The concept of a diary, journal or log is old as writing itself. As a plot device, it’s a way to keep a story moving forward, while giving the audience a view into the protagonist’s inner world. As a Buffy fan, I’ve found the role of diaries on the show intriguing. From the beginning, both Giles (the mentor) and Buffy (the hero) keep diaries. Initially, Giles keeps track of the day-to-day details, such as her training regimen. In contrast, Buffy logs her thoughts and feelings, such as her blooming crush on Angel.
You read my diary? That is *not* okay. A diary is like, a person’s most private place. I- You don’t even know what I was writing about. “Hunk” can mean a lot of things, bad things, and-and when it said that your eyes are penetrating, I meant to write “bulging.” And “A” doesn’t even stand for “Angel,” for that matter. It-It stands for “Achmed,” a charming foreign exchange student, so that whole fantasy part has nothing to even do with you at all…
As Buffy grows as a hero, her journaling appears to stop. She never references it. As a character, she has become a woman of action. She is decisive and pragmatic.
Also, she is caring and has learned to express that care — especially after her death and resurrection between seasons 5 and 6. At the same time, Giles adds more layers of emotion to his own writing. By season 3, you get the sense that his fatherly affection for Buffy fills his notes about their adventures.
All those details about how they spend their time have become a memoir of their journey together. In the same way, bullet journals become more than just factual logs. They are a history of their lives — drafted day by day.
What do you write in a bullet journal?
Browsing Instagram and Pinterest, I enjoy seeing what people log in their bullet journals. Some focus more on charts. Others keep a diary. Still more use it as a planner to keep them productive.
The best bullet journals reflect their writers.
Daily Log
I choose to keep a daily log in a weekly spread. Typically, I use two facing pages for the week. Then, I divide that into days — much like making a little planner. On each day, I list appointments and tasks.
As I complete each bullet, I mark it off. Each night, I preserve the small ritual of looking over my list and meditating on what occurred.
Weekly Projects
In my weekly spread, I keep a list of things I need to do that are not assigned to a particular day. I usually list them in order of urgency.
Whenever I have extra time in my schedule, I work through that list.
Monthly Goals
On a monthly basis, I set goals. While you may think it’s a way to push for productivity, I actually use it to focus and slow down. I tend to assign myself a lot of stuff.
Setting monthly goals helps me winnow down my list. Also, it allows me to feel accomplished when I look back.
Important Dates
Usually, I list this on a monthly basis. Some people make beautiful spreads with all the important dates for the year. Either way, it’s a nice analog way to ponder significant days in our world full of alerts and notifications.
Long-term Trackers
Look up trackers and you’ll find anything:
- Mood
- Weight
- Book lists
- Movies
- Spending
Personally, I like to keep track of the kinds of creative projects I’m doing each quarter. I divide them up by type (photography, writing, design, etc.) and see how I spent my time.
Notes
Many people find that studying with handwritten notes can help you remember more than if you type. The process creates a kind of muscle memory. Also, it’s an act of meditation. You have to focus to handwrite beautiful notes.
I do this for church and meetings. Instead of letting a device distract me, I log the most important points by hand.
Journaling
Always a classic — journaling is an essential part of the Bujo life. I keep little paragraphs alongside the nitty-gritty planning. It’s not a regular process. But, it’s creating a little context in my personal history.
Ideas
Whether you worry or struggle to focus, keeping a list of ideas in your bullet journal frees up the mind. Just jot them down to review later. Personally, I like to use this as part of the editing process. Not all of my ideas are awesome. Looking at them later helps me choose the strongest ones to use for projects.
Tell me About Your Bullet Journal
I’d like to hear about what you write in your bullet journal. Do you keep a daily log? Do you fill the pages with trackers? Tell me in the comments below or tell me more as you follow me on Instagram.
