How Bullet Journaling Organized My Life by Dana-Lyn Phillips

Last year my best friend sent me a text asking if I would like to begin bullet journaling with her. I didn’t have a clue what she was talking about, but she knew me so well that when she learned of this increasingly popular method of containing our fleeting, perimenopausal, thoughts in one place, she knew it was something that would interest me.

I immediately began researching everything I could about Bullet Journaling. I even purchased a book titled “The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future” written by Ryder Carroll, the creator of the Bullet Journal method.

I have always been a ‘Type A’ personality that appreciates (expects) organization and to-do lists. In fact, I may be known for having lists of lists. (Ok, so maybe that’s a bit embarrassing to admit.) Anyway, the point is, the more I learned about this style of organizing, the more excited I became.

In his book, Ryder talks about how he came to develop this system of journaling and how it is a cross between a planner, diary, notebook, to-do-list, and sketchbook. Every person will build their bullet journal differently so it meets their own needs. It is unique. Someone else’s will not serve you, and yours will not serve someone else, but therein lies the beauty of the system because it is exactly what you need. No more, no less.

Some people choose to add an element of design into their pages which can render some journals beautiful pieces of art. Others may tend towards a strict white paper, black pen approach which still echoes beauty in its simplicity and form. Before I put pen to paper in my first journal, I sat and contemplated how I should go about filling it. I reflected on the types of pages I had read about, and chose the ones I thought might best help me to keep track of…absolutely everything. I started with my four most important pages.

My “Future Log” documents my upcoming six months so I can quickly jot down important things that need to take place. Things such as remembering to book a tire change or to get quotes on new insurance policies.

My “Monthly Log” clearly lays out a month, by date, with all of the important appointments or activities. The facing page allows me to make a list of tasks I need to complete that month.

My “Daily Log” is a two-page spread divided into eight sections. This is where I clearly lay out each week from Monday to Sunday and includes a section for “Notes” which can be anything I need to remember for that week that may not take place on a certain day. It could also be something I need to remember to move to next week once I create next week's log.

Lastly is my “Tracking Chart” where I track important daily tasks for the month. Things like meeting my water consumption goals for the day, whether I exercised, took supplements, did my devotions, etc.

In addition to these four must-have pages, I have also been known to include pages that track important birthdays, house projects, meal prep and shopping lists, vacation plans, writing topics, weight loss, books I’m reading, and health changes.

What I love most about the Bullet Journal method, is that all of my lists have a home in one place. There are no scraps of paper floating around and getting misplaced. There’s also no longer a need for separate notebooks for work and personal tasks. Everything fits together in a size I can throw in my purse and take with me wherever I go.

It’s been less than a year and I am already on my third Bullet Journal. Each one has been tweaked along the way as I have added or removed things based on their effectiveness. I would like to encourage you as you strive to get organized in 2026 to find, and use, whatever system works best for you. Don’t be scared to try something new, especially if the same old, same old, is no longer working.

In his book, Ryder Carroll says “We breathe life into our thoughts by committing them to paper.” What a beautiful quote, especially for an audience of writers. I would like to encourage you to keep this in mind as you write, but also as you get organized. Happy planning, everyone.

 

Dana-Lyn is a wife, and mother to teenage boys as well as a 14 year old cava-poo named Hockley. She is passionate about encouraging Christian women in their faith and is stepping into her mid-life "calling" as a writer. Her happy place consists of a comfy chair, a great book, a hot cup of coffee and a chocolate…or three! You can read more of her work at https://plansfargreater.substack.com