Bullet Journal Key Page – Everything You Need To Know

Traditionally, the very first page in your bujo should be a bullet journal key page.

Since it’s not something that’s usually found in other planners that you used over the years, you might rightfully wonder what it is, why you should have one, or how to make it.

If you’re a bullet journal beginner, there’s a high chance many other questions also come to your mind.

If that’s the case, take a look at the answers to the most common bullet journal questions or check out my bullet journal guide for beginners.

Also, if you’re a bullet journal beginner, you might even be confused about a bullet journal language, so check out this handy post that’s all about a bullet journal glossary.

But now, let’s get back to the bullet journal key page.

If you’re an experienced bullet journal user, you might not need a bullet journal key spread in every new notebook you use. However, for all the beginners out there, it’s more than useful to create one, so you can revisit it as many times as you need until you memorize all the symbols and their meanings, which you’ll use throughout your bullet journal. 

Now that it’s clear that you’ll need to have at least one bullet journal key page in your life, let’s see how you can make one, and what you should place in it.

It’s time to give you the answers to the most common questions you may have about a bullet journal key spread.

What is a bullet journal key page?

A bullet journal key page is usually the first page you get to create in your bujo.

It’s kind of like a “legend” page since it contains all the symbols that you will use throughout your bullet journal, along with their meanings.

You use these symbols to note the type of activity and the progress you make on it when you’re planning out your days, weeks, and months.

Once you decide on your symbols and their meanings, you’re sticking with them throughout your bullet journal.

For example, you can use one symbol for tasks, a different one for appointments, and some third for notes or ideas.

Also, you use one symbol for activities you started to work on, and a different one for those you finished, a third for those you “moved” (or better say, rescheduled), and some other for activities you’ve canceled completely.

If you’re also using a color-coding system (or some other additional system to categorize your different activities), a bullet journal key page is the place where you should place those codes and their meanings.

Bullet journal symbols and their meanings

The original bullet journal system already has a defined set of symbols that you can use to note and track different activities in your own bullet journal.

This is what they are, along with their meanings.

• task

x task completed

> task migrated

< task scheduled

o event

– note

* priority signifier

! inspiration signifier

(eye symbol) explore signifier

Of course, these symbols are not mandatory, and you can pick whichever symbol works best for you, along with its meaning.

For example, I like to use a square as a mark for all my tasks, while to me a dot means I’ve started to work on that specific task (and I can easily turn that dot into a check mark once it’s done – that part is the most satisfying, I have to admit 😉 ).

Here are some ideas for the symbols that you can use in your bullet journal key page instead of “traditional” ones:

• triangle
• arrow
• lightbulb
• star
• heart
• clock
• money sign
• house

and many others, depending on your needs and preferences.

Bullet journal key page ideas

To see how this spread actually looks in real life, here are some examples for your bullet journal key page.

The ideas given here display a variety of options you have at your disposal – from different symbols and color codes to their meanings, which will surely give you a lot of inspiration when creating your own spread.

Source @thejoyfuljumble

Source @bookofbullets

Source @cutelittlepaper

Source @menwhobullet

Source @everydaybulletjournal

Now that you know everything about a bullet journal key page, you can easily make your own, which will mark the start of your bullet journaling adventure.

Have fun with bullet journaling and follow me on Pinterest for more bullet journal tips and ideas!