Why Bullet Journaling? 📙 S01E02 

Hey planner pals! Hope you enjoyed episode 2 💪 Let us know what you think the biggest myth about bullet journaling is!

Wow, Jess was on fire this episode. I actually agree with Mark about starting with the basics, but I was blown away by Jess's passion. After listening to this via Spotify on my way to work this morning, I had to come here so I could write down that epic quote from Jess. "Do all of this trying and all of this experimentation with a lens of curiosity and self-compassion. It is okay if you set something up in your journal and it doesn’t work out. That was a learning opportunity. It’s not a failure." I think so many of us lean towards perfectionism (I know I do) and viewing things as experiments and learning opportunities rather than failures is so important for enjoyment, mental health, and also for the desire to continue bullet journaling (especially the more creative versions so many of us enjoy). None of us want to continue with a system that makes us feel like a failure, but a system that allows us the freedom to experiment and individualise our experiences and approaches? Perfect.

Yay Mark and Jess! You two are crushing it with this podcast! Loved the comparisons between your different styles. 🙂So interesting.

I feel like the biggest myth about bullet journaling is that you have to be an amazing artist in order to have a bullet journal. Do spreads with big, intricate art pieces look beautiful? Of course, but that doesn't mean you have to do things like that. You can draw out your own decorations, you can use stickers and washi tape instead, or you can just not have any decorations at all. So often I see people like "oh I could never draw like that" and I want to reply with so don't, just do what you can do in a way that makes you happy.

I love the editing, seeing your reactions to what the other one is saying shows the strength of your friendship.

It almost blew my mind when Jess said she only uses 2 of those 8 journals daily. Of my 5, I use 4 daily. 🤯😮 I had to remember how much of hers have to do with content brainstorming to put the chunks of brain back in place. 🥴 My journals are dedicated to daily happenings (physical, creative, meals, and tasks), rather than trying to fit them all into 1 book, and that's why I have so many I use daily. 🤗

New collection in my bujo: hilarious terms I learn from Jess during the Planner Pals Podcast, like "persnickety biscuit" (*love* that Mark used it properly in a sentence lol) and "brain hole" 😂 I also love "No more 'shoulds', just coulds and wannas"!

Hmmm biggest myth for me would be you must be consistent to make it work. I love making spreads! I really only use it when my life is spiraling. It helps me ground myself and not over think or over worry. So most of the time I have a book of pretty pages with 3 things on them!

"Bullet journalling is life!" hahaha totally agree as I sit with my 7 books 😇

I'm the little weirdo that loves the 80gsm Leuchtturm 😃 I think I'd have to agree with Mark that the biggest misconception about bullet journaling is that it takes a lot of time. It CAN take a lot of time if you want it to (i.e. if it's genuinely a creatively outlet rather than you thinking you have to make it look that way to make it Insta-worthy)...but it can be as simple as you want to make it.

Persnickety biscuit is one of my favorite phrases from Jess!

Loved 🍣 as a monetary value, and I now will add 🍪 to my vocabulary! 😂

Mark saying Persnickety Biscuit is everything!!! My husband was listening to this with me, and he immediately said "Oh that's the reason you say persnickety biscuit" You two really are crushing this podcasting, and I'm looking forward to more :)

Perfect to listen to now with my coffee!

Great episode, you two! :) "Embrace Your Inner Persnickety Biscuit" may be my new motto. :)

I love this podcast. Thank you so much for donating your time to create this for us. :)

I love the Leuchtturm because of how that paper feels after it's been written on. It's so satisfying. I don't use markers, but my biggest gripe is how long PIlot pens take to dry sometimes. It's not often an issue, but every now and then, it's extra juicy and will smear if you're not careful. I agree with Mark about the misconception on time a bullet journal takes. It's perpetuated by all the pretty ones we see online, but the basic method doesn't take much time at all...

