Reacting to my first ever bullet journal 7 years later...

[@Haffina]

I think it is great that you showed your starting point. I think sometimes we forget that everything we do was once new to us and that practice causes improvement eventually.

[@ErinSmith]

Nothing like just continuing to do the thing to suddenly find you’ve become proficient! Thanks Jen 🥰

[@katharinawichmann8284]

Whenever I feel bad about my art or bullet journals, I try to look through my old journals or sketchbooks and see how far I've come. My next project is to learn how to draw faces and I think it is normal to start small whether it is journaling or art in general ❤

[@ErinSmith]

That's such a great way to remind yourself of the progress you've made!

[@hillarybigham5872]

I started because of you! I finally decided, after watching videos for months, that I was going to try bujo. My husband got me a journal for Mother’s Day and it took me another month before I decided that I would just start it. So July of 2022 I used what I had and made my first monthly layout! Been doing it ever since. I would have never thought I would make layouts/spreads like I do now! It’s so much fun!

[@ErinSmith]

That’s amazing Hillary! I love so much that you started with what you had, it’s so easy to fall into the trap of ‘I need to buy xxxx before I can begin.’ 💕

[@ceres090]

This was so heartwarming. As you went through you kept mentioning how John encouraged and supported your interests by getting you stationary. It made me smile every time.

[@ErinSmith]

He had his own bullet journal for a while too! He’s such a sweetheart 💕

[@teddybeeandme]

I only discovered Bullet Journaling in December 2021,,, your channel was one of the ones I binged watched 🥰 I bought myself a journal online as a christmas pressie and started Jan 22... to date this is my chunkiest journal... I threw EVERYTHING at it! stuck in everything, made pop ups, dutch doors... The first few months will NEVER be for human viewing😂 but I'm pretty pleased with the rest (some months are better/worse than others) Thanks for this flip through and a reminder that a stickers, paper, washi tape setup it's essential.... saying that.... I might sneak down the portal the next time you do an unboxing 😂

[@ErinSmith]

I’ll leave the portal trapdoor open on Friday for you 😉 there is nothing more satisfying than an exhausted journal! I love that yours is full to bursting!

[@danielasousadasilva]

I started at the beginning of the pandemic, and it helped wonders! I got the sense of time passing and progress, although all was closed and stopped. I passed some very different decor phases. At the beginning I had a lot of lettering, doodles, drawings and all. Then I went all into stickers and washi tape! Now I am very minimal, and a bit on a slump. I use just one pen, one monthly spread and that is it. I got a printed planner for my tasks and it is being good. So now my BuJo is more for reflections. I wish I could get out of this and journal again everyday!

[@ErinSmith]

Even if it takes a while, your journal will always wait for you 💕 I’ve been really enjoying adding memory keeping spreads and pages to help me stay excited, I couldn’t recommend it enough! Little scrapbook spreads to celebrate good days are really rewarding 🥰

[@katharinawichmann8284]

I'm 36 years old as well and started January 2018. I tried a bit beforehand though in a different notebook to see whether I will like it or not. Leuchtturm journals were also my first journals.

[@ErinSmith]

Oh hey there twin! I love that we have such similar journeys!

[@brendabignall9926]

Hi Erin! 🙋🏻‍♀️❤️✨ I love that you shared your first journal with us - Thank you!!! ❤️💖✨ Love, Hugs, Blessings & Sparkles! ❤️🫂🙏🏻💖✨

[@ceres090]

Even though I've been journaling since highschool, I've only started trying to decorate my pages this year. It's interesting looking at the organic scrapbooking I did as a kid and the pre-planned, themed scrapbooking I'm trying now. I admit I think my book looks awful this year, but it's been fun trying new ways to write and organize. Thank you so much for being willing to share something so private with others. I hope many do find the encouragement and inspiration you provided.

[@renascencern]

I love going through my old journals all the time. It’s such a great nostalgia trip! I’ve been bullet journaling since 2020, but really have been a planner/ stationery lover since I was a kid. So much fun. ❤

[@birdsbooksbujo]

I love a planner origin story 😊 Thanks for sharing your first bujo!

[@ErinSmith]

Thanks for watching! I love a planner origin story too 🥰 what’s yours?

