Use Two Notebooks, Change Your Life
2024 ж. 9 Мам.
659 235 Рет қаралды
Using one notebook is great, using two is even better. Here's why!
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Using one notebook is great, using two is even better. Here's why!
Get the newsletter: joelsnape.substack.com/
Get the newsletter: joelsnape.substack.com/
I actually got a job because of stationery. I was in Tokyo, teaching ESL. I would go to a café to write and a girl saw me making notes. She invited me to a party and I met an editor with The Japan Times. They published a review of mine. Yeah, I carry around a notebook...or four.
This is a great story! I wonder if the same thing would have happened with a laptop 🤔
Do you have a link to your article? would love to see it! Ever since I was a child me and my sister would run to the stationery department in a store. we never cared about toys. but we'd spend forever looking at pens, pencil cases etc
Great video. I'm a senior and have loved to write things down all my life. For last 10 years I have used 3 notebooks. One I keep on my desk for daily tasks and a small one for my purse and the 3rd on my nightstand which I call my “paper psychiatrist”. I write about my fears, joys worries accomplishments.
All great until you catch your significant other sneaking around and reading your private thoughts (the bedside one)? When you object to the violation of privacy, I was told they were entitled because we were TOGETHER. Only they didn't process their emotions with a journal like I did So it wasn't reciprocal, or consented to!!
what a damn shame. my late husband would never invade my privacy like that. he died 10 years ago and he never snooped. I miss him desperately. you can try keeping a journal in your CAR. Hide under the driver's seat!@@recoveringsoul755
@@recoveringsoul755 i'm sorry you went through this. this should not be something you have to worry about in a healthy relationship. there should be trust and respect of boundaries - the problem isn't you having a journal to yourself. Wishing you healthier connections
@@amoraslucha the thing that still gnaws at me is not knowing HOW LONG he had been doing that. It changes what you write, if you think anyone else might be reading it. The urge to write was too great. So I found other ways to write, little scraps of paper undated, unorganized, eventually in the computer. But it's not the same. It was like losing my best friend.
@@recoveringsoul755but if you were to die those notebooks would be read. That’s why I’ve never kept that sort of diary
1. **Handwriting for Better Memory**: Writing things down by hand can enhance memory retention. Studies show higher brain activity when recalling handwritten information. This process involves more complex spatial information, aiding memory. 2. **Clearing Your Brain**: Using a notebook helps offload thoughts and tasks, reducing mental clutter. This follows David Allen's "Getting Things Done" concept, allowing the brain to focus on current tasks without being burdened by constant reminders. 3. **Thinking Better on Paper**: Physical writing helps in organizing and visualizing ideas better than digital means. It encourages creating a visual map of thoughts and prioritizing tasks, leading to more effective thinking and planning. 4. **Focusing on Important Tasks**: Writing by hand forces distillation of ideas, focusing on the essentials. It also minimizes digital distractions, encouraging deeper focus on the task at hand. 5. **Creating an Ideas Park**: Having a space in your notebook for non-priority thoughts or ideas, like a commonplace book or an "ideas park," encourages creativity and serendipity. It's a place to jot down future project ideas or interesting concepts. 6. **Centralizing Information**: Keeping all notes and ideas in one notebook ensures they are not lost in digital clutter. This centralized system makes it easier to revisit and connect different ideas. 7. **Using Notebooks for Social Interaction**: Writing down recommendations or ideas from others in a notebook during conversations can strengthen social bonds and show genuine interest. 8. **Two-Notebook System**: Utilize two notebooks - a larger one for daily tasks and notes, and a smaller one for personal ideas, recommendations, and miscellaneous thoughts. This system helps in organizing and separating work-related tasks from personal ideas and inspirations. By implementing these strategies, one can improve memory, focus, creativity, organization, and even social interactions. --- This is the first video from your channel I've come across, just subscribed. Lot's of sound advice. Although I personally use a Logseq Daily Page to catch all of my ideas with interstitial journaling, this video still really resonates. Since logseq is like my first digital journal then Day One app on my iPhone is my second digital journal so I don't clutter my main one for more in the moment inspiration, ideas, capturing voice memos, genuine journal entries, and brain dumping sessions. Anything important and actionable gets summarized with AI and transferred to my logseq daily note and can be easily tagged and backlined to where it needs to go straight from my daily page. I also use an ipad with goodnotes when I need to scribble things down and break down more complex ideas, I will also usually bring my ipad if I'm grabbing coffee with a friend which will feel and look more like I'm taking physical paper notes if there is something to recall. I would probably be using Tana instead of Logseq if it weren't for the fact that they don't have a full mobile app just yet. I've tried carrying smaller journals with me everywhere and I personally didn't enjoy that too much mostly because I also keep a gallon with me most places I go that has a sleeve that carries my wallet/keys/airpods, and it just felt like too much to be carrying at all times but I'd imagine if you have no system at all this would be light years better than letting ideas just accumilate in your head.
