A Minimalist Bullet Journal for Increasing Productivity & Focus
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- čas přidán 31. 12. 2019
- It's 2020 and my 3rd year of sharing my yearly bullet journal planning layout! This year I'm showing you why (and how) I'm pre-planning the first 6 months of 2020 using the upgraded rapid logging. I'll show you my monthly, weekly, and daily bullet journal layout for staying focused on the work that matter!
Download my ACE 2020 worksheet here! matt.ck.page/ace2020
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My name is Matt Ragland and I make videos about using a minimalist bullet journal to focus on what matters most to you. I’ll show you how to use concepts like 10 Blocks, Time Tracking Grids, and Project Timelines to quickly see what needs to be done and when.
You can look for these videos every week, so please hit subscribe to stay in the loop for each new show!
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Download all of my Bullet Journal productivity resources, including the 10 Block Method, Time Tracking Grids, and Monthly Plan at bulletjournalguy.com. You'll also be able to enter the 5 Day Time Track Challenge to see where your time is spent each day.
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Thanks for watching everyone! What are you planning on doing for your 2020 bullet journal spread?
I love the way you plan and set up your bujo. Its so different than wveryone else. It really makes me think of whats best for me. My planning. My bujo and my life. Thanks so much.
Thank You Matt , and Happy New Decade And New Year to you and your loved ones.
Happy New Year, Matt! Thank you for sharing your yearly bullet journal planning layout. I enjoy seeing how you (and everyone) sets up their journal at the beginning of the year. The question of what to do with collection pages is a good one. I put them at the end of my Leuchtturm bujo, adding different collection pages going from right to left (similar to reading a book in Hebrew). It requires a little brain rewiring, but I've gotten used to it. In last year's bujo, I used 26 pages for collections and having them at the end meant it didn't mess up "the flow" of my monthly and daily pages. I was also lucky because my monthly and weekly set-ups were streamlined so that I had 16 extra pages. But this was last year and this year, I might be busier than I was last year. Here's to a great 2020 for everyone!
Love this idea of pre-layout for the weekly. I have struggled with how to capture tasks/events happening in the future and am excited to try this technique. Thanks for the video.
Thank you SO much for your videos. I find them incredibly helpful. I love the simplicity and attention to detail. Happy new year!
That right side of the monthly spread is something I will use
i just watched this as I get ready for 2021. I've been bullet journaling since late 2018 and have taught others about it. However, I always find it useful to see what other people are doing and especially how their BuJOs have evolved. You have prompted two things that I will do in my 2021 journal.
First, I'm going to start my index by listing all of the months, then filling in late what pages those months begin on. And normally I would list the page for my month to-do list then the page where my first daily log is, but I'm just going to list where the month starts. This will also allow me to index other things perhaps in a more organized fashion. (I need to think about this a bit more.)
Second, I like that you list your meetings at the top of your daily log along with the time of the meeting. I do not do that consistently, so I'm going to create that habit. You also use two columns for your daily log and I'm going to try that out. This could be a good space saver since my new journal contains fewer pages that my previous ones.
I take notes in my BuJo, but given changes in my work activity (fewer committee meetings), I think I will be taking few notes in 2021. I'll also try to make my notes more impactful and less wordy.
Thank you for your BuJo videos! Have a wonderful 2021!
Thanks for watching! Great thoughts and habits for the new year. I just uploaded the 2021 video too, enjoy! czcams.com/video/BXYEXs5qi34/video.html
Look forward to a couple months time to see how it’s worked for you as I want to use a quarterly future log more.
I take a more free-form approach, so the index is useful for me. My future log is a Looking Ahead column on my monthly spread, combined with my Outlook calendar. The calendar page of my monthly spread serves as my one-line journal.
Thanks for this. I always get useful ideas, and I have fun adapting them to suit my needs.
I truly enjoyed the video and definitely will reference as I navigate thru my Full Focus Planner for Q1 and Baron Figs' notebook. Thank you.
Thanks for more content Matt
I’m liking the idea of single line journal and might add that to the front of mine.
For my style I layout a month at a time and then a month review and goal page. Then let notes come on next pages and then do the next month. I find it forces me to consider migrating items and that’s the benifit vs digital and the months act as dividers to my notes which I was struggling to review before
I really like this - I have struggled with the future logs myself!
I started using a tracker called Checkiant and I love it. It’s the first one I’ve really stuck with and I think it’s partly because it has a weird character with ears growing. You need to see this!
Hi!! Amy Landino suggested your channel. Happy she shared!!! 🙂
Thanks for the video Matt. Interesting ideas and well put.
Pre defined future layout works well when you have done enough journaling and you kind of are sticking to that layout and don’t want to try out much variances.
That said I have been following your same layout and found it effective. Thanks again for the awesome videos!
I'm doing it digitally, with the basic default style mostly. If I switch to a physical notebook, I think I'll start Collections at the back of the book so it doesn't interfere with the flow.