[@birdsbooksbujo]

Well, I've always loved choosing a planner/diary for each year, but I think it was in 2018 I started using a Muji planner and discovered the whole planner/bujo community online! 😅 I've never used a bullet journal as in a blank notebook you set up yourself, however I do use the daily logging, my own key and a few other elements of the original system in my pre-printed planners. I started with just veritcal weekly planners, but then moved to planners with daily pages for more space for rapid logging, with creative journalling on the side ☺

[@MeowMyselfandI]

So I only started bullet journaling at the start of 2023, still fairly new. I did wait until the start of the year BUT that was because I used to use pre-made planners and when I learned about bujos it was very late 2021 and I'd already ordered a personalised planner for 2022 lol so I felt it would be a waste if I didn't use it. I did however start decorating my planner a lot more and I started a media journal with some memory keeping to tide me over. By 2023 I had that media journal, a reading journal and was still very eager to try a bujo which I've LOVED since❤

[@TheLadyAli]

My first bullet journal was Dec 2015. Had to go back and actually look at the date. I was like you and totally just jumped in and went for it. My first one was a lined rather large journal. Looking back, it doesn't actually look bad, even though I thought it would look terrible. It's kind of fun to look back at all of my journals and see how far I've come with mine. Great video!!

[@KellyAK]

That was so fun, what a progression from then to now! I discovered bullet journaling in mid 2022, and decided to do a test run from Sept to Dec that year in a very basic lined journal, just to see if I liked it before committing. I started my first proper journal in Jan 2023 though, with a proper (if cheap) bujo. I am only in my second year but I think I can already see an evolution in my style and how I use my journal. Or journals - it didn't take me long to find reasons to expand into more than one per year 😅

[@ErinSmith]

I love that - a test run is such a smart way to dip your toe in without falling into the initial-spend-on-new-hobby trap!

[@Telkana806]

I started in June of 2020. Found this system when I was researching how to track info for a hobby. I don't do that hobby anymore, but still love bullet journaling.

[@ErinSmith]

I love that it’s stuck around in your life!

[@xhaustedDancer]

So I was a Passion Planner peep since their Kickstarter days, but discovered bullet journaling about 2017 and took some of the ideas and used them in my planner. I didn't fully switch over until August 2022 when I started my current job. As much as I love the Passion Planner, I adore the flexibility of bullet journaling, plus never feeling bad when I don't use it for a few days and then worrying about wasting paper lol.

[@ErinSmith]

I think that was a big draw for me too - skip a week? No worries! 😍

[@bulletandstickers]

Initially Jan 2016, but properly July 2016 - I have whole sections of my first bujo dedicated to Rio 2016 Olympics!! Mad! Missed a few months here and there, but still in a DIY journal now x

[@cherylmccallum725]

OMG!! We are journal twins! I also started in 2017 - June, to be exact. I remember researching Pintrest, looking for all the different weekly layouts I wanted to try, what were the best markers (lots of colour in the early days, less stickers and washi) and all of the habit trackers and sideways calendars :). I am going to try to incorporate some of those old weekly layouts just for fun. Thank you for sharing!

[@ErinSmith]

I love that we’re bringing back the old ideas for the new years! 🥰

[@beckatea]

Thanks for sharing this, Erin. 💜I think not only does it help us all remember that our style will change/improve with practice, but I also love that you separated the birthdays from everything else in your future log, and will use that for the future log I just set up in my newest bujo ✨

[@ErinSmith]

I’m considering bringing that back for my next one too Becka 😍

[@tashdoolan343]

Thank you for sharing, Erin. In my first attempt, I jumped in and only did a month, and then stopped . In my second attempt, I waited until the new year, but I researched in the previously what others were doing and thought about how I wanted to use my journal ❤

[@cvvzdesigns]

I discovered Jashii in Sept. 2022 (A&O sub box review), and watched various creators videos until I received my 1st order (so I had materials) in Dec. 2022. I set up my yearly spread, and Jan.'s (up to and including the 1st week), on New Years Eve. From then there's been days I've missed filling in info, but I've also not missed any monthly set-ups (even if they weren't set up until the 1st of the month). 😄. I DON'T BuJo. Never have, never will, as I'm what Mark calls a "long-form" journal user. I set up a general task list for the week, almost always drawn from the monthly to-do's, track my energy/water/sleep/steps in a section of the page, then other than putting down what from the list was done on what day (and stuff that was extra), I basically use my journal like a diary. Because of giving myself those 4 months to explore different decorative videos to find what I liked, my journals have been fairly pretty and functional since I began. Now I just need to work on my penmanship. 🤣. I handwrite too quickly, and my cursive is very basic (legible, just basic). Every month I have the penmanship practice on my task list with 2 day-dots allocated, but I should really have it weekly. I'm very heavy handed, so the "light on the upstroke" is like a punch in the gut." Hahaha 😅. As you can see from my comments, I talk to much (even to myself) to ever make do with a BuJo. 😝

[@sassypigeonhq2814]

I used to make my own journals years before I knew bullet journaling was a thing. I just could never find a journal or planner that had what I wanted. I started my first ever bullet journal for the start of Jan 2018 and haven't looked back!