Personal experience with 7 may differ on person to person ot cultures. I am from Romania. Most people juat say "Do you really need to write that down" and generally seem to think lesser of it due to showcasing poor memory/forgetfulness rather than "attentiveness". (Which is true, my short term memory is next to non existant. I just jot things whenever possible to avoid having it to avoid forgetfulness and misrememberance)
Gosh. You wrote all that info down? I am grateful because I couldn't keep up with the guy. 😂
Thank you for all your writing, I really enjoyed and appreciate your comments. Gracias 🙏
Thank you so much! I made screenshots.
I love you for what you did.x
I recommend indexing. Leave two pages at the front for an index. If you do it as you go, it isn’t onerous. It also allows visible patterns to emerge.
Wow, great idea! Gonna have to try this ❤
I do this with my password notepad.
❤
I've been doing this for probably 30 years. I started using spiral notebooks, about 5.5x8 size, for work. I wasn't diagnosed with ADD until I was in my 40's, so I realize that this was my way of trying to compensate for having immediate access to so much information at any given time, and was great way to brain dump - all day long. When a notebook is full, I go back through it and transfer anything I think I'll want/need into the new notebook, and off we go. And I keep the old notebook. Everything goes into the notebook. I also realized, without realizing it, many years ago that I have to take notes in order to listen, in many cases. It just keeps me focused on what's being said. Even in church, I have to take notes on the sermon or my mind is off on who's there and who's not, people's hair, what I forgot at the grocery store, etc. The physical act of writing just helps. (I do still keep digital notes.) I write my grocery list in those notebooks - organized by classifications - bread, dairy, meat, canned, dry, etc. Our son has ADHD and dysgraphia, and writing is literally difficult for him. Fortunately, he absorbs the spoken word like a sponge, and remembers what he's read. I also keep a paper calendar to back up my digital calendar. I highly recommend the spiral notebook.
"ADHD" ... is that what we used to call "slow" ?
@@kwimms I dont know if you're trying to be rude or genuinely asking.
Point #2: agreed that this is critical for helping to ease mental energy spent in worrying and overthinking. The minute I write ✍️ something down, my mental worry lessens because I know the idea is kept safely in the journal. An "idea park" is a great phrase!
Oh gee, that’s tough. Look after your leg and hope you heal quickly. Love watching you sketching your street scapes and using different art supplies. Thanks for posting a video when you must be feeling sore. Get well soon and enjoy your new camera 💛
As a former foreign language teacher, I used to explain this “cycle” at the beginning of every year. I’ve written all my Life. I totally agree that we “think better on paper!” Does create focus. Which is why I was horrified when the schools stopped “teaching” the PRACTICE of Writing!! It’s recycling now, thank goodness🙏👍🙏👍🙏✒️✏️🖋️🖊️🖍️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ And I’ve been steadily journaling for over 28 years and have carried a small notebook in my purse for as long as I can remember. WRITE ON!
What school no longer teaches how to write? I've think this is an interesting myth.
sadly it would give me huge anxiety because I am dyslexic if it worked for you great but not everyone is the same
I agree, it creates focus, and truly helped me pass many a test👍
@@mgb5170Most work is done on computers in schools, especially at the high school level. It’s very hard to get kids to write nowadays. And ChatGPT is making it even worse.