I like that you have you main three items that you track on your main page. I found that on busy days (or days that I am I a fog and really need my bujo) that if I have to flip to another page, it doesn't get done. So referencing the index on your page may help trigger the memory to make an entry. (if not, move it to a more prominent place or even add it to your tracker... You have room next to exercise and journal). ❤🌅🌵
Well I'm relatively new to bujo, but I really find the index too complicated for people whose main focus is planning and not creativity. I swear by my adhesive bookmarks, where I label each month and basic collections (or you can do that by adding some ribbon bookmarks). I can see why you are struggling with this. I, too, don't find future log useful, as I never take a look at it. I prefer pre-planning the months to come. Plus I absolutely hate threading and page numbers. Yeap, I'm the perfect bullet journalist!
In the monthly spread, i.e. left side, I include my goals for the month (personal, academic, blog) and simple habit trackers, i.e. on the right side.
My weekly layout is totally different. I will explain that quickly, because I rarely have seen that type of layout. My weekly spreads are vertical (6 columns - weekends in one) and each day is horizontaly divided by area of responsibility (meals, work, academia, home, blog, my son's school, personal, quick reflection of the day). I also include my top 3 goals for the week and an appropriate quote.
I strongly believe that what is great with the bujo system is the freedom that provides. I have been struggling for years with "good enough" planners.
Happy new year! xx
i also didn't use the index system at first, but i suddenly like, got the hang of it after heavy simplification and really having more collections and lists because I ultimately made better use of my bullet journal (but thats just me, i'm definitely not tryna say you aren't :D)
Letting you know that I subscribed to your channel, especially because you are a very interesting person. Thank you for all of your videos, and know that you are appreciated.
Awesome, happy to have found you! 🙌
Matt your struggles (my words not necessarily yours), are exactly why I decided to use a discbound system for my bujo. This video was helpful.
Very useful video!! My BuJo will arrive this week. I plan to set the basic sections (Index, Future Log and Monthly view about Jan). Your minimalis style is inspiring. :)
Haha now I'm kind of wishing I got the Clear Habit journal for my 2020 notebook. I opted for the regular Baron Fig 2020 planner which I'm sure will be awesome too.
I’ve been waiting for more videos like this one from you for forever
Great video!
Interesting approach. Just good ol' fashioned BuJo works for me. Collections wherever. Notes wherever. And I just keep that index current. Just very simple. Similarly with the future log. _shrug_ I did a lot better when I quit fighting the model.
Whatever works for you. It's good to see how other folks do things.
If you decide to use your full page tracker, which is really helpful to get a big picture overlook of how you are doing, I recommend collecting the information on your main page. For instance, I track sleep, so on my main page, I notate awake 8:03, bed12:42. When I exercise, I notate rode bike 45 minutes on my main page. ... So not only do I track my exercise, but I have a short but brief description of what I did. So now I know if I've done too mych
I've been a terrible mess at journaling for a very long time... I'm gonna try to use my BuJo effectively this year. I've noticed, @Matt Ragland , that you're no longer going for the future log. I will try to use it, but mostly because I haven't really used the journal itself and I haven't had a chance to actually try it and decide that it's not for me... We'll see how it goes this time around. Happy new year!
First one ... 😀 was waiting for this
Thanks for watching!
Matt Ragland thank you for creating such informative and inspiring videos.
good you are focused (=in focus)
My 2020 BuJo is still in the mail. . . . . I almost broke and made an intermediate spread for fun.
It's on the way Nathan! :)
cool! thanks
I still have not received my sticker. I ordered When they first came out.
YAY! I was just hoping literally just a second ago that you'd post a video today! :D 2 Questions: (1) Do you find the monthly layout spread where you're just listing the 31 days useful? Like, the left spread of your journal where you'd be listing out events or holidays, not the right with the trackers and projects. I'm always left feeling flat about that spread, and often just wanting to pull up my Google calendar instead, lol. and (2) Would you be willing to elaborate on how you fill out your mood tracker on the monthly spread with the AM / PM sections and your signifiers? Your videos are wonderful, happy week 1 of 2020!
i konw i aint matt, but ill answer anyway bc im like that idk
1. i find that a full calendar visual layout helps me bc im in a difficult stem high school, and i need the space and visual representation of assessments and projects in a week.
2. i use a graph bc im lazy so i couldnt say lmao
Greetings Matt! Thank you for sharing! I absolutely love your vids. I don't see in this layout the space for the Weekly 10 Blocks - will you be doing that on the weekly page whee you referenced Goals and Objectives? Also where in this layout do you do the weekly preview and review? Will that be on the last 50 pages?
Amazing timing with this video Matt!
I'd love your up-to-date thoughts from last year when you covered the Self Journal and if you consider Bullet Journalling just better for your needs.
Right now I'm sat here with a fresh Self Journal (would be nice to squarely fit 4 into a 12 month period) and I'm wondering if I should use the Self Journal or instead use the Bullet Journal Method which I just discovered a couple of weeks ago.
Although I'm sure your answer will likely be along the lines of "use whatever works for you" sort of thing, which I totally get, I'm feeling a little paralysed with indecision as it's nice to start a clean year with one method or the other. I did 2 full Self Journals last year (so 6 months) and I tailed off while on holiday, I think looking back because it's quite intense to document quite literally daily.
