Bullet journals are really good at helping you stay organized up to a point.

As the bullet journal is an analog system, you have a very limited search functionality when it comes to finding things you need to reference in the journal.

Most Bullet Journalers use an index.

Indexes can be used for a lot of different things, but if it’s stuff that you find that you keep having to refer to, perhaps you should consider a Quick Reference pages in your bullet journal.

What are The Quick Reference pages?

Simply put, it’s exactly what it sounds like. I devote the first two or three pages after the index (or the last four pages at the back of the journal if it’s not perforated).

These pages contain information that I find that I need to reference often. It’s far easier to find information if it’s all in one section as opposed to being spread out across your daily pages or lists.

Non Permanent Important Information

One word of advice: anything that you jot into your bullet journal’s quick reference section that isn’t permanent information (flight confirmation numbers, etc…) I suggest you write on post it notes and stick on the page temporarily. If it’s there for longer than two months, or you’ve referenced it more than four times, write it in permanently, or at least on the page with a pencil and discard the Post it. Do make sure that you leave room on the page for the post-it note’s size!

Things You Could Put In The Quick Reference Pages

Telephone Numbers

Frequently Called Telephone numbers that you don’t have stored in your phone, or want to have a physical back up of.

I order take out from a Chinese restaurant one a week or so. Enough so that I decided to put their phone number into the quick reference section.

I also put my accountant’s phone number, several business contacts and so on.

Addresses

I don’t think that I’ve sent out mail in at least two years. I don’t have addresses in a section, but rather, if I find a need, I’ll just jot it here. Last time I put an address in this section was when we made hotel reservations and I didn’t want to rely on my phone for the address and confirmation number.

Bank Routing Numbers And Account Numbers

Gotta be careful with these, but you can come up with your own way of scrambling the account numbers that only makes sense to you. Routing numbers aren’t secret, so you don’t have to protect them.

Also, along the same security lines, you probably wouldn’t want to save passwords and usernames anywhere in your journal. If you want to save usernames and passwords, I suggest that you use a phone / browser app like LastPass. If you do save usernames and passwords in the BuJo, I recommend looking at your keyboard and doing a “letter shift”. Simply put, you move your hand right, left up or down and center your left finger on U, I, K, M, N, H, 7 or 8, to shift the letters, numbers and symbols for the password. More on letter shifting here.

List of Important Birthdays

I’m forgetful. I actually put birthdays down for family and friends that I can’t remember by heart. It takes the stress off when you look at the next month and wonder who has a birthday you need to remember.

Insurance Information

This one is pretty big for me. Not that I have to file claims often, but it’s just a security blanket in case I have to take a kid to ER or urgent care, I have insurance info right there to give to them (My wife carries the insurance cards because the kids are with her more than I).

My Boss’ Phone Extension Number

Because I just can’t remember it. We have four digit extensions, and his is 1211 and Julie in accounting is 1121. Always seem to call her by mistake.

The list could go on and on, but what’s important is not what I have in my Bullet Journal’s Quick Reference page, but what’s important for you to have available quickly.

I have created a copy of my main quick reference page, using fake information for demo purposes, of course.