This blog is going to be focused on my journey into bullet journaling. I’m the sort of person who’s romanticized keeping a diary, and physical writing, since I was a kid, but I’ve never managed to keep an analog journal for more than a few entries. When I launch into a new project I always bite off more than I can chew. Then I burn out quickly.
Theoretically bullet journaling can help with that. The risk is that it becomes just another project that’s too daunting for me to stick to. If you’ve stumbled across the “bojo” subculture on social media or elsewhere, you’ve probably seen that even the journals their keepers deem simple can be very artistic and complex for what I figure the average person could fit into their lives. Obviously, the people with the best, most organized journals will be the ones most likely to amass an audience who likes watching their amazing organization porn.
I think people generally find these videos calming and satisfying, but it brings up a lot of anxiety for me. When I see all the kinds of spreads and materials people are creating, it’s overwhelming as someone who doesn’t want this to become something that takes up even more of my time and emotional energy. I just want to learn to juggle and prioritize all the stuff I should be attending to as someone who’s working from home in like 3+ different non-lucrative fields at once.
I want simplicity. When potential tasks pile up too high (and it doesn’t need to get that high for me to balk at it) I freeze.
❖
So basically my goal here is to document what works and what doesn’t as I try to set up a minimalist (but still aesthetically pleasing because I’m a hedonist who can’t function around abject ugliness!) bullet journal.
The reason I’m making this blog public is so those who, like me, are intimidated by the bujo process, can follow along step-by-step with someone who’s similarly bad at organization and visual stuff. I want to break it down bit by bit and record the process. That way, you have something to refer to, and you can see that it really did take a lot of small steps before I (knock-on-wood) got to a journal full of ephemera.
I’d love to meet others in the community, or who are just getting started, so we can work towards our goals together.
Once my supplies are here, I’ll provide a full visual inventory and document putting the journal together, and filling up the first pages. As time goes on, day by day, week by week, I’ll post some simple photo-updates of my progress, along with anything I learn along the way.
One big decision I’ve made while shopping is that I’m getting a 5A binder notebook rather than a traditional journal. This minimizes some aspects of the process that trigger anxiety for me. I can add extra pages where I need them, remove ones I mess up, and use some premade inserts so I can dive into the journaling part of the process asap. I’ll let you know how this decision works out for me. Theoretically I think it’s something to consider if you’re afraid of messing up or stuff becoming too disorganized. (pictured above)
❖
Anyway, I’m ordering said supplies as we speak, and they should arrive later in the week. In the meantime, I want to lay the groundwork for me to be successful in actually starting the thing once it gets here. And in enjoying the process instead of feeling stressed by all the micro-tasks involved. So I’m going to document, for now, what I want to get done with the journal, and narrow down the spreads and designs I’d like to start with.
❖
Quick intro – I’m Ash, a poet, would-be novelist, house husband, and novice at life. If you’d like to see my creative work, you can visit my writer’s blog wanderstruck reverie, find my (sometimes) daily haiku and micropoetry on my twitter @mossinsnow, and some graphic and video short poems at my insta – @noble_worrier – TikTok – @mossinsnows. My bullet journal is largely going to be focused on balancing my different artistic pursuits – the ones that can earn me money in the short term, the ones that might lead to (ideally) paid publication, and the ones that are solely for my enjoyment.
Keeping up with books and journals in my field is also a big part of my job, and it’s something I always put last because it doesn’t feel productive. I’d like to dedicate a reasonable number of hours a week to this, and documenting what I learn, along with poems, passages, and authors I fall in love with.
Social media is also another huge weight. I’ve been jumping back into that recently, and it’s been depressing. Because while a lot of it can give me some creative satisfaction, and I love sharing my work with people and finding my way into communities centered around pursuits I love, it can easily spiral into such a time-suck, and a source of anxiety about your “brand” and whether you’ll ever actually be able to turn your talents and passions into a living. It becomes a big long-term creativity killer. So I never end up sticking with it long. But now I look back and I think, damn, if I had actually run my twitter account even intermittently since I began it in 2012, or posted occasionally on the Instagram I started around the same time, I’d have gained so much ground just by showing up. I wouldn’t be furiously playing catch up now. That’s why this time around I need to learn to schedule a reasonable amount of time to pursue my goals on different social platforms. And then, most importantly, to put it aside and let myself fall into the warm blanket of my real, private work.
❖
Now I’m just going to jot down some notes to reference when I make my journals initial setup (probably over the weekend)
LONGTERM GOALS
- CREATIVE
- novel-writing
- forever under heaven
- research
- mood boards
- military
- religion
- setting
- daily life
- edit manuscript
- block out scenes
- write prose passages
- research
- the apple prince
- daydream
- refine characters
- how do conflicts intersect?
- plot arc/resolution
- forever under heaven
- where the light gets in
- the great man theory
- daydream
- refine characters
- how do conflicts intersect?
- plot arc/resolution
- novel-writing
- poetry
- write
- journal submissions
- collection
- taking classes
- LEISURE
- topics to learn about on youtube/podcasts
- Masterclasses to watch
- reading list
- novels
- journals
- nonfiction
- poetry collections
- music listening list
- television list
- places to visit
- LIFESTYLE
- chores
- exercise
- diet
- cooking
- sleep
- socializing
- skincare
- organization
- in-person hobby groups
- plan/prepare for move
- WORK
- fiverr
- upwork
- microtasks
- google certifications
- resume
- romantic fiction
- job search
- etsy/polymer clay
- SalesForce
- SOCIAL MEDIA
- blogging
- tiktok
MONTHLY GOALS
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
HABITS TO TRACK
MENTAL + PHYSICAL HEALTH
❖
Oh boy. That already felt intimidating. But I’m glad I got it done. This is going to make making my first entries so much easier.
If you’re a bullet journal-er, someone curious about journaling, a messy artist type who could benefit from some organization, or you just wanna hang out, please follow along! Come say hi, share any tips, experiences, whatever, introduce yourself:) I’m happy to meet all of you.
I’ll be back soon, probably to post any spreads I want to put in my journal, and inspirational links. Until then, pls b saef
small seasons 