There is busy, and then there's MOM BUSY. I've always been a planner, but ever since my pregnancy begin my Bullet Journal has switched over from meetings to mommying (it's totally a word...). With so many things to do and remember every day, my Bullet Journal is often what keeps me sane!
What is a Bullet Journal?
So glad you asked! Here's a basic overview:A Bullet Journal is a planner that you design to fit your needs. It can be as simple or as fancy as you want it to be, but the important thing is that you make it work for you!
I know what you're thinking...
"I don't have time to make so many journal spreads. I'll just buy a pre-made planner. DONE!"
BUT DON'T DO IT!
Trust me - this is worth whatever effort and time you can put into it.
Before finding this system, I abandoned so many planners. They just didn't have the types of pages or space I needed to keep track of the things that were most important to me in the moment -- and even more so with growing kids in the picture, what we need changes constantly!
Efficient AND an excuse to unwind? I'm in!
If you're a new parent, new to journalling, or just looking for some help keeping track of the 1,000+ things parents need to remember these days, here are a few spreads that I recommend.
1. Food Log
Now that my daughter has started to try out solids, keeping track of her eating schedule has helped me out so much. Is this our third or fourth day having bananas? Is she ready to try something new?
My food log has allowed me to take note of when and what my baby is eating. In the calendar boxes (see image below), I log the times my baby sat down to eat solid foods (AM and PM).
On the right, I keep track of the first few days a new food is introduced to ensure there's no unwanted reaction throughout my pediatrician's recommended 4-5 days trial period. I've also included a small space for notes about each food that I need to tell the pediatrician about or if there's something I just want to remember.
This spread also helps me when it comes to making my grocery list for the week. I can plan ahead for what she will eat in the coming days (yes, of course, I have a grocery list spread too!).
2. Doctor Appointments
Those tiny "next appointment" business cards the receptionist hands me at the end of a visit will get lost. No question about it. Rather than hold onto it, I immediately make a note of when the next check-up will be. Here's how:
Each box contains the date of an appointment and is color-coded to match the type of doctor being seen. My daughter is very young, so thankfully we've only been to the pediatrician. But once dentist appointments and whatnot begin, a new color will be added to the key. It's as simple as that!
Notice that all of my daughter's appointments are listed in the same chart. This is great for checking back on immunization dates and future appointments.
My pediatrician's name, office address, and phone number are listed here as well. If I need to call in an emergency or if I just need an appointment change, I know exactly where to look. Sure, I have the number saved in my phone...of course! But for peace of mind, I like to have it written down on paper too. You never know if you'll need it.
3. Questions for the Pediatrician
I am constantly thinking of questions I have to ask the doctor, but if I don't write them down I never remember to ask. So I created a really simple page dedicated solely to questions for the pediatrician. It's nothing fancy - just a list of things I want to know, but oh how many times it has saved me from my constantly full mommy brain.
I also like to have some space on the page for the doctor's responses. After an earful of screams and heartache that come with immunizations, I tend to forget some things the doctor had said beforehand. Trust me, they'd much rather you take a minute to write things down then and there rather than call them back with the same question later. It'll save you time too!
4. Diaper Bag Checklist
This is ESSENTIAL. I have left the house (ten) too many times without something I needed in the diaper bag. In fact, I have TWO diaper bags: One for my daughter and the other for all of my breast pump supplies.
Now before leaving, I go through the checklist to ensure that I have everything I need. This is a lifesaver. If you pick just one bullet journal spread from this list to add to your planner, I recommend this one for sure.
5. Trackers and Schedules
For example, I only kept a bath schedule during her first month. Quarantine and a no sleep with a newborn all at once made the days sort of blend together, so it was helpful to keep track of it then.
Trackers like this are simple and can help you keep on top of many daily, weekly, or perhaps biweekly routines or changes in baby's health:
- Took daily vitamins
- Bath days
- Days with tummy aches
- Full nights of sleep (yay!)
The possibilities are endless. Just think about what works for you!
6. Milestones and Memories
Planning for the future is super helpful, but my Bullet Journal isn't all mommy business. It's also a sort of scrapbook full of memories and baby milestones.
I often find myself flipping back through old planners to reminisce and enjoy the little things I may have forgotten: day trips, funny moments, how quickly she has grown. On my worst days, pictures and little notes can really lift me back up again. It's worth the little bit of extra time spent noting the little things that happened each day.
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I hope you're able to apply these spread in your own Bullet Journal!
If you're looking for a place to start, I personally love the Scribbles that Matter notebooks, but any will do! Just getting started? You don't need to purchase the traditional dot or grid style notebooks. Plenty of Bullet Journalers use a regular, lined composition notebook. Whatever you have will work just fine!
I'd LOVE to see your pages once you have them set up, so please feel free to share them in the comments section.
Happy planning!
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