The Productive Pixie | Systems for Productivity and Growth

You probably came to this post because you are wondering if you follow these rules. I would be wondering too. Well, let me tell you, girl, these rules are outdated and there is no reason why you should follow them anymore! Breaking these rules can even take your outfit up a notch!

7 Outdated Style Rules that Should Be Broken

Top (similar) / Pants

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Updated for 2027

All of the cliche rules on this list can and should be broken. When you do break these rules, you can create more outfits from the wardrobe you already have. Who doesn't want that?

Creating new outfits without having to buy more clothing? I'm in!

Are you with me? Okay, let's kick these cliche fashion rules to the curb once and for all!

I know you don't have time to waste, so let's get right into the fashion rules that are old and outdated.

7 Outdated Style Rules that Should be Broken

Jacket / Top (similar)

1. Denim on Denim

This is a rule I break all of the time. There is no reason why you shouldn't wear denim on denim. Wearing denim on denim is easy to dress up or down. This same outfit works with sneakers and high heels.

The only tip I would give you is to vary the colors and texture of the denim, so your outfit doesn't look too bland.

I am breaking another rule in the picture above too! Can you see what it is? You'll know in just a second. :)

The next time you don't know what to wear, just layer up some denim and you are good to go!

Top (similar) / Pants / Shoes

2. Wearing Navy + Black Together

Out of this whole list, this is the rule I break the most. Black and navy blue together is one of my favorite color combinations to wear. Wearing black and navy blue together also looks very classic and you can look put together without even having to try!

In a lot of the pictures on this post, I am wearing black and blue together. Plus this rule applies to wearing black and brown together too. You might as well go through your closet right now, and see how many new outfit combinations you can make. :)

Jacket / Shoes

3. Wearing White During the Winter

This rule makes absolutely no sense! The rule about wearing white after Labor Day is definitely one you can and should break especially if you are trying to get the most out of your wardrobe.

So instead of putting your white jeans in the back of your closet for the winter, instead put them in the front so your outfit stands out from everyone elses' outfits.

It's not a bad idea, am I right? Because who wants to be dressed exactly like everyone else? Not me!

If you need some outfit ideas for wearing white jeans you can read How to Style White Jeans All Year Round for some outfit inspiration.

Jacket / Pants (similar) / Shoes (similar)

4. Wearing All Black

This one is trickier. Wearing all black can get a bad rap. So, what is the trick to making it look good?

Wear more dressy, formal pieces. For the outfit above, I wouldn't wear a black hoodie and black sneakers. Instead wearing black heels and a black blazer can make your outfit look quite effortlessly chic and put together.

Save wearing all black for when you are going for a more dressy, formal look unless you want to go with a thug look. And hey, I'm not judging! If you are going for an edgier look, then you can wear all black whatever you want. 😂

Pants

5. Mixing Prints

Done wrong, this can be a disaster but when done right, it can make your outfit look very pulled together. Easily mix prints, by matching the colors. Obviously, for the outfit above, it was very easy because I wore black and white stripes and polka dots. :)

You can also mix two pieces with the same print as in wearing smaller stripes and larger stripes together.

Another thing to note is that I wore monochrome colors except for my red shoes so that the outfit doesn't look too busy and over the top.

Jacket / Pants

6. Matching Your Shoes with Your Bag

While matching your shoes with your bag is an easy way to make your outfit look put together, it doesn't have to be followed every single time.

I often match my shoes with my jacket or my shoes with my pants or even matching my shoes with nothing to make them stand out like for the outfit below. Sometimes it's good to make your shoes the centerpiece of your outfit. You know what I mean?

7. Wearing All Fitted Clothing + Wearing All Loose-Fitting Clothing

Some people say that you should never wear a fitted top with fitted bottoms or a loose top with loose bottoms, but you can pull it off as long as your top is not too tight, and your bottoms are not too tight and vice versa for wearing loose fitted clothing.

Final Notes on 7 Fashion Rules You Should Break

There you have it! The seven fashion rules that I think should be broken. If you don't agree that these fashion rules should be broken, that's okay because this post is just my opinion!

And if you do agree, I would love it, if you would share this post with a friend, or scroll down the comment section, and hit "recommend" or leave a comment. Thanks!

If you liked this post, you might also like these ones as well.

Which one of these fashion rules are you going to break? Have a great week!

If you found this post helpful, please give it a share. Thanks! :)

October 24, 2020 No comments

If you are looking for tips on how you can up-level your bullet journal or if you are looking to start your first bullet journal, then you are in the right place! I started my first official bullet journal in 2018, but I used handmade planners before that, and I have tried out many different types of planning and keeping a schedule, so I know the ins and outs of using a bullet journal.

My Top Tips + Tricks for Bullet Journaling

Updated for 2027

This post has bullet journaling tips and tricks of all kinds from making a bullet journal tracker to covering up your bullet journal mistakes so if you are a beginner or if you have been bullet journaling for a while, you will hopefully find something that will help you make your bullet journal system better.

If you haven't started your bullet journal yet or if you don't know what bullet journaling is, and you clicked on this post out of curiosity, you can read Bullet Journaling: What is It? for some basic guidelines and an explanation on what bullet journaling is.

Without further ado, let's get into the tips!

