Starting Over with Journaling

Why Bullet Journaling Didn’t Work for Me

Dec 06, 2024

I’ve started journaling again, but this time, I’ve made it simpler and more manageable for myself.

Two years ago, when I began this newsletter, I also tried my hand at bullet journaling. It went okay, I kept it up for about a year before I got tired of it. But why did I burn out? The truth is, I overcomplicated it.

Have you ever seen what some people do with their bullet journals? They’re works of art, with intricate designs and layouts. That’s amazing for them, but it’s not me. I gave it a go at first, trying to make mine look nice, but I quickly realized it drained my energy. It took so much time to draw up spreads every month, or even every day, that I started simplifying things. Even then, it felt like a chore.

Now, I’ve switched to something much easier: a small Rite in the Rain notebook. It’s like those Field Notes notebooks, compact and practical. I chose this one because the paper is waterproof (though I never actually take it outside).

The real push to start journaling again came after my therapy went off the rails. I realized I couldn’t rely on anyone else to help me, I had to help myself. That’s when I picked up my notebook and started.

At first, I tried to keep it minimal: just a few words about my day, squeezing two days onto one page. But it didn’t feel right. Eventually, I told myself, It’s okay to write more. It’s okay if it spills onto another page. It’s okay to capture my thoughts, good or bad. That’s the whole point of journaling, isn’t it?

Now I write about what I did each day. Did I feel pain anywhere? Did I write or create something? I also jot down my thoughts, no matter how messy they are. At the bottom of each entry, I rate the day overall: bad, okay, or good. It helps me look back and see patterns, like Oh yeah, that wasn’t a great day.

I’ve also embraced simplicity. No fancy spreads, no pressure. I just write the date at the top and dive in. If it works for me and I understand it, that’s all that matters. To stay a little organized, I mark the start of each month and keep a simple contents page at the front so I can find things quickly.

I even use two other notebooks for specific purposes. One is for drawing ideas, sketches, concepts, rendering plans. The other is a catch-all for random thoughts and ideas that pop into my head.

Here’s one critical trick: I keep my notebooks visible at all times, with a pencil nearby. If I don’t see them, they don’t exist. That’s the ADHD and ASD brain for you!

Do you journal? I’d love to hear about your experience, feel free to share in the comments! 😁

❄️ Art Journey

Guess what? I got my very first complaint! Honestly, I’ve been lowkey waiting for this moment, but wow, I wasn’t expecting this. The complaint was so poorly written, no date, no time, barely any details. And what was it about? Apparently, my dog barks on the balcony and in the stairwell. Which is hilarious, because… he doesn’t. Ever. Sure, in the apartment, he might let out a bark or two if someone makes a racket in the stairwell, like dropping something or stomping around. But barking from the balcony or stairwell? Nope, not his style.

Then there was another complaint about… wait for it… loud music! 😂 That one really got me laughing. I mean, me? Loud music? I have ASD; I can’t handle loud sounds. If I have a headache, I’m even more sensitive to noise. Plus, I actually checked the decibel level, and it was barely over 50dB. For context, normal conversation is between 50-65dB. So, what’s next? Should I stop talking in my own home? 😂

Let’s just say I’m not taking this complaint too seriously. If they want me to consider it, they’d better come with proper evidence next time; date, time, specifics. I mean, who’s to say we were even home when it supposedly happened? 🤷‍♂️

I’ve started keeping a journal again recently, which is turning out to be a genius move. If someone complains, I can flip back and check exactly what I was doing that day. If I wasn’t home, bam, case closed! And even if I was, my dog is usually too exhausted to bark after our walks, there’s just too much to sniff and explore out there!

So yeah, first complaint in the books. A bit silly, but hey, it’s an experience! 😄