Bullet journaling starts off with a lot of copying. You have no idea how to create your own spreads so you have to use the ones that others have already made. You might try someone else’s habit tracker with their habits still included. Or you might try a mood tracker with emotions specific to other people’s circumstances. There are so many ways that you can copy other people’s bullet journal spreads.
Copying others is not exactly great for your bullet journaling though. There are some drawbacks to using others’ spreads. It is hurting you in the long run! Copying others is not in your best interest. Check out the reasons why!
Not Using It for You
Bullet journaling is intended as a tool to help you get organized. Truly, the journal is meant for you and no one else. The problem is that you aren’t really using the journal for yourself when you are copying others.
When you copy other people’s spreads, you are essentially using the journal for them and not yourself. You are using their spreads instead of your own, which makes the journal theirs and not yours. It isn’t unique to you if you choose to use other people’s spreads.
You are also using your spreads for social media if you choose to copy others’ work. If you are just making spreads to share them on social media, you really aren’t bullet journaling for yourself. Copying others just to make beautiful spreads is taking away from your experience. It hurts you and your bullet journal!
Don’t journal for anyone else but yourself! You’ll never get anything from journaling if you don’t aim to journal for yourself. It’s your journey! Own it!
Not Helping You in the Long Run
The ultimate reason why you shouldn’t be copying other people’s spreads is that it doesn’t help you in the long run. When your spreads are not specific to you, you are losing the value from your journal. It isn’t made for you, and therefore, you won’t get as much out of it.
By copying others’ spreads and habits, you aren’t using your bullet journal for what it is intended to do. You are losing the purpose of the journal.
A bullet journal can be the greatest tool in your arsenal to improve your habits, your mood, and whatever else you are trying to work on. You track and make it easier to keep up with habits, which should help you along your way to getting better.
When you depend on other people’s spreads, you are taking away those benefits. You are depriving yourself of improvement. You can have a better journaling experience if you only create your own spreads!
Not a Creative Outlet
Creativity does not necessarily have anything to do with art. You can have plenty of creativity without actually being artsy. Creativity has more to do with originality and being able to come up with your own ideas and unique functions for items.
Bullet journaling is a creative outlet for bullet journalers. They get to come up with new ideas, new themes, new spreads, and everything else. Creativity just oozes out of bullet journals because of how much effort is put into them.
When you decide to copy other people’s bullet journal spreads, you are losing the opportunity to be creative! You won’t have the chance to come up with your own ideas. You aren’t cheating anyone but yourself!
Bullet journals can be a great exercise for your creativity. You can really improve your skills when it comes to creating new things if you only give it a chance. Bullet journaling can give you so much more than just an organization tool if you give it a try.
In sum, copying others’ bullet journals and their spreads is detrimental to your bullet journaling experience. You won’t gain anything if you choose to take other’s designs. You lose your opportunity to improve your habits and practice your creativity. Bullet journaling, at its base, is just an organizational tool, but it has become more than that. You can gain so much from bullet journaling as long as you make it your own!
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