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What is Bullet Journaling – The Basics + Infographic

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What is bullet journaling - Basics + Infographic | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournalbasics #bulletjournal #bujo

Bullet Journaling – what is it? Is bullet journaling a journal or a list of things to do? Yes.

Bullet Journaling is whatever you need it to be. I ran across this infographic from Quill.com and decided to share it with you.

It’s especially helpful if you’re just getting started in the world of Bullet Journaling – the graphic below generally breaks down the bullet journaling notebook into sections and how you can use them in your own notebook.

Other Resources:

Ryder Carroll – Founder of The Bullet Journal & The Bullet Journal Method you can also view his video on Journaling vs. Bullet Journaling

Is a Bullet Journal *Just* a Journal?

Yes. And no. Honestly, it’s what you want it to be.

If you’re like many people, you might have kept a journal at some point over the years. I know I have many half-filled notebooks recording the day-to-day minutia of my teenage angst. Some of these books have just one or two pages scrawled with the promise that I would write every day.

Maybe you recorded one during your pre-teen or teen years, working through all the emotions and developmental stages by putting pen to paper. Or perhaps you journaled at work as a way of monitoring your tasks or what you had to work on. Some recorded their achievements (I wish I would have done that so I had a record to reflect on!). Some people journal as adults, too, recording photos or other momentous events in their lives.

Whether you currently journal or haven’t recorded anything since your high school days, bullet journaling is a type of journal that appeals to a wide range of people – and you might want to try it out, too.

Is a Bullet Journal Just a Journal? Basic Bullet Journaling Questions answered to get you started #bulletjournal #bujo | ChocolateMusings.com

What is Bullet Journaling?

Initially developed to be a rapid logging system of things to do and what I’d call stream of conscious where you get all the thoughts of the things bogging down your mind onto paper so you can sort, edit, schedule, or eliminate the unnecessary items.

Bullet journaling’s definition has evolved into DYI calendar-life tracker-doodle book all in one. As you can tell, I’m not a purist to the bullet journal system.

Of course, you are free to use this system as you wish and how it benefits you the most. If you prefer to keep everything to a minimum, do that. If you need an artistic outlet, please, do that. (I’m a huge advocate for finding a creative outlet!)

Bullet Journaling – A Diverse Way to Manage Your Life

I would call bullet journaling a diverse way to manage your life. Whether you need to manage to-dos, include journaling of your thoughts, ideas, and passions, stay on track with your calendar & appointments, use it as a creative outlet, or a combination of all of the above – one notebook can suit your needs.

Not to be overdramatic, but I found that it’s changed my life. Really. There’s a reason why I started blogging about it.

Bullet journaling is a new type of recording that’s a more recent development. It has some easy tips and ways for you to get started. Want to take it on? This graphic may help break it down for you.

Bullet Journaling Basics: The Breakdown

Scroll through to the bottom. It’s worth it.

Productive Bullet Journal

How I use Bullet Journaling

Personally, I use bullet journaling to replace my planner, my sketchbook, the brain dump notebook (that I used to keep beside my bed to log all my thoughts so I could sleep), journal, and life reference book. It sounds like a lot, but it works for me, I keep my schedule organized, and it makes me happy. This is why I want to share it with you.

What Happens if Life Gets Busy?

Some seasons of my life are busier than others. When this happens, I’ll switch to a daily log as shown in the graphic to keep track of more items on my to-do list and I will minimize the amount of doodling and art I include in my planner. But most of the time, I create a weekly spread that covers two facing pages in my book.

I love adding collection pages to my notebook. One page I include all the time is my brain dump page. Don’t like the term brain dump? Here’s a list of alternate names for brain dump.

Starting your Bullet Journal

If you’re starting out, I would start with the minimum that you can do. Don’t overdo it.

Ask yourself: What do you need to organize in your life? Do you need to keep a strict schedule, or do you have a lot of ‘to-do’ items during the week? Is your life filled with appointments?

Start with the most significant issue in your life and use the bullet journal to see if it fills that need. At first, don’t add all the bells and whistles until you establish a habit of using your book and recording the items you need help with the most.