@@mgb5170wish it was bro, mostly in the US and Canada But a lot of schools decided to prioritize typing and ship cursive all together… really messed up the kids’ education stream… hence going back, but it’s still impactful now
I already do something similar to this. I have a day to a page diary. I write my to do-list there so that I have a record of 'when' I did certain things or wrote down contact details etc. The diary also has a large grid each month for plotting and planning that I can easily write in as well. Btw. You have a great voice. Easy to listen to and you explain things really well. Subscribed. 👍🏼
I'm sitting here wondering...how to you get by with only TWO notebooks?? I have four notebooks that I use daily. LOL. I'm a writer and a stationery nerd, though, so that's where I'm coming from. ;-)
I felt this…. I have three notebooks and each ine has a different purpose 1 lyrics/song ideas 2 work/sales journal 3 my daily writing journal And each on has its own pen and i have other pens for different purposes lol
I have 7 at work right now and am buying another 2.
Same. 1.Diary/Braindump 2.Ideas 3.Inspirations 4.Planner
Same same! I have a traveler passport (the smaller one) with 3 field notes notebooks. 1) daily things to do. 2) capturing the unrelated random stuff to get it out my head, 3) a book of lists for errands like groceries, recipe ingredients, quotes, books, movies & shows, and so on. Besides that, I have an A5 notebook that sits by my work computer, and another one that sits by my personal computer. And finally another A5 that I use for journaling, discussions with my therapist, and personal growth. So that's six notebooks. Let's not talk about how many sketchbooks I have as well …
I am so glad to hear this as I have multiples as well, all turned to, or marked, where I am. Like multiple brain storage units!
I recently went on a month vacation. First time I missed a month of work in my life. Not my fault I'm from the US! Anyway, I decided to journal the trip. It's changed my life! When I got back I bought a separate journal for work. Sits on my desk and doesn't come home with me. I continue to journal in my personal note book as well. I take it to work with me because sometimes while I'm working I need to jot something down. As a result I'm much happier and more relaxed. I'm 55. Never too late!
Such a great perspective on analogue note taking!
Well done, sir! Helpful information presented concisely, with good supporting info in key places. First time viewer -> subscriber. 👍
Loved the video, mate. Been dabbling with notebooks as a 2024 resolution of mine to be more organised and less forgetful of things that need doing so this video really reinforced my intentions. Thanks man!
I buy spiral notebooks and have at least one going all the time. Each morning I write my prayer in one (keeps the mind focused) Then I copy a scripture passage,circle important parts, and write a note summary. Finally, I jot down what I want to accomplish for the day (a.m., p.m., & after supper. Glad to know others are like me and need notebooks too 😊. PS: I keep my stuff in a tote, as it’s handy and prevents that “Rats Nest” look I’d developed.😊
Gah! The ADHD rat's nests! I have them, lol! I'm trying, though!
bloody brilliant I’ve been trying the Bujo method for the last 4 months and this really is a distilled version and simpler as i’m about to start setting up a Hobonichi techno cousin for the new year i’m definitely going for another notebook thank you Joel for simplifying a serial overthinker.
I completely agree. I used to teach my university students to take actual notes and not rely on digital notes so heavily. Now I'm starting a whole reset after turning 50 with journaling and goal setting at the center of my morning routine.
Thank you for sharing your insights. yes, I am totally into note-taking, in all forms, digital, longhand, words, doodles ... life is better with notes! AND they definitely clear out your mind of all the rehearsal-loops or what I call mental rehash, and bring in fresh air. It's like giving your mind a daily bath, a daily laundry, a daily bowl-movement... I think a good hand held digital notebook and a physical notebook make a perfect combo.
Fantastic idea, I've kind of been doing this all along, but I just didn't put it in a notebook. I've been scribbling notes down on scrapes of paper. A notebook is a much better idea! ! Thank you!
I try to write everything down. I couldnt agree more with this video. Top work!
Love this concept! Thank you! ❤
I graduated at 55 yrs old with a Bachelors from a fancy school. I definitely learned that I have more of a photographic memory in my own handwritten notes.
well made video! i appreciate the organization of thoughts and topics and the way you presented. Thank you!
I take time sometimes to use a large premium notebook with unlined pages which is great for writing on reflecting, exploring... (using a free flowing gel pen), using mind maps and whatever feels appropriate (I used to use sheets of a3 paper so I felt less constrained by the page size). And I use a very small paper notebook for actions and appointments by day, for several days. It lives in my pocket for scribbling notes etc. However, when I'm back with digital tools, I like to use an ipad mini with a apple pen, with "paper like" screen cover, which makes it feel like writing on premium paper. That's for notes, planning, mind maps, concepts... I like the use of colour, icons and ability to move things on a screen. And then I can access and edit on a smaller phone for convenience. I like using a smart watch for short entries using voice input. We've got lots of options these days and it's worth experimenting to find what works best for you, when and why!
