The Bullet Journal Method: Track Your Past, Order Your Present, Plan Your Future

by Ryder Carroll

BRAIN STORM Before we can break down our goal, we have to wrap our head around it. Now that you’ve picked your goal and created a Collection for it in your Bullet Journal, use the first spread to brainstorm the what and the why. Dig in and explore. Write down whatever comes to mind. This process gets your gears turning. Suppose your “Learn to Cook” goal brainstorming page looks like this: What about this goal sparked my curiosity? I’ve always wondered how foods go from just sitting in the store to being a beautiful, nutritious meal on a plate. What happens, exactly? What motivated me to want to invest my time and energy here? I’m spending a lot on take-out and prepared foods, and I know it’s not the healthiest way to eat. I’ve gained a little weight lately and want to watch my calories. What am I trying to accomplish? By learning to cook, I can save money and eat more healthfully, and I hope to lose a few pounds. I also want to be able to invite friends or a date over for a meal and not worry about screwing things up. What will it require? Learning basic food-prep skills, basic cooking skills, and some easy go-to recipes for my own meals and a few crowd-pleasers like chili, soup, or burgers. What is my definition of success with this goal? Spending less on take-out and prepared foods, healthier diet, and having friends over for dinner.