Then, when you feel comfortable using the system, add to it if needed. After you’ve fulfilled your basic needs and wand a creative outlet – turn to a blank page for doodles. Try your hand at creating some fun headers for the week or month. Start small initially, and do only what you want to do. Please don’t do what others (or even me!) tell you what they do solely to follow someone else. Find what you’re comfortable with, and use it to fulfill a need in your life.

P.S. If you missed starting in January for the first of the year – it’s ok. I have eight journals, and two began in January. Start where you are.

Why Do I Love Bullet Journaling?

Honestly, the reason why I love bullet journaling is that I can make it mine and the beauty is that you can make it yours, too. Once you’ve given it a chance, figure out how you can customize it even more to your needs. Then when you need to change it, change it. No need to buy a new planner if your needs change. Modify your pages or your workflow and forge on.

Don’t Be Afraid to Customize For YOUR Needs

After you’ve been bullet journaling for a while, you might discover that you dislike creating your monthly calendar each month? Solve that issue by printing a calendar or using a monthly log like in the infographic above. If you discover not long after you’ve started that you need to include a cleaning calendar to keep your house sparkly. Well, my friend, that’s easy, simply add those tasks to your book.

After a month or so, colors in all hues might be calling your name beyond those black and white pages. If this is the case, a whole world opens up with the flick of a page and the brush of a marker. Customize this bullet journal to be what you need it to be. Keep in mind that it may change month-to-month or week-to-week. Allow yourself the freedom to change.

Bullet Journaling – A Journey

I hope you’ve found some interesting information that helps answer your question “What is Bullet Journaling”. And I hope it’s enough to propel your curiosity to dip your little toe into this world. Come on in, the water is fine.

I’m excited for you to go on this journey. I’ll be glad to help you along that path. Find me on Instagram or add a comment below if you need guidance. Let’s go, my friend. Let’s go see where this journey leads.

Feel free to bookmark this page and save it until later. I have a whole list of posts all planned out to help answer your questions about bullet journaling. Check back often or better yet, sign up for my newsletter!

No Matter Which Notebook I use – You’ll Always Find These Supplies Close at Hand

Get Started Bullet Journaling with Some of My Favorite Supplies:

Are Your Goals a Priority?

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Are your habits a priority? Simple questions to ask yourself to find out | ChocolateMusings.com #habits #bulletjournal #goals

Are your goals a priority? How can you tell? Are you consistently meeting your goals? If not, read on.

In this post, I’ll show you how to determine if the habits and goals you set for yourself are really priorities by following the self-assessment I take and show you the planner layout page I use.

Are Your Goals a Priority?

If you make empty promises without the intent to follow up and do the hard things to accomplish your goal, then I hate to tell you the bad news. Your goal or habit is not really a priority.

Reflecting on your actions will show you whether or not your goal or intended habit is actually a priority in your life or if you’re set up for failure.

A Sure Sign Your Goals are NOT a Priority: Making Empty Promises

Life is full of empty promises that we never intend to keep. We make them to acquaintances and friends. Sure, we’ll get together. I’ll give you a call. We should have dinner sometime. We neglect to set a date, time, or follow-up because we don’t intend to keep the agreement.

Do you also make empty promises to yourself? Have you ever promised that you would start a diet next Monday only to find that it’s #nationaldoughnutday? And decide that you should begin your well-intended diet the next Monday instead?

Are your habits a priority? Simple questions to ask yourself to find out | ChocolateMusings.com #habits #bulletjournal #goals

What Changed the Commitment Rollercoaster?

I was always on this rollercoaster of hollow commitments to myself and never got anywhere. After reading several goal-setting and habit-forming books, there was one thought that kept recurring. All of these goals and habits had to become a priority to become an accomplishment or a formed habit.

Here is the Harsh Truth

The harsh truth is this: your actions show what is really a priority in your life. If it’s a priority to lose weight, you will either skip the doughnuts or plan carefully so you can have the right amount of doughnut and still keep your promise to yourself. Most days, I skip the sweets – and guess what? I’m ok. 

