Revolution of Love

Revolution of Love

Do small things with great love.

Making A Reading Bullet Journal (& A Chance to Win A MMD Journal)

RevolutionofLove.com - Reading Bullet Journal logo_mmd_journal2

This week I have been celebrating the love of summer reading!

RevolutionofLove.com - Summer 2016 Reading List - logo_summer_2016

On Wednesday, I posted my Summer Reading List. On Thursday, I posted reviews of the books I read in June.

RevolutionofLove.com - reading_journal_7

On Friday, I joined Cristina and Tiffany over at Planned Not Scripted for the Late Summer Reading Club where we are reading The Summer Before the War.

Today I am sharing with you by new reading journal!

Anyone who reads my blog knows that I am in love with my bullet journal. I like having all my To Do’s and various lists all in one place. However, Anne at Modern Mrs. Darcy (who recently started using a bullet journal) talked about having a journal just for reading. In previous years, that would have been off my radar since I wasn’t reading much. However, this year one of my goals was to read more. As a result, my love of reading has been reignited and I am reading whenever I get the chance. Sooo, a book journal is making a lot more sense to me now.

I’ll admit that I’m a fangirl of MMD and when she came out with her own lined reading journal I picked one up. It is lovely! (Although, I have to be honest and say that it did have a chemical smell when it came out of the package. I aired it out before using it.) Here is how I set it up.

RevolutionofLove.com - Making A Reading Bullet Journal - reading_journal_1

My opening page.

RevolutionofLove.com - Reading Bullet Journal - reading_journal_9

I numbered the pages and made an index of the content. I left space for future lists.

RevolutionofLove.com - Making A Reading Bullet Journal - reading_journal_2

Next I added my challenges such as my Goodreads Reading Challenge and Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Reading Challenge.

RevolutionofLove.com - Making A Reading Bullet Journal - reading_journal_3

Next I have my book log where I keep track of the books I read. Here is January to March.

RevolutionofLove.com - Reading Bullet Journal - reading_journal_4C

April to June.

RevolutionofLove.com - Making A Reading Bullet Journal - reading_journal_6

I left a few pages for the upcoming months and then started a Lists section. I lined the edges with washi tape for easier reference. I left ample room for various lists – books I want to read. Authors I want to check out. Books friends recommended to me, etc.

On page 31, I started a Quotes and Notes section, which are pretty self-explanatory.

reading_journal_5

A sample page of books to read.

Having all this in one place makes it easier when I am at the library or browsing the Overdrive app or looking for something on Amazon. There are plenty of ideas in one place. Because I had so much fun setting this up and using it, I want to share the fun with you. I bought an extra copy of the MMD journal and would love to give it to one of my online friends. πŸ™‚

RevolutionofLove.com - Reading Bullet Journal - ogo_mmd_journal

To enter the contest, just use the rafflecopter below. Have fun and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

UPDATE: Congrats to the winner of the contest – Mary Ann of NY. πŸ™‚

Oh, and I always get emails asking where I bought my supplies, so here is the info in advance.

Staedtler Color Pen Set, Set of 36 Assorted Colors

Pilot FriXion Pencil, 0.7mm Ballpoint Pen, 12 Colors Set (Erasable)

Weapons of Mass Creation Pouch

Luke’s Diner Mug

Have a great weekend!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, πŸ˜‰

PPS – Disclaimer: “Revolution of Love.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

In other words, if you click on my affiliated links and make a purchase, I get a small compensation that goes towards keeping the blog online. Big hugs to those who click and help support the blog! xoxo πŸ™‚

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How I Use My Bullet Journal – Spring 2016 Update

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_logo_spring_updateIn December, I posted about my switch to a bullet journal and the stats to this little blog went through the roof thanks to that one post. There are a lot of you that are switching to a bujo (bullet journal’s nickname) or are just curious about how others set up theirs. I know I am! I love scrolling though IG and seeing all your pages! They inspire me. πŸ™‚

I thought I would do an updated post since I started a new notebook for 2016. I was going toΒ  use the same one since it wasn’t finished but I couldn’t resist a fresh start with a new year.

Before I dive into sharing my set up, please keep a few things in mind.

Stop Apologizing

It’s okay not to decorate. I don’t know how many times I have heard “I want to use a bullet journal but I am not creative” or “I use a bullet journal but it is very plain.” Stop apologizing for that! It’s fine! Plain can be beautiful. The original bullet journal is not decorated at all. I consider mine more of a bujo hybrid – taking the main aspects of a bullet journal and creatively making it my own. The main thing to consider – is it functional?? If you are stressing out over how to decorate it, then DON’T. Keep it simple!!

If It Depresses You, Look Away

Along that same line, if looking at all the artistic bullet journals on Pinterest is depressing you because you can’t draw a straight line, let alone a stick figure, then stop looking! It’s like a couple years back when I was browsing through some mom blogs and it was depressing because these moms looked like models, their saintly kids in hand stitched clothes (who didn’t know what dirt was) were gleefully helping mom in their garden so she could whip up an organic meal after homeschooling them all. Meanwhile I was sitting in front of the computer with sweats and a stained shirt, a garden of dead plants, crayon marks on the walls, pants that were hemmed with iron-on tape, pizza guy on speed dial and my kid just walked by and wiped his runny nose on my pant like I was a human tissue. I finally had to step away from those blogs and accept the fact that wasn’t me.