[@ErinSmith]

That’s so amazing Bek - custom journaling before it was cool, now you’re out here supplying Aussie journalers with gorgeous options! What an origin story! 😍

[@BreeAndBooks]

I think I started May of 2019. I recently got my sister into bullet journaling and showed her all of my bullet journals. Boy oh boy is it a massive difference to how my current journal looks. It makes me happy to see improvement

[@ErinSmith]

Isn’t it so interesting to look back on them - like a time capsule almost!

[@beth.watson]

I started bujo in September 2023! 📚I had just graduated and started my first job, so I was excited to try something to help my productivity and mental health after nearly burning out from studying 😅 It hasn't been a year and I've already missed months, but I'm back on the horse again! I can definitely work on more decorative/aesthetic layouts, but I'm happy to see you didn't start that way either given your stunning setups now

[@ErinSmith]

That’s the great thing about bullet journaling! When you miss a month you’re actually just saving paper 😉

[@nicolec.7424]

I been watching so many of your videos ❤.I just realized I waz not subscribed.I am now😊. I started a journal diary in 2023 for my mental health. It has helped a lot & watching your videos I get more ideas to help me on my own journal.

[@ErinSmith]

Aww thank you for joining me on the journal journey! 🥰

[@PaigesBookShack]

Thank you for sharing how you got started. It’s a nice reminder that it takes time and practice to find your own style. I just started my journal journey this year at 36 but I love it and am kinda kicking myself for not giving it a try sooner.

[@ErinSmith]

Hello birth year buddy! You’ve got such a wonderful journey ahead of you! 🥰

[@roheryn]

I think your first bujo looks great! ❤

[@ErinSmith]

Thank you! It really served me well! ❤

[@juliangelus]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm struggling with lettering and you've shown me that if I practice I will improve. Loved looking at your old journal. :)

[@ErinSmith]

You can do it! It really does just take time. I can still see lots of room for improvement in my lettering too, some days it goes better than others!

[@ChantelleArts]

This is so good, what an amazing throw back even if 2017 is 7 years ago which is not ok ☺☺

[@ErinSmith]

Right?! How has that much time passed?!

[@Dayzeemom05]

Thank you for sharing your first journal with us. You definitely were calling me out on this one, just kidding!😅 My journal looks very similar to your first journal but as you know, I'm new to all this. I did just recently purchase a 180 gsm journal and I'm really looking forward to starting in it. I'm trying to do a little more research and brainstorming before I put any pen to paper in this baby. 😄I'm also still trying to acquire stationary and more washi tape. I do have the Ohuhu waterbased markers that I'm really scared to use since in my previous journal they were ghosting if I went over something before it dried. But yes, this is all a learning process and I'm so happy to see that I'm not alone in the journal struggle. I do use my journal even though it's not as pretty as i would like it to be but I do know that I would use it even more if it were. I'm also trying to work on my lettering as well. I'm more of a visual learning so seeing all the videos are definitely helping. Thank you again Erin!!!! Happy Journaling! 💕

[@SandiTerps]

I’m one of those people who just jumped in. I started in November ‘22. I figured the Celtic New Year is that month so I just honored my roots and went for it! I haven’t missed a month since. I love my bujos

[@ErinSmith]

I actually love that so much! It’s always a new year if you let it be! 🥰

[@Simsplayer23]

I've always been attracted to bullet journaling but in college I just couldn't keep up with it. I also didn't feel like I could make them pretty enough to make me come back to it. I started really heavily bullet journaling this year and I just jumped in with May. I have built up the past few months to like trying to make my writing really nice and lots of decorations & stickers. I now am also started to get an unhealthy about of washi tape xD oh well it's fine.

[@jaymetoliver]

I started my first bujo in september of 2016. my first two years were very hit or miss but I have come a long way in my journaling. I do need to practice my lettering though, i rely heavily on font stickers right now. thank you for sharing your first journal with us, i want to do a video of my evolution in my bujo journey.

