Bullet Journals
I am having a great time trying out the Bullet Journal format developed by ADHDer Ryder Carroll. This is how to create a bullet journal, which is a planner that's great for ADHDers, college students, or anyone who loves the feel of pen and paper over digital.
I wanted to keep things simple at first - and the journal was both fast and linear. Things really started taking off once I began making lists outside of my calendar pages. Movies I want to see, books I want to read, date nights, digital brand to-do lists, etc. All those ADHD moments of persistent thoughts go in the journal and out of my head. I am enjoying a little decorating and doodling now and then as a way to relax or just take a mental break.
Then, I got a little bit bored. So, I tried going non-linear to see how that felt. And, BOOM! I was interested again re-engaged!
Ahhh! Fun with formats.
I love to see the things I've accomplished. When I was worried about my digital brand, I looked at my list. Oh, I was all caught up, and I could flip through the journal to look for something else to do with my time and energy because that worry was no longer cluttering up my thoughts. I also like that I can note when infrequent tasks were done in case I freak out later about something (and totally forget when I did it).
“I like to see the things I’ve done that I falsely believe I’m bad at.”
I am collecting ideas from ADHD brains and artists who may crave more layouts. I am enjoying seeing pages that inspire me. I also see pages that make me realize that too much time, energy and expense in decorating isn't going to help me be more productive or happy. I just bought a cheap pack of stencils and a very basic dot journal. I already had some pens.
One idea I am for sure doing is a list of all the things I like about myself including my ADHD strengths skills and all the things that help me recover from emotional dysregulation (a.k.a. ADHD meltdowns). This two-page layout will be my go-to when my brain does that ADHD thing of forgetting that I have tools I may need to consider applying, that I like myself, and that I can be responsible for my own resilience.
I like to see the things I've done that I falsely believe I'm bad at -- like my networking log. So, every time I do a network-y thing, I put it on the list. It feels good to add to the list so there's a little reward neurotransmitter thing happening for sure when I use this page. That helps me keep up my momentum on this goal.
The final thing that is maybe the most important is that if I get bored with my journal, I can just change the layout for goals, months, days... anything. I have created a habit of using the journal, AND I can make it interesting again whenever I want.
This was a speedy run-through. For more in-depth step by step explanations please visit: bulletjournal.com
Need a dot journal that inspires? We have it covered.
-- Suz
