If you look up #bulletjournal on Instagram, you will be flooded by millions of aesthetically pleasing spreads decorated with washi tape, stickers, and pastel highlighters. At first glance, this is an intimidating and seemingly counter-productive method of staying productive; however, the original purpose of a bullet journal as stated by the creator, Ryder Carroll, is simply to be a convenient way to organize schedules, tasks, and thoughts into one journal. To start, I recommend watching his Youtube video showcasing the bare bones bullet journaling method. The key parts of a bullet journal are functional spreads to plan your days, weeks, and months, and unlike pre-dated planners and agendas, you can pause your journaling and restart whenever. The flexibility of the format also means that you can dedicate pages to random lists, brain dumps, and diary entries. 

Since the beginning of my undergrad, I have gone through 3 journals, and I promise you, my best spreads were not the prettiest ones but rather the most utilitarian ones. I started my bullet journal thinking I needed to make all my lines precise, use a Wes Anderson colour palette, and copy the prettiest spread from Tumblr; now, my priority is making my bullet journal a place to organize my brain, not stress it out more. In calmer times, I use my bullet journal as a space to doodle and in stressful times, I use it to keep on track with tasks. As someone who has immense trouble staying focused and productive, the pleasure of crossing off a bullet point on my to-do list keeps me going. There have been times where I’ll even put down “wake up” and “brush teeth” as a task for an instant win in the mornings. A bullet journal is anything you need it to be. 

If you’re still not convinced bullet journaling is right for you, hear from your fellow Innis students about the different ways they utilize bullet journaling: 

“To me, bullet journaling isn’t only a way to stay organized but also an artistic outlet. I love the versatility I have in my journal, as it tells the amazing story of my crazy life and thoughts.” – Michela McMurrich, Off-Campus Rep and Art Club Co-Chair

“For me, my journal is very symbolic of my undergraduate career, holding in it all the dates of my exams, class names, homework assignments, ICSS events and meetings, and even plans with friends from my time here. It travelled home with me every weekend that I visited my parents, keeping all the details of my school life that I surely would have forgotten without it. For me, bullet journaling allows me to forget. I don’t have to memorize appointments or deadlines, or constantly check syllabi for test dates, and I don’t have to worry that there’s something I am forgetting to do, as I need only check my journal to have my anxiety calmed. I would recommend journaling to anyone who feels these worries in their life, and I know I will continue journaling after April, although in a new book, to match a new stage in my life.” – Breanna Lima Martinez, ICSS President

Bullet journaling is meant to be adaptable to every routine. What if you don’t have the “right” supplies for it? All you really need is a pen and paper. If you don’t like carrying a notebook? Do it online. If you don’t have time to design spreads? Steal them from the Internet. If you don’t think you have artistic capabilities? Make it ugly. There is no right or wrong way to use one as long as it improves your life in some capacity.