Biggest bullet journalling myth kind of goes alongside Mark’s of that bullet journalling has to take a long time; that it has to be decorative!! I’m one of the decorative bullet journallers but of course i didn’t start that way, and a lot of people see my bujo for the first time and say ‘i could never’ and i explain to them you don’t HAVE to decorate it. can’t wait for the next ep! def keen to hear some unpopular opinions 👀

I agree the biggest myth is about the time you need to do it. I put probably 2-4 hours into monthly setups, but to me that isn't long because that is creative time for me. And then about 2-3 minutes each day keeping it up to date. Between changes/additions to my schedule and activities or marking off what I have accomplished, it isn't long at all.

I love how you guys talk about your subjects with your different perspectives and I also liked that you show appreciation of each others' opinions!

I bought my first journal in July 2023. Had it for 2-3 weeks before I could even write it in with pencil. I finally overcame my "fear" and just planned my first page. I so enjoyed it and now spend a few minutes each day in my journal and when I feel like being creative I go ahead and start a plan for the next month using what is working in the moment. I feel like I'm growing and your conversation s so very helpful.

Interesting I use a revised habit tracker for the vary reason you were talking about because I'm interested in the things I track and how they relate to my wellbeing. I don't think about getting every "habit" everyday but rather see with 26 different things I track and how that looks like from a month to month perspective

Great episode! Mark you introduced me to the Owl Paper Planner and it’s been absolutely perfect for me ❤

Biggest myth- have to agree with the 'it has to be pretty'. My work BuJo is literally just colored ink for the date, black ink bullet list for the things I need to do that day. Migrate if I didn't get to it, X if I decided it really didn't need done. My HOME BuJo is more of a memory keeping/accountability piece, where I'm tracking my HB90 goals and making a plan for things I want to try and get done, but if they didn't get done, I don't migrate them, I list what got done instead/why things didn't get checked off. But it's also decorated AF! Washi tape, colored pens, stamps, stickers, tip ins, clippies, charms, you name it 😅🤣

Loving this podcast. Biggest myth: that there is a way to do anything when you can just do what you like

I've never formally followed the bullet journal method. But my opinion of it has changed a lot. To me, the biggest myths i had about it early on were: - it had to be done on dot grid paper. Sure. It makes it easier, but it always felt unapproachable because I didn’t have dot grid paper. - then after my sister started the method (and thereafter burnt out), it took lots of time and supplies because it was all about the perfect spread for certain checklists that were all out of order (to me anyway).

You guys just make me happy inside!!!

I changed my habit tracking from monthly to yearly. I'm building those habits much better than before. It's at the beginning of my journal and I check it twice daily now.😊

That was again one excellent podcast. The biggest myth might be probably 'productive bullet journals can't be pretty'. I love to decorate my journals and it keeps me bullet journaling. I also like the used look of the original Leuchtturm journal, still use it as my main bullet journal! I like that it is super light weight in conparison and normally one year fit into one notebook. I don't want to switch notebooks during the year! For my other journals I prefer 100-120gsm, not more. And I totally get you, Jess, with the different journals at once. I needed to have some different ones to keep myself organized!

From Ryder Carroll's online presentation of his BuJo method, I got that it's a paradigm that works for him and users are free to adapt it as needed to serve their own purposes. While I enjoy the pretty pictures the artistic BuJos post, my own needs for any planner require functionality !!

Love this podcast and I think I will definitely start separating my school stuff from work stuff. So two will probably be a great idea for me.

Persnickety biscuit!!! 🤣❤️

Loving this podcast so far and not just because it's got my two favorite bujo content creators hosting it! 😄 I think the biggest myth I heard when I was first starting out is that you can't use a preprinted planner as a bullet journal. I was a few months into a calendar year when I discovered bullet journaling and decided I'd test it out within the preprinted planner I already had. It was a nice A5 pre-printed planner which also had note space at the very back so it was easy to test out the method within the preprinted monthly and weekly layouts with my daily logs in the back. The following year I picked up an actual dot grid journal and have been slowly tweaking things as I go ever since.

