Well, well, well… It’s been almost six months since I shared my first bullet journal with you. Do you remember my very nice muted pink journal? It’s still in pretty good shape and I would love to share my first bullet journal results with you. I’ve been journaling all my life, but I’ve never used it in an organized way before. Honestly, the whole bullet journal thing looked like a time-consuming thing to do. With all of those beautiful decorations and spreads. Oh my lord, who has time for that!? Well, I gave it a try anyway and I actually really like the system I’ve developed for myself. So, here are the results!
This is my first bullet journal
I bought a muted pink limited edition Leuchtturm 1917 with the squared print. I actually really love the squares as they make it easier to draw straight lines and write in a straight line. I’m not even halfway and we’re already six months in. I think I can use this journal for at least another nine months. I really like the size and that it’s a hardcover. It keeps the pages in check and safe from wrinkling in my bag. I also think the quality is pretty good if you use the right tools.
My four favorite bullet journal spreads
I love journaling, but I don’t like making those amazing artworks you often see online. Mainly because I don’t have the patience and I’m just not that good at making intricate designs. I also know myself really well. If I were to make one of those designs and mess up… Oooh, that can bother me for months! That’s why I decided to create simple spreads that I can reuse every month because they’re easy to recreate. It turns out I have four bullet journal spreads I automatically like to use.
The first one is a cover page for the new month. I use that to set my goals and which steps I need to take to reach them. I decorate the first page for the new month in a very minimal way. I tried several things like themes, stickers and washi tapes. Turns out, I like the less is more approach. Then I always create a ‘one good thing a day’ page. This is where I have to write down at least one positive thing about every day. The third spread is all about trackers for eating Keto, using intermittent fasting and going to the gym. The last one is a mood and period tracker, because it seems to be very helpful for me to use those.
How I use my first bullet journal
I’ve been keeping my bullet journal next to my bed as much as possible. This helps me to not forget I have to use it before I go to sleep. Before I go to bed I quickly glance at my goals and steps I have to take. It motivates me really well to just see my goals in front of my every night. Or at least as much as possible. Then I write down what went well for the day, because I tend to focus on the bad only if I don’t. After that I track my mood and my period if I’m on it. The last thing I do is fill in my Keto, intermittent fasting and workout trackers.
Using just the four spreads has given me a very nice routine to follow. I know some people use their bullet journal for everything, that’s not my thing. It might change in the future, I don’t know. But for now, I like using my regular planner or agenda for appointments and daily tasks. My first bullet journal is for journaling only. I also think that’s better for work, because my colleagues often see my laying around the office. And my bullet journal is highly personal, so I do want to keep that one at home.
My first bullet journal results
Well, I have to be honest and say that I’m quite surprised. I’ve been journaling almost every day for six months. Yes, I have forgotten it a few times and sometimes I didn’t feel like it. But overall, I’ve been pretty consistent. I am very proud of that because the results are very good. For me the bullet journal results are mostly mental clarity, positivity, productivity and a sense of self. Who knew you could get so many benefits from a simple habit like journaling? That’s also a result by the way: It’s a new good habit!
When I bought my journal, I was afraid I would only keep it up for a week. Like I’ve done so many times before. Hence the many notebooks laying around with just one page full of writings. But the habit of journaling every day has changed that. I guess that’s also because journaling comes naturally to me. By putting it into a format with my four favorite spreads, it’s become very easy to keep it up. I know what I’m journaling about every night and that makes it doable. I’m very proud of that.
Do explain some more please…
Aaah yes, I know. The hyped words like mental clarity and productivity as a result, seem a bit empty nowadays. Let me explain what they mean to me. Let’s start with mental clarity, which means that I feel like actually know what’s going on in my life. I write everything down, which makes it easy for me to get an overview of everything. That gives me mental clarity, because it helps me feel in control and not like I’m all over the place. My brain and thoughts feel less cluttered.
I also feel more positive about my own life, because I have to write down at least one good thing every day. My brain tends to focus on everything that sucks if I don’t. The simple act of writing down at least on good thing about my day, has given me a better outlook on my life. I’ve also been more productive when it comes to reaching my goals. I only set three goals every month and match them with the steps I need to make. This feels less overwhelming and I often reach at least two goals per month, awesome! Journaling has definitely made me feel more productive and I like it.
A sense of self
This is the last result that I get from using my first bullet journal. The last two years of my private have been a roller coaster. I constantly felt like I wasn’t doing enough, even though I was working so hard. I really lost myself in the process and bullet journaling has given me back my sense of self. I’m a very visual person, that’s why I like blogging and vlogging so much. Everything I make is visible immediately, I love that. Bullet journaling does the same for me when it comes to understanding myself, where I’m at and where I want to go.
Writing down what goes on in my mind and life helps me understand myself. But also, the situations I’m in and what I can do about them if I’m stuck. I like how it gives me insight and control in a positive way. To me bullet journaling is more than creating cute or pretty spreads. On the contrary, my spreads are pretty ugly, haha! However, what comes out of my brain on the paper is the best result because it gives me a sense of self. I personally think that’s the best first bullet journal result I could ask for.
What are your bullet journal results?
Kaya-Quintana
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