Meet the incredibly easy organisation trick that will change your life

Trine Jensen-Burke

Confession: I still keep a Filofax.

Or; not really a Filofax as mine is from a Swedish stationery store called Ordning & Reda, but still, the same principle applies, you put in new calendar sheets for every year, and jot down all your to-do lists and important appointments.

I know this makes me seem positively ancient in the age of iPhones and Google calendars. But much as I also operate both of those, as well as use the Evernote app for all my lists, when it comes to actually remember things and feeling like I have somewhat control over my – at time – pretty hectic work and personal life, nothing beats writing things down using actual pen and paper.

The thing is, it seems lately, my old method of organization has actually swung back into trend again, and these last couple of months, the internet has positively buzzed with the phrase “bullet journalling,” with converts claiming it to hold the power to completely change your life and put you in full control of your busy schedule and life once more.

Sounds interesting? I know – and actually, it couldn’t be easier to do. All you need is a notebook (a ruled one is a good idea) and a pen.

The Bullet Journal system was created by Brooklyn-based designer Ryder Carroll, who apparently spent 20 years developing the method so he could stay organized.

So what is bullet journaling, you ask? Put simply; it is like a modern take on the good, old Filofax, really; a coded system for organizing your thoughts, schedules and plans. The journal can, in theory, be any notebook you like, it is the system that’s the interesting part. And according to, like, everyone, once you get going with this, you will never look back.

Here are some useful steps to get you started:

1. Get the right notebook. That’s all you need. Because with this system you ditch your twenty million half-started notebooks and put everything in one place. A good choice is the classic Moleskine notebooks, but really, whatever you want.

2. You can make your own rules in terms of what goes in and how you use it. There’s a basic formula for keeping track of things (see the video below) but you can include lists for tracking your meals, the kids’ after school activities, workouts and social time too. That’s the beauty of this system – you personalize it.

3. Get planning. Invest in some nice pens, a ruler and go online for inspiration – there are tonnes of videos and Pinterest boards about Bullet Journaling to get you inspired and send you on the way to creating your own bespoke diary.

Still confused? Watch this video and you are good to go!