We’ve talked about family stories before and how important it is to gather as many as possible in order to share them with other family members as well as other generations.

Although sometimes it seems to drag on and on, time really flies when you’re caregiving and it’s difficult to jot these stories down . Sometimes it seems like life is passing us by and it’s hard to look back and remember all the little things that we wanted to make note of. With a few little tweaks, your bullet journal can also become a memory keeper. You’ll love thumbing through the pages in years to come and having the pages take you back in time. With a bullet journal approach, there’s no need for lengthy descriptions. You can capture memories quickly and accurately. Here are three ways to do just that.

Look Back And Reflect

Even without any special entries, your bullet journal will be a great tool to walk back in time. Seeing your past entry about ordering a raised garden bed so that Mom could participate, will remind you of the early days of growing your first few vegetables, or the “Take down and wash the curtains” task may remind you that this was the day your washing machine broke and you ended up hauling six loads of laundry over to the laundromat… along with your Dad! Without paying any special attention to recording memorable events, your journal will already act as a memory keeper for you.

Make Note Of Daily Little Events You Want To Remember

Before you head to bed at night, add a little note, or even just a bullet or two about memorable things that happened today that you want to remember down the road. If you have kids, you may want to record their accomplishments or funny things they said (OR the funny things Mom said). It’s up to you what you want to record and in what format. If you’re so inclined, add a picture, draw something, or stick a something in your page that reminds you of the day’s event. I have stickers, washi tape, wristbands from a TEDx Talk I attended and other things. I also use the little 23 and 4X6 cards from Project Life (find them at Michael’s) to write small notes and spice things up a bit.

Add A Monthly Memory Page

Last but not least, you can decide to add dedicated memory pages to your journal. Think of them as little scrapbook pages. How you design them is entirely up to you. Do what’s fun. It could mean making a traditional scrapbook page with photos and washi tape, it could mean writing a short essay, or it could be a page of doodles and words that represent things you want to remember from the month.

Remember this is your journal and there’s no right or wrong way to use it as a memory keeper. Figure out a way that makes sense for you. As an added bonus, this focus on recording little memories will keep you living in the moment and help you appreciate the interesting little things that happen every day.