It’s been a long while since I made the active decision to give up bullet journaling. At least for now, I have.
Let’s start with the basics. What is bullet journalling or the bullet journal method?
“A bullet journal (sometimes known as a BuJo) is a method of personal organization developed by digital product designer Ryder Carroll. The bullet journal system organizes scheduling, reminders, to-do lists, brainstorming, and other organizational tasks into a single notebook. The name “bullet journal” comes from the use of abbreviated bullet points to log information, but it also partially comes from the use of dotted journals, which are gridded using dots rather than lines.”
— Wikipedia, “Bullet Journal”
I picked up and started the bullet journal method way back in 2015 or so, when my childhood friend introduced me to the idea, as she had been following the method for some time at that point. Being that I was about to enter my first semester of university, a bujo seemed like a great way to keep myself organized and get back into journaling.
I love journals, but for most of my life, my attempts at keeping a diary or journal have been pretty spotty. I’ll get really into them and then drop them, or only end up writing in them when I’m going through difficult times. I never made writing regularly a habit; admittedly, it’s still relatively recent for me.
But at that time, the bujo method was a breakthrough. I had used agendas and planners in the past and found them useful at times, but now, with a process and the ability to customize, I felt I had reached a new era of journal-keeping.
And I did.
Since then, I’ve kept a journal of some kind almost consistently. I still dropped them and avoided using them occasionally, but I always inevitably came back. That is until this past fall.
After some significant life changes in the summer of 2024, I realized I had let my work life overshadow my personal life, not only in my day-to-day tasks but also in my journal. So, deciding it was time for a change of pace and a refocusing of energies, I made the decision to drop the bullet journal method and return to stream-of-consciousness, rambling, and spur-of-the-moment writing.
I didn’t want to use my journal for planning anymore. I felt exhausted by the need to have every day mapped out in detail and checklist after checklist. I wanted my creativity back.
So, I etched out a space.
Now, in my journal, I write rough drafts of my poetry, diary entries, mind maps and rants. I’ve also dipped my fingers into the world of collaging and junk journaling. It’s been wonderful for my writing practice, even though I’m not always consistent. But I feel a sense of accomplishment every time I fill up a page with some kind of scribbling.
Since moving away from the bullet journal method, I’ve integrated Google Calendar and Tasks into my planning and organization strategy, and so far, it’s been working really great for me. Although it’s been challenging trying to balance reducing my screen time with having all my daily plans digitized.
Obviously, I’m still figuring things out.
Maybe once I’m done with my current journal, I’ll return to the style and aesthetic of the bullet journal. Perhaps this transition and experiment marks the beginning of a new era for me. Either way, I enjoy the things I learn about myself through habits such as these, and the act of keeping a journal has been a great comfort for many years.
I don’t think I’ll ever fully go digital with my writing, but I’m happy that this practice ebbs and flows in unexpected ways.
CupsOfSilver 
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