A nerd's guide to bullet journaling.
You may have heard of bullet journaling, probably from your sister or your coworker or some other enviably competent person you have the pleasure of knowing. It's a productivity pocketknife—customizable, indispensable, satisfying to use—that is helping people track and organize anything and everything in their lives.
Its popularity blossomed in spring 2016 and intensified as back-to-school season approached. By January 1—a heady day for the latent productivity nerd—the bullet journaling community was evangelizing in full force. Myself included, I guess.
Intrigued? Here's everything you need to know.
What Is Bullet Journaling?
First of all, the system is totally analog. By that I mean it is done with a notebook (any notebook!) and a pen (or pencil, if you're one of those people). It's so simple it's stupid. It's so simple it's brilliant, too.
The idea first percolated in the brain of a dude named Ryder Carroll, who explains the concept very succinctly in this video. The basic premise is this: you have one book that contains every list, note, and plan in your life. It's like a planner, except not at all like a planner—because there are no templates and no rules. Because of this, it's very flexible and low-pressure. It's nothing more than you can handle; it's exactly as ambitious or exhaustive as you need at the exact time you are using it.
The concept hinges on just two "requirements" (they're not really required, honestly): an index and numbered pages. These elements let you see, at a glance, where to find the exact list you want to refer to—goals for the month, plans for your trip to Bermuda, health insurance reminders, etc.
Because there are no templates, you can also use this notebook for non-list things, too. You can journal or doodle or hand-letter a quote. You can tape in photos or ticket stubs or receipts.
Your bullet journal is a catch-all for everything that itches your brain. It's your to-do list and your calendar and your junk drawer.
Why Do People Bullet Journal?
There are a lot of reasons, but I will name just a few:
Writing Things Down Can Make You Feel Better, Mentally and Physically
Decades of studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between writing (particularly journaling) and health. Take, for example, the many studies of psychologist James Pennebaker at the University of Texas. In one, he asked half of his participants to write 20 minutes a day, three days in a row. That's it. Even months later, those who journaled were much happier than those in the control group. As New York Mag once reported, "in the months after the writing sessions, they had lower blood pressure, improved immune function, and fewer visits to the doctor. They also reported better relationships, improved memory, and more success at work."
Research has also suggested that writing things down improves immune cell activity and reduces antibody counts for people with viruses like Epstein-Barr and AIDS. Journaling could also improve memory and help you sleep, according to some studies.
The Power of Free-Association:
Beyond the benefits just mentioned, therapists often use journaling to get their patients to better understand how parts of their lives relate to each other. This helps people triangulate who they are and how they might react to different actions and emotions. Bullet journals, which by nature are collections of tasks and ideas that span the full spectrum of a person's physical, mental, and emotional life, are particularly well-suited for synthesizing information and drawing conclusions from it.
Delicious Freedom:
If you like Harry Potter, you can think of a bullet journal kind of like a Pensieve—a place to unload thoughts and reminders, which frees and focuses your mental and emotional efforts. Once you've written down all the tiny things you need to get done, you give your brain the capacity and the encouragement to actually do the things.