My Top Tips + Tricks for Bullet Journaling

1. Do Not Compare Your Bullet Journal to Other Peoples' Bullet Journals

I wanted to start off with this tip, especially for the beginners out there reading this post because when you see other people's beautiful intricate bullet journal layouts, it can be hard to not compare your bullet journal to theirs.

But you don't need a beautiful bullet journal for it to work for you. The most important thing to do is to make your bullet journal work for you.

Your bullet journal layouts will improve with time. You can check out my first bullet journal set up in the post My First Bullet Journal Flip Through Part 1.

My layouts are messy and there are lots of mistakes, but I leave it up, so people can see that their bullet journal does definitely not need to be perfect.

It's fine to have a minimalist black and white bullet journal. It's fine to have a bullet journal that is covered in doodles and stickers. It just depends on what works for you, which brings me to my next tip.

2. Find What Works for You

Bullet journaling is meant to be a very flexible system. If habit tracking doesn't work for you, then don't do it.

If you eat the same things every day, then using a food tracker doesn't make sense, unless you are trying to change your eating habits.

So don't be afraid to try out new things in your bullet journal because you won't know if it could help you or not until you try it.

3. Keep It Simple

Keep your bullet journal simple, at least in the beginning. I stopped doing bullet journaling for almost a year because I was trying to track too many things that I did not need.

If you want to try out habit tracking, start with just one habit. It could even just be the habit of writing in your bullet journal every day for a month.

Plus, I would recommend not using a ton of different supplies. Start out with just a notebook and pen and then if you really like it, you can start getting more supplies.

4. Don't Spend a Lot on Your First Bullet Journal

I started out my first bullet journal in a composition notebook, and I decorated it to make it look nicer. I used pens I already had so I didn't spend any money on my first bullet journal.

If you do decide to buy a notebook, look for something cheap. The bullet journal I am using currently, cost me less than $10 and the binding is breaking in one spot, but the year is almost over, and then I will be getting a new one. That is the only complaint I have about it.

The paper quality is nice, and I don't have any problems with ink bleed through the pages.

You can also try out the bullet journal method in a practice notebook or on printed sheets of paper, and then go on to a more expensive notebook if you want to.

Just find a notebook and a pen that you like and start. It's okay if your bullet journal has mistakes, and it definitely will have mistakes.

5. Tips + Tricks for Fixing Mistakes

My favorite way to fix mistakes is to use a white gel pen to cover up the mistake, and it works very well for small mistakes.

An easy way to reduce the number of errors you make is to use a pencil to sketch in the layout before you use ink. I do this a lot myself if I have time.

You can also simply use a pencil as your main writing instrument or you can buy an erasable pen, which I don't recommend doing unless you already like bullet journaling and you know it isn't going to be a waste of money.

Washi tape can also cover up mistakes, and if it is a large mistake, then I will cover it up with extra (usually dotted) paper.

6. Tips for Picking a Bullet Journal Notebook

Okay so you like bullet journaling, and you are looking for the best type of bullet journal for you. Here are some posts to read that will give you some pros and cons of using non-traditional dotted notebooks for bullet journaling.

Pros + Cons of Bullet Journaling in a Composition Notebook

Pros + Cons of Bullet Journaling in a Binder

As you can see, I have bullet journaled in a composition notebook, a binder, and a traditional dotted notebook. Currently, I am using a traditional bullet journal notebook with dotted pages. I also tried bullet journaling in a planner too. This goes along with tip #2, which is finding what works best for you.

As your lifestyle changes, your bullet journal style may change as well. My ring-bound bullet journal worked for a year, but then I realized that the rings got in the way of my writing and that I didn't need to remove pages from my bullet journal.

Find the bullet journal system that works for you, and if you need to change it, then go ahead and change it because even though it worked for you in the past, it might not work for you now.

Are you not even sure if you want to bullet journal? I wrote an article for the site Wendaful Planning on how to find the planning/organization system for your lifestyle and it has a quiz you can take to help you decide!

7. Get Into the Habit of Using Your Bullet Journal Regularly

The best way to get into the habit of using your bullet journal every day, is to write in it at the same time every day.

You can write in your bullet journal every morning right when you wake up or you could write in your bullet journal while you are eating breakfast.

Try to have a reminder to use your bullet journal. If you want to write in your bullet journal right when you wake up, you can put your bullet journal on your night stand. You want to have some sort of prompt that will remind you to use your bullet journal.

The post on how to bullet journal even when you are super busy might help you, if you have a really busy day. We all do, don't we? :)

8. Tips for Finding Inspiration for Your Bullet Journal Layouts

Well, of course, there are blogs on bullet journaling, and Pinterest is a really good source for inspiration, but I find Creative Market really helpful for finding fonts to use in your bullet journal.

Pretty much the hardest thing for me to decide on every layout is finding the fonts I want to use for that layout. Creative Market can help!

The best place I have found for font inspiration is Creative Market. They have tons of beautiful fonts. This is how I do it.

Go to the website and find a font you like.
Click on it, and scroll down on the page until you see a box that says, "type to try it out".
Type in what you are planning on writing
Make the font as large as you can and there you go! You now have a new font to use in your bullet journal!

When looking for doodles for my layouts, I simply search on Google for what I want to draw and then add "line drawing" or "doodle".

Final Notes on My Top Tips + Tricks for Bullet Journaling

I hope you found some tips in this article that were helpful to you! If you have any questions about starting a bullet journal, you can leave them in the comments below. I reply to every comment. :)

You can read some of my other bullet journal articles below.

