Planning, planner, planned
- beachysonja
- May 27, 2017
- 5 min read
When months wind down and a new one is on the horizon, I start thinking about my new bullet journal spread. Every so often, it's a new journal, instead of just a new month. As May winds down, the pages in my current bullet journal are dwindling. I use a Leuchtturm 1917 for my bullet journal - and LT has come out with a limited edition anniversary collection. LT's in gold, silver and bronze. And, girls, they are GORGEOUS. I mean, I love new journals (or any stationary supplies really) - the way they smell, that feeling when you crack their spines for the first time, the first line you write. Yeah, I'm a total nerd. It's okay. These journals, though, are next level gorgeous.
Setting Up A New Bullet Journal
Okay, so that's step one. Pick a new bullet journal. I opted for a gold, dotted LT 1917 A5. Ryder Carroll's original bujo concept has a few spreads that are set up in advance in each bullet journal. The index being the first thing to put in each journal. I was initially a little skeptical about this. I mean, do I really need an index?! In my opinion, though, this is the heart of a bujo. By definition the bullet journal is a as-you-go kind of calendar, which means that you literally flip to the next available page for whatever spread you want to add. This is what makes the index invaluable - you'd be lost without it. I list individual spreads as well as each month. I do not list every weekly or every weekly spread in the index but put a strip of washi tape on the edge of the page to mark those spreads. LT 1917's actually contain a preprinted index (the only thing I would want preprinted!
The second spread that Ryder Carroll's original bullet journal concept has is the Future Log. This essentially is an overview of the future - you can define that in however many months you want (I tend to do six months at most - I use one LT 1917 about every 3-4 months). Whether you use this as simply a reference - ie. which date is what day etc - or use it to plan very much influences the way this spread looks. I use color coding to denote vacation or preplanned activities. I do not have a business that requires long term planning though - mine is entirely determined by the hospital.
How I Track the Near Future
After the Future Log is where I have created my own systems that I find helpful. I have a birthday tracker that is actually on a page that I tape into my journal. This is a 12-month tracker and I see no reason to redo this one every couple months. I follow this by my solution to not having a printed planner. Let me digress a little here before I explain the next few spreads. I love bullet journaling because it is an as-you-go system. I do not create my dailies ahead of time but take time each evening (ideally) to schedule the next day. This allows me to reflect on what I need to do but also what is feasible. To allow that system to work, I needed a place to jot down what is happening next week, next month and in the next few days (in addition to the weekly spread). Have I thoroughly confused you, yet?
I've created Next Month, Next Week and Jot Down as spreads that have a detachable insert, which I simply remove at the end of the day or month. This has been SO helpful to me - I highly recommend some kind of system that allows you to plan.
LT1917's have about 10 - 15 pages in the back with perforation. I rip those out and create a note pad... Basically a couple strips of washi tape that I can then washi tape the perforated pages to. Sometimes I need to jot stuff down and pin it to a board or give it to someone. Or I'm just not sure what to do with the info. I also use it to muse on new spreads sometimes (I tend not to plan those in advance. Every now and then I like to sketch them out, though).
Goals
In my case, this spread was preceded by my goals. Each birthday I write down goals, the number corresponding to my age. Some are small, some larger - they're steps I want to take in my life. To reference this page, I've actually put a strip of washi tape along the vertical edge of the entire page. One of my goals this year is to better my downward dog - so, naturally, I have a spread on How To Downward Dog.
References
I followed this spread with a few reference lists. Youtube channels, blogs and podcasts I'm interested in/like to read/listen to. I also have a list of medical reads - these are journals and blogs I need to read professionally. I also have a spread of things I want to research (non professionally) - like how to breath during ab workouts or how loop giveaways on IG actually work (i.e. how they're tracked).
I do not track my IG posts - I post pretty regularly without a tracker, but I do have an Instagram friends spread. Mainly this is to keep track at handles because I'm so bad at remembering them - occasionally there's a note of a website or address if I'm sending a goodie to a insta-friend!
Along the same lines, if you're active on IG then you are exposed to a lot of discount codes, which is AWESOME. I often found myself feeling like there was a code but for the life of me not remember what it was. To bundle this info, I have a Discount Codes spread that I can check before ordering something to get the discount or perk associated with the code. I'm still looking for a Vital Proteins discount code if anyone has one! (I'd love to try it but it's a bit pricey.... especially if you want to see effects, which means using it for a couple months).
Along the financial lines, I've been amassing a price spread - which I actually have on my laptop. Essentially where to get essentials (superfoods, staples, etc). I'm not the best at remembering this, so I want to be able to compare the prices and then know which store to go to for different essentials. At the back of my bujo, I've set up a folding out sheet where I can jot down the info when I'm out - and then add it to my digital version every so often. This isn't an endless project...when I know where to get what, then I'll stop tracking. Probably.
Waiting On...
When I realized that I often was loosing track of when I had emailed someone or called - I decided I needed some sort of tracker to ease this process - i.e. free up brain space for other, more interesting/important things! This is simple, no fan fair and serves it's purpose. While it's functional, I'm not in love with the look when I start using it, so if anyone has suggestions or wants to share their spread - please!
That's the round of the general spreads - next up is my monthly spread, which I kept pretty similar to May's. I tweaked the cleaning spread a bit - color coded it, essentially and added both a Spanish and Yoga Revolution spread.
Setting up a new bullet journal yourself? Dipping your toe into the bujo pool and have some questions? Comment or email and I'll see what help/advice I can offer!
xx.
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