The Perfect Bullet Journal Key

Add Another Level of Organization with the Perfect Bullet Journal Key

Keeping an organized to-do list and appointments in your journal or planner can be daunting. Once you start writing everything down  – personal appointments, work meetings, soccer practice – your pages can get jumbled and disorganized. That’s why creating the perfect Bullet Journal KEY is imperative.

Your Ultimate Guide to Beginning a Bullet Journal At Any Time Series

For this series, I’ve chosen the key elements for bullet journaling, will explain them in detail, and of course, provide you with lots of gorgeous inspiration from my favorite bullet journal accounts. I’ve organized the posts in this series in the order in which I use them, but feel free to click through the posts in any order that you like.

  1. Bullet Journal Index
  2. Bullet Journal Key (you’re here!)
  3. Bullet Journal Future Log
  4. Bullet Journal Monthly Planning
  5. Bullet Journal Weekly Logs or Weekly Spreads
  6. Bullet Journal Dailies

Bullet Journal Key

Bullet journal keys don’t need to be complex, Ryder Carroll, the creator of the Bullet Journalkeeps his key super simple. But for many of us with families and multiple schedules to keep straight, we need something a little more detail-oriented.

YOU DO YOU

Below, I’m going to share with you all sorts of ideas from talented bullet journalists. Some use colors, some use symbols, while others combine both colors and symbols. What’s important to remember is that with all things bullet journal related, you do you! Create a system that works for your unique needs. Only add what is necessary to keep you on track. It’s fine to add bells and whistles, once you figure out what works for you, but I’d say keep it simple to start.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

If you don’t need to create a special mark for doctor appointments, don’t! If your paycheck comes on the same day each month, then do you need to mark that in your bullet journal? But on the other hand, if you have a hard time keeping track of the different soccer practices and games for three children, then you may want to color code your schedules.

NOTHING IS FINITE

I’m often asked by bullet journal newbies about what is the really the best way? How exactly should they start? Color, symbols? And I tell them that there is no perfect solution. What they’ll find, and I think you’ll discover too, is that your style, your key, your pages in your bullet journal will change over time. Your bullet journal, and therefore your bullet journal key, will change over time, as it should.

I’ve organized the bullet journal keys into five categories to help you find what you need. You can either hop to the section that speaks to you, or browse the sections from start to finish. I hope that the images below bring you planning peace and inspiration in your search for the perfect bullet journal key.

ASSIGN A UNIQUE SYMBOL TO REPRESENT TASKS, EVENTS, APPOINTMENTS 

Bullet Journal Key | How to Start a Bullet Journal At Any Time - Part 2 | Zen of Planning

@literacybigkids

Looking for those colored pens in the background? LOOKING FOR THOSE COLORED PENS IN THE BACKGROUND? Staedtler Triplus Fineliners are my personal favorite. Or, maybe you’re looking for the black pen, the Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pen.

How about these symbols? There’s a symbol for everything in this bullet journal key!

Bullet Journal Key | How to Start a Bullet Journal At Any Time - Part 2 | Zen of Planning
@b.izzi
Bullet Journal Key | How to Start a Bullet Journal At Any Time - Part 2 | Zen of Planning
Page Flutter

Are you a washi tape fanatic like me? Check out this Marble Washi Tape.

ASSIGN COLORS TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF YOUR LIFE

Still looking for beautiful pens? Some planners use the Stabilo pens. They’re just as great as the Staedtler listed above.

Bullet Journal Key | How to Start a Bullet Journal At Any Time - Part 2 | Zen of Planning
@lifebywhitney
Bullet Journal Key | How to Start a Bullet Journal At Any Time - Part 2 | Zen of Planning
source

ASSIGN COLORS TO FAMILY MEMBERS

Assigning colors to family members is how I keep all my kids’ schedules organized.

If you’re looking to recreate the shading above, try Prisma Colored pencils. They’re the bomb.

USE A COMBINATION OF ALL OF THE ABOVE IN YOUR BULLET JOURNAL KEY

Bullet Journal Key | How to Start a Bullet Journal At Any Time - Part 2 | Zen of Planning
(link is no longer working)

Highlighters also come in handy when you’re planning. My personal favorites are the Sharpie Retractable Highlighters.

Bullet Journal Key | How to Start a Bullet Journal At Any Time - Part 2 | Zen of Planning
(link is no longer working)

Now I know some of you are thinking that there is NO way you could keep all those symbols and colors straight in your mind as you’re writing your lists, but that’s the whole point!

Most importantly, do what works for you! Keep your bullet journal key simple if this is too complicated. Planning, Journaling and definitely Bullet Journaling are all about what works for you, that’s the beauty. No need to over-complicate things.

Which brings me to my last official tip. This comes from the Queen of Bullet Journaling, Ms. Kara herself from Boho Berry:

TAPE YOUR BULLET JOURNAL KEY TO THE EDGE OF A PAGE

And of course, no bullet journalist is complete without a Leuchtturm 1917 dotted notebook

There you have it. Five tips to make the most amazing key for your bullet journal or planner.

If there any key ideas I’ve missed, let me know in the comments below. Feel free to link back to instagram, a pin, or blog post.

Now that you have the bullet journal key under your belt, move along to #3 in the series, the Future Log.

YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BEGINNING A BULLET JOURNAL AT ANY TIME

  1. Bullet Journal Index
  2. Bullet Journal Key (you’re here!)
  3. Bullet Journal Future Log
  4. Bullet Journal Monthly Planning
  5. Bullet Journal Weekly Logs or Weekly Spreads
  6. Bullet Journal Dailies

If you’d like more bullet journal inspiration, check out my bullet journal board on Pinterest.

Bullet Journal Key | How to Start a Bullet Journal At Any Time - Part 2 | Zen of Planning

PIN ME!

Happy planning!

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