The key that unlocks the magic of bullet journaling? Rapid logging with signifiers.
A refresher: Rapid logging is a quick, shorthand method of journaling that uses “bullets” to denote tasks, events, and notes.
Bullets can also change states, such as turning a dot into an “x” when a task is finished. Read more here: Beyond Basic Bullets: Exploring Bullet States
This system is simple and works perfectly well on its own! But over time, you may find that sticking with the basic bullets can fall a little flat.
To make your journal sing, incorporate signifiers!
Signifiers are simple little symbols that take you from just reading what you wrote to understanding why you wrote it in an instant. They give meaning and context to your rapid log entries.
If you’re new to bullet journaling, this guide takes a simple approach to getting started: How to Start a Bullet Journal (Simple Guide + Rapid Logging Explained)
Ready to add signifiers to your bullet journal vocabulary?
What exactly are signifiers, and how do I use them?
Signifiers are easily-recognizable symbols that you put in front of a bullet journal bullet, adding a layer of meaning to your rapid log entry.
The official Bullet Journal site covers basic signifiers in their Rapid Logging guide if you want their take!
A great tip I picked up: Add the number of vertical and horizontal squares that a single page has to quickly divide it into halves, thirds, etc. if needed!
When I first started bullet journaling, I wrote a few signifiers on a sticky note that I kept in the front of my journal until they became second nature.
You can add signifiers as you rapid log, or after:
- If I’m adding a one-off item to my daily log, I’ll write the signifier -> bullet -> entry.
- If I’m sitting down for a “brain-dump” type of rapid logging session, I’ll go back and add signifiers after.
Want a little practice with signifiers? You might like The 5-Minute Reset, a one-pager that includes a bit of rapid-logging and signifying to get you oriented before you start your day. Grab the free one-pager!
What makes signifiers key to customization
Signifiers give context to any type of bullet. They’re quick and easy to add, and can be done in the moment, or after a rapid logging session.
Here’s what makes them so impactful:
- Ease of reference. When you go back to review your entries, whether later that day, next month, or next year, you’ll be able to quickly spot the entries that you care most about.
- Mindfulness and self-discovery. Reflecting on the context of an entry is like a mini mindfulness practice that helps you zoom out and place your thoughts into the context of your life. The types of signifiers you use are like guideposts to the heart and mind.
- Customization. While there are some “universal” signifiers, they really shine when you create your own, based on what matters most to you. They’ll evolve over time as you refine, grow, and expand your interests.
Signifiers to try
Need some ideas for signifiers to use? Try adding some of these to your bullet journal key, and see whether they support your journaling and reflection:
The basic signifiers
If you check out the What is Rapid Logging post from bulletjournal.com, they recommend three basic signifiers:
* Priority. These are usually for tasks that must get done today. Don’t forget to prioritize your creative tasks! 😉
! Inspiration. These are often for notes, but you could have an inspired task or event to log. Why not? The inspiration signifier has been instrumental to the creative reclamation side of my bullet journal practice.
? Explore. The Bullet Journal Method suggests using an eye, but I like the question mark. It denotes things I may want to look into or research later. Follow your curiosity!
Signifiers can, and should, be modified to suit your needs, like I did with the “explore” signifier. I also ended up changing the “inspiration” signifier. I see “!” as an emphasis of priority instead of inspiration, so I would confuse it with “priority” bullets. I switched out the “!” for <3 for clarity and never looked back.
Long-term project signifiers
I like to use these to collect ideas on a particular topic if I think it’ll be of long-term interest, or if it’s been on my mind for a while. When I have enough of them, I can turn them into a collection!
Creative projects
Let’s say you’re getting into knitting. Every time you log something knitting-related, you use your “knitting” signifier. (Perhaps a little yarn ball and needle symbol?)
Explorations
If you have a particular topic you’re exploring, you could use a signifier for that too. Say I’ve been wondering about my gut health. Pick a symbol*, and whenever you take a note, need to do something to support your gut health, or have an (ahem) event, that’s your signifier.
*A squiggle for intestines? It’s easier to draw than a stomach!
Habits and mindsets
Last, but certainly not least, are you working towards a mindset shift?
Are we focusing on self-care this year? Create a signifier for all the self-love goodness to bring your awareness to it throughout your day, every day. You could use a little heart <3, but if that’s already being used for something else (like I am), might I suggest a little coffee mug?
Another great one to have is a symbol for gratitude. If you don’t have a dedicated gratitude journaling practice (or a “collection” for gratitude in your bullet journal), you could try incorporating a bit of gratitude into your daily logs and denote them with a signifier so that you can easily go back and reflect on them.
Coming up with your own signifiers
Experiment here! As long as they’re helpful and meaningful to you, they’ll work. A few helpful criteria:
- Make them quick and easy to write. If you can’t think of an easily drawn symbol, you could use a letter instead. For example, signifying with “B” means the entry is blog-related.
- Make the signifier topic-related. This will help you retire your “key” faster because it’ll be easier to associate, say, a little paintbrush symbol with painting than a moon reflecting your creative side.
- Make signifiers distinct from one another. A paintbrush and a toothbrush look awfully similar, and if you use both, it might slow you down upon review.
- Optional: Make them typeable. This is especially helpful if you’d like to experiment with digital bullet journaling! This is when letters as symbols come in handy.
Parting words
Signifiers are a wonderful way to make your bullet journal uniquely yours. They tell the story of what’s capturing your interest, where your interests lie, what your priorities are, and how they all weave the tapestry of your daily life.
What are your favourite signifiers? Mine is the <3 for inspiration!
Ready for more bullet journaling goodness? Head back to the start: The Busy Creative’s Guide to Bullet Journaling (Start Here!)
By the way, I write a monthly letter to deliver a little creative encouragement and inspiration to your inbox. If that sounds like something you could use, join me here!
<3 Until next time!
