Sorting My Life Out, One Bullet at a Time

Now it is August, I'm beginning to get that end-of summer holidays feeling. Granted it is over seven weeks until I start back at university (for my last year ever...eek!), but I am starting now to get myself organised for probably the most important year of my life.

I've heard about bullet journaling gradually more and more over the last few months as it's begun to grow in popularity. At first I was so confused about what it all meant and it didn't really appeal to me. Then a Bullet Journal Flip Through video appeared on my recommended videos on YouTube and I took the plunge.

I became obsessed, watching every video I could find and finally seeing the benefits of it. This is exactly what I need. I really prefer writing lists and the such like on paper, as opposed to on an app on my phone. For me it tends to get lost and forgotten that way, but with a physical list I can continually check on it and I cant really miss a bright pink book sitting in my bag.

Bullet Journaling is a succinct and easily accessible way to organise not only your day-to-day goals, but also your monthly and yearly! I'm still getting used to the pretty handwriting side of it but here's the things I keep in my bullet journal in an attempt to sort my life out!

(I didn't take photos of everything because - the early pages especially - I was SO EXCITED TO DO ALL THE JOURNALING that my hands were literally shaking and everything is a bit wobbly. YOU'LL HAVE YOU USE YOUR IMAGINATION WITH ME okay YAY.)

So first I have a quote that I found on Pinterest (hey hey I have a specific Bullet Journal board now so like follow me for all that and follow me in this journey of organisational FUN) that says "The best way to get things done is to simply begin" and how damn appropriate for the first page. I tried some cool calligraphy thing which DID NOT WORK VERY WELL, hence the lack of photo. IMAGINE.

Then I have a "year at a glance" (which is actually only 9 months), where I can mark off things like birthdays and other big events so I can flip back when it comes to doing my DAILIES (you'll find out about this soon...oooooooh the suspense).

After this, it moves onto monthly planning. August is a relatively quiet month for me, so I thought it'd be good to start now and ease myself into all this business.

I have a monthly overview where I've written in everything happening in August that I forgot to put, or didn't fit, in the year at a glance. This helps SO MUCH to see exactly how busy my month is.

I tried to be all creative with the banners but ended up shading it all wrong but I still think (/hope) it looks ok!

Next I have a monthly habits tracker, which I think will be the biggest help once I'm back at uni. I have a list of things I want to do regularly, be it daily or otherwise and when it's done, you colour in a little square. On my list are; get up before 9, drink water, read, eat fruit and so on. Come September, additions to this list will include readings for lectures, assignment prep. I'm so desperate to graduate with a 2:1 after passing first and second year less than a mark under the threshold and making sure I do all the work in good time is what I hope will push me over the edge.

Without boring you with the rest of the journal, I'll show you the two pages I am most proud of.

This is my first weekly/daily page and LOOK AT THAT BUNTING. I've got all of the things I need to do everyday and any events coming up that week, as well as a tracker for how much water I've had each day and a reminder to read.

Next up (and actually the last page in the book) is my list of movies I want to watch. Ticking movies off this list is something else on my monthly habit tracker and I have a long way to go, as you can see this list stretches on to the next page.

Of course the neatest page in the book is right at the back where no-one will ever look.

Like I said I am OBSESSED with bullet journaling after one day. The two youtube channels that helped my piece together what I wanted my BuJo to be are Boho Berry and Caitlin's Corner and I really recommend you watch them if you're considering starting on this journey yourself!

If you have done bullet journaling and have any tips, I welcome them! Or are there any movies you think I should add to my list? Like I said I have seven weeks left of almost nothing so I have time to fill!

Thank you for reading!
Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin for updates!

Nostalgia is a Funny Thing

It comes out of nowhere and throws you right off.

I've been feeling all kinds of nostalgia for the most unexpected things recently. I miss the uni I hated and I've been thinking a lot about the best friend I haven't spoken to or even thought about since I was about 13. I even spent around half an hour on my middle school's website yesterday. It's all very weird.

The thing about nostalgia is, it makes you forget. You're swarmed with all the good feelings, all the hashtag mems. You don't even consider the bad parts. The times you felt so alone, the times you hated every second of being in school, the petty arguments that came from nowhere. You just feel that warm fuzzy feeling of remembering.

I've always been a nostalgic person, I guess. After I left both my middle and secondary schools, I went back the following year to see the school play or the summer concert. I must get some sort of odd thrill from walking in the corridors when it's almost empty and seeing the teachers who I sometimes hated a little bit.

Nostalgia is a wonderful thing, to know you've had great days in the past. But when you're going through a bad patch, I wish it would just...not? Sometimes I could live without being whacked in the face with how happy I've been and how happy I'm might not be right now.

I've said the word "nostalgia" in every paragraph it doesn't even look real anymore.

But seriously, why am I missing things I didn't even know I missed?



Bit of a deep one, soz friends.
Thanks for reading!
Lots of love!

All You Need is Love

Ah, Valentine's Day. The one day of the year every single guy or gal dreads. Or do they?

There's two extremes when it comes to V-Day that I've noticed; the lovey-dovey roses and chocolates and teddy bears, and then there's the anti-Valentines. The scoffing at poems in cards and scowling at couples holding hands as they walk in front of you. But then you also have the "I Don't Believe in Valentine's it's just a holiday designed by card companies".

But what about the genuine neutrals? The middle of the scale. The ones so used to being "alone" on February 14th that it really is just another day on the calendar. 2016 marks my 23rd Valentine's Day "alone" and I am A-OK with that. Of course when I was 14 I was a lot more dramatic about it and probably drew some very sad cartoon about it but, that's being a teenage girl for you.

February 14th shouldn't be a day to dread. It should be one to share love to whomever you so wish. Be it your girlfriend or boyfriend or your parents or your friends. Of course the notion that there's a specific day of the year to do this is ridiculous but, I say go forth, my friends. It needed be restricted to just the person (or persons, if that's what you enjoy...) you're romantically involved with.

I plan to spend tomorrow with my best (and single) gal pals drinking wine and eating pizza. I'm sure it's what St Valentine would want.

Lots of Love!

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2015

Well here we are; one year on.

One year ago today I finally found the courage to start my own blog. It's been an odd time with varying success on what I've posted, with a lovely existential crisis in the middle.

I thought today I would look back on the last 365 days and reflect on what's changed since I first started rambling all over this little corner of the internet.

Gonna be a long'un folks, I can feel it in my bones.