Overheard someone at a coffee shop say bullet journaling is just 'fancy to-do lists'

I was grabbing a latte downtown last Tuesday and this guy next to me was telling his friend that bullet journals are overhyped. He said they're just regular lists with pretty drawings. It got me thinking about how I use mine for tracking habits and expenses, not just tasks. Do you guys see it as more than a to-do list or is that basically what it boils down to?

2 comments

2 Comments

sam_scott597d ago

Oh man, that coffee shop guy is missing the whole point of bullet journaling. I get what he's saying on the surface, but for me it's WAY more than just a fancy to-do list. I track my sleep, my water intake, how much I spend on takeout - stuff that really matters for keeping my life together. The drawing part is just bonus, it makes me actually WANT to look at my journal every day. Without that habit tracking, I'd probably forget to pay a bill or realize I haven't exercised in two weeks. So yeah, it's a to-do list with some extras that make a huge difference.

perry.jessica6d ago

Notice how we're all just looking for small ways to feel like we've got a handle on things, especially with how chaotic life gets. It's like we build these little micro-systems (tracking sleep, water, whatever) just to prove to ourselves we can keep something under control when so much else feels out of our hands. Honestly, that's probably why bullet journaling caught on so big - it's not about the doodles, it's about feeling like you're the one driving your own life for a change.