[@antzieslife]

I loved this video! Thank you for sharing past Erin’s first bullet journal with us!

[@ErinSmith]

I’m glad you liked it Antz! I wish I could capture past Erin’s enthusiasm, I remember being SO pumped when that journal first arrived!!

[@sarahgilson5172]

I am thinking about doing the switch from HP Disc bound to Bullet Journal at the beginning of the new year. I just don't want to waste my current supplies. I am however going to do a trial run of buju style in my disc bound with dot grid paper to see if I really want to go that way next year. I absolutely love watching your videos! They give so much inspiration and I don't feel bad about my writing at all now. It's not great and I'm learning. I've only been at it for a year.

[@ErinSmith]

I love that idea - trying the system in the planner you have!

[@empoweredwsusie]

I kind of just stumbled into this artsy bullet journal world and started min this month ❤️ it’s a little rough starting but I’m loving another creative outlet 😊

[@ErinSmith]

That’s so exciting Susie! I hope it continues to serve you well in the future 🥰

[@empoweredwsusie]

@@ErinSmith thank you ❤️

[@zephyrsbujo]

i started my first journal at the end of 2022 i think, it was a planner type but i erased all the work and properly got to it in january of 23 and i only managed half the year until i got sick of making monthly layouts because i couldn't keep up 😅 now i have a journal as more of a diary kind that's random, one for travels, another one for my oc's, a kpop one, an anime one and i just started a gaming journal and i work on all journals at the same time heh

[@suista]

I adored this video! Thanks for sharing, I want to go and pull out my OGs and take a trip down memory lane.

[@ErinSmith]

I couldn’t recommend it enough, I had so much fun! 🥰

[@allanaromero5180]

such a good idea to show us how you started!! 🩷🩷

[@beccamee7053]

I started in either June or July 2017 after watching some videos by Amanda Rach Lee. I first used a spare grid notebook but bought a light blue Leuchtturm for January 2018. Unlike you I definitely missed some months due to my mental health being bad every now and then. I haven't looked back at my early bujos but I'm pretty sure some of it looks similar to the one you showed here :D However I remember trying to recreate themes by ARL and then being sad that mine didn't look as good as hers. I guess I've been struggeling with the comparison aspect from the very beginnig. In time I figured out that I'm definitely not one of those people who like to paint or draw in their bujo, I prefer using stickers, washi tapes and decorative papers. (Makes sense why your bujo videos have been my faves for a while :D)

[@ErinSmith]

Team stickers, washi and paper ❤ we found our way eventually haha!

[@rachyfication]

BuJos are flexible anyway, so it doesn’t matter when you start it. This was an enjoyable watch and also an indirect trip down memory lane for me. I was there for the Kpop era 😊

[@ErinSmith]

Omg Rachel - you were so there, you were literally in the dance studio with us at one stage! 😊😊

[@rachyfication]

@@ErinSmith yes but I wasn't dancing 😆

[@carolfry2215]

Hello 👋 Erin , Carol here from Sydney I was just wondering if you Could do a you tube video on how to set up a Bullet journal and reading journal for a beginner who is getting into reading and want to keep track? Please 🙏 and Thanks 

[@karenmabe9819]

My favorite color is yellow, but blue feels like home so I get it.

[@ErinSmith]

I’m so glad that makes sense to you! 💕

[@Equipy]

I LOVE your outfit!!! also great video!

[@ErinSmith]

Thank you! This is my favourite sweater right now haha

[@rajiereads3679]

I love your content, Erin. It's always so practical. That jumper, though... Where did you get it?

[@ErinSmith]

Thank you! I got it at TK Maxx 🤣

[@tash1506]

Some absolute banger k-pop songs there :D

[@ErinSmith]

2017-2018 was a good time for K-pop songs! If a bit of a heartwrenching time for me as a SHINee fan 🥲

[@bethmetcalf3447]

I haven’t started journaling yet because I’m still collecting things but I’m getting close😀

[@ErinSmith]

You have such a fun journey ahead of you!

[@bethmetcalf3447]

@@ErinSmith I know, I’m so excited 😂

[@girmmo1327]

Ive started on may of 2020 😊

[@jesseflorence]

I started in 2016

[@shelly3251]

Funny that you apologize for having cat hair on your desk. I for one would never have noticed because my iPad screen is full of cat hair. 😂 So no need to apologize. 😊