let’s be real: bullet journalling didn’t work for me. so here’s what i’m doing in my new planner by kkaitstudies
i attempted to keep up a bullet journal a whopping six times in the past 3 years (when i first started @coffeeplanner), telling myself “i’ll make it work this time.” i was so caught up in making it pretty that i lost the functionality of my bujo and got too exhausted to actually use it. my 6 attempts have taught me that it’s abt time i stop kidding myself and use a planner instead lol. this is how to choose a planner and how to transfer some bullet journal elements to it.
evaluate your needs and do your research. i bought empty notebooks to get creative with bujo spreads and diff trackers but that’d only work for solid two weeks. what i realized was that empty space made me anxious, and that i just needed LESS empty space. my preferred method of planning uses a hourly/weekly log to visualize my day. i currently use a 2019 planner from muji (seen below).
like the idea of making spreads? take inspiration from bullet journals, but be realistic abt what you actually want to use. i really wish i was someone that could dedicate time to tracking habits, but i am not that person. if you know you can’t commit to daily use of your planner, spreads like “a year in pixels” or “daily habit trackers” may not be the best for you. some of the spreads that i’ve enjoyed seeing in other people’s bujos that i can realistically use include: movies & shows watched | places to go | brain dump | post ideas
don’t hold yourself to certain (aesthetic or usage) expectations. at the beginning of the week, i block off all of the tasks and events that i have for the week. this usually includes work shifts, classes, going out with friends/family, and any other commitments. i also add things in my daily to-do lists as well as a general to-do list in the space underneath the weekend. i’ve learned not to get stressed if later in the week, i don’t pencil in more tasks or cross them out. i had the beginning of the week to understand a general overview of my week. don’t be afraid to skip days or weeks if you’re not feeling it. you can always come back to it when you’re ready.
limit ur stationary palette. i used to go offffff with my stationary but for the sake of functionality, i’ve limited it to 1 black pen, 2 gel pens (orange and teal), and 3 mildliners (yellow, orange, teal). i keep the stationary and planner in a transparent document holder i got from miniso. when i’m on the go, i just bring my planner, black pen, and yellow mildliner.