Bullet Journaling

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First and foremost, I am still among the living. Yes, I've been weighed down with homework, projects, and final exams. No, I haven't been able to do any blogging, writing, or Stranger Things watching, but I am alive. My deepest apologies for my temporary digital departure. These last few weeks of school have been truly chaotic! Don't you just love how teachers save the biggest presentations until the very end of the year, when the summer breeze is calling your name? And please don't even mention my tap dance recital - I've been practicing a ton, as it's this Saturday, but I am super stressed out. On top of all this, we just had Awards Night, tomorrow is the Formal Dance, and my brain can't remember anything on the math study guide. Ugh.
However, I do have two consolations. The first is that there are only five full days of school left. Then, like Dobby, I will be FREEEE for a whole three months! Plenty of time to get my mind nice and empty. For another, I have my bullet journal to keep me organized and on top of my work during these final trying weeks.

What is a bullet journal, you say? Yeah, that was me too, until about five months ago. I became familiar with the concept on Pinterest, but it was really mi amiga Maddi (remember her?) who inspired me to start one. According to bulletjournal.com, "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." All you need to create a bullet journal is - you guessed it - a journal. Really shocking, huh? In my experience, dotted notebooks work better than lined ones, as they leave more room for creative banners and drawings. Oh, and pens help too. That way you can write stuff down. This is a very important thing. But on the whole, that's really it. The bullet journal can be anything that you want it to be. If you adore aesthetics and colorful embellishments (like yours truly), feel free to decorate it to your heart's content. If you need an agenda for chores, schoolwork, or any other tasks, the bullet journal is your go-to. A bullet journal is like the egg of the cooking world; super versatile and ready to meet your every need.

 The best part of bullet journaling is looking back at your previous pages. It's such fun to look at the pictures you may have pasted in of your friends and recipes, read over your old schedules, or admire the sun dry collection of washi tapes your notebook boasts. Really, anything goes!
Okay. Now you have your notebook. You've got your pen or pencil, and you're wielding it like the mighty sword it is. What's next? You need to create a table of contents! Set aside a few page spreads for a table of contents, so that as you go, you can locate specific features and pages. With a table of contents, you won't spend years flipping through for your meal prep planner. That's a bit of an exaggeration but... you get my point. Post Page(s) of Contents, it's time to have fun with unique page templates! Some ideas are listed below:
Treasure the Small Moments

  • Your daily or weekly schedules and to-do lists. Don't forget to do those social studies notes or to walk the dog!
  • A habit tracker. Did you exercise on May 4th? Did you wash your hair on May 8th?
  • Monthly calendar: what's going on this month? Sussie's birthday, or perhaps Oliver's cello concert? Jot it down here!
  • Meal Planner Page. What do you need to prep for this week? What's the plan for dinner? Did you remember to put macadamia nuts on the shopping list?
  • Motivation Page. Are you feeling a little down? Do you need a joyful quote or some fitspo? Put it here!
  • Memorie Lane. This one is important for me. As I am going to a different school than my friends next year, I love nothing more to take snapshots of our day to day activities. Whether it's a polaroid picture or even a drawing, these pages are fabulous to look over later.
  • Coloring! Draw a few pictures for a lazy day, and color them in at your leisure. A good way to get those creative juices flowing and relax, all at once!
  • Goal Page. Sometimes, we all need to sit down and evaluate where we want the next few days, months, or years. On your goal page, transform your dreams into plans and your fantasies into realities!
  • Anything else that fits your fancy. Want to track books to read or movie to watch? Personal finances? Passwords? Are you in the mood to write about your day or write a story? You go for it!
Get journaling - it just might save you during finals week.
-Maya

Photo by Hannah Olinger on Unsplash, Photo by Jessica Lewis on Unsplash,
Photo by Devaiah Mallangada Kalaiah on Unsplash

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