Eventually, I got my act a little more together and improved in many areas (even if I still can’t sew) and I’ve accepted that I have my weaknesses but I also have my talents too. I stillΒ  drool over some of the artwork and hand lettering I see on IG but I don’t despair. Instead, I get inspired. I do what I know, practice what I don’t and keep moving forward. So if looking at all the pretty depresses you, stop looking.

RevolutionofLove.com - Word of 2016: Balanced // goals_jan_feb_2016BIt’s More than Pens and Washi

And on the opposite end, if drawing or decorating come easy to you, go for it! Just make sure you are using the journal and not just wasting all your time making it pretty. (She said to herself.) πŸ˜‰

You’re Gonna Mess Up

Your bullet journal will never be “perfect.” It is like nails on a chalkboard to me, but I have to accept that I mess up. My journal has mistakes. Or I wish I arranged it a little differently. But I’ll live and it still works.

Brainstorm First

If you are starting a new journal (or even a new month), I recommend sitting down and brain storming about what you’d like to have in your planner. Will you have lists? Trackers? Goals? Logs? Then decide how you’d like to arrange the pages – lists first? Or at the end? Or just add them as you go long?Β  Get a general idea but don’t overthink it. Next just jump in and give it a try. You will learn what works great and what was a waste of time. The next month, adjust accordingly.

So in a nutshell:

Brainstorm first. Start simple. Learn as you go. Accept your abilities. Embrace imperfection.Have fun getting things done.

* * * * *

Okay, now for the tour.

I started a new book in January. I use a Leuchtturm 1917, which already has an index and numbered pages.

Opening Overview

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_index_marchIndex/ Table of Contents

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal (planner_bujo_2)Legend / Key

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_six_month_mar6 Month Overview

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_goals_2_march2 Month Interval

I break my yearly goals into smaller bi-monthly goals. So for March/April I decide what I wanted to work on and what projects I wanted to get done. That info is kept in this section.

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_proj_1_marchOne of my March projects.

Monthly Section

bujo_jan_febMonth cover pages for January and February. This is where I get to practice new designs. It’s not exactly what I had in my head but it’ll do.

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_title_marchI was actually pleased with this one. I feel like my doodling is slowly getting better.

Monthly Challenges – In this section I add the challenges I want to participate in.

RevolutionofLove.com - bujo_doodles_janIn January I did the #ptldoodle challenge. I skipped it in February but am doing it again in March.

bujo_incowrimoIn February I did the #InCoWriMo Letter Writing Challenge

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_challenge_march2Some of the monthly challenges I’m doing in March – #planwithmechallenge, #rockyourhandwriting, #listersgottalist and #holylens. Sometimes I’ll skip days or I’ll do 4 days at once to catch up but it is still a fun activity.

 

Monthly Trackers

bujo_jan_trackerJanuary Goal Tracker

In January, I made a cute tracker will color codes. It was fun at first but it got too complicated to implement it each night.Β  In February I skipped it all together. But I missed being able to look back and see how I progressed.

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_goals_marchI brought it back in March but did a modified version without the color codes and all the drawn lines. It’s less pretty but pretty is useless if it doesn’t work. This way, in less than a minute, I can review and mark it off at night. Although, I think next month I’ll just put an X instead of coloring in the box.

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_fitbit_marchFitbit Tracker

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_blog_marchBlogging Tracker

I write upcoming posts in pencil and once it is posted, I write the post in pen.

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_gratitude_febGratitude Log for January

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_gratitude_marchGratitude Log for March

No matter how tough a day I am having, I write down two things I am especially thankful for that day. It helps me stay positive and grateful for my blessings.

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_spend_log_marSpending Log

Current Month Calendar and Dailies

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_month_marchI don’t like the vertical monthly list normally used in a bullet journal. My eyes and brain need to see a traditional monthly calendar to process quickly so I improvised.

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_week_marchMy New Weekly Layout

I tried a new layout I for the first time this week. It is a weekly spread. I wanted an overview to see what my weekly appointments looked like. I added my menu, prayer intentions, blog ideas to work on and a section for my weekly brain dump. If I find that I need more room for the brain dump, I’ll delete the blog section next time.

bujo_braindumpOn Sunday evenings I usually do a weekly brain dump. I jot down everything that has been floating around in my head. Once that is done I go over the list and assign specific days to do that item. Some tasks don’t need to be done on a specific day so I add an arrow and fit them in on days when I have a little more free time to tackle them.