Have a productive week!

If you found this post helpful, please give it a share! Thank you so much!

October 17, 2020 No comments

*Beep Beep Beep* We all know the feeling of when our alarm goes off in the morning. You roll over and hit "snooze" just one more time... and then oops! You realize that you are getting up an hour late or even more, and now you have to rush to get ready in time for the day. None of us want this, so here are real tips you can use to create a productive morning routine that will have you excited to wake up for the day!

Tips for Creating a Productive Morning Routine

Updated for 2027

I know I already wrote a post on creating a daily routine that you will actually stick to, so if are trying to make a daily routine, then I suggest you check that one out too.

I wanted to write a post specifically for creating a productive morning routine so I could expand more on the topic of creating a morning routine.

I also have a post on creating a planning routine for your planner or bullet journal, so if you are having trouble remembering to use your planner or bullet journal, then you may find it helpful.

Now we'll get into the tips for creating a productive morning routine. Plus, I'll give you some ideas of things you can add to your morning routine, in case you want to start adding some new productive habits to your life. :)

Tips for Creating a Productive Morning Routine

1. Keep it Simple

First off, I wanted to address this issue. You don't need a long elaborate morning routine. Sure, maybe some people can get up at 4:30 and work out for an hour, journal and have a relaxing cup of hot chocolate, read a book, plan out their day, and then go off to work.

But let's be realistic that will only work for a few people. You want to keep your morning routine simple. If you miss something in your morning routine, don't stress it.

Your morning routine needs to be something that is achievable for most days. It doesn't have to be for every day. Some days I get up and I don't feel productive, so I skip things in my morning routine and that is okay.

Grab a sheet of paper, or pull out your planner, or bullet journal, and make a list of everything you want to include in your morning routine. It doesn't matter if you have a lot on your list right now, because you will simplify it in the next step.

Some Ideas of Things You Might Include on Your Morning Routine List

The time you want to wake up at
Saying "Today is going to be a great day!" (Read the book "Tiny Habits" if you don't understand this one. I highly recommend it!)
Picking out an outfit
Planning your day and writing a to-do list
Writing in your journal
Writing down something you are grateful for
Exercising
Eating fruit with your breakfast

You don't have to think about the order yet. Just write down everything you hope to complete in the morning.

Now it is time to start narrowing down your list.

Which of the things on your list, can you actually see yourself doing each morning?

An hour and a half of exercise might not be feasible for you in the morning, but maybe you could fit in half an hour.

What things waste your time in the morning/which ones do you procrastinate?

You want to keep your morning routine simple, so it is feasible. For example, if it takes you a long time to pick out what to wear in the morning, pick out what you are going to wear the night before.

If you turn your phone on right away and get sucked into social media, then remove your phone from your morning routine.

I can hear you complaining, that you write your to-do list on your phone. Well, don't worry, in that case, put "writing your to-do list" last on your morning routine, so you don't get sucked into wasting time on social media.

Next, put your morning routine into the order you want to do it in. I'll use the list from above as an example.

Wake up and get out of bed while saying "Today is going to be a great day!"
Exercise
Put on the outfit picked out the night before
Eating fruit with your breakfast while writing your to-do list

The things removed from the list can be done the night before so that is why they were removed. If the person wanted to do them in the morning, I would do them right before making breakfast.

Okay, there you go! You have your morning routine. The real question is: does it work?

You might have created a routine that you think will work for you, but you won't know that until you test it out. How are you going to do that?

2. Start Out Small

By starting out small. Do not try to fully incorporate your entire morning routine at once. It might work for a few days but after that, it might stop working.

Instead, you can incorporate your morning routine little by little because it is much more sustainable that way.

Pick one or two things (ideally the first one or two things on your list) and start doing those two things. After you can do them easily for a few days, then you can start adding in one more thing every week or two.

3. Revise Your Morning Routine

After you have done your whole morning routine, you've probably realized that some things on it don't work as well, as you thought they did.

For my morning routine, I wanted to go running for 45 minutes Monday through Friday, but I realized that it was too dark outside to go running so I removed this from my morning routine, and instead I go running in the afternoon.

So instead of dropping your whole morning routine, just go back to your list and revise/switch around a few things.

Final Notes on Creating a Productive Morning Routine

Ultimately, your routine should start the night before. If you go to bed really late, then you won't be able to get up early in the morning.

And if there is something that you don't want to do in the morning that you are procrastinating, then do it the night before if you can.

If you liked this post, you can read these ones too.

I hope this helped you with creating a productive morning routine. Leave a comment, if you have any questions! I answer all of them. :)

If you found this post helpful, pin it for later!

October 10, 2020 No comments

October already? I can hardly believe it! I am excited that the weather is going to start cooling down though! For my bullet journal layout this month, I went with a haunted house/cute Halloween doodles theme. I changed up quite a few things from my September bullet journal layout, so I am excited to show you how it turned out!

Updated for 2027

Plan With Me October Bullet Journal Layouts

You might have already noticed the biggest change I made in my bullet journal layout this month if you read my articles regularly. A big thank you to you if you do! :)

If not, you can check out my past plan with me layouts if you like my bullet journal style.

I always have a mini calendar, but this time I made it really small, instead of it taking up half the page. I realized that I don't really need a larger "mini calendar". I made it smaller so that I could add some fun Halloween doodles.

