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

I was sitting in a coffee shop last Saturday working on my weekly spread when the guy at the next table told his friend that bullet journals are just overcomplicated to-do lists with pretty stickers. It stung a little because I had just spent 45 minutes drawing out a habit tracker for water intake and sleep hours. But then I thought about it, and he has a point if you ignore the creative side. Sure, I could just write down tasks on a scrap of paper and call it a day. But for me, the act of designing the layout helps me actually stick with the habits. I ended up finishing my coffee and simplifying my next month's setup. Has anyone else had their journaling style challenged by an outsider's comment like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_ruby25d ago

Oh please, that guy was just salty he can't keep a plant alive for a week. A bullet journal is a system that actually works for creative brains, not just a list with stickers. The whole point is if it makes you show up and do the thing, then it's already better than his opinion.

the_fiona25d ago

The guy wasn't wrong on the surface but he missed the point completely. For some people a basic list works fine and good for them. For others the visual layout and creative part is what keeps us coming back day after day. I've tried plain lists and they just feel empty to me, like there's no reason to even open the notebook. The habit tracker thing you mentioned is key, because drawing those little boxes each week makes me actually want to fill them in. Different strokes for different folks, but don't let one comment from a stranger mess with what works for you.

maxmurphy25d ago

Wait, why does everyone think the outsider is the problem here? I mean the guy was rude for saying it out loud like that but the core idea isn't totally wrong. Bullet journals can get real extra real fast with all the doodling and washi tape. But here's the thing... if drawing those little boxes is what makes you actually drink water and go to bed on time, then who cares what some dude at a coffee shop thinks. The system is whatever works for you at the end of the day.