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organization || My Bullet Journal System & Time-Saving Semi-Migration Tip

IoanaMarch 23, 2017

The bullets are the foundations for the Bullet Journal method, and each person has their own system. Today, I’m sharing the bullet system I’ve been using and adapting since I started Bullet Journaling! Hopefully you can draw some inspiration and adapt what I’m doing to suit your own needs!

When determining my own bullet system, I know that the main things I value in a system are as follows. If you value these things too, this system might be great for you too!

  • Adaptability to different situations (I actually use my bullet system in my school notes too!)
  • Simplicity (I hate having to refer back to a complicated key, so I keep my system as simple to remember as possible)
  • Accessibility by future me (In all the notes I take, I think it’s really important to make them archival so I can easily refer back to them at a later time)

The Bullets

My Bullet System

Avoid Rewriting: Semi-migration

A big concern with preparing a new to-do list for every day is that you might end up unnecessarily re-writing those tasks you didn’t manage to complete and check-off the day before! And, while it is important to keep your to-do lists short (I like to stick to a maximum of 3 big, main tasks and a few minor ones or sub-tasks), we all sometimes bite off more than we can chew in a day. So, in order to avoid re-writing, what I do is simple:

When each day is over, I make a “daily” section for the next day like normal. However, during the day, I not only look at the tasks I have written down that I need to do TODAY, but I also double check if there are any “open” tasks from previous days that week!

When all the tasks have been checked from a day, I add a little signifier at the top where the date is so I know I don’t have to look at that date for tasks anymore.

The signifier depends on my layout, but in this case, it’s a bar that connects the two divider lines in the title:

When I start a new spread entirely (read: flip the page), I always just rewrite any tasks I hadn’t yet done from the previous pages so I don’t have to flip back to look at my “open” tasks from weeks and weeks ago.

Let me know in the comments below what you thought of my bullet system! Do you have a different kind of bullet category you like to use in your Bullet Journal? I’d love to hear it!

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Comments (9)

  • Bullet Journal from Scratch: Setting up for 2017 – Mistral Spirit

    October 20, 2017 at 8:09 am

    […] A Bullet System (I’ve shared how mine works in this post) […]

    Reply
  • How to Start a Bullet Journal: Setting up for 2017 – Mistral Spirit

    October 21, 2017 at 8:40 pm

    […] A Bullet System (I’ve shared how mine works in this post) […]

    Reply
  • Kelsey Becker

    November 11, 2017 at 12:14 pm

    Hello! I am a planner, and just got into the world of bullet journaling. You’re an awesome person, I thought I was the only one who loved planning and asked for specific pens for my birthday, haha. Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful ideas!

    Reply
    1. Ioana

      November 18, 2017 at 9:07 pm

      Hello! Haha, you’re definitely not the only one. 😉 And thank you! I’m glad you like my ideas! <3

      Reply
  • отдых в Болгарии

    November 17, 2017 at 9:26 am

    I am extremely impressed with your writing skills as well as with the
    layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme oor did you
    customize it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it is rre to see a nice blog like this one today.

    Reply
    1. Ioana

      December 8, 2017 at 5:47 pm

      Thank you! It’s a wordpress theme, and I just customized it! It’s called “Dara”.

      Reply
  • lena

    November 27, 2018 at 1:28 pm

    I’ve only started Bujo-ing two days ago and am SUPER impressed with your organization skills (and basically everything you’ve offered to share us on YouTube)! Thank you so much!

    Would you ever consider making a video of your daily log?
    I’m still kind of stuck on daily logs, specifically migration.

    The original BuJo turns the incomplete dot (task) into a left (>) or right arrow (<). Right arrow goes to new/next month log, left arrow goes to the future log. Now I’m looking at your Bullet System notepad (the one with the zigzag turquoise sticker at the top).

    I understand the second migration line where you have the untampered square. I’m confused with the first one though. Where would you rewrite that for instance especially if you want to keep things simple and avoid rewriting? Did you assign it a new date like a few weeks from today? And for the third migration (the one with the diagonal arrow going North East) when you say monthly task log, is that the equivalent of (or similar to) the future log system (so left arrow for the original BuJo system)?

