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Bullet Journal Key | The basic key with a look inside other’s journals to inspire you

Last updated on April 24th, 2022 • Bullet Journaling

Looking for a bullet journal key? This quick post captures the basics and has images from other people’s journals to inspire you if you want to add the key to your own pages.

Get inspired with bullet journal key ideas

#bulletjournal  #bujo  #bulletjournaling  #bujojunkies  #bulletjournaljunkies  #bulletjournalcommunity  #leuchtturm1917  #studygram  #showmeyourplanner  #bujolove  #planner  #studyblr  #studyspo  #plannercommunity  #journal  #plannerlove  #planneraddict  #studying  #bulletjournallove  #stationary  #planning  #planwithme  #journaling  #bujoinspire  #plannergirl  #notebook  #stationaryaddict  #washitape  #plannernerd  #stationery

What is the Bullet Journal Key?

One of the most effective parts of the Bullet Journal Method is rapid logging. This is where you write short sentences with symbols that categorize what you write into: Tasks, Events, or Notes. This bullet journal key shows you the symbols that go in front of each of those lines to tell you what type of info is there. This helps you process the information quickly with an at-a-glance look at your day.

The symbols

Here are the symbols that make up the official bullet journal key:

  • Tasks – a simple dot goes beside things you have to do. You’ll expand on that dot with an x, >, or < based on what you’ve done with that task.

o Events – these are moments in time like appointments, parties, and meetings. Or it might be something that’s happening like a birthday, milestone, or just that you went for a run after work.

– Notes – a dash goes next to any information you put on your page that isn’t a task or event. You typically use it for ideas or observations.

What’s great about the bullet journal key is that it is simple and easy to process visually. When you are writing things quickly, these little marks are quick to use.

How to modify the task symbol to show what you’ve done with the task.

If a task is incomplete. It just stays a dot. Like this:

  • Drop suit by dry cleaner.

Once that task is done, you just mark an x over the dot.

x Drop suit by dry cleaner.

But what if your day had some unexpected things happen and you didn’t get to drop the suit? Well, then you would move that task to the next day (complete with it’s plain dot) and on the current day you would draw an arrow over the dot pointing to the next page.

> Drop suit by dry cleaner.

Let’s say, you don’t actually need the suit until a wedding in two months. In that case, you might decide it isn’t urgent and move it to the future log page for whatever month the wedding is in. In that case, you would draw an arrow over the dot pointing to the future log.

< Drop suit by dry cleaner.

Defining symbols for your own bullet journal key

One of the best parts about the bullet journal method is how adaptable it is. The basics create a structure, then you morph it to your own life.

Some people expand the bullet journal key with their own symbols to fit their unique context. As you use the system, you may think of symbols you want to add. For example, you might use ! for project deadlines or # for a topic you want to remember to post about.

Creating a key page in your bullet journal

If you are just using the original three symbols for tasks, events, and notes, you probably don’t need a key page, but if you decide to modify the symbols, or just want a bullet journal key page as a reference, you should create it!

Here are some examples from Instagram to show what other people are doing in their bullet journals to give you ideas. Keep in mind that we are showing some of the artistic ones for inspiration. To be true to the original bullet journal method keep it simple!

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A post shared by Ady | Bullet Journal, Stickers (@planwithady)

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A post shared by Estrella ✨ (@bujoforstars)

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A post shared by Fenke – Bullet journal (@fenkesjournal)

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A post shared by Ang | Bullet Journal & Art (@hellobonjournal)

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A post shared by hannah kathryn journal (@hannahkathrynjournal)

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A post shared by BuJo, Art & Lettering (@leftyartlover)

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A post shared by π˜”π˜’π˜³π˜ͺ𝘦𝘬𝘦 | bullet journalist (@mariekesbulletjournal)

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A post shared by Sujata (@sujataplans)

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A post shared by ✨Holly Stevens✨ (@joyfuljournaler)

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A post shared by Mark β€’ Bullet Journals + Reels (@menwhobullet)

Need ideas for your bullet journal key or just need the basics? This post has you covered

#bulletjournal  #bujo  #bulletjournaling  #bujojunkies  #bulletjournaljunkies  #bulletjournalcommunity  #leuchtturm1917  #studygram  #showmeyourplanner  #bujolove  #planner  #studyblr  #studyspo  #plannercommunity  #journal  #plannerlove  #planneraddict  #studying  #bulletjournallove  #stationary  #planning  #planwithme  #journaling  #bujoinspire  #plannergirl  #notebook  #stationaryaddict  #washitape  #plannernerd  #stationery
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Feel more confident with your bullet journal key?

