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

Last updated on January 15th, 2023 • 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 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘬𝘦 | 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 • 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 ♥️
through visual journaling. 🖌
Get the free Quickstart guide 📗 here

CathyHutchison | VisualJournal
Simple can be beautiful. A small doodled flower. A Simple can be beautiful. A small doodled flower. An underline of color. Your #bulletjournal can be as elaborate as you like, but our lives are complex. #Simplicity feels good.
#Sketchnotes help me manage my focus and stay enga #Sketchnotes help me manage my focus and stay engaged in meetings.
I love the A5 size journals because they can go ev I love the A5 size journals because they can go everywhere with me! #journaling #leuchtturm1917 #yourvisualjournal
This morning I received an email from @songdance.c This morning I received an email from @songdance.co with a link to a song. I had no idea how much I needed to hear these words. #journaling #yourvisualjournal #bulletjournal #artjournal #neocolor2
Making my inner 7 year old happy with sealing wax. Making my inner 7 year old happy with sealing wax. #journaling #stationery #artjournaling #sealingwax
I bought something that I wanted SO BAD when I was I bought something that I wanted SO BAD when I was seven years old. 

I realized that now that I'm a grown up I could just buy it. 

On Amazon. 

#sealingwax #journaling #artjournaling #yourvisualjournal
I love learning about the authentic fascinations o I love learning about the authentic fascinations of the people in my world. The obscure hobbies they love. The ideas they just can't stop thinking about. The things they pour time (and money) into for no reason except that it gives them joy .

As you jump into 2023, I highly recommend purchasing a #notebook that you can take with you everywhere to feed this part of your life . Write down your inspirations. Capture ideas. Develop thoughts by reviewing them periodically. (And definitely scribble doodles in the margins--that's an important part.)

Engaging a #journaling practice--whatever that looks like for you--can give space for the quirky, beautiful, creative part of you to grow. And as it turns out, #visualthinking in a #journal is my personal, random fascination.

#yourvisualjournal
#bujo #bujoideas #journaling #artjournaling #sketchnotes #bulletjournal #dotjournal #leuchtturm1917
I just did my 2022 annual review—a practice I le I just did my 2022 annual review—a practice I learned from @michalroots . 

As one part of this, I wrote the sentences that jumped out at me from my 2022 journals as I went page by page. It left me with a sense of what the year was about and gave me an appreciation for the incredible beauty of friends, creativity, inspiration, and big ideas. 

I also looked at my vision board to see what happened, and what didn’t. For the things that didn’t happen, I gave some heart time to figure out the level that I actually want them (and learned it was low.) The things that happened had a lot of desire behind them. (It was an interesting thing to observe.) 

If you want to take Michal’s course, DM him for the link. I found it a valuable process that I will continue going forward.
#journaling #yourvisualjournal #artjournaling #bulletjournal #bujoinspiration
Do you create a #visionboard each year? The latest Do you create a #visionboard each year? The latest post at YourVisualJournal.com dives into how to create one in your journal. #journaling #artjournaling
Happy thanksgiving 🍁 Happy thanksgiving 🍁
Brush markers make my heart happy. #brushmarker #t Brush markers make my heart happy. #brushmarker #tombowdualbrushpens #bulletjournal #bujo #yourvisualjournal
Brush markers are easy to use, and putting a few d Brush markers are easy to use, and putting a few doodles at the bottom of your todo list makes it more engaging for your brain. This whole thing was quick to draw. (Mostly circles, a rectangle, and a few lines.) Coloring in with #brushmarkers was fast and easy. 

#yourvisualjournal #bulletjournal #artjournaling #sketchnotes #tombowdualbrushpens
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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 a  small (really small) commission if you happen to buy something.  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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