Unpopular opinion: setting up a new bullet journal takes way too much time

I spent like 3 hours last Sunday just getting my future log and monthly spread right. Drew out the boxes, tested three different pen sizes, then erased half of it because the spacing was off. Two days later I realized I barely use the future log anyway. Am I the only one who spends more time making it look good than actually using it?

3 comments

3 Comments

felix47827d ago

Ditch the future log entirely for the first month. Just run with a monthly spread and a daily log. Once you see what you actually track you'll know if you even need it. I did the same thing with the weekly spreads, spent hours drawing out time blocks and habit trackers, then stopped using them after two weeks. Now I just write the date and make a quick list of what needs to get done. Might look boring but it actually gets used.

avery7211mo ago

The bullet journal trap is getting it perfect instead of just getting it started. A simple trick is to use a pencil for the first few weeks before committing to pen. Most people find they drop half the layouts they planned once they figure out what they actually need. Stick to a basic future log with just month names and a couple lines each until you see the gaps. Saves a lot of heartache and eraser dust.

the_leo1mo ago

Totally agree with the pencil thing. I kept starting with pens and then getting annoyed at all the mistakes. What finally helped me was just using a cheap spiral notebook for the first month, nothing fancy. Turned out I only needed three collections instead of the six I had mapped out. So much less pressure when you can just rip out a page and start over without feeling like you ruined a nice book.