So you're new to Bullet Journaling and don't quite know what to do. It's a bit intimidating, I know. And there is so much that can be done. So many ideas. As with many things, especially new things, expectations can change everything. Does it have to be artistic? No you don't have to do things in an artistic way. The artful spreads that take hours to produce can be a pleasure to behold, sure, but if you don't want to take the time (or don't have that kind of time) to do that you don't have to. Short and sweet is the ultra-streamlined way. The page/spread layout should work for you rather than you working for the layouts. Design should serve its purpose in the bullet journal and for me that purpose leans very heavily toward function. Form is good but I don't want keeping up with the journal to slow me down. Do I have to record everything? Why would you do that to yourself? If you need to track something, a tracker might be the thing for you. If you need t...

Did you make a note and still forget? So you realize you need a system. Did you try a system that just didn't work for you? So did I. But when I tried the Bullet Journal system I kept it minimalist and it worked. While the capabilities of the bullet journal system are impressive, one of the best features is its customizability. If you don't want to spend hours preparing an organizational method that's supposed to save you time, keep reading. Over at the official  BulletJournal.com  you'll see a short video describing the basics of the Bullet Journal method. There are also some good technique ideas on their  blog . You can search on Pinterest , Instagram, Youtube, and many other places to find ideas for your journal. There are a lot of ideas to personalize your journal that look great. But for those who want a quick, streamlined way to set up your Bullet Journal, and don't need it to be an expressive space, you're in the right place. Style Basics ...

If you struggle to remember recurring tasks or just want to form a new habit, a habit tracker is a great tool. In either case, the habit tracker also servers as a record of your efforts. If you've never used a tracker in your journal, what would it be used for? A tracker serves as both a record and reminder. Here is a short list of things one might use a tracker for: health (hydration, exercise, vitamins, pain) sleep (could be combined with health tracker) growth (language, training, study, reading) hobbies/projects chores rotating tasks prayer Tracey, of Space and Quite, offers some great tips on using a tracker in her post Create Better Habits - How to Make a Habit Tracker Work for You . She covers issues from what to track to what to do if you forget to track. Katy-Rose at Map Your Potential discusses the tracker as an essential tool in Why Tracking Your Progress is a Crucial Life-Skill . She touches on matters like perfectionism and fear of failure, as wel...

I was thinking of what to write for a beginner's guide to bullet journaling. There are lots of these online but none that really appealed to me. Then I found Marya's blog post at Chronicmemlife.com . This is an minimal introduction for new folks and those still undecided about jumping on board the bullet journal train. No frills that sometimes scare people away from tying it, just the basics. So instead of writing one myself, I'll share the love and direct you to a fine summary of the basic modules you'll need to begin with, and a brief description of how they are used. Check it out at A Beginner's Guide to Simple Bullet Journals . Are you considering a bullet journal but haven't made the plunge yet? Why not? Comment here and be sure to subscribe.

We all need a way to manage our lives don't we? Bullet Journaling can change your life. It did for me. Perhaps you have questions, or you've heard things, or gained perceptions about the bullet journal that prevent you from giving it a try. One aspect of bullet journaling some people have an issue with is seeing all the ornate designs out there and thinking it will just take too much time and ability to set up. That's what the Univeral Journal ultra-streamlined style is all about - minimal effort to set up and to use, simple and straight forward. No other system I've seen offers as much freedom and flexibility as the bullet journal method. You can be as ornate or as minimalist as you want, as thorough and detailed or as spartan as you wish. Check out how minimalist my set up is. Another matter you might run into is the journals readily available may not be adequate (such as not having 31 or more lines). Luckily, you're at the right place. You can find my e...