What are Your Empty Promises?

What things in your life do you empty promise – either to yourself or to those around you? Take a hard look at how you spend your time and the actions you take when faced with a hard choice. You’ll soon find out if your goal is really a priority or if it’s just a wish.

What If You’re Not Perfect?

Keep in mind that not every day will be perfect. And most days you’ll have some sort of set back. This is a matter of assessing your overall intentions and actions. This is not an opportunity to rip yourself apart and tear you down. It’s an opportunity to think long and hard about the positive actions you’re taking. Then build on those rather than bash yourself about what you do to hinder your progress.

Goal Example

For instance, I want to learn how to do chalkboard lettering so I can go to other businesses and pitch my talents (it’s a thing). Well, the harsh truth is a big fat NO – I am not making this a priority. 

But here’s what I have done:

I found a really great chalkboard to practice and have all the materials to practice, and I look at it every day. I know it doesn’t seem like much, but I can build on it. If I focus on the positive actions I already have, then all I have to do is change the negative items.

So this is what I would write as my plan to make this goal a priority:

Block out a time every day (or week) to practice chalkboard lettering. Decide which materials I like best to start, but don’t eliminate any upfront. Find some Skillshare classes that teach chalkboard lettering. Use quotes from my monthly quote page so I can have something to practice. Reassess progress in a month.

Continuous Changes to Make Your Habit a Priority

When you do an assessment, it’s not once and done, you make corrections, come back and reassess. What new positive actions have you added to achieve this goal? What obstacles do you face? And the Harsh Truth is always there to give a reality check.

Then set your plan, refocus your attention and energy, and go out and work toward those goals again.

Here’s the Planner Page I created to help me assess whether or not I was serious about the goals I set. You can recreate this in your planner (tag me @chocolatemusingscreates – I’d love to see it!).

Are your habits a priority? Bullet Journal spread with questions to find out| ChocolateMusings.com #habits #bulletjournal #goals

Goal Priority Assessment:

GoalPositive Actions I TakeActions that Hinder my GoalHarsh Truth – am I making this a priority,
Yes or No?
Weight Loss – Weighing in every day
– Recording everything I eat
-Using an app to track everything
-Sticking within my recommended daily allotment 		-Snacking too much
-Getting stuck in a rut and not finding healthy alternatives when I want a snack or meal
-Going to the store hungry
-Not planning meals		 Yes, but I could do better. The goal is to change my eating habits permanently and affect the rest of my life. Refocus and keep going!

The Plan:

  • Order groceries online so I don’t add snack items as I wander the aisles.
  • Do not shop hungry!
  • Add daily walks back into my schedule.
  • Use my bullet journal to plan meals & shopping lists.
  • Make a list of healthy alternatives and post it on the pantry/fridge door (maybe it will help the kids, too!).
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is find-more-arrow-down-e1569382617571-300x71.png

Want to know more about my weight loss & health journey? I share snippets from my planner and daily activities in my quest. Click on the image above

Other Examples of My Goals in Need of a Priority Assessment:

  • Running a creative business.
  • Creating a how-to doodle book.
  • Getting out of debt.
  • Replace the income from my job.
  • Create a lettering course.
  • Go-to Chalkboard letterer for local businesses.
  • Clutter-Busting (read post #1 & #2)

Here’s your question: What do you want to do?

How to Get Started

What’s the big goal in your life you keep chasing but never seem to get any closer to the end? Follow my example and write down your goal, the things you do consistently to achieve your goal. Then admit to yourself what you struggle doing. Finally, what does the harsh truth say?

Remember: this is not a time to beat yourself up. Capitalize on your positive actions (even if it’s a recurring thought) and build on those.

Here are some books I’ve read on organizing, decluttering, and habits. I’d love a recommendation and add it to my list. Let me know if you have more to add in the comments below.  

 

November Bullet Journal Set Up – Bright Colors & Falling Leaves

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November Bullet Journal Set Up | ChocolateMusings.com

November Bullet Journal Set Up – Bright Colors & Falling Leaves

Despite failed attempts and soaked notebook pages recently, I was itching to create a November themed bullet journal layout with watercolor. So here’s November’s Bullet Journal set up & inspiration.

