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organization || bullet journal plus digital system | things I’ll do differently next month

IoanaSeptember 20, 2021

As I mentioned in my recent blog post about 3 Todoist tips for students, I’ve started using a combination of Notion, Todoist and Google Calendar to organize my ongoing and upcoming projects… which has replaced the need for my usual monthly bullet journal calendars (like the one below).

Digital tools are more practical for the complexity of the projects I’m working on right now, and they’ve also helped me focus & prioritize better!

HOWEVER my bullet journal is more than just a deadline calendar.

Which means: bullet journaling is still really useful for me in a multitude of ways. In particular, I like to have a single notebook that carries my quick little scribbles right after class, notes from one-on-one in-person chats, or rough brainstorming. Pulling out a phone to write something down in those situations can be unprofessional and impractical. An analog system is also great for tracking simple things like time spent on projects, or habits.

In September I decided to experiment with a different sort of “monthly” and “weekly” set up – for habit tracking, goal setting, and a little bit of mindful journaling.

It’s still a work in progress trying to figure out which parts of my planning process are best on paper, so this blog post is a little summary of what I’ve learned and what I’ll do differently next month!

the process

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A post shared by ioana | bujo & organization (@mistralspirit)

for next time

out in public!

1. I’d forgotten that bold and colourful is fantastic when I’m at home all day and getting crafty, but it’s a bit impractical and less professional to pull out during a Commerce lecture or professor office hours.

I’ll probably keep it a little more minimalist and simple next time – and save the bold craftiness for a separate page or for after I’m finished taking notes on the page!

pre-made sections: goals, priorities, habit tracker

2. In theory, writing down goals and priorities is great – but I definitely don’t see myself sticking to it when things get really busy.

Plus, in many ways my priorities don’t shift very much, and my ongoing projects are well-captured by Todoist. The wins are something I think about but rarely something I take the time to write about. I’m as of yet undecided, but maybe I’ll take that entire self-reflective section out.

3. My habit tracker: great. I use the workout one to keep track of which workouts I’ve done each day, and the others to keep track of the time I spend on various projects. That’s very useful for me.

organization

4. For one, my “weeklies” really ended up being a bit messier because in-person classes and meetings are a lot more chaotic than online ones. I ended up just scribbling whenever I could spare a minute, rather than adhering to a format/structure like I did for the past year while things were online and my bullet journal was conveniently open beside me at all times.

This came in handy when I was in a situation that would be unprofessional or awkward to take my phone out and type a task into my Todoist app. However, I’d love to think of a way to keep my tasks a little more organized.

5. All in all, I would say that I surprised myself by using “dailies” rather than “weeklies” in my bullet journal, despite now having a digital task management system.

I keep my occasional school discussion notes & scribbles in a school notebook. But, for one-off meetings with a prof, or sudden thoughts, ideas and epiphanies that strike in group/class environments, I quickly open my bullet journal and scribble them down. They remain chronological, and they remain daily mutterings. If it finds its way into my newly digital life so organically, maybe the bullet journal isn’t a lost cause after all…

decorating

6. As for my crafting, drawing, decorating, and scrapbooking – that I’ll need ideas for! I have a feeling I might leave that for after I’ve filled up the page, so that it’s more of a fun decoration activity than a pre-designed spread. (See Point 1)

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Comments (3)

  • crystalsandcurls

    September 20, 2021 at 3:45 pm

    This is an interesting post! I use a blend of digital and physical planning too – digital tends to be for more practical stuff and physical works great for creative ideas x

    Reply
    1. Ioana

      September 20, 2021 at 3:58 pm

      Yes, exactly! Nothing beats mind-mapping or creative brainstorming on paper. Always good to have a simple notebook handy. ☺

      Reply
  • blog || my october bullet journal setup & tips for decorating yours! – Mistral Spirit

    October 14, 2021 at 7:01 am

    […] A review of how I’m using my bullet journal despite moving digital with my main task management system […]

    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!

Latest posts

  • Writing 50k words in ONE month: National Novel Writing Month 2022 Prep Vlog + Goal Setting + Events

    November 1, 2022
  • "Company" on Broadway in NYC

    July 25, 2022
  • what it means to be your own friend (feat. my last bathroom selfie in Goodes Hall)

    April 26, 2022

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ioana.pitu

ioana | mistral spirit | organization & creativity
A sketch from Piaţa Sfatului, Braşov this mornin A sketch from Piaţa Sfatului, Braşov this morning. 🏫 I tried a triple-crosshatch technique to suggest the medieval-era clay tile roofing, inspired by a framed sketch in a local restaurant. Definitely using it again! I love playing with interpretive lines like this: the way a messy bundle of strokes demand to be seen a certain way depending on their context, but are entirely unclear when seen too closely.