I'm the opposite spec that I love seeing some ghosting. It means to me that I've actually used the pages and not just... had a helluva bad mental week and not even used the planner/notebook. thickpages make me want to keep checking if I missed a spread or something because "they're stuck together??" idea keeps coming back to me. I mean I tried using the thickpage notebooks - I have like three attempts and I just then decided "nope, not for me" and re-purposed them for something in the future. I'm more of a Hobonichi/TakeANote planner person, aka. very thin pages, but even those I customize to -my- needs and not just use the plain layout. Examples being Hobo Cousin (the A5 size) I kept remaking the weekly pages into horizontals, because I had no need for time blocking after becoming unemployed. But at the same time I did need the structured "weeks" and daily pages to even know what day it was. In my Take A Notes I sometimes predecorate the weekly spreads (one week is 2 spreads in that one) and sometimes the later part becomes... worse than you imagined. So I just use that for scrapbooking pictures I've printed out or putting in notes to pre-plan outside of the week. And then just split the earlier layout into Mon/Tue + Wed/Thu + Weekend columns that are wide enough to write full sentences into.

38:47 hey, the exceed 100gsm line at Walmart slaps 😂 but seriously, I adore this podcast so far, and think y’all are both bringing super good ideas and energy to this space. Keep up the good work!!

Hi! I'm loving this podcast, can't belive i'm this early!

Loving this collaboration!

Mark, I hope you didn't jinx yourself by saying you have "planner peace"....every time I would say that I changed my system! Jess, this persnickety biscuit thinks you should have all the journals you want!! Also, your Bullet Journal basics course really helped me clarify my practice. Thank you! The biggest myth about Bullet Journaling is that people think it's about tracking the ammo for your pew pews! 😄🔫

Thanks for your podcast 💐. I enjoy listening to you and following your different thoughts on bullet journaling. I heard several myths: - You must use a Leuchtturm 1917 - You must have artificial abilities - - -This is some girly stuff I'm already looking forward to the next episode. Kind regards from Germany, your Melly ✨ I started bullet journaling because I wasn't well organized. I am chronically depressed and I find it difficult to structure myself when I have a depressive episode. Bullet journaling helps me live my life.

I discovered bullet journaling initially through Tumblr too! Hahaah. It was just too pretty for me at the time and I knew I couldn’t keep up with it, so I used a simple OneNote monthly calendar I made myself in uni, plus the free agendas they gave out. Then once I graduated I decided to try it out and learned the original concepts behind it - rhe intentionality is what hooked me! never looked back

I am not surprised that this is a hit and that you already have over a thousand followers due to what you guys do on your separate channels I've been following Joshi a little longer than Mark's channel. Yeah I don't do per se bullet journaling but I have tried to do different types of journaling videos on my own channel for over 3 years and can't even break 500 followers so congratulations on this newfound success to the both of you

I have two journals. Jess inspired me to make a collections journal. I love that idea and it works great. In the front I have long-lasting collections (birthdays, tv-series etc.) and then yearly ones (a tab for each year, after which are approx. 10 collections and year-trackers like future log, diet habits, weather, 24 24's in 2024, Formula One season, booklist, packages on their way, etc. I tried the bullet journal system, but it didn't work for me. I'm pretty organised already and I love lists (hello Virgo), but it was too boring to keep it up. I use my own hybrid system: creative journaling with some planner stuff (monthly calendar, trackers, to do list). I do decorate with washi, markers, stamps, stickers etc., but mainly functional. I don't work with themes (sometimes for the monthly pages at the beginning). Every spread looks different.

31:03 Habit tracker… I have been incorporating some of them (like reading) into my goals when they’re things I WANT to be doing. For the habits I’m working on for health reasons (water!), I’m reviewing my health data to look at correlation. My scale gives a %water with each weigh-in, so I’m comparing that against my water intake.

When I first started using the bullet journal-I set five goals this year, which could probably be set up in 5 different journals. But then I decided to work on some goals next year as I had to prioritized what needed to be done within 6 months. I also got a Budget Planner with prompts which I have really enjoyed; it does help me be more focused on saving money. Plus, I use an Excel spreadsheet also to track yearly progress. I have times that the everyday bullet journal is used every day and then is set aside for days. Still deciding whether a weekly planner would be better for me in order to focus on what needs to be done in short time period vs long term. I do like each month to list what is working and not working with the journals so I spend more time on what is working for me.