I made some other changes as well, but more on those later. Here is a full list of all the supplies I used for this layout, in case you want to recreate it.

October Bullet Journal Supplies

Crayola Super Tips - Crayola Super Tips are used on almost all of my spreads! They are great for beginners, really affordable, and there are tons of colors. If you are looking to buy some markers to use in your bullet journal, then I recommend these ones.
Black Sharpie Pen - If you have read probably any of my other posts, then you will know that I always use a black sharpie pen for writing in my bullet journal. The ink dries quickly, doesn't smear, and they are super affordable!
Tombow Fudesonuke Brush Pens - Another great option for beginners, the Tombow Fudesonuke brush pens come in a two-pack: one hard tip, and one soft tip. I used the hard tip Tombow Fudesonuke brush pen for the habit tracker calligraphy on this layout.
Tombow Dual Tip Brush Pens - Even though these brush pens are a little bit expensive, they are double-tipped: one side is a brush tip, and the other side has a regular pointed tip, making them suitable for multiple purposes.
White Gel Pen - I use a white gel pen to mark out any mistakes I make on my layouts, and while it is sometimes still a little bit noticeable where I have corrected mistakes, it doesn't bother me.
Mechanical Pencil - I sketch in a rough outline of the layout before I start using ink on the layout because it helps to eliminate errors.
A Ruler - A ruler was used on this layout because I can't make straight lines without it!

If you are trying to recreate this layout, and you don't have all of these supplies, you can easily substitute another type of pen or brush pen.

October Bullet Journal Monthly Layout First Page

Header

This month, I wanted to try out doing a cover-page type layout. Cover pages usually are only for decoration, and after you make it, you don't go back and write on it, but I added a "highlights" section at the bottom.

In the past few months, I have been using fancy, decorative fonts that I got inspiration from Creative Market for, but this month I decided not to because I did the drawings instead. I used a font I already knew how to do.

If you want to learn how you can use Creative Market for new fonts to use in your bullet journal, you can see the steps to do so in my August Monthly Bullet Journal Layout. It's really easy and they have a ton of fonts!

I did all of the doodles in black and white because I wanted it to be minimalist, and then I did the lettering for "October" in two shades of orange, so it would stand out.

If I like using this mini calendar will probably continue to use it for the rest of the year.

Highlights

Below the drawing, I added "highlights" on the cover page. In my "highlights" section, I write down everything that I want to remember from the month.

Even though it isn't entirely visible in the picture above, I wrote "highlights" in thin capital letters and since it wasn't centered on the box, I drew a pumpkin next to it to make it centered.

October Bullet Journal Monthly Layout Second Page

Goals

At the top of the second page, I wrote "goals" in the same font I wrote "October". I made this section larger than on last month's layout because I want to put a big emphasis on my goals this month.

Every month, I set five goals that in some way help me to reach my goals for the year. You can read exactly how I set my goals for 2020 by reading the post How I am Goal Setting for 2020 in My Bullet Journal.

Habits

I didn't add a monthly to-do list this month (more on this later), so I had more room on my layout. That is why I decided to do three habits this month, instead of my usual one.

Hopefully, I will be able to keep up with all three of them!

As you can see, bullet journaling is one of my habits for this month, because I want to start making a to-do list in my bullet journal every day like I used to. So far, so good for that habit!

Next Month

As usual, I also have a section for next month. It is pretty self-explanatory. I write down things and dates I need to remember for November.

Quote

Well, I had some extra space left over so I decided to write "Happy Halloween". Then I added some cute little doodles around it to fill in the extra space.

I used a black sharpie for all of the doodles on this layout, and the ink didn't bleed through the page. I wanted this layout to be simple, so I did silhouette type doodles and line drawings.

I didn't use a pencil for any of them, so there are a couple mistakes, but I still like how they turned out and I used a white gel pen to cover up some of the mistakes.

Final Notes on October Bullet Journal Weekly Layouts

Oops! I forgot to take a picture of my weekly layout, but it is very similar to what I did for my July Bullet Journal Layouts except that I am using bullet points for tasks instead of "X"s.

For the last few months, I have been doing a monthly task list, but now that I am back in school, I have a lot more to do. I tried out writing my to-do list every morning for the past week, and I have been getting more done each day because I know exactly what I want to complete.

It only takes me a few minutes each morning, and it helps me be more productive for the rest of the day so I am going to keep on making weekly to-do lists!

Overall, I think this layout turned out really cute and I am excited to use it! If you liked this layout, you might also want to take a look at a few of these.

Thank you so much for reading this post! Have a productive week and a fun Halloween if you celebrate!

Pin this post to use as bullet journal monthly layout inspiration for later. Thank you! :)

October 03, 2020 No comments

As much as I love wearing skinny jeans, sometimes I feel like wearing something else and I am sure you do too. Enter straight-leg jeans. But how do you style them? You can't wear skinny jeans and straight-leg jeans in exactly the same way. So whether you are getting tired of wearing skinny jeans all the time, or you are looking for fall outfit ideas, here are some ways to style straight-leg jeans for fall.

Updated for 2027

How to Style Straight-Leg Jeans

This post has multiple looks you can use as inspiration for styling your straight-leg jeans and it also has some tips that you can use to style your straight-leg jeans.

I also have written posts on how to style other types of pants, that you might also find useful.