It’s why journaling is also good. A bit of purging. Clears the mind.
I have multiple digital notebooks in my ipad mini 6. I can write on each of it and can easily categorize them based on the project or topic. Great stuff!
I have three, one regular for writing letters, one I had for everything, then I got another one more for Journaling, one for language and one for Bible study which is leftover pages of a yellow legal pad lol! I use them all sporadically and the thickest I've used the most as it comes with three sections, plain, dotted and lined, but it's so thick that it can be hard to write in, so I switched to the thinner notebook.
Wow!! I feel greatful for this video Joel. I use 2 notebooks plus 1 extra for daily tasks. Also got some white papers on my desk for scribbling. Buzan's Mind Maps are very helpful as well. Thanks a lot!
Smiling cause I've got 3 notebooks. My small to-do list and quick notes one. My journal notepad for documenting my day and another one to scribble thoughts, ideas etc.
Agree,been using a similar system for some time now, apart from enjoying the tactile feel of the book and pen and using colours I enjoy, it keeps me on track. Even write my recipes down now, very disorganised but that is a handwritten task for another day. Best wishes.
This is a great idea, thank you... I have always written down birthdays, appointments etc in a yearly diary. Every New Year I buy a new one & transfer the birthdays across.. I also have a spiral notebook for shopping needs, random reminders etc. I think it maybe a bit of anxiety & once its written I feel more relaxed because I can refer back, also crossing things off is a sense of achievement somehow!
This is very well done and highly motivating! I've gone through so many waves of starting physical notebooks and switching to something digital and back and forth and all my stray thoughts and ideas are so scattered. I think I need to just commit to sticking to written notes, and the 2 book idea you have here is perfect!
Glad it's helpful!
hou could get a writable tablet and combine the two
@@CraigsOverijsedo you know how well that works?
@@davidak_de no not me but my husband has used various writable device over the years on and off and they definitely have improved
@@davidak_de works well for me. I still sometimes write on paper due to habit though. But only what I know I won't need to use later.
I have four notebooks. One is to record things that I can do sometime. One is for current activities. Including routine activities. Third is for Bible study notes. Kathy B
Very useful! I'm sharing this with my students 🙏
Great vid my friend. Lots of wonderful points, thanks for sharing!
Btw, Trouble Man is not worth saving in a notebook (I'm gonna get flamed!). Just wasn't Marvin's best.
I just stumbled upon this video and i was shocked that i am already practising this in my life, unplanned. The way i do it, one notebook for work schedule etc, and one notebook personally for journalling
Glad to see I’m not the only one with too many notebooks. Btw I have just 3. One for my ongoing coursework writing (I’m always learning something), one for all the daily tasks recording, and other is grid paper book that I use when I have to break down complicated things into logical solutions. I’m very specific about my grid notebook and always make sure to have a backup stock because the 5x5 mm is not available everywhere!
So I was trying to use digital notebooks exclusively - it felt like I was missing something. I like the idea of using both.
Yes, a combination of an A6 notebook and my Goodnotes app on my iPad that I can also access on my iPhone seems to be my sweet spot and the one system I’ve stuck to for a few years now.
I use notes on my phone.. because it’s handy Use my phone calendar for all my appointments Started using phone because I kelp misplacing my hard copy planner But I actually like having both, pen and paper, and phone because I have it with me all the time when I am not at home 🙂
This was great! Love me a good notebook!
Agreed, writing things down is best when you are in a position to stop and physically write, however, if you are on the go and there's no paper and pen to be found, a notes or journal app on your phone is helpful, just need to remember to go back to look at it once you get a chance to sit.
Totally agree!
I dearly love my Apple watch. When I'm outside working, or cooking, or driving, and need to be reminded of something later, I tell Siri to remind me. I keep her pretty busy.
