A few years ago, I decided to go all digital. I downloaded amazing apps on my iPad that helped me stay organized and provided a "paper like" experience. It has been amazing. The idea that everything I need is available at the touch of a button, is incredibly attractive. However, I just can't handle it anymore!
I want to use pens, markers, and pencils. I want to color and scribble and work hard to shuck perfectionism. I cannot do that in the digital form! My digital calendar is perfect. It is colorful and organized. It is also creatively suffocating.
So.... I am starting to bullet journal again. More specifically, in a traveler’s journal.
I know there are millions of ways that these are done. Super simple, super complicated, super-duper intense. I am starting super simple. I ordered these little dot grid notebooks on amazon, some pens and markers and I got to work! I have also ordered a cover from a local artisan who works with leather, I cannot wait to see what he put together for me.
I had fun cutting out some vinyl stickers, with my Cameo, for the front of each of the books I plan to have in my traveler’s journal, but I am not planning to really get started on the other books until I have established my calendar.
Every single page I do, I sketch it out with a pencil first. After I have it how I like it, I trace it in black with one of my nice black pens. I think I will keep all the base lines black in my calendar, and the only color will be when I write with my gel pens. That might help keep me organized, might be a pain in the butt, only time will tell.
I have used the same colors for each responsibility for forever, so it will be easy for me to remember, but just in case, I have a key at the front of my calendar. With the colors, I don’t have to write “for co-op” or “for church” I just write the event time and title on the date and I already know what it is a part of because of the color.
As I work through, I will establish what works for me and what doesn't. The best part of the bullet journal is that it is completely customizable. The hard thing about the bullet journal is that the possibilities are endless. I like to start small.
A few preferences that I have that might be weird. I like my calendar to be in its own book. I don't like to mix different topics in with the calendar. I know a big part of bullet journaling is the freedom to mix things as they come, but for me, I cannot think through notes from a meeting, then a calendar for a month that hasn't come yet. I love the freedom that I get from having all the calendar in one place, so I don't have to mark the pages or search through the index. I also include my to do lists on my calendar pages.
Also, I do not use a ruler. It’s a weird habit, but I can explain. I don't like to use a ruler, because I don't want to even pretend that what I am about to make is going to be perfect in any way. If I get hung up on making things perfect, I will never get anything done.
Lastly, I like to do artwork for each month. I am not, however, gifted at drawing. So, I set up the months and actively use the calendars, without finishing the monthly artwork. I like to go back and work on them as I feel inspired. Otherwise, it feels like a chore and in the end, I will not be satisfied with the results.
List of Products I got to get started: (Affiliate Links)
I hope you try this out! I find it so fun, I would love to see what you make!
Love,
Tammy
