The bullet journal system provides the freedom to track and organize anything you need to help with your productivity, such as tasks, habits and time.
This page contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure.
A time log is a way to see at a glance how your day is being spent. Using a time log has helped me recognize that I have more free time than I think I do and ensure I use this free time wisely – for hobbies instead of wasting it online.
How to Set Up Your Own
Step 1: Layout
The layout of your time log can be devised around what works best for you. It could be a daily time log above each day’s tasks (Kara over at BohoBerry uses this method), or a weekly or monthly chart.
I use the monthly layout, and it runs beside my monthly event calendar so that after the month is finished I have one spread that overviews what I did and how I spent my time.
The bare bones of my time log consist of the days of the month running down the side of the page with the hours of the day starting from 1am across the top. (The layout was inspired by @my.life.in.a.bullet and @bujourney).
Step 2: Color Coding
The number of activities being tracked can be as simple or as complex as you like. Limiting the number being tracked means it’s really easy to prioritize what is important to you – however there’s no reason it can’t be effective with more.
I recommend picking 2-3 main things you wish to focus on incorporating more into your life. As a student I choose to focus on how much university work and study I do as well as exercise but in the summer I may choose to track things such as writing or learning a language. It can be anything that you wish to spend more time doing as well as 2-3 things that take up most of your time, such as sleep and work.
Choosing a few things in each category means that you’re keeping track of what hours are filled with responsibilities that you must do vs how many hours you could be utilizing on the activities you wish to incorporate into your life.
Color code each of these activities and include a key at the bottom of the page to remember which colors match each activity.
Step 3: Using the Log
Color in the expanse of time you spend doing each activity for each day.
Don’t expect to be immediately utilizing every hour. At the start, it will be learning how much free time you have and slowing working in desired activities into this time.
The time log could also be used as a planner as well as a tracker. You could fill the timeline out the night before with how you aim to spend the day or fill it in throughout the day/at the end of the day to log your activities.
The best thing to do is try out a few methods and tweak the layout and use of the time log in a way that most positively benefits you.
Do you track your time? Or do you have any other methods to maximize how you spend your day?
  |   |   |   |   |
I really like these ideas and have begun incorporating them already. Just in time for 2018! Thanks!
Such a useful page! I’ve used apps that did similar daily time log overviews but never could stick to it. Moving it into my bullet journal sounds like the perfect solution! (Also, the colors you use are so pretty!)