As a kid in grade school (late 1940's and early 1950's) i hated physically writing, and i especially hated pencils because the script was so fuzzy. The day i learned to type (in the Army as a commo guy using a Teletype, early 1960's), i was thrilled and wanted some way to do it in my personal life. Typewriters were too clumsy and hard to carry around. Learned computer programming, which eventually led to writing programs on a monitor (mid-1970's), which was great for work, but not at home. Finally, my first PalmPilot! I was in bliss and started taking and keeping notes like crazy; ideas, thoughts, reminders, everything! Life had finally caught up with my needs/desires. Now, of course, my mobile phone provides this and so much more. Yeah, i've tried writing on paper many times, using a number of organizing methods, but it's just too messy, especially when i need to change something, and NO SIMPLE WAY TO BACK IT UP. Why would anyone do that?!?! Plus, i've moved a lot (at least compared to most people i know) and i generally got rid of stuff rather than move it, and any notebooks i'd filled up generally went into the trash, kind of like getting rid of old karma. Well, i guess it works for normal people, but i've never claimed to be "normal". Now it's so much easier to find stuff again, keep and change lists, writings, etc., and i keep at least three backups of stuff, including online and physical offsite (yeah, kind of paranoid, but i've had friends crash hard drives and lose phones as well as physical assets in housefilres; i'd keep a copy off planet if i could and thought i'd survive to access it, haha!). So, yeah, i've tried paper, and still use it, but only very occasionally, like when i'm getting info via phone, and transfer it to digital as soon as i can if i need longer storage. My wife fills notebooks like crazy, but she feels it's a memory aid, not something to reference later; we help support the spiral notebook industry. So bless alll you paper notetakers, but it's not for me unless i have no other choice.
Wow late 40's! How old are you???
@@raynoldj 82 in May. Called my oldest brother a week ago for his birthday - he's 86 now. Next older will be 84 in July, younger sister will be 80 in February. Last holdout is the baby of the family, who will only be 79. All reasonably physically and mentally healthy. Good genes matter. All meat lovers, but we've all been physically active, too, though less now, of course. Thanks for asking.
@@ralphacosta4726 Thanks for getting back to me Ralph. Most of the people I know in their 60's are not very good when it comes to digital technologies. I'm very impress with how you keep notes digitally. I'm using Google Keep to write important things I need to remember. For things that I need to do, I use Google Tasks and Google Calender. I'm using these apps because I use android (mobile phone + tablet)... And they're all FREE! Recently I started using the free version of Day One journaling app. I think it's worth it to upgrade to premium. What apps/technologies are you using these days to for a to-do-list and note taking?
I love using PalmPilot, too. No distracting element. But after smart phones provide similar functions on top of note taking, reminder, calendar etc. my notes would never be retrieved as those days. So now I switch back to paper notebook and dumb phone.
Love to know your family and story by the way.
This video just gave me permission to go to Marshall’s to buy more notebooks! 🎉😂
I’m not nuts😄 I have been doing this for a while. It works for me. I don’t need all the planners. I call mine “Daily” and “Along the way”.
Great naming of these two... How would you reference your notes for "Along the way" without spending hours or days flipping through pages one weekend, or is that what makes it all worth it, revisiting notes from the past? I'm genuinely curious... Thank you if you get to see this.. and double thanks if you reply :)
@@HenryVeraOnlineLive I date things. Then I highlight what I am talking about, like recipe for tamales, or brain dump or job or project. I just highlight the title or topic.
Thank you 🙏
Yessss...have been doing this since I was 11 and so much fun also to re-read when older .besides all the other benefits you mention.
I've just started a new notebook just for work related items, which I think will help me in remembering key points during phone calls and some objections I may not have heard, or from our team discussions about certain prospecting strategies or tactics. I've used another separate notebook though for sermon notes, which is used mainly on Sundays, but is readily accessible to review any of the notes that I've written. The Day One digital journal app is something I use also and like it very much.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I downloaded the Day One app right away after reading your comment and I think it's a great app!
I am trying to separete my personal life of my professional life. Like this to manage each one of a better way!! Thank you very much for your advices
Thank you for a helpful and inspiring video.