Sample Dailies

bujo_memory_2WMy daily sheets are fairly simple but it works well for me. I have my tasks on top. Schedule to the right. Sometimes I’ll take a full page for a day. Sometimes I will fit two days.

bujo_page_3WWhen I’ve been sick, haven’t been able to journal or for the weekend, I’ll often just lump the days together and make note of anything important.

bujo_memory_2Since the weekends are mostly for family time I’ll sometimes record memories or funny things the kids say.

bujo_memory_1WjpgOr I’ll add the memory to the bottom of my daily page.

Future Planning

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal // planner_bujo_15The one thing I missed about a traditional planner was having calendars of the entire year to keep track of future events and appointments. To make up for this, I made simple calendars that I cut out and washi taped to the last pages of my BuJo. As the months pass I can remove the paper calendar easily with the washi and still use the blank page for writing.

If you’d like to print out a PDF copy of the calendar, I placed them in a file on Google Drive. Enjoy.

2016 Master Bujo

Another thing I set up differently this month is that I decided to keep a separate bujo for year long lists and logs. It is my 2016 Master Bujo. In it I keep master lists such as these.

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal (goals_nov_dec_1)2016 Yearly Goals

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update /bujo_book_idea_marBooks to Read

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_book_log_marLog of Books I Read

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_movie_list_marMovies to Watch

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_movie_log_marLog of Movies Watched (I will go back and rate the movies with stars.)

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_tv_marchTV Shows to Check-out

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update //bujo_words_1Words to Ponder (Favorite Quotes)

RevolutionofLove.com - The Joy of Letter Writing - pen_pal_listPen Pal Info

bujo_master_blogA master blog list with all my posts of 2016.

I also have a section with important notes/ info that I will need later that I want in a central location. There are more lists coming (including medical stuff, car maintenance, local places to visit) but this is what I have so far.

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update /bujo_collage_spring_review

* * * * *

For more inspiration and ideas about bullet journaling, check out Tina’s Bullet Journal Pals page. She also does monthly list of bullet journal related links. Here is the Feb 2016 List.

I also started a separate IG account for bullet journaling, monthly challenges, snail mail, etc. Find me @bobbis_bujo.

Next week (or the week after, depending on life) I’ll do a follow up post about my favorite bullet journal accessories – pens, pen holders, washi, tabs for dividing sections, etc.

How about you? Do you use a bullet journal? What is your favorite layout or list? Or your best piece of bullet journaling advice? Do share. πŸ™‚

RevolutionofLove.com - Making A Reading Bullet Journal - reading_journal_1

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE – Since I’ve been reading so much lately, I started a separate Reading Journal.

To read other planner posts, visit here.

Blessings to you!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest,Β GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, πŸ˜‰

PPS – Disclaimer: “Revolution of Love.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

In other words, if you click on my affiliated links and make a purchase, I get a small compensation that goes towards keeping the blog online. Big hugs to those who click and help support the blog! xoxo πŸ™‚

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How I Use My Bullet Journal

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal // planner_bujo_logo

In my post with tips on choosing the right planner, I mentioned that I switched to a bullet journal. Here’s the story of why.

At the beginning of October I did a my big yearly post about my Erin Condren planner. I loved it! However, I was also taking Mystie Winckler’s courseΒ  Work the Plan and in it she talked a lot about the bullet journal. The journal/ planner was created by Ryder Carroll as…

β€œA customizable and forgiving organization system. It can be your to-do list, sketchbook, notebook, and diary, but most likely, it will be all of the above. It will teach you to do more with less.”

Imagine it as a catch all for numerous post it, lists, notes and ideas floating around in your world.

It sounded intriguing so I watched Ryder’s video and visited his website BulletJournal.com.

It was super impressive but I wasn’t convinced to switch. It sounded slightly complicated and it was so black and white… and plain. You know me, I need color and a little pizzazz in my planner or I lose interest.

It was back to my Erin Condren and Mystie’s course. I loved making goals and smaller workable tasks towards those goals but I realized the course was set up a heck of a lot like Ryder’s bullet journal. I started to see how the bullet journal could really work in my life right now. I also loved the idea of having everything in one place because it was bugging me that I had so many different notebooks, journals and pages of random notes that were all over. The appeal of having everything in one convenient spot was winning me over.

I started searching Pinterest for Bullet Journal inspiration and I realized that the BuJo (nickname for the bullet journal) doesn’t have to strictly follow the system that worked for Ryder. You can adapt it and make it your own. This was best exemplified by blogger Kara of BohoBerry.com. Looking though her beautiful artistic pages, I realized that the BuJo could be a great source of life organization AND an expression of creativity. Frankly, she sold me. I decided to give the bullet journal a two month trial. From Nov 1 – Dec 31 I would use the bullet journal. If I liked it, it would be my 2016 system. If I didn’t like it, I would pull my EC planner back out.

Setting Up My Bullet Journal

A bullet journal can easily be done in an inexpensive notebook, although the most popular notebooks are either a Moleskin or Leuchtturm 1917.Β  Kara has a great comparison post about the Moleskine vs Leuchtturm. Although I have no idea how to pronounce it, The Leuchtturm was my choice for these reasons:

  • Hard colorful cover
  • Choice of lined, graphed or dotted pages
  • Acid-free paper that was slightly thicker than the Moleskin
  • Numbered pages (love that!)
  • 3 pages for an Index/ Table of Contents
  • An elastic closure
  • A book marker (some say 2 book markers but mine only has 1)

I love my Leuchtturm.

