Stress takes a bullet with this journaling method


By Allyson Kang,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

The setting sun casts a golden glow on the first display customers see when they walk into All Things Right and Relevant– a large stand heaped with a variety of bullet journals. Pamphlets explaining the health benefits of journaling lay on top of the stand.

In Davis, the trendy way to track your life is not an online diary, a tablet calendar or a digital app. It is the bullet journal, an analog methodology meant to “help you track the past, organize the present, and plan for the future,” according to its creator Ryder Carroll.

And for a wide range of ages in the past six months, the bullet journal has been gaining popularity, according to All Things Right and Relevant.

Maureen Bockrath, an employee at the store, initiated the creation of the bullet journal section in August of 2017 to support the mental health community, because, in her opinion, “bullet journals are a good way for some people to reduce stress.”

Bockrath’s inspiration is supported by online resources like the University of Rochester and Psychology Central, who cite on-paper journaling as a way to gain control of emotions and improve mental health overall.

After starting her own bullet journal on a neighbor’s recommendation, Bockrath found that it has made her more prepared for events and more likely to do chores in a timely manner. Although she acknowledges that this does take effort, Bockrath believes that “it’s worth it.”  

Additionally, as the bullet journal is on paper, it can create a uniquely calm headspace for multiple activities. According to popular bullet journalist Shelby Abrahamsen, “one quality that is helpful to students is the ability to keep everything all in one place. A bullet journal can act as a command center for all of your important info, both personal and school related.”

To students at DHS, the bullet journaling method provides a way to personalize a widespread form of organizing many activities. Its individuality is considered an important factor; the bullet journal’s creator originally created it to assist productivity in an alternate, artistic way.

“Part of the reason why I think the bullet journal is starting to become popular is because it’s 100 percent customizable,” sophomore Anne Zhao said.

Sophomore Anne Zhao uses her bullet journal to
organize the many events in her life while practicing art.

Last year, as a freshman with an increasing workload, Zhao decided to switch to a better system of organization that could also be aesthetically pleasing. The end result was starting a bullet journal, which she feels “has made life more put together.”  

For Zhao, bullet journaling allows for creative freedom she couldn’t have with a school issued planner, an interest that junior Kimberly Liu and sophomore Enid Frank can relate to.

“I’ve always loved decorating planners with stickers and washi tape, and bullet journaling was also a way for me to practice my calligraphy,” Liu said.

However, Liu recently stopped bullet journaling because it demanded so much of her time. Bockrath, Frank and Zhao agreed that for some people, bullet journaling could be time consuming, although they believed the advantages are worth it.

“Overall, I would recommend that anyone who wants to get organized and make some easy art at the same time give bullet journaling a shot,” Frank said.

One thought on “Stress takes a bullet with this journaling method

  • January 23, 2019 at 3:38 PM
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    wow whose bullet journal was used for the photos? absolutely gorgeous spread!

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