Death to the bullet journal: Journal the lazy way

Scroll through Pinterest and take a look at people’s bullet journal creations. There are some astoundingly creative people out there and it is truly inspiring. Until you try bullet journaling yourself and realise you’re far too lazy. My own experiment with a BuJo was not only proof that my patience had limits, it resulted in me playing Russian roulette with my schedule.

Billed as the analogue method for the digital age, I thought bullet journaling would be a great way for me keep track of everything I needed to do and where I had to be as well as provide a creative release. Not to mention it would reduce screen time and reliance on apps.

I was wrong. It was, to put it indelicately, a total ball-ache.

First off, why do any of us need to learn a new system for to do lists? Let alone MAKE diary pages.

Here’s my advice. Go out, buy a diary/day planner you like and just use it.

Instead of having to spend Sunday nights drawing pages and planners you can just jot down important things to remember and then get on with binge-watching Netflix documentaries about serial killers.

You can bring something of the BuJo to whatever diary you choose though. Take mine as an example (pictured above). I bought it from Wilkinsons for a couple of quid and I love it. There’s space to jot down appointments and a to do list, and then there is the space for notes — the best bit.

This bit is the journal part. I note down all the good and bad things that happened that day. I sketch in funny pictures. I mark down health issues to track, such as when I have a migraine. I just keep it all short and to the point, no pouring out of my heart’s desires.

It’s all together, no separate appointment book and journal. It’s quick, needing about ten minutes per day. It’s easy, you just need a pen.

If you can’t find one that is divided up like this, find a page-per-day diary and divide each day into two — on half for diary/to do lists, the other for the journal part.

This is, of course, just what has worked for me. If anyone has any other suggestions about how to get journaling or keep a tidy diary, drop me an email at lazycatguide@gmail.com.