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal(planner_bujo_2)First I set up my legend or key. This is how I would label my daily tasks and notes.

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal (goals_nov_dec_1)Next I wrote out my yearly goals.

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal //planner_bujo_4My 6 month overview has upcoming dates.

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal (planner_bujo_3)Next is my two-month Interval page. This is where I break down my yearly goals into small bite size tasks I want to work on over the next two months.

During my Interval, I have 2-3 Projects I want to accomplish. Since it is the holiday season, my projects were things that would help me prepare for our annual Thanksgiving trip to visit family and Disneyland and to prepare for Advent and Christmas.

 

Monthly View

In the bullet journal the monthly view is supposed to look something like this:

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal // planner_bujo_11But I really don’t like the layout. My mind needs to see a traditional calendar in order to quickly process what is on the page. So I “cheated” and drew my own calendar. However, that is the beauty of the BuJo. It’s not really cheating because you can adapt it to suit your needs.

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal // planner_bujo_5November view.

Some one asked me what the “12.2.3” represents each weekday. It is simply the school pickup times for my kids. Between the four of them, they are on three different schedules. (I spend a lot of time driving back and forth.) πŸ˜‰

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal // planner_bujo_6December view.

Daily Pages/ Nightly Review

Some people like to do their planner review in the morning before the day starts. Since I’m not a morning person, all my energy in the morning is focused on simply getting myself out of bed, ready and my four kids fed and off to school by 7:40 AM. Yeah, a morning planner review if not happening. For me, an evening review after all the kids are tucked in bed and kissed good night, the dishes are done and the next day’s lunches are made…this is my me time to unwind.

RevolutionofLove,com - How I Set Up My BUllet Jourmal //(planner_16_o)I grab my cute little square tote (that I found at the Target dollar section for $3) and my LapDesk (similar to this one) and sit on the couch to start my evening ritual.

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal // planner_bujo_7For the last couple of months I’ve been trying to spend about 5-10 minutes in prayer and make an examination of conscience. I think about the things I want to improve and thank God for the blessings of the day, often adding 3 things I’m grateful for each night in my bullet journal.Β  (During Advent I have a separate prayer journal for my nightly exams and prayers of thanks. After Advent it will go back into my BuJo.) Ending the day with gratitude really helps me keep things in proper perspective.

Usually by now it is 9 PM and Brian joins me on the couch. He usually reads a little while I work on my planner then we relax to watch a favorite show.

I look over my bullet journal and review my day. I mark off what I have done and decide if the unfinished tasks should be moved to another day or deleted. I add any other notes of the day (such as online purchases). I also check the notes app on my iPhone for any notes I jotted down while on the run and transfer them to my planner.

On Mondays I have the week’s meals listed. If I don’t assign a day, I at least write six meals that I can make that week.

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal // planner_bujo_8I don’t usually have Tasks lists on the weekends since it is mostly family time. Instead I add notes about what we did or memories I want to remember.

Many evenings I also enjoy participating in the ListersGottaList.com daily challenge. Saturday’s prompt was – What were your favorite Christmas gifts? I used to keep these lists in a traveler’s notebook but now they are kept here.

On Sunday evenings I do a weekly brain dump. I jot down everything that has been floating around in my head. Once that is done I go over the list and assign specific days to do that item. Some tasks don’t need to be done on a specific day so I add an arrow and fit them in on days when I have a little more free time to tackle them.

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal // planner_bujo_12Once I review my current day, I make the label for the upcoming day. I write the day’s schedule, household tasks if I’m going to be home that day and any blog tasks I need to work on. I also write any tasks from that week’s brain dump assigned to that day and any other things I need to do or remember.

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal // planner_bujo_9One of the great things about the bullet journal is it’s flexibility. Last week I was sick on Wednesday and Thursday and did not do an evening review. So Friday morning (after the kids were in school) I added the dates and noted that I was sick and anything else significant I wanted to remember, including a quote from my morning devotion. Some days take a full page and some days only 1/2. It doesn’t matter and I love that.

Other Random Pages

The bullet journal is the perfect spot to keep lists – books I wan to read, movies I want to see, recipes to try, blogs/websites to visit, local places I’d like to see during a staycation, etc. I also keep notes on podcasts or periscopes that are especially helpful.

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal // planner_bujo_10The BuJo also works well for keeping track of blog posts and keeping a list of blogging ideas.

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal // planner_bujo_13In December I decided to make a goal chart for my daily goals. I thought a nightly visual would help me to keep my goals in mind instead of getting lost in the shuffle of the day.

The things you can add to your bullet journal are endless!

Future Calendar

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal // planner_bujo_14The one thing I missed about my Erin Condren is having calendars of the entire year. I liked having visuals in a traditional calendar format of upcoming events. This was especially helpful at school meetings when we needed to quickly review over upcoming events.