Biggest myth for me definitely is the idea that you have to include all collections other people include in their bujo and that it has to look the same as theirs even beyond being creative (I low key get annoyed by recreations 😂, at the same time: I know to each its own 😅 )... so after a while of "failing" at it I realized I just have the need to do things in my way and ty Jess for that because that came when I found your channel ... love you both and the podcast too 🧡💙🧡💙

I've listened and watched a bunch of Ryder Carrol's Bujo videos and only have taken what information works for my lifestyle.

I agree with the biggest myth is it takes a lot of time/you have to make it pretty. Another myth, you have to do it all the spreads other bujo people are doing. If a spread doesn’t make sense for you don’t use it. I have a digital calendar for appointments and use my journal for to dos, trackers and notes.

Thanks M & J! I went off the rails with my year end reflection. Spreadsheets with monthly totals and averages for mood, sleep and my "level 10 life" categories. 😆 Interesting data tho. Probably won't do it again to that extent. I think the biggest myth in bullet journaling is that you can't tweak it. Or you have to follow the rules. Whether that be removing or adding collections or spreads, adding decorations, or not having an index! I think personalizing it is the whole point. Start with the basics and if it works for you, keep it and if it doesn't, tweak it. Only you really know how your brain works.

To me, the biggest misconception is that there's any correlation between bullet journaling (the method) and decoration or the form factor. They're completely independent, so you're free to use whatever notebook(s) you want and decorate as little or as much as want. The unfortunate things is social media causes only a handful of implementation styles to gain real visibility, and then people get so caught up in the visuals rather than the purpose. 37:36 "If you're just keeping a journal because you see other people online doing it, you likely will not be successful in it."

I know it's been mentioned a couple times in the comments, but I also think the biggest myth is that is has to be beautiful! I remember starting my first bujo and attempting to make it beautiful -- I had very little art experience, and not a lot of supplies to supplement that. I remember being so disappointed with myself. I managed to use it for a little while longer, but after I took a break, I felt like I needed a /new/ journal, so I could start from the basics without a reminder of my disappointment. I wanted to spend the time to make it beautiful, but I didn't know how, and it was so discouraging! Now I use a lot of stickers and washi tape as it's been a few years since I started (and a whole pandemic to shop online during), and quite like the balance I've struck between beautiful and functional.

Persnickety Biscuit is my new band name.

I think a big myth about bullet journaling, and something that kept me form trying it at first, is thinking that you have to be super creative to have a bullet journal. My introduction to bullet journaling was through beautiful pictures on Instagram and so very complicated plan with me videos on RU-vid. I wanted to try it because I loved the idea of a planner that was 100% customizable to my needs, but I was so intimidated. It took me longer than it should have just to try it. Great episode! Can't wait until the next one!!

Loved this post. Lots of fun insight and wisdom. You guys rock! Can't wait for the next one.

Fun to listen to while I am doing planner stuff

I only follow two bullet journaling ‘influencers’ and only few months after follow Mark (I started following right before the name change) I get them talking together on podcast. It’s totally meant to be ❤

So enjoying this as March will be my second month of bullet journalling! I have seriously thought about the what and the why during this month as I feel that some of the pages are just not working for me and with you both being so different it has helped me recognise how both views can work for me. I have a question for you. Does bullet journalling only work for able bodied people? What about us ‘spooners’ The main reason I am setting up my journal is because I suffer with a few chronic illnesses and brain fog. So it is both for daily lists and tasks and tracking health issues. I Why is there so much information on exercise and weight management and yet nothing on ill health. I would love to have intentions and goals from a totally different perspective. I have created one excellent tracker that works for me but I need help as a newbie and nowhere to go! Thanks to you both I thoroughly enjoyed today.

Sometimes habit tracking for me is gathering data to give to others, like my medical team.

My bullet journal origin story was very similar to Mark's, started out being strictly for work, and has evolved and changed as I've transitioned from corporate baddie to stay at home mom.

The biggest myth in bullet Journaling is that it's too hard and not everyone can do it. I work in education with all levels of Special Needs students from low to high functioning in employment related skills and bullet Journaling can be modified for my lowest to my highest functioning students in a way that they can all understand. It's a very effective teaching tool.