It’s been a while since I posted a Bullet Journal Set-Up post. Mostly because I haven’t felt that I had much to share. I’ve had some bad luck with notebooks lately, so I’ve had to scrap everything and restart multiple times. I feel like a notebook vagabond, a stationary hobo, glassy-eyed, stumbling from one journal sheath to another. Never lingering long, just enough to warm my fingers against the pages before moving on.

Have you been there? Either where inspiration never strikes or when you start creating, your medium doesn’t cooperate? Hopefully, my November Bullet Journal set up gets your creative brain working.

November Bullet Journal Set-up Fall Inspiration | ChocolateMusings.com #fall #leaves #bulletjournal

November Planner Inspiration

It was so warm in October that the leaves didn’t have a chance to lose their green and turn colors. The first week of the month was close to 100°F or 37°C all week long! With this in mind, I wanted to create fall colors and a fall attitude somewhere – so why not in November’s Bullet Journal?

In addition to bright colors, I decided to try out some new techniques I desperately want to try and share with you! So let’s dive into the leaf piles and experiments for November’s Bullet Journal Set Up.

  • Fall Minimal Weekly Inspiration | ChocolateMusings.com #bujo #bulletjournal #weeklyspread
  • Fall Minimal Weekly Inspiration | ChocolateMusings.com #bujo #bulletjournal #weeklyspread

Brightly colored falling leaves are a sure sign of fall to me, but something else speaks fall to me as well – and I’m not quite sure why. Finding the moon above the barren treetops and watching my foggy breath rise around me in the cool, still night speaks peace and reflection and reminds me of the transition from warm nights to cool crisp evenings. My welcome page doesn’t look cohesive, but to me, it’s all the elements of a perfect fall.

Fall Bullet Journal Welcome Page - November Bullet Journal Set Up | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #plannerinspiration #bujo #welcomepage

Want to Learn How I Created These Pages?

There are some parts of November’s Bullet Journal Set up that I want to explain further – such as cutting pages, flip-out pages, & the expanded monthly log. I’ll explain those in separate posts.

  • Fall Bullet Journal Planning - Monthly Log | ChocolateMusings.com #bujo #bulletjournal #monthlyplanner
  • Fall Bullet Journal Planning - Cut Out & Flip Out | ChocolateMusings.com #bujo #bulletjournal #monthlyplanner
  • Fall Bullet Journal Planning - Cut Page Border | ChocolateMusings.com #bujo #bulletjournal #monthlyplanner
Bullet Journal Ideas: Idea Tree Instead of Brain Dump | ChocolateMusings.com #braindump #bulletjournal #ideas

Highlights for November’s Bullet Journal Set-Up:

Monthly Log
Cut Pages
Flip-out Pages
Minimal Layouts
Watercolor + Bright Colors
Gratitude Wall – Inspired by this Month’s Instagram Challenge – Gratitude
Idea Tree – Find 150+ Ideas to Replace “Brain Dump” in your Planner

Hopefully, this provides some inspiration for a future spread for you. Minimal design, but bright colors and thick, black outlines give a whimsical look to all the fall & thanksgiving elements. Don’t get stuck thinking you have to create realistic views and doodles. NO! Not necessary! Sometimes blobs of color with a thick-black outline create the best story.

Want More Planner & Bullet Journal Inspiration?

Find more plan with me ideas | ChocolateMusings.com #planwithme #ideas

Question: What reminds you most of the fall?

What part of fall makes it feel like fall to you? Pumpkin Spice? Sweaters? Let me know in the comments below!

Need some inspiration? Here are a few of my favorite planner supplies.

No Matter Which Notebook I use – You’ll Always Find These Supplies Close at Hand

Notebooks: What’s the Difference Between Ghosting & Bleeding?

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What’s the difference between Ghosting & Bleeding in a notebook?

