finish shows.
Since I watch more TV than movies, I gave myself two pages to start with. And yeah, I watch a lot of anime.
Though I read a ton too, I don't keep a yearly book list in my BuJo because I've actually been keeping a separate reading journal for 10 years now.
So I'd say my experiment was a success!
For the first time, I feel like I'm staying organized without a lot of compromises and it's easy to tweak my BuJo to match any changes in my day-to-day schedule and responsibilities.
Have you tried the Bullet Journal or a similar system? Tell me about it in the COMMENTS, and SHAREthis experiment with any of your friends who have been looking to get more organized!
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