But right now, we are talking about straight-leg jeans, so without further ado, let's get right into finding the right pair of straight-leg jeans.

Finding a Pair of Straight Leg Jeans You Like

The pair of jeans I am wearing in all of the photos on this post are Guess High-Waisted Straight Leg Jeans (I don't know the exact style). Guess jeans are on the pricier side (Some styles are well over $100), but they are very good quality and really comfortable so if they are in your price range, then I recommend them.

Guess also has unique jean styles (The pair I am wearing has zippers going up the ankles) so if you are looking for something different, then check them out!

Side Note - Please note that this post is not sponsored. I just wanted to give a quick review of the pair I am wearing.

The most important thing when buying a pair of straight-leg jeans is the fit. They need to fit very well. Since they are straight-leg jeans, they are going to be looser around your legs.

This means the top of your jeans should be more fitted. If the waist on your jeans is a little bit too big, you can simply wear a belt.

The other thing you should check when buying your straight-leg jeans is the length. You don't want to buy jeans that are really long if you don't want to have to cuff them. If you don't mind cuffing your jeans, then slightly longer jeans are okay. Ideally, you want your jeans to hit right above your ankle.

And lastly, the rise of your straight-leg jeans. I think that it is best to get your straight-leg jeans in a high-rise fit because it will highlight your waist, but if you prefer to wear mid-rise, then that is fine too. It's all up to what you prefer, and your body type.

Rips or no rips?

It depends on whether you want to wear your jeans as part of a dressier outfit or not. Non-distressed jeans always look more classic, so keep this in mind when buying your jeans. If you do decide to buy jeans that are distressed, keep the distressing minimal.

The Do's of Wearing Straight Leg Jeans

1. Do Cuff Your Jeans

The ideal length of your straight-leg jeans depends on what look you are going for. Cuff them, if they are a little bit too long, especially if you are wearing flats.

You definitely don't want your jeans to be resting on top of or covering up your shoes.

2. Do Wear a Fitted Top

You don't want to be wearing a loose shirt, and loose pants so tuck or half tuck in your top to give your waist definition.

In the outfit above, I am wearing a really fitted top, but a top that is a little looser, like a button-up shirt works too because it still defines your waist when you tuck it in. Wearing a bodysuit would work too, and you won't have to worry about keeping it tucked in.

3. Do Tuck Your Top In

If your top is fitted, then tuck it in. If your top is loose, but not bulky, then you can still tuck it in. If you are wearing a sweater, like below, then I do not recommend tucking it in, because it will be too bulky.

You are probably thinking, "But wait... your sweater is tucked in."

Nope, my sweater is actually not tucked in. :)

I used a simple belt trick, that you can use too, to make your sweater look like it is tucked in when it isn't. All you will need is an extra belt.

Put your sweater on and then put your belt on over the sweater. Then simply pull your sweater out of the belt until it creates a nice fold. Voila! You no longer have the bulky sweater problem.

Another way to get this look is to let your sweater hang straight, and then to take a hairbow, and tie one-side of your shirt up. Then tie up a little on the other side too. After that, all you have to do is flip both sides of your sweater underneath so the hairbows aren't showing!

4. Do Mix Dressy + Casual

Mixing dressy and casual is a nice way to get a polished look. High heels and straight-leg jeans are always a good idea.

For the outfit above, I uncuffed my jeans to make this outfit dressier and I wore a blouse.

5. Do Wear a Belt

While it is not necessary to wear a belt, it makes a nice addition to your outfit, when you have your top tucked in. So, if your outfit feels a little bit bland, you can add a belt, maybe even one that stands out.

Are your outfits always feeling bland? 8 Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Outfit

6. Do Wear a Fitted or a Cropped Jacket

Again, you want to have a defined waist when you wear straight-leg jeans, so your outfit is not too baggy. Avoid wearing any jacket that covers your waist.

2024 Update - I'm looking over this post right now and thinking "What!?" lol. I now think that straight-leg jeans can be worn with oversized jackets if it is done right. Go for something that is not baggy and has an open front like a shacket or a blazer. Just make sure the front is open and you should be good to go!

Final Notes on How to Style Straight Leg Jeans

Okay, let's wrap this post up! Here are the main things to keep in mind when you wear straight-leg jeans.

Wearing a looser top is fine, as long as you tuck it in.
Cuffing your jeans makes your outfit more casual.
The most important thing to remember is that you want to define your waist.

If you liked this post, you can also read these ones.

Let me know in the comments! Do you prefer straight-leg jeans or skinny jeans?

If you found this post helpful, please share it. Thank you! :)

September 26, 2020 2 comments

As a student in high school, it is hard to juggle everything. Homework, and extra credit, and sports, and practicing instruments, not to mention that everyone wants some free time to spend with friends. Yep, it is hard to get everything done. A bullet journal can help you as a student to be more productive, and help you keep your life organized. Keep reading to see what bullet journal layouts I am using this year for school!

Bullet Journal Layout Ideas for Students

Updated for 2027

Even if you aren't a student, you can still get some bullet journal layout ideas from this post to help you organize your life, because not all of these layouts are specifically for school.

If you are in school, and you need help with being more productive, you can read How to be More Productive as a High Schooler.

School Bullet Journal Layout Ideas for Students

Last year, I also did a post on bullet journal layout ideas for students. I am using some of the same layouts for school this year, but with new designs. You can see those bullet journal school layouts here and here.