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal // planner_bujo_15To make up for this, I made simple calendars that I cut out and washi taped to the last pages of my BuJo. As the months pass I can remove the paper calendar easily with the washi and still use the blank page for writing.

If you’d like to print out a PDF copy of the calendar, I placed them in a file on Google Drive. Enjoy. πŸ™‚

Favorite Pens

Revolution of Love.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal (planner_16_r)Everyone has their favorite pens. The Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens are a favorite of mine but when I am using my bullet journal I really need the ability to erase.Β  I used to only use pencil in my planners until I found Pilot Frixion pens! At first I bought the smaller Pilot Frixion Colors Erasable Marker – 12 Color set because they were less expensive and I wasn’t sure if I would like them or not. I kept envisioning those erasable ball point pens that were popular when I was in grade school – the were smudgy and made a mess. However, these Frixion pens did not smudge at all. The only way they erases is with the special eraser at the top of the pen or you could purchase an extra eraser separately.

I loved the pens but I didn’t check the size and they wrote a little thick. (See sample 1.) I went back to Amazon and purchased the Pilot Frixion Erasable Gel Ink Pens, 0.7mm, Assorted Colors, 24/Pack. Although it was more expensive I knew it would be worth it because they were exactly what I was looking for. (See sample 2.)

For on the go writing, I use the Pilot Frixion Ball Knock 4-Color Gel Ink Multi-Pen and hook onto the elastic band of m bullet journal.

UPDATE (12/22/15): I want to add a note about the Frixion Pens. One of the sweet ladies from the FB group Bullet Journal Junkies just warned me that the ink can disappear in extreme heat. (The heat caused by the friction of the eraser is what removes the ink.) Supposedly it can be brought back if placed in the freezer. Sooo while I still love my pens and it doesn’t get very hot where I live, I may or may not switch back to the Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens. Sigh. #firstworldproblems

UPDATE: (1/10/16): I didn’t want to fill my instagram feed with bullet journal posts so I started a second IG account just for that. You can find me @bobbis_bujo.

* * *

Well, I think that is plenty to share for now. Hopefully it gave you an overview and maybe a little inspiration. πŸ™‚

RevolutionofLove.com - How I Use My Bullet Journal // planner_bujo_pin

Do you use a bullet journal? What kind of things do you keep in it? Any tips for a newbie? πŸ™‚

UPDATE – My new bullet journal post is here: How I Use My Bullet Journal – Spring 2016 Update

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal Spring Update /bujo_collage_spring_reviewTo read other planner posts, visit here.

Blessings to you!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Periscope or Katch (past Periscopes), GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, πŸ˜‰

PPS – Disclaimer: “Revolution of Love.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

In other words, if you click on my affiliated links and make a purchase, I get a small compensation that goes towards keeping the blog online. Big hugs to those who click and help support the blog! xoxo πŸ™‚

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How to Choose the Right Planner

RevolutionofLove.com - How to Choose the Right Planner for You // (logo_choose_planner)This is the time of year when people are getting their new 2016 planners ready and for some, it also means a change in planner styles. If you are debating about what style is best for you, here are a few things that have helped me decide over the years.

Size

If you don’t count the decorated notebooks and journals I used as a kid, my first real planner was a Franklin Covey planner about two decades ago. Since then, I’ve gone through just about every size – large, classic, compact, personal and pocket. It changed as my life changed from single to married to married with one kid to married with four kids.

How will you be using your planner?

RevolutionofLove.com - Choosing the Right Planner(planner_bag)Will you be using it mainly at home? Do you want something larger with lots of writing space? Will you be carrying around your planner? Does it need to fit into your purse or diaper bag? Size and portability alone will help narrow your decision.

Suggestions:

If you aren’t sure if a page size is too small or too big, make a mock up to give it a try. When I was debating about going from a standard paper sized 8×11 planner page to a smaller Erin Condren, I cut a few sheets of paper into the size of an EC planner page. I used a ruler to make similar boxes. I used the mock up for a week to make sure I could adapt to it before actually spending money on a new planner.

arrowBudget

The next biggest issue is price. What is your budget? If you can’t afford the $100 Filofax, don’t tempt yourself, no matter how cute it is! Whether you can afford the pricey leather planner or only a spiral notebook in the Target $1 bin, it is more important that you find something you will actually use. That doesn’t mean it has to be expensive.

Suggestions:

If you like the style of a binder, check out different brands and styles to see what is available in your budget. Popular brands include:

  • Filofax (their non- leather planners are less expensive),
  • Kikki-K (They have a sale running until tomorrow 12/13/15)
  • Franklin Covey
  • Daytimer
  • Check out the planner aisle in Target, Staples or Walmart for other affordable options.