    Reply
    1. lena

      November 27, 2018 at 2:39 pm

      Ohh I think I found it! Watching this video now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p63bVkO-_aA&index=5&list=PLVV3RdJUig7FAGPiCtmqsE6WoWG6dC6L9&frags=pl%2Cwn

      Reply
      1. lena

        November 27, 2018 at 3:00 pm

        Yeah… I feel kind of dumb but I’m still confused with the two questions above.
        1 – Where would you rewrite the task that was migrated (right arrow, crossed square)
        2 – Is the monthly task log the same as the future log?
        I’m still going through your YouTube videos but hopefully there’s a video where I see you actually do the migration. I’ve watched the original BuJo guy do it in his 5 mins video but your system is a bit different (even though they are fundamentally the same). Maybe I’m just tired and I’ll understand it all tomorrow lol.

        Reply

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Nice to meet you!

Hi, it’s Ioana! I’m a blogger, brand marketer, and recent Queen’s Commerce alumni. When I’m not drinking coffee, reading, studying or exploring the city, I dabble in creative projects like this one!

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mistralspirit

ioana | bujo & organization
So glad I overcame my initial hesitation toward th So glad I overcame my initial hesitation toward this book being about video games. It’s a delight for my brain so far and I’m not ashamed to admit that I spent all of this morning and afternoon reading (it was glorious) and I’ve learned 3 new words I adore:
- dilettante
- Weltschmerz
- palimpsest

Pls note: photos taken “while reading” are obviously not as impromptu as they may appear on Instagram. They’re usually when (a) you’re on a reading intermission because you either haven’t started or are getting a bit tired of reading for so long or (b) there’s a long period of descriptive text that doesn’t necessarily represent the quality of the book and is a good time to hashtag let-me-take-a-selfie. So don’t read this one page and form an opinion about the book. Instagram isn’t reality. 😜

Pls also note I’m only 40% through the book so my review isn’t definite. I’ve been burned before by jumping too excitedly to recommend a book (in this case, TV show) to everyone around me before realizing it gets WEIRD later on. So take my moment of excitement with a grain of salt - more thoughts to come!
Just received this new pen from @bulletjournal and Just received this new pen from @bulletjournal and @leuchtturm1917 @leuchtturm1917canada! 👀 Here’s a closer look!

Can you tell I had so much fun unboxing this 😅 It’s my new desk pen for days that I want to feel a little ✨fancy✨

#gifted #pen #amwriting #bulletjournalleuchtturm1917 #gelpen #journal #journaling #planner #studygram #aestheticstudy #bujo #bulletjournal #bulletjournalpen #bujopen #minimalistplanner #bulletjournaling #bulletjournalcommunity #penlover
Vote in the comments for your top 2 on-location sk Vote in the comments for your top 2 on-location sketches! 👆 Check my IG story from today more more details, but there’s an @usktoronto call for submissions for an art expo/sale happening in Jan/Feb. Since they’re looking for on-location sketches and I have plenty, I’ve decided to submit and see what happens!

They would all be for sale so I’ll donate anything that comes of it to a related cause. ❤️ 

Which of these 2 do you like best? 👆

#urbansketchers #urbansketch #sketchbook #sketching #artjournal #travelsketch #drawyourday #sketchbookart #watercolor #illustration #urbansketching #sketchjournal #fineliner #finelinerdrawing #moleskine #watercolortraveljournal #watercolorillustration #traveljournal #travelwatercolor #traveldiary
One final art supplies haul from @currysartstore M One final art supplies haul from @currysartstore Mississauga this weekend! 🥺 So sad that they’re closing - I remember they’ve moved locations a number of times but they were always my favourite art store growing up. ❤️

And let me know if you’ve tried any of these supplies because I haven’t! Super excited to play with some new paints - specifically the metallics and also practice more acrylics after my summer painting class at @visualartsmississauga. 🥰