I made those layouts when I was bullet journaling in a binder, so if you want layout ideas that work in a binder or ring-bound notebook, then go check those posts out!

I know that for many people school already started a month ago (me included), but if you don't have any organization system in place, it is not too late to start getting organized!

And with that, let's get into the first bullet journal layout idea for school. :)

1. Back to School/Monthly School To-Do List

The first thing I did, when I started getting ready to go back to school, was to open up to my monthly bullet journal layout and make a to-do list for everything I needed to do to get ready for school. I also wrote down all of the layout ideas I wanted for school, and what classes I am taking this year.

During the school year, I also use a to-do list every month, to keep track of the bigger school assignments I need to complete.

2. School Classes List

Having a school class list to refer back to is always a good idea because you can keep class information in one place.

On this layout, I have a list of the classes I am taking this year and some information about each one. You might include your teacher's name and contact info, where the class is, and what day the class is on.

3. A Motivational Quote

Definitely not necessary, but a quote can help motivate and inspire you each time you open your bullet journal. I put this quote on the page next to my goals page, so when I look at my school goals, I also see the quote.

The quote I picked is, "Success doesn't come from planning, it comes from doing, So hustle". It reminds me that no matter how much I plan, success comes from actually doing.

Find a quote that motivates you and create a layout that will inspire you whenever you need a nudge to start doing your homework. :)

If you want some tips and ideas for easily creating a bullet journal quote layout, you can read Tips for Improving Your Bullet Journal Quote Pages, which contains everything you need to know to make a quote page in your bullet journal.

4. School Goals

One of the most important pages I add to my bullet journal each year is my school goals page. Really just any goal-setting pages in general. At the beginning of the year, I set goals, but I also set goals at the beginning of the school year as well.

You can see my goal-setting pages for the year here.

I kept this layout simple, by just listing my school goals, but I did make them as specific as possible so I can tell if I am actually achieving them or not. Making general goals that you can't tell if you have reached or not, doesn't help you at all so try to make them as specific as possible.

Here are a few tips for setting goals for the school year.

Write them down (of course!)
Make them specific
Set goals for school, but set goals for your life too (healthy eating, sports, etc)
Don't make all of your goals really big (You have homework to do)

Now we will get into some layouts to organize your schedule. Let's make your life easier! :)

5. School Year at a Glance

With a layout like this, you can see exactly when you have a day off from school at a glance and you can see when school ends!

On this layout, I highlighted all of the days I have school. You might do color-coding so you can mark down the days you have important tests too.

Last year, I had one layout for the first semester and one layout for the second semester, but this year, I wanted to make things simpler, so I put them both on the same page. All I have to do is turn my bullet journal to the side, and I can see the whole school year at a glance. :)

6. Daily Routine

An easy way to be more productive is by creating a daily routine that you can follow. It stops you from being distracted because you do one thing in your daily routine after another.

Of course, I don't follow this daily routine exactly every day, but it gives me a general guideline for what I want my day to look like. And yes, I do wake up at 5:30. :)

You can get started on creating your daily routine by reading How to Start a Daily Routine You Will Actually Stick To.

7. My Weekly Schedule

Along with my daily routine, I also have a weekly schedule and you probably should too! Unless you have the same school classes every day and then you can just have a daily routine.

This layout is one of my most helpful school layouts because I need to know when my classes are, but also because it helps me to stick to a routine.

I didn't write down what each box is, because I wanted this layout to look more minimalist, but here is a quick rundown of what each one means just in case you want to do something similar for your own schedule.

Black Lines - My wake-up time and ideal bedtime (On the weekends I get to sleep in 😊)
Black Outlined Boxes - Meals
Blue Filled In Boxes - Classes and other things that have specific times
Blue Outlined Boxes - Time that is not free time (Homework, etc.)

8. Passwords

Especially if you are doing school online this year, this will be a helpful spread to have.

Nothing can be as annoying, as trying to sign in to a website, when you are rushed for time and you can't remember the password! Then the site makes you jump through hoops to create a new password, or to recover your old one!

Skip the hassle, by creating a layout for your passwords. Please note that I do not recommend doing this if you carry your bullet journal around with you. You don't want someone to have access to all of your passwords in one convenient spot!

Final Notes on Bullet Journal Layout Ideas for Students

Those are all of the bullet journal layouts I am currently using to be organized for school! A few other bullet journal layout ideas for students that you might want to try out are listed below.

A separate layout for each class with important class dates and other info (I did this last year)
Taking notes in your bullet journal
School studying routine or hours studied tracker
Note-taking tips + ideas

If you liked this post, you might also like these other posts about bullet journaling.

Thanks for reading! I hope you found these bullet journal layout ideas for students helpful!

If you liked this post, please share it so others can read it too. Thank you. :)

September 19, 2020 No comments

We all know the dreaded feeling... when you have something you really need to do, but you keep putting it off, over and over, and over again. That one task you put at the bottom of your to-do list for days, maybe even weeks, because you never want to do it. Well, today let's get that task done! Stop procrastinating and be more productive today with these tips!

Updated for 2027

How to Stop Procrastinating + Be More Productive

Procrastination is something we all deal with, in our lives, whether it's on a day-to-day basis, or if you are lucky, you might only procrastinate once in a while.

