Want to learn the ideas in The Bullet Journal Method better than ever? Read the world’s #1 book summary of The Bullet Journal Method by Ryder Carroll here.
Read a brief 1-Page Summary or watch video summaries curated by our expert team. Note: this book guide is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher or author, and we always encourage you to purchase and read the full book.
Video Summaries of The Bullet Journal Method
We’ve scoured the Internet for the very best videos on The Bullet Journal Method, from high-quality videos summaries to interviews or commentary by Ryder Carroll.
1-Page Summary of The Bullet Journal Method
The “Bullet Journal” method is modular. Use what works for you, and modify it however you like.
The Bullet Journal is a notebook that helps you stay organized. It’s an analog alternative to being overwhelmed by your tasks and responsibilities. The author suggests using this method as a way to slow down, reflect on what’s important and focus on achieving your goals.
The Bullet Journal isn’t just a list-making tool. Smartphones make it harder to concentrate, and the Bullet Journal forces you to go offline and think. Using an app is not as flexible as using a notebook, which can be used in any way that you want. Writing by hand helps your brain remember things better than digital tools do. “As soon as you put pen to paper,” the author writes, “you establish a direct link to your mind and often your heart.”
The four main modules – or “Collections” – are “the Daily Log, the Monthly Log, the Future Log and one collection that rules them all –the Index.”
The Bullet Journal system is a combination of a journal, planner, to-do list, sketchbook and favorite quotes. You can use the modules that work best for you and remove the ones that don’t fit your needs. The magic of this method is how these parts interact with each other to create something unique.
Use this to keep track of your tasks and thoughts as they happen. When you look back later, your Daily Log will help you see what’s important and how you spend your time. Make a note of everything that comes to mind in the Daily Log so that when it’s time for analysis, you have plenty of information to work with. Include anything that seems relevant—the more details, the better! Don’t forget headings for each topic; add them at the beginning of your notebook using “Rapid Logging”, an efficient way to record information about yourself throughout the day.
Use two facing pages to show your current month at a glance by listing the dates and the first letter of the day of the week. Use one page for writing down tasks you hope to accomplish, prioritize them, and migrate forward any tasks that remain open from previous months.
Future Log – Use this to track tasks that occur outside the current month. Carroll’s method is to transfer them from your Daily Log to your Future Log at a convenient time, like during your “Daily Reflection”. When you set up new Monthly Tasks, check your Future Log to migrate entries.
Customized bullet points or signifiers are shorthand symbols you can use to organize your thoughts quickly into tasks, events and notes._ _
Carroll recommends using a bullet point to indicate tasks. A greater-than symbol should be used to indicate that the task has been moved forward from one month to another, and a less-than sign should be used for tasks that have been transferred into the Future Log. Subtasks can be indented beneath their parent items.
Use an open bullet for events. If you’re not ready to deal with the event, write it down in your Log and then come back to it when you’re ready. Your Log will be more valuable if you keep track of all the events that have happened to you._ _If you want a deeper understanding of those past events, use your Daily Reflections section for that purpose.
Mark your notes with a dash (–). The author advises that they should be brief and to the point. When you’ve finished absorbing the information, add clarifications for future reference. “Keep your future self in mind,” he says. “Your notes will be useless if they can’t be deciphered later.”
