Heard someone say bullet journals are just fancy to-do lists

I was at a coffee shop in Denver last week and overheard a guy tell his friend that bullet journals are just overpriced notebooks for people who can't commit to a real planner. It got me thinking - he's not entirely wrong if you're just copying spreads from Instagram without actually using the system. The whole point is the rapid logging and migration, not making it look pretty. Has anyone else had to explain that to someone who thinks it's just a hobby?

3 comments

3 Comments

williamhill1mo ago

Pretty sure that guy's missing the point entirely, the rapid logging part is what makes it work. Half the people making it look good probably never actually use it for what it's for.

vera_murphy1mo ago

My buddy tried to make a bullet journal once, spent three hours picking out the perfect notebook and matching pens, then gave up after two days because he couldn't find a ruler. @williamhill is right, some folks just want the pretty pictures without doing the work. Reminds me of when I bought a fancy French press coffee maker and never actually learned how to use it, ended up just making instant coffee in the microwave instead.

josephl671mo ago

Haha, that coffee shop guy nailed it. I did the exact same thing - bought a Leuchtturm and all the fancy gel pens, spent a whole weekend making these elaborate monthly spreads with doodles and everything. Then I realized I was so busy making it look cool I never actually wrote down any tasks. Now I just use a plain spiral notebook and a cheap pen, do the bullet system for real, and it actually helps me get stuff done. All that decoration stuff is just a trap for people who like buying office supplies more than organizing their lives.