I myself, procrastinate too! Just this morning, I was procrastinating cleaning my room, which is a weekly task I always do. I wasted some time scrolling on my laptop before I decided to just go do it. And guess what? It only took me fifteen minutes!

If I had done it right after I took photography for this post, then I wouldn't have wasted time on my laptop.

But the point of this story is that I was procrastinating something that took only fifteen minutes! Because I procrastinated though, it took me around an hour instead because I was on my laptop before I went and did it.

In this post, I will dive into the reasons why people procrastinate, and what you can do to stop procrastinating so you can save time. Who doesn't want to have more free time?

If you just want tips on how to be more productive and you don't need tips on not procrastinating, then you can check out the post How to Be Insanely Productive During Quarantine, which is one of my most popular posts.

The Reasons Why You Procrastinate

Why are you procrastinating? Before you can figure out how to stop procrastinating, you need to know why you are procrastinating.

1. You Don't Want to Do It

You are probably nodding your head right now. :)

I know I am. One of the biggest reasons, why I procrastinate is because I simply don't want to do it. If I can put it off, then I will, because I can do it later. Right? I am sure we have all used that excuse.

All of the other reasons for procrastinating can probably be put under this because whatever excuses you make, it comes down to the fact that you probably just don't want to do it.

But, when you put this certain task off, it is constantly nagging you, so you can't enjoy whatever you are doing.

You need to figure out why you don't want to do it.

Do you not fully understand the task?
Is the task too time consuming/too big, maybe even intimidating? (cleaning and organizing your whole house)
Is the task too hard?
Do you just want to do something else because it is more fun?

Think about one thing you are procrastinating about right now and try to decide why you are procrastinating doing it.

One thing I need to do is update old posts on this site that are no longer relevant. :) Here are the steps I have taken to not procrastinate on this task.

I identified why I am procrastinating (The task is large and it is going to take a lot of work)
I figured out how to make the task smaller and not as time-consuming (I decided to update each post one by one and not try to do it all at once, which would be impossible)
I made a plan and I track my progress (I made a bullet journal layout so I can see how much I have left to do, and I now update one of my old posts around once a week)

Do I still procrastinate on this task sometimes? Yes, I do, but this task doesn't have a due date on it and some weeks I am really busy, so I don't actually have time to do it.

If this task did have a due date, I would make a weekly schedule for it and make time for it in my routine. (For example, taking photos on Monday after breakfast, and rewriting the post after lunch.)

Now that we have identified the reason for procrastinating, we will break up the bulleted points above and create fixes for each one. If you have a reason for procrastinating that doesn't fall in the "I don't want to do it" category let me know in the comments below. :)

Fixing Procrastination Problems

1. Not Fully Understanding the Task

If you don't know exactly what you are supposed to do, then of course you will procrastinate it! If it is a goal, you set that isn't specific enough like "exercise more often" then you also might procrastinate it.

The task needs to be specific enough that you are clear on what you need to do. If it helps, make a list of the steps you need to do to complete the task.

2. The Task is Too Time-Consuming/Too Big

Make the task smaller. Easier said than done, I know. You might make a chart and try to divide it up. This goes along with point number one.

If you have a deadline, you could do a little each day (I do this), or you can try time-blocking (Doing the task for a set amount of time, and then taking a short break and coming back to it).

If it is something you do daily that you procrastinate, then you should work on incorporating it into your daily routine. For example, if you procrastinate exercising every day, you could do it first thing in the morning (even before you turn on your phone).

3. The Task is Too Hard

Are you using this as an excuse for procrastinating? This also ties back to the first two points. If the task is too hard, then you need to figure out what you are doing and make a plan.

If it is a habit you are trying to make that you are procrastinating, then you should make it easier, and see if you still procrastinate doing it.

For example, if you want to do 25 pushups every morning. The first few days you do it, and then you start procrastinating because it takes too much time, etc, etc. Make it a little easier by doing 5-10 pushups and then build up from there once it is already a habit.

4. You Would Rather Do Something Else First

Distractions! They are everywhere. If you are procrastinating doing something simply because you want to do something else, then you need to remove the distraction.

For example, you need to do your homework, but you want to check notifications on your phone first. You aren't going to use any apps; you just need to check your notifications. Well, we all know what happens. Thirty minutes to an hour later, you realize how much time you have wasted.

So instead of even turning on your phone, you need to put your phone out of sight, put it on silent. Do whatever you have to, to remove the distraction.

Final Notes on How to Stop Procrastinating + Be More Productive

So what can you do to stop procrastinating doing something? Write these down, so you can refer back to them later or make sure to pin this post. :)

Identify why you are procrastinating
Fully understand what you need to do
Make a plan
Divide up the task
Incorporate it into your schedule
Remove distractions

Sometimes all you need to do is just start the task!

I know that most of the time when I decide to just start the task, I find out that it wasn't actually that bad, and I end up doing the whole thing in one sitting. The next time you are about to procrastinate something, try simply starting it, and then see how much you can get done.

If you liked this productivity post, you can read these ones too!

I hope this helps you stop procrastinating! If you have any questions or want some specific tips, leave a comment below and let me know!

Save this post for later, if you found it helpful. :)

September 12, 2020 2 comments

Fall starts this month! I am back in school and I can't wait for the weather to cool down. For my bullet journal layouts this month, I went with fall colors, and my theme was falling leaves. I usually stick to using pastel colors in my bullet journal so I decided that this month I would switch things up! Keep reading, to see how I set up my bullet journal layouts for September. :)

Updated for 2027

Plan with Me September Bullet Journal Layouts

I made this set up very similar to my August bullet journal layouts, though the design is very different.

