Stopped using 20 different color pens and my bujo actually works now

I spent my first year trying to color code everything with a different marker for work, personal, habits, you name it. It looked pretty but I spent more time switching pens than actually writing stuff down. Three months ago I cut it down to just one black pen and a single red one for urgent tasks only. Now my daily log takes maybe 2 minutes instead of 15 and I actually keep up with it. Anyone else find that less decoration makes the system stick better?

3 comments

3 Comments

dakotawood21d ago

Yeah I totally get the idea that colors keep it fun. For me it was the opposite though, I went from like 5 pens down to just a black Pilot G2 and it changed everything. The act of writing got faster and I stopped treating the notebook like an art project. I found that if I kept the system simple enough to do in 30 seconds while half asleep, I actually stuck with it long term.

margaret_williams521d ago

That Pilot G2 is a solid choice, but I got to say, this whole debate feels a little overblown. Like, we are talking about pens and notebooks. It's not a life or death decision. I've used the same Bic ballpoint from the gas station for two years and my bujo is fine. Switching pens or not switching pens, neither one is going to make or break your whole year. Just pick a pen and write stuff down, man. It's paper.

the_laura21d ago

Hmm, I gotta push back on that a little. For me, having a bunch of different pens and colors is what keeps my brain engaged with the system, otherwise it just feels like a boring chore list I skip. The time it takes to pick a color is worth it because the finished page actually makes me want to flip back and reference it later, your mileage may vary of course.