I know Jess keeps separate notebooks for various collections and I'm just curious if she's tried threading since this was also mentioned in Ryder's book.

Would love some tips about combining BuJo with digital tools. I feel like I miss some value from not using paper more. But then what about redundancy? Mostly because I need reminders of certain things, particularly events. So some tips on that might be helpful. I fell off BuJo because of reminders, taking a notebook with me, and redundancy. But I miss the whole paper and pen thing.

Habit trackers = what I failed to do. So they don’t happen anymore, I don’t need boxes to tell me I dont eat enough fruit! Love this podcast.

Top three myths 1. You have to be artistic 2. If you miss a day you've failed 3. You have to try everything youve seen on here or social media to make it work

Hi Jess, Very new to your channel and Mark's only a few weeks. Love the channels and the podcast. Are you still teaching or have you moved onto something else?

biggest myth: that in order to even try recreating an "influencers" spread, you have to have all the same materials and supplies that they do. also, nicely said Mark. Move over Ryder, we have a new BuJo Queen in town😂!

I bought a hobinchi cousin for this year. Yes I will have blank pages but wondered about the Leuchttrum1917 for bullet Journaling so I can make it more mine but totally bummed about what you say is ghosting. Can you recommend some other brands that don't ghost. Thanks.

Thanks so much for doing this podcast, it's a lot of good information! Tips are awesome, but so are reminders about things that often get left behind or forgotten in the rush of life, like reflection and how making it your own is important. I think the biggest myth about bullet journaling is that there's a right way to do it, or rather, only one specific, right way. It's a method that is designed to fit to each user, not a rigid set-in-stone set of steps.

What if you want desperately to journal/plan but you don't have much going on? Anyone else have a routine life and feel like you write the same thing every day ? I feel so boring !😂

Jess, I read a book last year called "F. the Shoulds. Do the Wants." by Tricia Huffman. Might interest you.

I think the only wrong way to bullet journal is the way that doesn't work for you. Technically since Ryder is the first to give it a name to my knowledge though one could argue the wrong way to bullet journal is any way that doesn't use his method. Which is why i think there is no wrong way, it's just your own method whether you create one yourself or follow any of several other's methods. The biggest myth in bullet journaling though is that you have to be an artist and do elaborate decorating to do it.

The biggest myth is that it is difficult. The reality is that it is as easy or as difficult as you make it!

idk about the biggest myth, but it seems that there is a taboo about writing in pencil. Like you're only supposed to use a pencil for marking out the layouts, and the actual entry writing is to be done in pen (black pen at that). I scratch my head over that. Why would I make something needlessly harder on myself? I use pencil for my entries and it is so much more relaxing, not only to write, but also to read as the lower contrast is kinder on my eyes.

Biggest myth I believed is that bullet journaling has to be pretty and esthetic with a bunch of illustrations and color. Cuz I was only seeing that type of bullet journal.

I don't bullet journal at all becuse i just dont but I use imdex cards in a lot of different ways. people look at me strangely ok so i color a line before my top line , but it does something for me a bojo cant. I can't ramble. and I think I would ramble in a bullet journel

I think the biggest myth about bullet journalling is that it is for organised people. Being organised is not a prerequisite, it is a consequence of using an organising tool. (heard the same about other organising tools, and it always frustrates me)

I really hope someone Lecttrurm is watching this because ghosting should only happen on Tinder

The biggest myth is that you need a dot grid notebook. Some people even think that bullet journaling means any journaling done in a dot-grid book 😂

What is Jess's channel name......i didn't see it in more section

The biggest myth I've come across is that it costs a lot. It doesn't have to. If you like stationary and collecting it, then sure but if you just want a cheap botebook and pen, that is an option.

MYTH: you _have to_ use _at least_ two bound notebooks per year. I am that (weird?) person that uses book rings and loose paper instead of bound notebooks.

0:01 thank god for this upload, i had a bad day yesterday and on the back of that, this is just what i needed 🫶

I have a letter size disc bound notebook for my Reference book. I have 2 clever Fox books, Medical, and Budget. The reference and budget never leave the house. The Medical I take to all doctor appointments. And there is my everyday calendar/planner that goes with me everywhere. Christina 🦝