By: Eileen Guo
As an artist, it’s easy for me to illustrate ideas and concepts but it hasn’t helped me stay organized. Cinematography, painting, photography, and graphic design have been creative outlets but they haven’t helped with my time management. Junior year has been extremely stressful and it’s been difficult trying to manage my time, especially that I’ve started procrastinating on work just at the thought of it. I would easily lose track of what day of the week it was, and I wouldn’t remember all the homework I had for my various AP classes and essays that had to be written. Relying on our school’s online system was not useful at all, as teachers would often forget to upload assignments because it was too time consuming. I had to take it to myself. I was the only person who was capable of managing my time and writing down what needed to be done week by week. My friends had previously shown me their bullet journals and I thought it was a complete waste of time. All the drawings, colors, and mood tracking pages seemed completely useless to me.
Coincidentally, my friend had given me a journal for my birthday and I just decided to create my own journal that initially started off as my calendar. I would lavishly decorate each and every page, writing down notes from classes, and homework assignments due the week of. As weeks passed, I realized that I could customize this book however I would like. I started adding things that were special to me: Bible verses, future art brainstorms, favorite recommended songs, and much more. This journal was a place where I could write down everything I felt throughout the day (quite cheesy I know) that I wouldn’t be comfortable sharing, or just thought people wouldn’t care enough to listen.
During this difficult time, bullet journaling has helped me a lot. It’s my custom book that I can write down and draw whatever I want, whenever I want. I’ve started writing down what I’m grateful for, and I think that’s really important to keep in mind when everyone is constantly complaining during this pandemic. The environment has gotten significantly better, people are spending more time with their family and friends because the advanced technological world has allowed us to do so. There are so many blessings that we are neglecting because we only see the negatives this time is bringing to us.
Something as small and simple as a journal can really help you to hone in on your personal thoughts and feelings, while helping you keep track of due dates, deadlines, and what’s important to you.