I use a grocery app called our groceries and converted it into a note taking app by making my various lists in it, to do, to watch, work, etc. It also lets you rearrange the lists so i can prioritize things. Not my ideal solution for idea organizing but the best i have been able to come up with. I began this after reading getting things done but i couldn't get the app he recommended because my phone is an android. Trying out plotter now for organizing ideas as a writer. I use paper but have to organize all those thoughts someway
Great references, thanks. But you left off Ryder Carrol and the bullet journal. It’s terrific because keeping an index helps you find all the notes and ideas you jot down. 😅
Double love the video mate
Love it! So well said! 🙂
Thanks Joel.
i've been thinking about having a diary/notebook. so 2024 seems like a good year to start. i know i will need 2 because i like making things (jewellery, my own clothes etc) and have lots of ideas that i save on pinterest but figuring out what project to do first can be quite haphazard. i now know sketching out ideas on a piece of paper will help me plan things out so i can be methodical and work out the best way to make something. I keeping one notebook to write down what i want do with my life/ retirement/ things i want to achieve - lose weight get fit. or even write down the crazy dreams i have at night.
I carry around a 5" x 3" Mead Memo Pad that slips into my back pocket for a quick jot down of my thoughts. Anything more fancy than the memo pad, like hardcover journals, I tend not to write in them for fear of messing them up. I put these thoughts and expand on them in Google Docs. If I’m writing a book, I’ll get enough gathered by chapter and transfer them to Microsoft Word to edit a final draft. It might seem like a lot of steps, but it works for me.
I can be like this with hardcovers - the nicer the notebook, the more 'important' I feel like my thoughts need to be to put them down. I definitely think transferring to docs is helpful for larger projects - thanks for the comment!
@@JoelSnape1 thanks for the video 🤗
I waiver between digital and paper based, sticky notes and stuff to do each day on my smart phone..But I use a note book for life stuff, have for 20 odd years now..but I will admit that Im so old, I learnt a method from my Granmother that she and my great Gran did during World War 2! They would cut up old cardboard from cereal packs etc so they could make shopping lists...AND I still do this. Every time we do the big shop, a few days before out comes the cut up cardboard...and I write things down as the days go by..also used for a timed to do list during the day. Four generations of cutting cardboard, even when I visit my Dad..he keeps a stack of cut up cardboard. ❤
Great idea!! I recycle cardboard in crafting but never thought to actually write on it. Will cut up a bunch tomorrow :)
Thank you, great video.
At 63 I have never used anything but note books and it really does my head in to be reading everything on a screen. I find I have always learnt by the connection between mind and body movement to lock information into the brain. Even as an engineer give me a full A0 drawing on paper any day. It is so much clearer when you can see the whole picture.
Yesss! ☺ I love writing by hand. When I started studying, it wasn't common for everyone to have a laptop - I always wrote by hand. That gave me a lot more structure. I mean: try sketching in your notes on your laptop or using arrows to make connections clear ... When it comes to notebooks, I used Moleskine (or Leuchtturm) for many years, but have now moved on to Travelers Notebook: I can fit several notebooks in one little book. But I also have two of them: a large one for my desk/work and one to always have with me.
Excellent advice! I like the idea of using a physical notebook to write down ephemeral daily tasks, rather than keeping an infinitely growing todo list on my computer. With the paper version, each day is a new day with a new page (or... half page, or whatever). Regarding the idea of writing things in a terse way that summarises the gist rather than mindlessly transcribing, I was looking into shorthand writing systems and discovered a very interesting method by a French "consecutive interpreter" called Jean-Francois Rozan. That type of interpretation is when someone speaks for maybe 30-60 seconds or more and the interpreter then translates the last "chunk", before the speaker continues. Rather than try to write down everything (basically impossible), he suggested some really interesting ways of representing the high level concepts with just a couple of words here and there with arrows and symbols to express common abstractions. I didn't try learning the method yet, but the examples I've seen are amazing.
>With the paper version, each day is a new day with a new page (or... half page, or whatever). This is exactly it, and really helpful. Every day I either tick my to-dos off, or cross them out because they didn't get done - then it's on to the next day.
My notebook/planner only falls into 2 categories. Plan and Log. Plan on jotters that will be trashed daily, weekly, monthly and at end of year. Log ar diaries, scrapbook for memory keeping and archive purposes. 😊
I completely agree with Joel‘s recommendation. I have found using a desk calendar with a pocket calendar beneficial when I want to to track down ideas, To do’s, and thoughts;and the benefit of having a Calendar is that I can identify the date that the idea originated from. I also keep a flip notebook (Detective type), which essentially allows me to write down random thoughts on the fly, however, the pages in the little notebook fall out. So, I’m going to discontinue using it. But yeah, I’m going with a desk size calendar along with a pocket size calendar, and I hope to capture all my thoughts, ideas, expressions and what have you for 2024.
why don't you use the digital notebook on your phone?
