I've been bullet journaling for nearly three years, and over that time I've toyed with straying from the format, I've experimented with different layouts, and I've tried different kinds of notebooks.
Over the summer, my friend emailed me a link to a Kickstarter that combined two of my loves: notebooks and organizers. I backed the project immediately. I'd always used a medium-size notebook for my bujo, and hadn't considered using an infinitely more portable tiny notebook for the job. Nothing like a fancy/functional case to make me consider something new, eh?
Something else the campaign got me to consider was whether it might be helpful to keep a separate notebook for each of the major projects I work on. The PocketDoJo organizer is designed to hold three notebooks, see, and as it happens there are three major kinds of things I do: my work, client work, and advocacy work.
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I was super excited when my PocketDoJo arrived, both because new notebooks are super exciting, and also because the organizer solves the problem I always have with pens. Pens are never attached to my notebook, which means I never quite have one on hand when I need it.
I set up each of the notebooks and got down to it.
Ish.
You can see in the image above that the notebooks (now sold by the company formed after the Kickstarter ended: Efficiency Supply) are designed well for bullet journaling – no need to make your own checkboxes.
But there's something about the notebook design that, though totally functional, doesn't appeal to me. It's possible I've become a design snob while I wasn't paying attention. And also? There's simply no reason to keep a separate notebook for each project I do, because my bullet journal is mostly a notebook full of to-do lists.
Though I intended to finish each of my three new notebooks before abandoning that system, I bailed after only a few weeks.
But two great things came out of this experiment:
- I do love the PocketDojo case. I always have my pen handy (even my fountain pen!), and the case can hold other things if I need it to, like additional pens, or business cards.
- I don't feel like I've sacrificed anything by using a small notebook instead of a much larger (heavier) one, so it's easier than ever to have my bullet journal with me at all times.
Having discovered that size doesn't really matter, I've bitten the bullet (see what I did there?) and signed up for the Field Notes quarterly subscription. Their notebooks are exactly the right size for the PocketDojo, their design appeals to the snob that seems to have spawned inside me, and the stories behind their limited editions are awesome (I'm in love with the lunacy notebooks they made this fall – watch the video!).
Do you keep a bullet journal? What size notebook do you use? Do you find that bigger is better, or that smaller gets the job done just fine? Any tips for maximizing the small approach?
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(Here's what it looked like when I looked up from the bench where I took the photos of the notebooks for this post. I love Granville Island so much.)
- 18Shares
I use the lechturm 1917 dotted medium notebook right now. I used to use the Moleskein one, but this one is just a little wider and I like it more. Like most people, I’ve played around with the BuJo formats, and I think I’ve finally settled on one I like. I never finish my “to-do” in one day so the constant migration we’re “supposed” to do drives me nuts. I also like to see my week at one time. (I’m an incessant planner) Because of these, I’ve gone to a 2-page spread a week, with calendar-type boxes spanning the top of both pages with all the major events and to-dos in them. Then below that, I list more mundane to-do stuff and other list etc. Since it’s all right there, I don’t tend to migrate stuff every day that I don’t get done. I don’t think I’d want anything smaller because it would be harder for me to make this work.
Whoa. I think you just blew my mind. That approach makes SO MUCH SENSE! I wonder if I could adapt it for small…
I use a Moleskine pocket grid cahier notebook. Not too expensive. Not too thick. Not to big. Not too heavy. I draw in a week over two pages for appointments and deadlines. I write my shopping lists in the back of the book or use a sticky note. I keep journal notes and wishlists and ideas in the notebook itself. Phone numbers/email addresses I need get written on the inside covers. This gets me through the day. At the end of the month, I look over the wishlists and ideas and go forward with the ones I want to on my computer for research, etc.
I’m interested to see how you feel about the small notebook after some more time. I’m just getting back into bullet journaling and really want mine to be extra portable. I’m going to start with one small notebook, but love the idea of the subscription so that you have a constant stream without having to think about it.
I do also love the suspense of not knowing what’s coming! (And they’re really awesome to their subscribers. Along with *two* packs of the Lunacy notebooks, for my first instalment they also included a pack of their standard kraft notebooks. Awesome stash!)
I am so envious of your Fieldnotes subscription, I agree with you that their marketing & design are awesome.
Ive been bulletjournaling on and of for years too, but still struggle with making a list of to-dos for the day! :/
Daily lists are the only thing I’ve ever really managed to stick with. Which aspects of bullet journaling do you use regularly?