#artsupplies #unboxing #artsupplieshaul #artistsupplies #torontoartist #currysartstore
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So glad I overcame my initial hesitation toward th So glad I overcame my initial hesitation toward this book being about video games. It’s a delight for my brain so far and I’m not ashamed to admit that I spent all of this morning and afternoon reading (it was glorious) and I’ve learned 3 new words I adore:
- dilettante
- Weltschmerz
- palimpsest

Pls note: photos taken “while reading” are obviously not as impromptu as they may appear on Instagram. They’re usually when (a) you’re on a reading intermission because you either haven’t started or are getting a bit tired of reading for so long or (b) there’s a long period of descriptive text that doesn’t necessarily represent the quality of the book and is a good time to hashtag let-me-take-a-selfie. So don’t read this one page and form an opinion about the book. Instagram isn’t reality. 😜

Pls also note I’m only 40% through the book so my review isn’t definite. I’ve been burned before by jumping too excitedly to recommend a book (in this case, TV show) to everyone around me before realizing it gets WEIRD later on. So take my moment of excitement with a grain of salt - more thoughts to come!
Just received this new pen from @bulletjournal and Just received this new pen from @bulletjournal and @leuchtturm1917 @leuchtturm1917canada! 👀 Here’s a closer look!

Can you tell I had so much fun unboxing this 😅 It’s my new desk pen for days that I want to feel a little ✨fancy✨

#gifted #pen #amwriting #bulletjournalleuchtturm1917 #gelpen #journal #journaling #planner #studygram #aestheticstudy #bujo #bulletjournal #bulletjournalpen #bujopen #minimalistplanner #bulletjournaling #bulletjournalcommunity #penlover
Vote in the comments for your top 2 on-location sk Vote in the comments for your top 2 on-location sketches! 👆 Check my IG story from today more more details, but there’s an @usktoronto call for submissions for an art expo/sale happening in Jan/Feb. Since they’re looking for on-location sketches and I have plenty, I’ve decided to submit and see what happens!

They would all be for sale so I’ll donate anything that comes of it to a related cause. ❤️ 

Which of these 2 do you like best? 👆

#urbansketchers #urbansketch #sketchbook #sketching #artjournal #travelsketch #drawyourday #sketchbookart #watercolor #illustration #urbansketching #sketchjournal #fineliner #finelinerdrawing #moleskine #watercolortraveljournal #watercolorillustration #traveljournal #travelwatercolor #traveldiary
One final art supplies haul from @currysartstore M One final art supplies haul from @currysartstore Mississauga this weekend! 🥺 So sad that they’re closing - I remember they’ve moved locations a number of times but they were always my favourite art store growing up. ❤️

And let me know if you’ve tried any of these supplies because I haven’t! Super excited to play with some new paints - specifically the metallics and also practice more acrylics after my summer painting class at @visualartsmississauga. 🥰

#artsupplies #unboxing #artsupplieshaul #artistsupplies #torontoartist #currysartstore
Black Friday SALE on now at @thewashitapeshop 💃 Black Friday SALE on now at @thewashitapeshop 💃🏼 20% OFF everything - link in bio or visit thewashitapeshop.com to shop what feels like an entire art gallery. 😜

So hard to pick but I was most excited to get my hands on this new PET tape designed by @tonia_tkach - it’s called Forest Houses and comes as both PET tape and washi tape. How cute!

#pettape #originalwashitape #thewashitapeshop #washitape #washitapes #scrapbooking #craftjournal #aestheticjournal #artjournal #craft #journaling #bujo #stationery #stationerylover #sticker #bulletjournal #scrapbook #bujoideas #bulletjournaling #journalwithme #bujosupplies #stationerystore #starioneryshop #stationeryhaul
Sounds from a day in the life preparing for @nanow Sounds from a day in the life preparing for @nanowrimo last month. 🥰 Please send over any motivation you can though because I haven’t written in a WEEK. 🙈😭 Turns out it’s harder than I thought to write 50k words in a month during the literally busiest week at my day job, while also spending time with my boyfriend, family & friends… and helping to keep our apartment at least somewhat in order. 😅 Posting this video to inspire myself is already working though so… let’s see if I can make it past 6k words today! 💪
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