Bullet Journaling and Its Key Intentions | 3 of 4

So far, we’ve talked about the simplicity and the quality of Bullet Journals, which definitely make BuJo the Queen Bee of systems. In my opinion, anyway. 😉 If you haven’t had the chance to read the previous posts yet, you can find the first here and the second here.

Now, let’s say you’ve started Bullet Journaling or are thinking about giving it a whirl. Great! But having an amazing system will have little effect without direct intention.

In volleyball, if you don’t serve the ball with purpose, it’ll land in a random place. But if you set your eyes on a particular spot, position your body in that direction, and give it enough power, you have a higher chance of getting the ball right there.

Same goes for Bullet Journaling. Or any system, for that matter. Steer it in the direction you want it to go so you can reap the results you’re looking for.

The best way to set your intentions for your Bullet Journal is through the key. Although this can change over time, having precise symbols before you begin will sustain the process in the long run.

Precisely

To create a strong key, I like to go through 3 steps: Purpose, Specifics, and Symbols.

The first step is to ask What purpose will my Bullet Journal serve? A daily planner or a travel journal? A habit tracker or a reading log? A business record or a writer’s notebook? Maybe all of the above or none of these. (Mine’s all of the above ’cause minimalist, yo.)

After figuring out its purpose, the next step is to think about What exactly do I want to keep track of? Appointments, destinations, finances, plots, recipes, etc . . . Even though I want to track all the things, I did want to keep an eye on my physical activity, to express daily gratitude, and to record each day’s events. These are my specifics.

This then leads to the final step – to figure out Which symbols will match the purpose and the specific items I want to track? When making my key, the 3 features I keep in mind are:

1. Simplicity. I want to be able to draw my symbols the same way every time, so I keep ’em fairly simple. If you’re a wizard at visual art, make ’em as complex as you’d like! Another option to add flare without drawing is to use stickers. Just make sure to have a backup plan when you run out.
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2. Usefulness. I make sure my symbols match my goals. As intentions change, so should the characters that represent ’em. If one isn’t working, change it. The beauty’s in flexibility.
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3. Efficiency. Ensure the symbols evoke the right reaction from you. A five-point star doesn’t give off the impression of “Priority!” to me (I don’t know why, though . . . *shrug*), so I use an asterisk instead. Assign symbols that click with your brain’s associations.

Interestingly

Here are a few examples of BuJo keys for inspiration, from the simple to the most complex.

• Straightforward symbols with a motivational quote on the page: Serena’s BuJo key
• Simple yet stylistically drawn symbols: Mike’s BuJo key
• Easy-to-use symbols layered with color coding: Lilly’s BuJo key

The intention of your BuJo lies in what you include in your key. Draw inspiration from others, adding only what’s necessary for your work. Just ’cause Jane uses a flower to signify to-do list items doesn’t mean you have to use the same symbol or feel that that kind of task needs a place in your key.

You do you, lovely. Enjoy creating your BuJo key with rock-solid intention, creative warrior.

This is the third article of a four-part Bullet Journal series. Read the others:

• How can I simply set up my Bullet Journal? | 1 of 4
• What criteria make the Bullet Journal’s key a quality system? | 2 of 4
• What unique ways can I use my Bullet Journal? | 4 of 4

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