I used to do this with the large desk calendar. It works really well, and like you said, "I can identify the date that the idea originated from." Maybe I'll go online and purchase one. Thanks for reminding me how useful they are.🤗
Good video. I have a larger notebook that I just started using, but I also want a smaller one that I can carry around. I'll probably transfer things I want to remember or easily search for to a digital notebook
You have the same system as me! Big blank paged one for plans and projects; small leather one for notes and personal thoughts. Recommendations for music and movies and all that go into my phone into reminders app separated lists. I have thought all of this through way too much 😂
I have 2 - OneNote for project management and Remnote for learning new things (spaced repetition flashcards). If I want to draw diagrams I use either a whiteboard or a physical notebook if they're temporary, or if I want to save the drawings to use as reference in Remnote I use a tablet and draw it out using OneNote drawing tools.. Why lug around physical notebooks everywhere you go? It might work just starting out but its not going to scale and good luck searching through physical notes to find what you're looking for. The search function of digital notebooks is key.
Do you have a link for the small notebook (or for a comparable one)? Terrific content!! Keep up the good work!
Search up "A6 size notebook" for small ones. The Moleskine pocket notebook is my favorite for on-the-go. Doesn't take up much space in my pocket
I use a big diary & a small notebook. I write all sorts of my ideas, thoughts, calculations, jotting down my cluttering thoughts etc.
lovely video ❤
In college, I would write down as much of the lecture that I could. (I knew shorthand) but then when it came to studying, I would make notecards of important things. In studying for a test, I would take the notebooks and study them as I walked around the house.
"Serendipity" became one of my favorite words last year. I like writing down book notes similar to how Ryan Holiday and other KZheadrs have demonstrated over the years.
Great advice.
Design recommendation: blank A4 landscape, not only write notes but draw graphic interpretations and to further reinforce, render with coloured pencils/pens later on when re-reading. After a while, you will end up using 5 or so colours and having a personal hierarchy when underlining or a box around some annotation/comment of importance for me: red-orange-yellow; descending importance often negative, blues; neutral, greens; positive, purple; a reference to look up. Second pocket book a good move.
thank you sir. that was very helpful
Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching.
I use the pen with my iPad Mini to now write down any thoughts the come to me. I got my first iPad when it first came out and love it. I got the mini because I still take shorthand and it's the right size to take notes in both written and shorthand. I got the mini so as to not have pieces of paper scatter around I can't find later when a thought or inspiration comes when the physical notebook is not around. I can grab my iPad Mini faster than looking for a notebook or piece of paper. I save space and now don't have to find a place for many notebooks. (BTW, I use the pen not the terrible keyboard). When I want to review or save any thoughts, I then transcribe on the computer and put the thoughts in specific topic files. But I have my iPad Mini always close by unlike a notebook! Go figure!)
I have a bullet journal for my projects, ideas, future tasks, etc. and a to do list in another notebook. I don’t carry them around with me though. I also have the Notebook app on my phone.
Thanks. It is similar the system I am currently using, I just use the to do list on the small one, I think i'll change to the bigger one too, and use the small one to anotate suggestions, quick notes, like you'are doing.
i am glad to hear so many ppl deliberately have several notebooks. i thought i was being scatterbrained. thanks for the video.
Glad it was helpful!
Paper can’t be spied upon.
Hi, Joel! Please tell me, the plants in your background, what is the 2nd one from the left? I think it's lovely & want to go out & buy one. Thank you so much for your content, I've watched this video 3 times now! Think I should take notes next time... :)
A limitation of physical notebooks is handwriting. I've always had terrible handwriting, to the point I went to 'remedial' classes to prepare for final exams, though I was a top-of-the-class student all through school. One teacher called it 'doctor writing' as I think so much more quickly than I can possibly legibly write. I often scramble words. like a handwritten 'typo' and have to start again. Crossing out and correcting makes even more of a mess. Before laptops, I kept journals much of my life, and kept them in the family archive, but I can hardly read them now because of my awful handwriting. It was SUCH a relief and boon when laptops became available. I still journal and I can now read back easily rather than just throw it away. For daily lists... priorities change and 'to do' tasks expand. Digital is so much easier to keep track of these changes! Ditto shopping lists on the phone 'notes'.. just delete what you've already bought and what you still need to do is crystal clear !!