What's the difference between ghosting and bleeding in your notebook? | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal

Ever heard of the term ghosting or bleeding when bullet journaling or planning? Not sure exactly what ghosting or bleeding means? And what’s the difference between ghosting and bleeding? Don’t worry, you’ll be a pro in no time.

Hint: it does not mean that your planner is haunted or died a tragic death (although my bullet journal fails could argue otherwise).

Ghosting Vs. Bleeding in your notebooks - what's the difference? | ChocolateMusings.com #bleeding #bulletjournal

What is Ghosting?

Ghosting in a notebook is when you can see the ink or text you’ve written from the other side of the page. But the ink doesn’t come through to the opposite side. It’s like showing a ghost of the other page.

I used Leuchtturm 1917 A5 notebooks for a long time, and they ghosted on every single page. In all honesty, I didn’t care too much, as long as the ink didn’t bleed through to the other side. But when I started posting consistently on Instagram, I didn’t like the fact that you could see the previous page’s use.

You could say that the previous page haunted me. Oh wait, I said that your notebook wasn’t haunted.

If the ink seeps through the page, that’s when it’s called bleeding.

Ghosting Vs. Bleeding in your notebooks - what's the difference? | ChocolateMusings.com #bleeding #bulletjournal

What is Bleeding?

When you write on one page, and the ink appears in full color on the opposite page, in spots or blotches or more. I find that notebooks bleed when they can’t handle the amount of liquid a pen or marker lays onto the page.

I started using fountain pens in my notebooks, but have reverted to gel pens and fine liners. But using Tombow Dual Brush Pens and Crayola Supertips for headers and coloring is almost non-negotiable for me and a notebook, so the pages have to withstand some coloring abuse. I also like to watercolor (with limited water in most journals). This tends to break through the fibers and bleeds through, especially if you use too much water.

Recommended Post: How Watercolor Paint with Markers in Your Bullet Journal

Too much water trying to blend the marker made the ink bleed through | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal

How Can You Test for Ghosting or Bleeding in a Notebook?

When starting a new notebook, I flip to the end pages and do a pen test using the most common pens & markers in my planner. Scribbles that Matter notebooks have a page at the back dedicated as a pen test.

TIP: I write the name of the ink/pen I’m using so I remember what it is in the future.

When Doing a Pen Test:

When you do a pen test, put the paper through more extreme examples than you might regularly use in a planner. I do this and it helps me know what the limits are on the paper.

For instance: I take the darkest Tombow Dual Brush Markers and layer them and blend them until perfectly blended. I find that most paper starts bleeding on the 2nd to 3rd layer. Using consistently dark colors will give you a better idea for ghosting as well. Light colors won’t show up as much.

Now you know what ghosting and bleeding are, and how to test for them in your notebooks. Happy Planning!

No Matter Which Notebook I use – You’ll Always Find These Supplies Close at Hand

Use a pen test page in the back of your notebook to see if your favorite pens bleed or ghost in your new notebook! | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #planner

9 Motivational Shakespeare Quotes for Your Planner

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9 Motivational Shakespeare Quotes for Your Planner + Bonus Quotes

Motivational Shakespeare Quotes for your Planner - Get the printables in the Shop! | ChocolateMusings.com #motivationalquotes #shakespeare

To celebrate “Talk Like Shakespeare Day” on April 23rd, the April Instagram Challenge consisted of a few favorite Shakespeare quotes. Who knew that Shakespeare was also a motivational speaker? Woven into his tragedies and comedies, you find snippets of inspiration for every day – find a few of my favorite Motivational Shakespeare Quotes + some of my other favorites below.

I know I’m not the only quote geek in the planner world, so I wanted to share a few of the motivational quotes I revisited recently. It’s fun to use quotes in your planner or for practice if you’re working on penmanship or learning how to letter. That’s what I did in April!

ChocolateMusings.com Shop - Find it in the shop!

P.S. I made printables for every quote – check them out in my shop!

Add Quotes for Motivation & Handlettering Practice

I find that adding quotes to my planner reminds me to slow down and remember what’s important to me. A bonus is practicing my lettering!