Create 365 Happy Planner

If you like the style of an Erin Condren spiral life planner, but can’t afford the $50+, then try the less expensive but just as cute Plumb Planner or a Create 365 Happy Planner.

arrowPage Access

RevolutionofLove,com - A Look at my EC Planner (planner_16_c2)(planner_16_e)Spiral or coil bound planners are great. Many planners, like the Erin Condren, have special tabs that allow you to add pages to your planner. However, if you need to add more than the occasional sheet, then you might want to look at a binder or disc bound planner that allows you to add and subtract freely. You also have the flexibility of creating your own sheets or purchasing digital planner sheets and printing them off.

Suggestions:
Β© Revolution of Love Blog - planner_small_3If you are interested in a binder system, Toni at A Bowl Full of Lemons has an excellent post that will help you compare the different sizes and brands – Choosing A Ring Bound Planner.

Β© Revolution of Love Blog - planner_calendarIf you are interested in a Discbound style, you can read my post about how I set up my previous Discbound Planner.

arrowPage Layout

Revolution of Love Blog - planner_2015_cDo you only need a monthly view? Do you need a weekly overview or daily pages?

RevolutionofLove.com - planner_small_2BDo you need the daily page to be broken down by the hour to mark appointments?

Knowing how you want to view your day or week will narrow down your options.

arrowDesign

RevolutionofLove.com - A Look at My EC Planner (planner_16_l)What eventually led me to an Erin Condren spiral bound planner last year was the gorgeous design. I loved the patterns, the changeable covers and the colorful pages. It just delighted me to use my planner! I hated the plain black and white planner! (For more info how I set up my Erin Condren, see my post here.)

medium_monthly_plannerPhoto Credit: MochiThings.com

On the other hand, my sister would go crazy looking at a planner filled with stickers, washi and doodles. It’s just not her style. She wanted plain and streamlined so she purchased the Medium Monthly Planner from MochiThings. It suits her perfectly and is beautiful in its simplicity.

What is your style? Do you need to have colors and decor? Do you prefer simple and streamlined?

arrowRoom for Creativity

There are some who want a planner that does more than tell them where to be each day or have a list of To Do’s. They don’t necessarily need the pre-printed calendars and daily appointment schedules. They want a planner that allows them a lot of wiggle room to be creative and keep track of more than their schedule. If that sounds like you, you may want to check out a traveler’s notebook or a bullet journal.

A Traveler’s Notebook is basically a cover (that can range from expensive leather to a fabric Etsy creation) that holds various small notepad inserts – calendars, lined paper, graph paper, blank paper. You can build your notebook to include everything from appointments to drawings to journal entries. The possibilities are endless.

There is a great overview from JetPens.com to get you started – Midori Traveler’s Notebook: A Comprehensive Guide.

RevolutionofLove.com - Traveler's Notebook planner_travelers_1E)I purchased this Travel’s Notebook cover from Crafty Girls x 2 on Etsy. There are so many cute covers at various Etsy shops!

RevolutionofLove.com - A Look at my EC planner(planner_16_p) The inserts can be purchased at a number of places. The most popular are the Midori Traveler’s Notebook Refills. Here are a few samples available at Amazon.

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Another popular planner style is the Bullet Journal.

RevolutionofLove.com - Bullet Journal (goals_nov_dec_1)

The system was created by Ryder Carroll as “a customizable and forgiving organization system. It can be your to-do list, sketchbook, notebook, and diary, but most likely, it will be all of the above. It will teach you to do more with less.” (Picture it as a catch all for numerous post it, lists, notes and ideas floating around in your world.)

Ryder’s website BulletJournal.com has a detailed explanation and video explaining the bullet journal system.

Although there is standard format, people have adapted the bullet journal to reflect their creativity. Just search bullet journal on Pinterest to see numerous versions. Or visit my favorite Bullet Journal user Kara at Bohoberry.com for inspiration.

Pictured – Leuchtturm Medium in Lemon Yellow

A bullet journal can easily be done in an inexpensive notebook, although the most popular notebooks are either a Moleskin or Leuchtturm 1917 (my personal favorite.) Kara has a great comparison post about the Moleskine vs Leuchtturm.

Last month I switched to a Bullet Journal and I explain why and how here – How I Use My Bullet Journal.

arrowSpecialty Planners: Catholic

There are planners created with a specific audience in mind, such as homeschoolers, bloggers, Christians, etc. Since the bulk of my readers are Catholic, here are a few planners created for those who want to incorporate their spiritual life into their daily planner.

Catholic Planners

bis_planner_cover

Blessed Is She Liturgical Planner by BlessedIsShe.net

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planner_catholicsistasCatholic Through the Year by Catholic Sistas.com

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planner_blpThe Best Laid Plans by Kelly at This Ain’t the Lyceum.org

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planner_cdpThe Catholic Daily Planner by Michele Quigley.com

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Specialty Planners: Goal Orientated

passion_planner_2Photo Credit: PassionPlanner.com

UPDATE (12/26/15) On my instagram, Nikki commented that she loves the Passion Planner. Someone else mentioned to me how much they liked it. I looked over their site and I love the concept behind it. Creator Angelia TrinidadΒ  explains:

I decidedΒ to make a tool that helped peopleΒ clearly define their personal goals and dreams and put them at the forefront of their attention, and a plannerΒ was PERFECT for this. Passion Planner helps peopleΒ break down their long and short terms goalsΒ into more actionable stepsΒ and gives them a place toΒ incorporate these steps into their daily lives.