Last month I did more of a minimalist-style layout because I used only two colors (green and black), but this month I used around five or six markers because I wanted this layout to have the colors of changing leaves.

Last month, I used new fonts on my layout, which I found on Creative Market. I did the same thing this month, but with different fonts. It takes me longer to make my layouts now, but I enjoy trying out the new fonts!

If you want to see how you can easily use the fonts on Creative Market in your bullet journal, you can read Plan With Me August Bullet Journal Layouts. I have a whole section on how to use the fonts found on Creative Market in your bullet journal in that post.

September Bullet Journal Supplies

Crayola Super Tips - Crayola Super Tips are used on almost all of my spreads! They are great for beginners, really affordable, and there are tons of colors. If you are looking to buy some markers to use in your bullet journal, then I recommend these ones.
Ecoline Brush Pens - The Ecoline brush pens are the newest addition to my stationery collection, and I really like them, but they are on the pricey side. The ink is really smooth and juicy though, so I think they were worth the money. :)
Black Sharpie Pen - If you have read probably any of my other posts, then you will know that I always use a black sharpie pen for writing in my bullet journal.
Tombow Fudesonuke Brush Pens - Another great option for beginners, the Tombow Fudesonuke brush pens come in a two-pack: one hard tip, and one soft tip. I used the hard tip Tombow Fudesonuke brush pen for the calligraphy on this layout.
White Gel Pen - I use a white gel pen to mark out any mistakes I make on my layouts, and while it is sometimes still a little bit noticeable, it doesn't bother me.
Mechanical Pencil - I use a mechanical pencil to do some of the hand lettering before I use ink especially since I used new fonts on this layout. I also used a mechanical pencil to sketch in the rest of the layout.
A Ruler - I always want straight lines and I definitely can't get them without a ruler!

September Bullet Journal Monthly Layout First Page

Header

For this layout, I used the font "Hello Paris" from Creative Market and because I wanted to use both fonts in the header, I wrote "hello September" instead of just "September."

I really like using the fonts on Creative Market in my bullet journal, so if you are looking for font inspiration for your bullet journal, I would recommend checking them out.

I used a Tombow Fudesonuke hard-tip brush pen for the calligraphy and Crayola Super Tips (My review of the Crayola Super Tips) for the serif font.

Doing serif fonts is easier than it looks! Simply write the word, you want to do in a serif font, and then go over the downstrokes, to make them thicker, just like when doing faux calligraphy.

Mini Calendar

I have been doing a mini calendar every month this year (except for January when I missed making a monthly layout due to being sick) and I still love them! The size of my mini calendar varies from month to month.

This month, I went with a very simple mini calendar. I didn't even write the days of the week at the top, but I always put Monday first, so it doesn't make a difference to me. I also put the numbers for the days, in the center of each box and I like how it turned out.

Highlights

Pretty self-explanatory. I write down everything that happened during the month that I want to remember. :)

Then I go through later and pick out my favorite memories and add them to my "Best of 2020" layout.

Goals

If you read my posts regularly, then you will already know this, but for those of you who are reading my blog for the first time, this is how I do my goal setting for the year.

At the beginning of the year, I created a "21 Before 2021" layout, on which I wrote down all of my goals for the year.

Each month, I look back at the goals I created for the year, and I set a few mini goals, that help me get closer to my goals for the year.

This month, I am doing six goals instead of my usual five, because I had enough room on my bullet journal layout.

September Bullet Journal Layout Second Page

To-Do

Last month, I went back to having a column with my tasks for the month and because I enjoyed having it, I am going to continue to use it instead of having a column with the days of the month.

I may use simple weekly layouts along with this for my to-do list, but I haven't decided yet.

October

I always add a spot for the next month in the year, but I make it small because I usually don't use it. It's just nice to have in case I have something big coming up in the next month. :)

Habit Tracker

In July, I did six habit trackers, but because they were all too much to keep up with, I went back to only tracking one habit per month, especially since school has started for me.

The habit I am tracking this month is to "get up before 7 AM". During the school week, I get up at 5:30, but I also want to start waking up earlier on the weekends so I can create a habit of always going to bed early and waking up earlier.

The Quote

I still had a lot of room left on this layout, so I looked on Google for a quote about fall. I knew I had to pick a long one since I had so much room left on the page!

The quote I decided to do is, "Anyone who thinks that fallen leaves are dead, has never watched them dancing on a windy day."

The lettering was a little off-centered, so I added some leaf doodles, to help balance it out. If you want some tips on making your bullet journal quotes (And all of your layouts in general) look better, you can read Tips for Improving Your Bullet Journal Quote Pages.

Final Notes on Plan with Me September Bullet Journal Layouts

I'm sure you have probably noticed by now that there is a large maple leaf in the center of this layout. I drew the maple leaf in a medium-brown color, so hopefully, it won't be too dark, when I try writing on top of it.

Overall, I really like how this layout turned out and I am going to enjoy using it this month!

If you liked this post, you can read these ones next.

I hope you found some inspiration for your bullet journal, and that this post was helpful!

Let me know you liked this post by sharing it. Thank you! :)

September 05, 2020 2 comments