Do you find yourself struggling to organize the many thoughts rushing like a mighty wind through your mind? You are not alone. Ryder Carroll, created of the bullet journal process as a way for you to take notes and organize your musings in a coherent manner. Bullet journaling is simply replacing a pre printed planner that you are perhaps accustomed to by enabling you to make your own journal in a blank notebook you may already have laying around somewhere. This will help you immensely with your planning.

The purpose of bullet journaling (https://bulletjournal.com/pages/about) is to create a system where you can keep track of all the things you need to do for the day, week, month, year while keeping it all in one place. The beauty is that you get to use a system that works for you.

Bullet journaling is also a mindfulness process, encouraging productivity while recognising achievements.

The system works as a shorthand version of traditional logging. Instead of having long sentences of tasks in your bullet journal, describing each aspect of the task and its relevance, you create a conversation by using short sentences and symbols to show the their relevance in your life. Tasks are further broken down to show your process. You have the flexibility of  mixing your bullets to get the most from your planning.

But enough of that, knowing the bullet journaling process is only part of the situation. Let’s see if you could use this planning method.

What is the Bullet Journal for?

Again, bullet journaling is the process of creating a tracking system that works specifically for you. That is the most important aspect of bullet journaling – you create what works for you. Yaaay.

This bullet journal is yours and yours alone (don’t you just love that as a startup entrepreneur?).

Ultimately it is your choice to decide what you need and what works for you. That is the absolute best part of bullet journaling. You can choose to follow the universal method, or you can take only what you need from it and add whatever else fits your lifestyle. There is no wrong way to bullet journaling. If you are one for a bit more structure and rigid planning, you have control over that. If you prefer more flair, colour and aesthetic to your journal, you can do that as well. Your journal is there to motivate you to achieve your goals and however you choose to do that can only be determined by you.

There are several variations which include artistic designs and doodles which can be fun to look at but don’t let those get you all bent out of shape. Start with what you already have, your journal and a pen. You don’t even need a fancy book to use either. Again, this is for you and your goals, dreams, overall daily tasks as an entrepreneur. It can be anything you want it to be, as long as it is functional.

Who it the Bullet Journal for?

It can be used for just about anyone especially entrepreneurs. You know we operate in the fast lane with a myriad of ideas. If you need a regular planner you can create your own and make it work for you. Change things up a bit as things in your own life changes.

In addition, you can add anything you need for specific aspects of your entrepreneurial journey.

• Habit trackers are a great way to ensure you take care of yourself while getting to the work you need to be doing – encouraging a work/life harmony.

• Setting rewards for goals met can keep you motivated and remind you of why you are pursuing this dream.

• Mood trackers can show you how different situations or even the weather can affect your productivity.

• Keeping a master list of all the projects you want to work on can give you the push you need to keep going as you try to continually improve.

Whatever is important to the growth of you and your business, put it in. Remember, this is yours. This is for you.

Digital Versus Analog

If you think you’re too much into the digital age to do this analog thing, that is fine, too. Or maybe you think your bullet journal will help to keep you more organised by having everything in one place that isn’t your phone, that is also great. If you think you can use both technology and analog bullet journaling to make the most of your planning, excellent. Just do it.

There is nothing to stop you from making the most of your planning experience with your bullet journal. Now what are you waiting for? Time to start journaling!

We’d love to hear from you. What is the main thing you want to start journaling about?