Asterisks and Obelisks on the Bullet Journal Method for Getting Things Done and Doing Deep Work

To use a bound notebook (like a composition book or a bullet journal) to implement David Allen’s Getting Things Done and Cal Newport’s Deep Work, certain modifications need to be applied to Ryder Carroll’s Bullet Journal Method. In ancient manuscripts, an asterisk (*) meant a recommended addition, and an obelisk (÷) meant a recommended deletion. The following are my asterisks and obelisks on the Bullet Journal Method, which support Getting Things Done and Deep Work. If you are familiar with at least two of these three books, this will all make sense. I hope it’s helpful!

Materials

I use a regular college-ruled composition book, black and blue pens, a pencil, correction tape, a ruler, sticky tabs, and sticky notes.

Procedures when using a BuJo or notebook

At the front, reserve 4–5 pages for an index. Each page is numbered (* right hand pages odd, left hand pages even). When you fill up a page, start another page of the same topic at the next blank page. Note the new page’s number in the index. Threading: in the upper inside corner, indicate whither the page’s topic continues and whence it resumes, using arrows and page numbers. In a composition book, the left margin can be used for dating entries.

Follow the BuJo Method’s advice for setting up the Index, Future Log, and Monthly Log. Start the Daily Log whenever you need it, but see below on Contextual Next Action Lists before you add to the Daily Log.

Getting Things Done

Inboxes. ÷ BuJo uses the Daily Log as an inbox. * Instead, use physical inboxes, e-mail inbox, and a piece of scratch paper in your pocket. Use the Daily Log for notes, thoughts, and a log of events.

Calendar. * For time-specific events, use a digital calendar or dedicated analog calendar. You could also set up 12 pages at the front of your notebook as a calendar, giving one line to each day and one page to each month.

Contextual Next Action Lists. ÷ BuJo puts all tasks in the Daily Log, Monthly Log, and Future Log, which are time-specific but not context-specific. * Instead, put lists of contextual Next Actions at the end of the notebook, working your way forward. This way, all the Next Action lists can be reviewed in one place.

Project Support Material. BuJo uses Collections (dedicated pages). * Make an index of projects in the Next Actions section (at the end of the notebook). For each project, specify where the project support material is found. It could be a page in the notebook, a computer folder, a physical folder, or the like.

Deferral System. BuJo uses the Month Log and Future Log. * Also use a tickler file system and/or a separate calendar dedicated to future NA’s.

Maybe Someday. ÷ BuJo puts “maybe someday” items in a Collection. * Instead, put them in a separate notebook and a digital to-do list (the latter only for online activities).

Storage/Filing. BuJo uses the Daily Log and Month Log. * The Daily Log is especially suitable for recording events, meeting summaries, and thoughts that are not immediately actionable. The Month Log is suitable for recording events with references to where more information is found. For material that is specific to a topic, use a filing system (analog and/or digital).

Weekly Review. ÷ BuJo does a review of the system in the Monthly Migration. * Instead, do a Weekly Review. It is useful to record the steps of your Weekly Review on a page of your notebook.

Deep Work

Time Blocking. ÷ BuJo does not do this. * Either use a separate calendar/planner (such as Cal Newport’s Time Block Planner) or make your own Week Plan on two or three pages. In my Week Plan, each page has four columns. Hours of the day run down the margin. Each line represents a half hour. One column is for the day’s block plan (in pencil: APPOINTMENTS IN CAPS and contingent events lowercased). The next column is used for the day’s Next Actions and Metrics. I record my time spent on various activities. I use underline to denote time spent on Deep Work. In this system, two days fit on one page. Weekend days get only one column each. On the weekend, I do not time block, but note the appointments at the top of the column and Next Actions at the bottom.

Multi-Horizon Planning (daily/weekly/quarterly). BuJo uses the Future Log and Monthly Log. * In addition, make a Year Overview, one week per year, which lists the long-term deep work projects you hope to work on during each week. The Month Log is used to list tasks and projects you hope to complete this month. The top margin of the Week Plan is a good place to list tasks and projects you hope to complete this week.

Other Options

You could try the Everbook system. I like how it is expandable, but I found it insufficient for my needs because one cannot assign page numbers, and therefore one cannot make an index, and therefore I lose stuff and have to spend a long time hunting for individual items. There's a reason the codex was invented at the beginning of the Christian era: it is convenient for finding information. That is the biggest benefit of using a bound book (a codex) for staying organized.

You could try any number of digital systems, but I find it much easier to flip open a book and go. There is too much distraction in your phone, so the less time you spend looking at it, the better. 

Example Pages

Week Plan

First, the week plan for the upcoming week. In the left column for each day is the schedule. At the bottom, tasks for at home. In the right column for each day is my personal timekeeping (for tracking projects and deep work), with work tasks at the bottom. Notice that Saturday and Sunday only need one column each, since I don't schedule my time so closely.

Next, the week plan after a completed week.

Page 133 is a "collection," a project page on which I track a quota: a way to prevent myself from getting too overloaded!

Index

Here I put a blue "R" in the margin for reference pages, and "NA" in the margin for "Next Action" pages (which are at the end of the notebook).

Month Log

The left page of the Month Log spread has the days of the month. Here I track events that I might need to reference later on. The right edge of the page is for activity tracking. I start and stop these from time to time. On the right page I list tasks I'm hoping to accomplish this month.

Future Log

This is my implementation of the Bullet Journal "future log." I use it for tasks and events that are coming up. Perhaps I underutilize it due to my use of the Month Log and the next feature: the Year Project Overview.

Year Project Overview

Here I plan out what projects I will work at from week to week. This allows me to estimate whether I will have enough time to do my projects.

Daily Log

The daily log is the heart of Carroll Ryder's Bullet Journal method, but it's not central for me. I use it as a place to record random notes and events if I don't have a better place for them. I do not put next actions here, and my "control center" is the Week Plan pages (above). 

Page 85 is an example of a "collection," a project page for a particular event.

Concluding Thoughts

What I love about this system is the codex format, in which every page is numbered and can be then referenced from any other page. If there's a need for more explanation of a task than can fit someplace, it's easy to cross-reference another page with more room for explanation. Arrows with page numbers at the top inside corner of pages give the threading throughout the volume. If I forget to index something, I'll find it eventually via the threading.

What I disliked about the BuJo method was the cumbersome process of transferring all of one's tasks from month to month. That's not realistic for me, so putting tasks and projects in their own contextual pages at the end of the journal makes the weekly review and monthly review processes much easier, since there's no need to recopy so many tasks (which often cannot be given up).

Finally, each BuJo implementation is very personal for the needs and aesthetic of the individual. I am totally uninterested in making my bullet notebook pretty. I use the minimum number of pen strokes to keep myself organized (for example, in the Week Plan pages). My implementation might look horribly messy to some people, but it gives me the information I need quickly and without distraction. Therefore I recommend it to all my readers.