Embarrassing revelation: when I look at this grubby, scuffed little yellow notebook—my bullet journal—I feel a genuine affection. A warm, swelly sensation in my heart, such as one might feel for a dear friend, or humankind. It’s odd, yes, but also kind of cool. It makes me ponder the concept of inanimate friends, like the friends Marie Kondo keeps in her closets. I find myself trying to appreciate and honor all the little objects in my life.
There are a lot of them. I don’t get out much.
Anyway, a video!
My bullet journal (“bujo”) is a precious inanimate friend. Cute, cheerful, deep and SUCH a good listener. So I recently posted about my bujo on social media, and got some questions in response. And today I made a video about the way I hang out with this pal of mine.
In the video I talk about what drew me to using this brilliant method, created by the wondrous systems mind of Ryder Carroll. Of course, the internet is full of resources about the nuts and bolts of bullet journaling, so that’s not really what this video does. It’s about my own experience of the method instead, and the ways that I’ve adapted it to fit my life.
So if you love to watch an obsesso’s unhinged ranting, please sit back and enjoy. If you like playing “Spot the person who drew on her own face with a Sharpie,” you’re in for a treat.
What kind of friend is a bujo?
Making this video, I reflected on the real ways Yellow Bujo has improved my life. The process made me understand how much I require the creation of order in my days, since I have the kind of life without much externally-imposed structure.
My bullet journal, it turns out, is the kind of friend who gently suggests, “Hey, you’ll feel better if you squeeze in some exercise today.” It smiles and says, “Remember how you said you were going to work on your book this week?” It puts a comforting hand on my shoulder and points to the list of ways I need to nurture myself.
(Of course, it does not literally, with the hand on the shoulder. Of course not. I just creeped myself out. It’s a freaking book. No limbs. No hands.)
Still, I believe we could all use a friend like Yellow Bujo. And given that I’m preparing to embark on a new phase soon, as a life coach, it occurs to me that maybe that’s the kind of friend my bullet journal is. Warm, encouraging, and prepared to hold you to your promises.
Do you have a bullet journal or similar system for bringing order? Do you have inanimate friends? I want to know! Leave a comment or drop me a line directly.
I want to be sure I continue this practice of gratitude for my inanimate friends. (So I’d better write it down in my bujo!)
This article originally appeared on Rowan’s Wild Inventures substack newsletter. To subscribe and get all Rowan’s posts in your inbox, head over to Wild Inventures on substack now.
I love love love this video!! We are very similar in that I love a system also. And just discovered washi tape recently and it brings me joy. I have been looking at ways to use my phone less to organise my day, weeks and months and the Bujo seems to be the perfect system! Currently reading as much as possible about bullet journaling and gathering all the information before I launch in. This genuinely makes me excited! Thanks for sharing x
Hi Sarah, Wow, this makes me SO HAPPY! You have all the signs of becoming as crazygonuts about this as I am, and one always likes peers in these pursuits. Seriously, you’ll have fun.
There are definitely some parts of the method that I don’t use, but others that I didn’t think I’d use but have ended up building in.
Let me know how you go with it!
I love this video Ro, you lit up my day, please make more. The hashtag #randomshitbyRo. would be the first on my list of must watch. Xoxo
Wow, if #randomshitbyro were the hashtag I was aspiring to, I would have zero trouble finding content! Thanks so much, Carol! Love yer guts, girl! x
Omg Ro, that should have been #random SHIFT by ro, not shit. This video was randomly in my newsfeed and it shifted something for me, showed me a new way, and I love it. Is there a big hole I can crawl into? Xoxo
But I kept referring to “random shit” in the video.
Hey, I’ll take both! Random shit feels right in my comfort zone, but I’ll take “shift” as a huge compliment! xoxoxo
Ro! Bujo! Thank you. This is fantastic. You are fantastic. I had a sudden, inexplicable urge to buy a journal last week (I haven’t kept one on paper in years) and am OVER chasing down the bits of scrap paper I seem to scribble bujo content on at random. THANK YOU for helping me see the solution. And thank you for sharing your lovely creation —
xoxoxo
Tricia
Aww, thanks, angel. Last night Marty and I were reading your introduction together and reacquainting ourselves with your old habits! Strongly encourage you — of all people — to bujo like the devil! xoxo
Dearest Ro, I love this bujo video so much. I usually click off any video more than 2 min but not this one. I was enraptured with your joy, authenticity, and passion. You weren’t just describing a bullet journal you were describing a practice of self compassion and presence. Oh my dear gracious badger, you make this world a more loving, thoughtful, kind and joyous place. I have to say the journal sounds way cool but what sounds even better is giving life beauty, systems, pretty tape borders and memories of poignancy and meaning. Thank you!!
Thank you, lovely! xo
I love your Bujo! Want one!
Will begin the online search tonight for the perfect book -Thanks so much Ro.
Make sure you get a legit bullet journal so it has the index and page numbers already printed. Also the dot grid instead of lines or plain paper helps enormously! Let me know how you go! xo
Ro – I loved your #bujo video! I’ve been a fan for years. My bujo is quite boring compared to yours. Ha! I am inspired to dig into the system a little more now and I’m also strangely fascinated by this washi tape you speak of. My favorite addition to my bujo was a pen quiver. It allows you to carry your favorite pens attached to your journal. You’ll love it. Bujo on!
Ooh, accessories! You KNOW I’m into that! It is so fun to watch everyone come out of the bujo closet!
Thanks for sharing. Love, love, love this! Can’t believe I’m just hearing about this now. Where did you get your bujo and do they offer other colors?
Hi Michelle! I got mine online. If you search “bullet journal” you should find quite a lot of variety, including the all-important color choice! 🙂
I love this video so much, Ro! It’s ten minutes SHORT, not LONG. Please don’t ever say that doing this kind of lovely video is self-indulgent – you’re sharing something so precious, worthwhile and practical, and you’re doing it with so much humor and enthusiasm – what’s not to like? You could totally do more installments on it. Thank you for sharing it. Sending love! Xox
Thanks, lovely! I appreciate that so much. I do love my bujo 🙂 xoxo