The Bullet Journal isn't meant to be fancy

If you've come across bullet journals online, it is highly likely that you have seen how fancy and artistic they can get. Characterised by monthly themes, fancy artwork, multiple pen colours, elaborate habit trackers, stickers, washi tape and more, this is the version of the bullet journal that gains the most traction on Youtube and Instagram.

And chances are, if you've seen these bullet journals online, you've also concluded that bullet journaling isn't for you. you don't have time to make it look fancy, and you don't have an artistic bone in your body. So you move on, never to know if the bullet journal could have been a positive addition to your life.

It's easy to see why this type of bullet journal thrives on these sites; they're visually appealing, which is the sole requirement for success in a visual medium. And I have my own thoughts on why these fancy planners became the face of bullet journaling. However, these journals could not be further from the original method.

Ryder Carroll's original bullet journal features zero washi tape, no stickers and only a single pen colour. It is a simple system that combines a calendar with a to do list in a single notebook. You don't even need to have pretty handwriting.

If I could change one thing about the way the bullet journal is perceived online, I would make it so that the original method was as prominent as these art books that also serve as a bullet journal adjacent planner. Because then more people might be inspired to try it out. And maybe, just maybe, they'll find it as life-changing as I once did.

A bullet journal isn't meant to be fancy. It's meant to be a tool to help organise your life.