Supplies:
📘 @moleskine watercolour sketchbook
🖊️ @fabercastellcanada 0.3 fineliner

📍 Piaţa Sfatului, Braşov

#travelsketch #urbansketch #urbansketching #travelsketching #sketchbook #moleskine #uskromania #urbansketchingromania #brasovart #brasovsketch #romania #fabercastell #pittfabercastell #moleskinesketchbook #travelsketchbook
Loved visiting this castle today 🇷🇴 Saving i Loved visiting this castle today 🇷🇴 Saving it here so I can paint it later and because this song was perfect for it. 👌 Bran Castle is the castle (actually a fortress) in the Transylvania region of Romania that inspired Bram Stoker’s original Dracula story.

📍 Bran Castle, Transylvania, Romania

#brancastle #romania #travelling #romaniamagica #travelblog
Quick little sketching break in Carvoeiro, Portuga Quick little sketching break in Carvoeiro, Portugal. @usktoronto #usktoronto If you’ve ever wondered how long these sketches take… here is how much I can sketch in 20 mins! Looking forward to adding a bit of dimension to this one after with watercolours. 🤗 

2 supplies I always carry with me:
@moleskine art sketchbook
@fabercastellcanada 0.3 black fineliner

#carvoeiro #urbansketchers #traveldrawing #drawingsketch #sketchbook #sketching #artjournal #travelsketch #drawyourday #sketchbookart #illustration #urbansketching #sketchjournal #finelinerdrawing #moleskine #moleskinesketchbook #traveljournal #travelwatercolor #traveldiary
Not exaggerating when I say @torontostationeryshow Not exaggerating when I say @torontostationeryshow was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done. ❤️ Had an absolute blast sharing the @thewashitapeshop love, meeting other journalers, helping customers find their style of washi, giving out free samples, starting off a few young bullet journalers with their first washi tapes, chatting with other vendors and basically just having the best paper party ever. 🎉

@dreyray and @queeniescards you are both incredible. 🙌 And so are the 80+ other vendors we had the pleasure of sharing a space (and a passion) with. 🥰

#torontostationeryshow #torontostationeryshow2023 #stationeryshow #stationery #hobby #papercraft #journaler #journaling #stationerylover #stationeryshop
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Writing 50k words in ONE month: National Novel Writing Month 2022 Prep Vlog + Goal Setting + Events

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A sketch from Piaţa Sfatului, Braşov this mornin A sketch from Piaţa Sfatului, Braşov this morning. 🏫 I tried a triple-crosshatch technique to suggest the medieval-era clay tile roofing, inspired by a framed sketch in a local restaurant. Definitely using it again! I love playing with interpretive lines like this: the way a messy bundle of strokes demand to be seen a certain way depending on their context, but are entirely unclear when seen too closely.

Supplies:
📘 @moleskine watercolour sketchbook
🖊️ @fabercastellcanada 0.3 fineliner

📍 Piaţa Sfatului, Braşov

#travelsketch #urbansketch #urbansketching #travelsketching #sketchbook #moleskine #uskromania #urbansketchingromania #brasovart #brasovsketch #romania #fabercastell #pittfabercastell #moleskinesketchbook #travelsketchbook
Loved visiting this castle today 🇷🇴 Saving i Loved visiting this castle today 🇷🇴 Saving it here so I can paint it later and because this song was perfect for it. 👌 Bran Castle is the castle (actually a fortress) in the Transylvania region of Romania that inspired Bram Stoker’s original Dracula story.

📍 Bran Castle, Transylvania, Romania

#brancastle #romania #travelling #romaniamagica #travelblog
Quick little sketching break in Carvoeiro, Portuga Quick little sketching break in Carvoeiro, Portugal. @usktoronto #usktoronto If you’ve ever wondered how long these sketches take… here is how much I can sketch in 20 mins! Looking forward to adding a bit of dimension to this one after with watercolours. 🤗 

2 supplies I always carry with me:
@moleskine art sketchbook
@fabercastellcanada 0.3 black fineliner

#carvoeiro #urbansketchers #traveldrawing #drawingsketch #sketchbook #sketching #artjournal #travelsketch #drawyourday #sketchbookart #illustration #urbansketching #sketchjournal #finelinerdrawing #moleskine #moleskinesketchbook #traveljournal #travelwatercolor #traveldiary
Not exaggerating when I say @torontostationeryshow Not exaggerating when I say @torontostationeryshow was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done. ❤️ Had an absolute blast sharing the @thewashitapeshop love, meeting other journalers, helping customers find their style of washi, giving out free samples, starting off a few young bullet journalers with their first washi tapes, chatting with other vendors and basically just having the best paper party ever. 🎉

@dreyray and @queeniescards you are both incredible. 🙌 And so are the 80+ other vendors we had the pleasure of sharing a space (and a passion) with. 🥰

#torontostationeryshow #torontostationeryshow2023 #stationeryshow #stationery #hobby #papercraft #journaler #journaling #stationerylover #stationeryshop
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About “Housewarming”: Montreal-based artist Karine Giboulo (@karinegiboulo) invités you on a journey through a life-size reimagining of her home, animated by more than 500 polymer clay figures. With the pandemic as a constant presence, the colourful dioramas animating each room prompt reflection about the challenges we face as a society, from climate change and food insecurity to consumerism and the housing crisis. 

#creative #creativity #museums #gardinermuseum #torontomuseums #torontocreative #torontolife #karinegiboulo
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