The thing I like about the Bullet Journal Method is it seems a lot more flexible, if I miss a day (or a week) I just get right back on with it and update the index as needed. I have found from following it the last couple of weeks I'm less inclined to follow a structure (what I'm grateful for etc) which I find I always do with the Self Journal!
Apologies for the long comment, not sure if you'll get to read and reply but as a new subscriber thanks for such amazing content 😊
Andy I’m not Matt, but getting started is key. I was the same on wanting to find the “perfect” fit, but just one day a couple years ago started mapping out what I needed. Tasks, Journaling, Notes and some time tracking.
Matt’s stuff is so helpful because it’s the things that you can implement into whatever system you decide on.
I don’t feel like a failure because I can just try again the next day.
The blank page is intimidating. God speed and do what works for you!
J.C. Thompson thanks for the input! Just to be clear I have been doing this for a while, 2 Self Journals last year and then Bullet Journal Method for the past 3 weeks.
I’m enjoying BuJo but was curious as to Matt’s (as well as anyone else’s!) thoughts on those 2 compared. I’ve still followed the BuJo moth rod today for example as I’ve been doing it for a few weeks, but as it’s a fresh year it would also be a nice way to start and fit 4 full Self Journals into this year.
Andy, I find the bullet journal method fits my needs better, but your mileage may vary.
You remarked that sticking to the Self Journal every day was quite intense. Something to consider that may help you in your decision: was that intensity helpful or a burden?
@@Andy-dh5vr essentially it's what you are describing. The Bullet Journal gives you the flex that you might feel cramped or overwhelmed for a more guided experience.
I used the Clear Habit Journal last year and loved many of the things that it offered, but I wound up feeling frustrated if I missed a day or two and wound up back at Bullet Journaling for what makes the most sense for me.
Like you, I gave up on the future log... Well sort of, I keep my appointments for the next month to month and a half on my sheets. (I use rings and only print out pages that far on advance). The rest I keep on my Google Calendar along with my reoccurring tasks. ... How do you handle reoccurring tasks like take out the garbage twice a week or oil changes every three months? ❤🌅🌵
In my case I use google calendar for every appointments or events that will happen in the future. I only put into the futur log of the bujo appointments and events that are super important. The kitchen course of my daughter is not super important. I do the same thing with tasks but in todoist. At the end of the day, I copy tasks and appointments and events that are scheduled to tomorrow. The bujo is just a tool for me to create a plan for the day. When I have ideas, again Evernote is better because the search engine is a must compared to the analog version. Sum it up, bujo is just a way to be more intentional committing myself to be a better me.
Hi Matt have you done any vids on finance? Or budgets? Thanks I’m advance.
Obviously, I can't start to thank you enough for such informative and simple to the core videos, I've been shuffling through the videos of last two years in the last week.
I have a quick (rapid) question though, is it ok that I'm confusing the one line journal with what I'll write below the day in the daily spread.
I mean under the day in the weekly/daily spread I'll write agenda (tasks with times) and to-do lists (untimed tasks), I get this.
Then will the one line journal be like the MAIN theme or objective of the day?
Tarek El-Tabey one line as I understand and use myself is more like a diary to remember sum up in one day a sentence Not for planning. Where the weekly or daily is for planing forward.
i would say it could sum up what you want it to? if i used it i would use it for gratitude or to talk about my mental health problems and stuff. other people might talk about their partner or kids etc. if you aren't sure what to put there, I would suggest gratitude (probably three things) or a self validating statement, depending on your mental health, state, etc
Books are organized by colour.
Matt’s Journaling videos are awesome. Just the video titles and heading Information Architecture are just very confusing. i.e. to find a first video of a series is a maze and a hunt.
I am not a fan of hardcoding the structure upfront because that would prohibit changing the layout of monthly, weekly, and daily columns. I often keep experimenting with the layout to track differently, add/remove more information, etc.
Whats that last song!
Are you still selling your stickers? The one that said gets your head out of your apps?
I am! Get one here: www.freedandbound.com/products/head-apps-sticker
I missed you Matt. I intentionally came to your channel to see what you have to suggest.
Pre-planning this year ... that didn't work great. 😎
Dude, I need that TN home plate hat. Do you have a link to it?
I do! Can buy it here sounds.milbstore.com/products/nashville-sounds-new-era-on-field-alt-1-plate-hat
I went with the SELF journal. While I appreciate the rigor and intensive organization of the Bullet Journal system, however it feels clinical and far less organic in capturing ideas.
Makes sense! Self Journal is great 👍🏻
Your book collection is a nightmare for me. I only colour code my closet, and by season. Books have to be by subject matter and in alphabetical order. I have far too many subjects. It would irk me when looking for referrences if it "looked colour blocked" but was not in any actual practical order. For someone seemingly micro-attentive I am surprised you do not ascribe to a less aesthetic order.
I love the color arrangement. I know my books not only by their titles but also by their covers. Looks cool and very clean.