Professionals have been searching for ways to be productive and organized in today’s fast-paced work environment. While smartphone apps for productivity have proliferated over the past few years, some have grown weary over this high-tech approach to organization, and many are longing for a simpler, more visual way to get things done.
This is why so many young professionals nowadays are using bullet journals to plan their days, keep track of projects, and be reminded of meetings. Developed by Ryder Carroll, a digital product designer based in Brooklyn, New York, the bullet journal system is a customizable and forgiving organization system that can be used by anyone, with Carroll promising that the system will “teach you to do more with less.”
To start using a bullet journal for work, all one needs is a good, sturdy notebook, preferably with a hard or leather cover to protect the pages. Workers who are a fan of the system favour the Leuchtturm1917 dot grid journal, as it’s available in various colors, have numbered pages, and has the best paper compared to the very popular Moleskine notebooks. Pen preferences vary, but for work, it’s best to stick to a basic pen with black ink.
To set up your bullet journal, designate the first two blank pages as the index. This is why the Leuchtturm’s numbered pages come in handy, as you don’t need to write them down yourself while bullet journaling.
Next, make your bullet journal keys, which are signifiers. For instance, you can have checkboxes for tasks, then shade those boxes in when the tasks are done. A small drawing of a lightbulb can stand for ideas, while a star could be for ongoing projects. Circles could be events, while triangles could mean meetings. Keep your signifiers as simple as possible as you’ll be using these over and over again.
Now, make your future log, which is a monthly view of tasks. This is followed by your daily log, and you can even add a to-do list on each spread. For your collections, or lists, you can make a list of career goals for the year, skills that you want to learn, an accomplishment spread, and the like.
While it could be tempting to add washi tape, colorful drawings, and other decorative elements to your bullet journal, this could take a lot of your time, and this type of journaling is better for personal journals. Keep your professional bullet journal as simple as it can be, and you’ll see what a difference it makes in your daily life.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on why professionals are choosing pen and paper over apps.
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