Tried a weekly spread with just 3 colors instead of my usual rainbow mess

I've been bullet journaling for about 2 years now and always did the whole color coded thing with like 8 pens per week. Last month I was running low on supplies so I grabbed just blue, black, and gray. Turns out it was way easier to actually find my tasks since the clutter wasn't there. Finished my entries faster too, maybe 15 minutes saved each Sunday. Anyone else tried a minimal palette and found it changed how you use your journal? I'm thinking of sticking with it but kinda miss the fun colors sometimes.

3 comments

3 Comments

murray.cole1mo ago

Man I used to be the complete opposite about this. I was all about having like 10 different colors and thought minimal setups were boring or missing something. But you mentioning "finished my entries faster" really hit me. I tried a three color thing last month just black, dark green, and a lighter green and honestly it made me feel calmer looking at my week. I still miss my bright pink and orange sometimes but not enough to go back.

smith.matthew1mo ago

Huh, I guess I don't really see the big deal either way. It's just a calendar, it doesn't have to be a whole deep life philosophy or whatever. Use the pens you like and move on.

the_miles1mo ago

Right, but that's kind of the thing though, it's never really just about the pens or the calendar. It's like how people get so worked up about the right coffee mug or the perfect way to fold their towels. @murray.cole you're describing something I see all the time in other places too, like with music playlists or even how people organize their closets. We start with all the colorful options because it feels fun and full of possibilities, but then we realize that cutting back actually saves us time and brain space. It's like we're all slowly learning that less clutter in one area helps us think clearer everywhere else, even if we miss the bright pink sometimes.