Your Key Page: The Rosetta Stone of Your Journal
The key page is one of the first pages in your bullet journal. It contains all the symbols and signifiers you use throughout your journal. Without it, your rapid logging becomes a mystery even to yourself.
The Standard Key
These are the original symbols from the Bullet Journal method:
Bullets (Entry Types)
- • (dot) — Task: Something you need to do
- ○ (circle) — Event: Something that happened or will happen
- — (dash) — Note: Information you want to remember
Task States
- × — Task complete: Cross through the dot
- > — Task migrated: Moved to another day or month
- < — Task scheduled: Moved to future log
- Strikethrough — Task cancelled: No longer relevant
Signifiers
- * — Priority: Important, do this first
- ! — Inspiration: Great idea, explore later
- ? — Investigate: Needs research or follow-up
Customizing Your Key
The standard key works for everyone, but you can add symbols that fit your life:
Life Area Signifiers
- W or briefcase icon — Work-related
- H or house icon — Home tasks
- $ — Financial items
- ♥ — Relationship or family
- ☎ — Phone calls to make
- ✉ — Emails to send
Energy and Mood
- ↑ — High energy task
- ↓ — Low energy task
- 🙂 — Made me happy
- 🙁 — Was difficult
Time Indicators
- AM — Morning task
- PM — Afternoon or evening task
- ⏱ — Time-sensitive
Setting Up Your Key Page
Location
Place your key page right after your index, before your future log. This is usually pages 3-4 of your journal.
Layout Tips
- Group similar symbols together
- Leave space to add new symbols later
- Write clearly—you will reference this often
- Consider using color consistently if you color-code
Example Key Page Layout
KEY BULLETS • Task ○ Event — Note STATES × Complete > Migrated < Scheduled —— Cancelled SIGNIFIERS * Priority ! Inspiration ? Research MY SYMBOLS W = Work H = Home $ = Money
How Many Symbols Is Too Many?
A good rule: if you cannot remember what a symbol means, you have too many. Start with the basics and only add symbols you genuinely use.
Most people do well with:
- The 3 basic bullets (task, event, note)
- The 4 task states (complete, migrated, scheduled, cancelled)
- 2-3 personal signifiers
Color Coding
Some journalers add color to their key:
- Black — Default entries
- Blue — Work items
- Green — Health and wellness
- Red — Urgent or priority
- Purple — Creative projects
Warning: Color coding adds complexity. Only use it if it genuinely helps you.
When to Update Your Key
Your key is not set in stone. Update it when:
- You create a new symbol you will reuse
- You stop using a symbol
- You start a new journal
- Your life circumstances change
Key Page Mistakes to Avoid
- Creating symbols you do not use: Only add what you need
- Making it too complex: Simple beats clever
- Forgetting to reference it: Check your key when confused
- Skipping it entirely: Future you will be grateful
Your Key, Your Rules
There is no wrong way to create a key page. The only requirement is that it makes sense to you. Start simple, add only what you need, and your key will evolve naturally.
