Bullet Journals, Gratitude, and Sprints: A Personal Journey to Intentional Living
Journalling - it’s a thing. I’ve lost count of the number of people I’ve met who are hooked on ‘The Artist’s Way’ or who have boxes of their journals that go back decades. And a quick glance on TikTok or Instagram reveals influencers who have created their own or fans of other journals, such as the Shadow Work Journal or the more recent Plot Line Journal “designed to guide you to screen write your day as the main character in your life.”
As someone who has yet to take up journalling (never say never), I was keen to hear from others on Substack who swear by it and how it helps them with their work.
remarked
“I use Bullet Journaling using rapid logging and some short journal entries when needed…..I use it because prior to starting it in 2017(ish) I was getting overwhelmed with work, planning, double checking things I had already done.
Now I can simply look back and check if a task is complete - how far I am in larger important tasks (I have a specific page to monitor this); check the monthly logs and I also use it for gratitude and monitoring my back pain each day…
It also unloads my mind and working…
You can buy a Bullet Journal here.
says
“I've been keeping two forms of journal consistently since the late 1980's -- I keep a personal journal where I write what I'm thinking, feeling and exploring alongside a project journal where I keep track of impulses for creative work.
I started the former in 1985 and the latter in 1987 and have massive stacks of them in plastic storage containers in my closet. It helps me process the world and keep track of inspiration.
I use the personal journal to integrate all of the pieces of myself and make sense of the world around me. I use the project journal for my work and often refer back to specific volumes as plays or films go into production and/or need rewrites.”
told me:
My journaling journey started back in 2020 during the pandemic, just after I finished school. I didn’t have the money for fancy notebooks, so I printed out bullet journal templates and made my own. I’ve always loved organisation and systems, and I found loads of inspiration on Pinterest – all those beautiful trackers, to-do lists, and calendars. But I’m not into colourful, over-the-top designs; I prefer dark tones and kept things pretty minimal. Honestly, I didn’t have much to write about back then, so I just focused on making my pages look nice, redoing the same layouts, writing random quotes, and tracking anything I could think of.
When I started college, it all kind of fell apart. I moved to digital tools like Notion and tried every productivity system I could find – GTD, the Eisenhower Matrix, the 1-3-5 Rule – but I spent more time planning and tweaking than actually doing anything. Sure, I hit some smaller goals like eating better and exercising more, but the big stuff – like becoming a pro skater, getting my Cambridge C2 certification, or figuring out my place in environmentalism – just stayed on my list year after year. I realised I was stuck, mistaking all the thinking and planning for real progress.
By the end of 2024, I went back to my old journals and had this moment of clarity – I’d been completely overcomplicating things. So, I quit my job and decided to try doing things differently. I started journaling properly again, focusing on what I actually wanted and why. Now, my system is simple but powerful. I use sprints for mini-projects (like finding environmental conferences) and write down three things I’m grateful for every day. It’s made such a difference. I’ve landed a dream job, finally started tackling goals I’d been putting off for years, and, for the first time, it feels like things are clicking into place. My journal has gone from being just a pretty notebook to a tool that keeps me focused and intentional, and I honestly feel lighter and more purposeful because of it.
Thanks to
, and for sharing their journaling stories. I hope you will check out their Substacks to find out more about their work.If you enjoy journalling, I’ve love to hear how it has helped with your work, productivity or in any other ways you have noticed.
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