Throughout April, I used many of these quotes to develop my pointed pen techniques. If you’re just getting into the world of lettering, a pointed pen is usually a pen with a removable tip called a nib that you dip in ink. Similar to what they did in the times of Shakespeare. Comparable to brush pens, you can get beautiful thick and thin lines.

  • What's in a Name? Romeo & Juliet Quote - Quotes for your planner | ChocolateMusings.com #quotes
  • Forever and a Day Quote William Shakespeare Quotes for your planner | ChocolateMusings.com #quotes
  • This above all: to thine own self be true - William Shakespeare quotes for your planner | ChocolateMusings.com #betrue #quotes #motivational
  • This above all: to thine own self be true - William Shakespeare quotes for your planner | ChocolateMusings.com #betrue #quotes #motivational

I feel that writing with a pointed pen is so therapeutic. Some people love the sound of a scratchy nib on paper as they write. What I love is the way the page feels after I write and the ink is dry. The dried ink leaves a raised texture on the paper. And I love it.

I prefer an oblique pen to a straight pen with a nib. (See ‘forever and a day’ picture above.) All I have is a simple one, right now. I’d love to buy a fancy one someday soon. Once you get the hang of pressing down for thick lines and lifting for thin lines, the words become mesmerizing. When I created the Mother Theresa Printable a few months ago, I kept blobbing the ink on the first two lines. After I got past those lines, I was finally able to write the entire thing, and it was so incredibly satisfying!

Sometimes it takes several tries to get it the way you want it. As you can see above, it took me quite a few tries to write “to thine own self be true” with a glass nib pen. Learning & messing up is just part of the process.

Pointed Pen vs. Brush Pens

I find that the technique for using a pointed pen translates back and forth for brush pens and pointed pens. You press harder when you want a thick stroke, and use the tip of the pen/nib for thin strokes. If you need some fantastic quotes to try with your brush pens or pointed pen, try some Shakespeare.

Everything feels fancier when you write Shakespeare’s words. ~Tricia @ Chocolate Musings. In case you’re wondering, that’s an original quote by me. You could put that in your planner too if you wanted.

  • Quote Ideas for your Planner If Music be the Food of Love, Play On - Williams Shakespeare with Music Note Wreath | ChocolateMusings.com
  • Quote Ideas for your Planner If Music be the Food of Love, Play On - Williams Shakespeare Floral Wreath | ChocolateMusings.com
  • Quote Ideas for your Planner Nothing will come of Nothing - Williams Shakespeare Floral Wreath | ChocolateMusings.com

Here are a few Motivational Shakespeare Quotes to include in your planner:

All That Glitters is Not Gold. – The Merchant of Venice

Be not afraid of greatness. (You could end it right there if you wanted – but it continues)

Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. – Twelfth Night

Nothing will come of nothing. – King Lear

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This above all: To thine own self be true. – Hamlet

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. – All’s Well That Ends Well

No legacy is so rich as honesty. – All’s Well That Ends Well

It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves. – Julis Caesar

Be great in act, as you have been in thought. – King John

We know who we are, but know not what we may be. – Hamlet

All of these quotes remind me to pursue amazing things in my life, but the last one is a distinct reminder never to forget where I genuinely want to go and not to sell myself short. Which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below! I’d also love to hear if you have a different favorite quote!

Bonus Quotes

I couldn’t stop there. Some of my favorite Shakespeare quotes wouldn’t classify as motivational, but some words speak powerfully to me, and I want to share them with you.

  • Forever and a day. – Taming of the Shrew (I added a twist to this one, too)
  • The course of true love never did run smooth. – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • If music be the food of love, play on. The Twelfth Night
  • What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. – Romeo and Juliet
  • They do not love that do not show their love. – Gentlemen of Verona

I want to paint the quote ‘forever and a day’ above my bed on my wall. Not now, but when we move. I’m secretly making plans for the new house we will eventually buy, and collecting quotes is definitely part of that plan! I think instead of just saying ‘forever and a day’ I would paint “I will love you forever and a day.”

Which ones would you include in your planner or on your wall?

Check out my shop for printables for your wall or planner!

ChocolateMusings.com Shop - Find it in the shop!