It’s simple, right? The basics are just a handful of symbols that identify if a line has a task, event, or note on it.

Now you just have to decide if you are going to stick with the original symbols or modify them to create your own bullet journal key.


Want to use your bullet journal for habit tracking? Subscribe to Get 11 Visual Journal Templates to Get the Life You Want

About Cathy Hutchison

Cathy Hutchison helps people get more joy, meaning, and freedom in a world of demands through the practice of visual journaling.

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cathy.hutchison

Cathy helps people banish overwhelm,
boost creativity 🎨
and reconnect with their β™₯️
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CathyHutchison | VisualJournal
One of my favorite tools for visual journaling is One of my favorite tools for visual journaling is watercolor crayons. Here, I'm using #neocolorII by @carandache with an #aquabrush. To do this, you have to use a water resistant pen. I'm using a #pittartistpen by @fabercastellusa. #yourvisualjournal #artjournaling #journaling #watercolor
Playing with Posca markers in my pocket sized expe Playing with Posca markers in my pocket sized experimental journal. #yourvisualjournal #artjournaling #posca #arteveryday
Ten years ago, I started carrying a notebook with Ten years ago, I started carrying a notebook with me everywhere. I began taking notes, capturing insight, managing to-do lists, and working through ideas in a combination of words and doodles. 

This practice became a game changer for me. My notebook is my ally in living an intentional life. 

The sheer volume of information we process and decisions we make at a rapid pace is daunting. Getting things out of my head and in front of my eyes creates clarity. 

If this idea intrigues you, check out YourVisualJournal.com. It’s a passion project for me to share this practice with anyone who wants to try this out.

#journaling #yourvisualjournal #bujo #bulletjournal #dotgrid #leuchtturm1917 #notebook #sketchnotes
This year at BFF weekend we created #fairyhouse s This year at BFF weekend we created #fairyhouse s to leave at one of the trails in the hill country. We had so much fun creating then placing them
I was playing with ideas for my new course. #yourv I was playing with ideas for my new course. #yourvisualjournal #sketchnotes
The doodles on the edges of this page are inspired The doodles on the edges of this page are inspired by a mural in the Starbucks I was sitting in. The quote is from Benjamin P Hardy--and I love it that I made a mistake in the middle of it given the quote! ​​​​​​​​
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Creativity is risky business. It requires vulnerability and courage--with a high probability of mistakes and failures along the way. #yourvisualjournal #artjournal #artjournaling #watercolor #watercolorjournal #arteveryday #journaling #journallove
This was a great little book that shares the proce This was a great little book that shares the process of developing ideas. #yourvisualjournal #booksofinstagram #journaling #journal #sketchnotes
I got inspired by @oshupatterns through her @domes I got inspired by @oshupatterns through her @domestika course to play with #poscamarkers. It was so fun to use paint pens in this way. They dry fast and layer well. Super fun! #yourvisualjournal #journaling #artjournaling
When using watercolor crayons and an aquabrush it When using watercolor crayons and an aquabrush it helps to use a water resistant pen. I go through a lot of @fabercastellusa Pitt Artist Pens #journaling #yourvisualjournal #sketchnotediary #sketchnotes
I love my Mother's Day present! Thanks @bethutch ❀️#neocolor2 
There's something about a new set of crayons that is magical! (Plus if you see my most recent post, you can tell that I'm working with pieces parts big time!)
I'm re-reading @gregorymckeown 's Essentialism. I I'm re-reading @gregorymckeown 's Essentialism. I totally forgot about the chapter on our inner childq. So good. ​​​​​​​​
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#journal #journaling #journalingideas #visualjournaling #dailyjournal #journallove  #handwriting #penandpaper #journalcommunity #dotgrid #yourvisualjournal #artjournaling #artjournal #watercolorjournal
Today I misread my calendar and got to my meeting Today I misread my calendar and got to my meeting spot an hour early. The angels must have known how much I needed to just sit and journal. β™₯️ What a gift of unstructured time ​​​​​​​​
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Disclosures

Some links on this site are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The author receives aΒ  small (really small) commission if you happen to buy something.Β  Funds are used to support journaling supplies & four crazy sweet Aussies who bark for treats every time I come in the door. (To be fair, I have a pattern of giving in to them.) I write about all kinds of journaling, and if Bullet Journaling is your thing, I’m here to support you. But if you want to go deep, go to the original source–Ryder Carroll, who created the system, and started it all at bulletjournal.com. I use the method daily which is why I started writing about it here.
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