I wanted people to use this planner as a compass they could use to guide their daily decisions. It’s simple. You ask yourself: is what I am going to do today going to get me closer to my goals? Yes? Do it. No? Don’t do it.

I wanted to make a tool thatΒ encouraged people not only to startΒ thinking about their goals, but makeΒ taking action towards them a part of their daily lives. And that’s how Passion Planner was born.

Whether you are already goal orientated or not sure where to start, it is definitely worth checking out.

arrowMy Last Tip – Be Realistic!RevolutionofLove.com - How to Choose the Right Planner // (planner_note_doW)

As much as I love planners, I was disappointed to learn this truth – a planner will not magically make you more active and productive. You can decorate and accessorize all you want but the real magic doesn’t start until you get your butt in gear and start actually doing those things on your lists.

A planner can be an awesome tool, but like a hammer, it won’t suddenly build a house by itself. You still have to do the work. So don’t stress over finding the “perfect” planner. Just pick the one that closest suits your needs and give it a try. More than likely your planning system will evolve as your life changes but don’t worry, that’s half the fun. πŸ˜‰

RevolutionofLove.com - How to Choose the Right Planner //(logo_pin_planner)

What is your favorite planner? Do you have a planning tip to share? Do tell!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Periscope or Katch (past Periscopes), GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, πŸ˜‰

PPS – Disclaimer: “Revolution of Love.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

In other words, if you click on my affiliated links and make a purchase, I get a small compensation that goes towards keeping the blog online. Big hugs to those who click and help support the blog! xoxo πŸ™‚

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November/ December 2015 (Holiday) Goals & A Review of My October Goals

RevolutionofLove.com - Nov/Dec Goals 2015 (logo_nov_dec_goals)It’s officially been a year since I first started to get into the habit of making goals. Those goals have been a big help and I am so thankful for the last year working with Laura Casey’s Powersheets. They were super helpful in making me look deep into myself and see what I wanted out of life, what fears held me back (without even realizing it) and challenged me to reach higher than I thought I could go. They set me on the right track and made goal-making a reality in my life but now I feel like it is time to change things up and work on my goals through a little different process.

RevolutionofLove.com - Nov/Dec Goals 2015 (goals_nov_dec_1)

As I mentioned before, I am taking Mystie Winckler’s online course Work the Plan.Β  The course technically does not open until January 1st but I was able to get in early when she had early enrollment in September. I’ll post more about the course in the future but one element that I really like is that instead of monthly goals, she recommends “interval” goals lasting 6-9 weeks. She said our smaller goals should run for at least six weeks since it take that long for an act to form into a habit. Makes sense.

RevolutionofLove.com - Nov/Dec Goals 2015 (goals_nov_dec_3)

She is also helping us to make our yearly goals and break them down into interval goals. (I’ve chosen to make my intervals bi-monthly so I’ll be working on these smaller goals through November and December.) For each interval, we pick 1-3 projects we want to accomplish by the end of it. We list the tasks that we need to do to accomplish these projects. Those tasks will compromise my even smaller weekly and daily goals. Those along with the daily habits I want to work on will keep me busy for the next two months!

I kept my daily habits really simple because I know what the holiday season is like. I am super busy and I’m prone to get super stressed! So I need to just work on the basics – prayer, sleep, vitamins, water, etc because all these just seem to get forgotten when I am going full speed! I am also really trying to be intentional about my time and making sure that I am not wasting it by wandering around aimlessly working on too many things at once and not actually getting anything done. Ugh!

My main big goals do not change but my mini-goals change depending on the areas I need to work on the most. So here is a summary of my progress and my mini goals for November/December.

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RevolutionofLove.com - goal_daughterMain Goal #1: To always have God at the center of my life and to deepen my love for Him. I want his will to be my will and motivation.

October Mini-Goals Reviewed

  • Continue with the 15 minutes of prayer in the morning until it becomes second nature. – For the most part, yes but could still use some work.
  • Substitute a half-hour (or so) of watching TV or listening to music with something of greater substance, like listening to an uplifting podcast or reading a devotional/ spiritual book. – I’d say 50/50. It was improved but some nights I just wanted to veg in front of the TV and not think. LOL.
  • Get away from the regular routine for a bit and go to the chapel for prayer and confession. – Done.

Nov/Dec Mini-Goals

  • Continue with the 15 minutes of prayer in the morning using the Jesse Tree devotion for the first time this Advent. I won an Advent Devotional Book for Women from Jenny at The Littlest Way (Yay! Thanks, Jenny!) so I’ll be using that along with the beautiful new Advent cards from Blessed Is She.
  • Short exam and Act of Contrition at end of the day.

 

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RevolutionofLove.com - goal_wifeMain Goal #2: To be a loving and holy wife to Brian and to work at keeping our marriage strong, to nurture our friendship and spend time alone to reconnect.