I keep index cards with me and file them in a card file according to subject. I like that they can be arranged easily 👍
Nice!
Thanks for the video. Well done
Great video! What brand is the pocket size notebook?
After struggling to put everything in one notebook, I realized I need two. One for home and one, a pocket size, in my handbag. The big one 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 is the home base, where I tranferred important info from the smaller pocketsize,
Yeah exactly! A big one and a small one! It's the way forward.
The gist of all studies dealing with memory retention is that the more senses you engage in commiting something to memory, the more likely you are to retain it.
I actually need 4. One for uni, one for work, one for daily ramblings and to-do lists and one for studying small random stuff I come across. The last one is the most interesting, because the last pages I always use as "contents" pages, to write down where in the notebook everything is.
I have 3 notebooks. My bullet journal (a very simple and messy bullet journal with no decorations at all) for tasks. A journal/diary for just throwing up nonsense on. Sometimes to processes emotions, other times to write note ideas, etc. As for my last one, it’s a catch all. So instead of pulling out my phone and going to the notes app, I pull it out and write down any dates and such that are important to organize later in my bullet journal. Each notebook I have get’s smaller in size as well. My bullet journal being the bigger one, my diary like a somewhat pocket size, and my catch all notes being the smallest of the bunch so I can fit it anywhere and take it with me. I like my small one for catch all for notes because it’s a notepad. You know those big notepads you’ve seen that folds ontop and you can rip them out? It’s like that but a really really small mini size. I write down something important and then it lets me easily rip it out of it, thus allowing me to easily write that info somewhere else like my bullet journal and then tossing that little paper away. It’s a system that works for me. I’ve also tried pre made planners and the fancy decorative bullet journals but found that they really don’t work for me. Just a notebook where I can write the weeks dates, and have enough space for todos and putting things on a schedule, and can freely skip days without wasting paper and such, is what works the best for me.
everything you have stated here is already intuitive for me. Likely a generational thing, but I disagree that it is easier or quicker to copy and paste or put something in a file on a computer. Writing lists ( okay, lots of them, everywhere ) is my preferred method. Also I like vertically displayed lists on my wall or the back of a door. Notebooks can also just involve fun colors and doodles. It is nice to see that technology has not completely won out on this one.
The desk notebook can double as a mousepad. An A5 or half letter size is usually sufficient for the job.
I actually use two midori notebooks (which have a binding that allows them to lay flat) that both fit into a hobonichi cover, one is my idea/commonplace book , the other is my task/agenda book. The two notebook system works great
I always have notebooks, at least two, one is for writing ideas notes plans for my budgets dreams goals concerns etc. The other is an undated agenda so i can fill in the months and dates and keep my life organized. I also use the notes section of my phone and my phones calendar and a Google spreadsheet lol Maybe I’m a bit hyper organized
Great video, Joel. Curious what size binder/notebook do you carry with you throughout the day?
I started drawing 5 years ago , then studied art and design . I have random notes / ideas / shopping lists . I never go out without a sketchbook . Turns out I'm dyslexic and have eye stress which is why I prefer lineless or any coloured notebook paper . Whatever works for you !
Are you from around Coventry? Just wondering. Thanks for the useful video!
I need a pocket sized notebook that is spiral but also has a sturdier cover. It's a lot easier to take a note with the book on my knee when I don't also need to hold it open with the other hand.
Notice that quite few folks worry about writing down stuff and it being read. I started doing 'morning pages' (check it out on youtube) and decided to get a tablet. That way i can secure what i write. I also got a 'paper' screensaver so when using my stylus to write its pretty close to a paper feel.
I use a divided spiral notebook. With 5 or 6 sections, I can use one section for tasks, one for finances, projects, shopping, etc..... Just one book works better than several laying around.
Best version of the iPad ever and to easily upgrade
Bingo 😊 thanks
At 3:50. "ideas park." Excellent Greek word for that: chrestomathy "useful learning."