Bullet Journals and Activity Trackers

Happy New Year!

Who doesn't love the promise of a new year? All the tasks will be organized! All the goals accomplished!! All the dreams fulfilled!! Of course,  a new plannner & maybe a new journal to keep track of it all.

I like the *idea of planners and calendars and activity trackers but they are never exactly what I need and, like every book-lover I have about 1000 very cool blank journals--so, I started creating bullet journals.  

Here are some of the many notebooks I have to hand, including the one I was using during the last school year.

I looked up several tutorials and examples of bullet journals, then pulled ideas from here and there to cobble together something that fit my lifestyle.  I knew I needed the following:

1) to record my food intake

2) to track certain habits like drinking enough water and daily exercise

3) generous space for a To Do list.

Food Intake

Every single weight-loss program out there will tell you that this is important.  You need to record what you eat to be aware of what you are eating.  The theory goes that one should review the records and make healthier choices in planning in future.  This is true enough, but just the avmct of writing it down acts as sort of a private confessional, a taking responsibility for my own behavior.   Sometimes, just the thought of having to write down that I ate an entire bowl of popcorn or chips or Cheese-its is enough to deter me from actually eating the stuff. 

In March, I began working from home, like many other people, I was still on a pretty strict school schedule which shaped my waking, sleeping, exercising, & eating times.  However, when the school year ended and the pandemic did not, my routine became erratic.  I didn't totally succumb to eating my feelings (as is tradition with my people) but only because I still had the corgis to force me to exercise.  

Who could say no to those faces?

I also started inadvertently intermittent fasting.  I am not a morning person--never have been & probably never will be-- so I ended up staying awake later and getting up later in the morning.  As I result I would eat my last meal no later than 7pm and eat my first meal the next morning about noon-1pm.   Granted, I haven't lost any weight during this pandemic, but I haven't gained any either, so I'll call that a win.

September came around, but my teaching position did not and I continued to skip breakfast, so I changed the format of my bullet journal to fit my routine.  

Habit Tracking

The simplest way I found to do this is to include a few check boxes at the top of each day's entry: 

That format seemed to work for my daily routine--but then I found this template:

It is almost identical to a planner that I have been admiring, but can't justify buying. I reduced the size by 1/2 & pasted it into my bullet journal at the beginning of the new month. 

Added bonus: I had the facing page to set some monthly goals.

I like the idea of tracking a habit throughout the month to see how much success I have (or don't), when I struggle, & with what.

I also like that it allows me to track up to 9 things in one compact area. Truth be told, I need to start more slowly though. . . like with 3 tasks. 

What are your favorite ways to keep track of resolutions & to-do lists?