Serious question, when did bullet journaling drift from pure function to full-blown artistry?

I miss when my pages were quick scribbles that genuinely tracked my life. Now I catch myself designing spreads that are too pretty to actually write in.

3 comments

3 Comments

pauld9913h ago

Okay, but here's my thing: at what point does the fear of 'ruining' a spread actually stop you from using the journal entirely? I've had notebooks where I skipped entries because I didn't have the right pen or time to make it look perfect, which totally defeats the purpose. Is it more about external validation from sharing online, or an internal need for control and order that makes us prioritize polish over function?

dianahayes18h ago

My 2020 journal has a whole section where the washi tape and sticker collection clearly overtook any actual planning. I reached a point where my penmanship became a crime scene because I was so worried about ruining the aesthetic with a messy note. Those functional, quick-check monthly logs got buried under layers of highlighters and a fear of making things look imperfect. Now the whole thing is permanently cinched shut with a ribbon, which feels like an apt metaphor for locking away my productivity.

burns.jenny17h ago

Honestly, @dianahayes, that's the classic trap of prioritizing aesthetics over utility. Once you're more worried about pretty pens than practical notes, the whole system collapses. That ribbon isn't just cinching the journal shut, it's sealing away any chance of getting things done.

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