If you have a bullet journal or want to start one, there are some basic tips for how to set up your new bujo. You might have seen in other bullet journals that some of them contain a "key" or "colour code" section at the beginning of it. In this post, I will be explaining what these sections are for and how to use them.
The key section is where you keep all the symbols with their respective meaning, that you use on a daily basis in your bujo. This will help you to distinguish whether a task in your weekly spread is done or in progress.
You can customize your key for your bullet journal however you want. One of the most common keys in the bullet journal community is similar to the one below.
Your key is 100% customizable, so if you would like an empty circle for your tasks and a coloured circled for your completed tasks, you can! Here are some other examples of keys in the bujo community:
In order to have a key legend on your bullet journal, you need to try different keys and color codes so you can find the one that works for you. You can follow the one that Ryder Carroll, the creator and author of “The Bullet Journal Method” recommends:
Some bullet journalists like to add a colour code to compliment the key in their bullet journals. I personally use my key to track the progress of my tasks on my weekly spread, and my colour code for events and birthdays, and to know what I have coming up on the month.
I like to use a colour code with a key in my bujo so I can easily see what I have planned and what is more important because the different colours of the colour code on my weekly spread pop up a lot more than my tasks.
When you start a bullet journal, is important to have a page where you keep your key and colour code so you know which symbol means what and to be more organized in your own bujo. Some notebooks already come with a section to fill in with your key and colour code at the beginning of it, but if yours is not the case, you can do it wherever you want.
It's easier to do it on the first page of your notebook before the yearly sections, or in the white page right after the cover page so you don't need to flip through your notebook to find it. It is also better to keep it simple, not more than 6 symbols are enough to create a simple functional key. For the colour code, try to think about what different things you add to your yearly and monthly spreads and create a colour code for them.
For example, you can track birthdays and appointments in your future log, so you can have a colour for each of them. Another colour for events, and another for holidays. But if you don't really need to distinguish a holiday from a birthday, you can have a colour for both of them, making your colour code simpler.
About the author
Catarina Mateus is a 19-year-old Portuguese bullet journal artist who developed a love for drawing since she was very young. She started to share her art and bullet journal spreads on Instagram (@catsplanner) in April 2018 which allowed her to expand her art skills and inspire others.
FAQs
Color coding is another way some people choose to organize their bullet journals. For example, you can use a red pen or pencil to write down your school work. You can use green for social events, blue for personal events such as doctors appointments, and orange for errands.
What is the key for bullet journals? ›
What is a bullet journal key? A bullet journal key is a page at the start of your bullet journal where you keep track of the symbols, colours or other signifiers you use to represent various tasks and ideas stored inside your journal. As with all bullet journaling, your key can be customised to meet your unique needs.
What is a color key code? ›
Color codes are ways of representing the colors we see everyday in a format that a computer can interpret and display. Commonly used in websites and other software applications, there are a variety of formats, including Hex color codes, RGB and HSL values, and HTML color names, amongst others.
Does bullet journaling work for ADHD? ›
The Bullet Journal method is a great tool for helping people with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) tame mental chaos, get organized, and set goals.
What are the 2 most important items in bullet journaling? ›
All you need to get started is a notebook and a pen.
Any notebook will do. It's not about having a fancy planner or special pens. In fact, I recommend that you start out with a cheap notebook at first and create the basic pages listed above. Add collections as you think of something you'd like to track.
What are the keys for bullet? ›
Select the Num lock key on the keyboard. Select and hold the Alt key on the numeric keypad. Type the bullet alt code (0149) in sequence using the numeric keypad. Release the Alt key after typing the numeric code to insert the first bullet point in the document.
What is a marking code in a bullet journal? ›
A bullet journal key generally lives at the front of your bullet journal. It's basically a shorthand code to help you simplify your task lists. With the key, a quick glance will let you know where you are in the process of completing that task.
What are the 3 color codes? ›
RGB Color. A color in the RGB color model is described by indicating how much of each of the red, green, and blue is included. The color is expressed as an RGB triplet (r,g,b), each component of which can vary from zero to a defined maximum value.
Are bullet journals good for mental health? ›
Emotional Expression: A bullet journal can be a safe space for expressing emotions and feelings. Writing about your experiences and emotions can provide therapeutic benefits, including improved mood and a better understanding of your feelings.
Can journaling help PTSD? ›
Studies have concluded that your immune system and physical healing improves when you release negative emotions into a journal, that writing memories down can be as valuable as discussing them in cognitive processing sessions for PTSD and that expressive writing is a valuable way to manage stress and fear of failure.
A bullet journal key generally lives at the front of your bullet journal. It's basically a shorthand code to help you simplify your task lists. With the key, a quick glance will let you know where you are in the process of completing that task.
What do the Colours on a bullet mean? ›
They are color coded depending on what kind of ammunition they are. -green tips (only on 5.56) are standard “ball” ammunition. -orange tips are tracers. -black tips are armor piercing. -silver tips are armor piercing incendiary.
What is the code for bullet list? ›
The <ul> tag defines an unordered (bulleted) list. Use the <ul> tag together with the <li> tag to create unordered lists.