October Mini-Goals Reviewed

  • Continue to plan weekly date nights and monthly out of the house dates. – We had our first lunch date with Bella babysitting the boys. Having a child old enough to babysit for short periods of time is a game changer!!
  • Make a conscious effort to thank Brian more when he does something for me or the kids and not just take it for granted. – I’d grade myself with a sold B-, with room for improvement.
  • Let Brian help me out when he offers and stop acting like he can’t do it the way I would do it. Let him have his own way of doing things. (I’ll tell you right now, that one is going to be tough!) – Yeah, this was tough but I think I did fairly well. Well, except for that time…yeah, I can still work on this.

Nov/Dec Mini-Goals

  • Continue to plan weekly date nights and monthly out of the house dates. Our lives are so centered around the kids and work that we really need to keep this up. It helps out so much I don’t want to it to let it slip away.
  • Continue to make a conscious effort to thank Brian more when he does something for me or the kids and not just take it for granted.

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RevolutionofLove.com - goal_motherMain Goal #3: To be a good mother that loves her kids and spends time with them and is not always “too busy.” I want to teach them about their faith and how to love and serve God in their young lives.

October Mini-Goals Reviewed

  • Continue to work on doing what dinner prep I can in the early afternoon so I can spend an hour in the late afternoon helping the kids with their homework. – This was a huge fail. I need to work on a better plan to help the kids with their homework and not leave it all to Brian when he comes home. Realistically, with the holidays and upcoming school vacation days, this won’t be properly tackled until January. We’ll revisit it then.
  • Get the boys involved in Just Run at school and take walks as a family on the weekend. – Yes, on the Just Run and so-so on the family walks. Lots of busy (or rainy) weekends.

Nov/Dec Mini-Goals

  • Make an Advent Plan to help us keep our eyes on Christ and not get wrapped up in the materialism and busyness of the season. This year we will be doing the Jesse Tree for the first time and I will pick one (or two) of our other Advent Activities to do with the kids.

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RevolutionofLove.com - goal_homemakerMain Goal #4: To bring order into our home so I am not stressed out by the mess and chaos. When things are organized our family life runs smoother and there is more peace.

October Mini-Goals Reviewed

  • I’ve been slacking on my meal planning and going to the store too often so back to weekly meal plans on Sunday. – A couple weeks were good and a couple were no bueno! Grr.
  • Spend time on the weekends with Mystie’s Work the Plan course. I have a full calendar in October so the weekends will be the only times I can have a little extra time for this. – Yes. I wanted to be done with the course by now but I’m not. However, I have made progress and feel like I had a things in place to make it through the next two months with my sanity intact. πŸ˜‰

Nov/Dec Mini-Goals

  • Make a travel plan for our yearly Fall trip to Disneyland and visiting my family so I can enjoy the trip and be adequately organized.
  • Make a Christmas plan and budget and stick to it so I am not overly stressed and over budget.

* * *RevolutionofLove.com - goal_womanMain Goal #5 – To take care of myself physically, spiritually and mentally so I can be a happy and healthy wife, mother and friend. Taking care of myself mentally also means challenging myself to come out of my comfort zone and facing my fears and trying new things.

October Mini-Goals Reviewed

  • Once summer is over I tend to drink less so this month more H2O and take my vitamins. (So easy to do yet I always forget!) – Not super bad but not great. Seriously needs more work.
  • Complete the #write31days blogging challenge and write a post each day on my topic – 31 Days of Gratitude. – I did it, baby!
  • Complete the Lisa’s online class #LoveYourLettering about how to love your own handwriting and learn the basics of hand lettering. (I started here.) – I made it about 1/2 way but had to stop because there was too much other stuff going on. However, I do love the course and what I’ve learned so far and REALLY want to continue as time allows.

Nov/Dec Mini-Goals

  • Basics – water, vitamins, walk at least 20 minutes and in bed by 11 on school nights.
  • Follow the plan! Don’t do what I FEEL like doing but get the priorities finished. This month’s motto – suck it up and get it done!…with a smile. πŸ˜‰
  • RevolutionofLove.com - Nov/Dec Goals 2015 (goals_nov_dec_2)
  • This may be crazy but this month I switched my planners. I know! I have loved my Erin Condren for the past year and a half and I posted last month about how I set it up BUT as I’ve been taking Mystie’s course, it talked about how well the bullet journal went with the plan. The more I looked into the bullet journal the more I sort of fell in love with it’s simplicity yet room for creativity. I decided to try it out in November and December when my planner is really put the test. If I like how it goes, I’ll stick with the bullet journal. If I don’t, I’ll go back to my EC planner in Jan 2016. I’ll write a separate post about setting up my bullet journal soon.

RevolutionofLove.com - Nov/Dec Goals 2015 (goals_nov_dec_collage2)

Okay, that’s it for now. Time to get dinner on the table.

What about you? What is the one thing that you really want to work on this month?

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Periscope/Katch, GoodReads Letterboxd, Spotify or Instagram. πŸ˜‰