Organizational Rediscovery

I recently rediscovered a tool that has been around longer than any piece of technology that I own, but that I completely forgot about. I am normally the early adopter, the person pushing for new gadgets that change your life, but this is something decidedly low-tech. Despite this, using it has changed my life. The tool: the simple notebook.

That’s right, I went to the shops and purchased a nice suede covered notebook, and have been using it for everything. Jotting down small to-do lists, ideas for different projects, notes on the day’s meetings, directions on how to get to places I need to be, everything. This notebook has now become an integral part of the way I work, and I take it everywhere. I don’t think any other purchase of something to help organize my life has had this kind of impact on me in some time.

All this is not to say that I will be forgoing Microsoft Outlook and the smartphones I use every day though, for the simple notebook is still inferior for time management applications like Outlook’s calendar and such. I still make use of digital to-do lists as well, as so far I am yet to find a way to synchronize my notebook with my work’s groupware. The to-do lists on my PC/smartphone are more longer-term lists though, with the notebook being utilized for things I am doing right at that moment.

I implore everyone to reassess his or her use of technology for this kind of thing and see whether it is actually helping or hindering you. There is still a place for applications like OneNote in my life, but for the simpler things, I am in love with my notebook.

February 11, 2007 2 Comments , , , , , , , ,

  • carcomptoy

    The notebook/notepad is definitely nice when needing to jot down random stuff…makes it more real and pressing I think.

  • http://jack-of-all-tradez.blogspot.com Richard Querin

    Hey Brad,

    I’ve been using a hardcover notebook for the past several months for jotting down ideas. I use another one for work related site visits and notes.
    However for organizing my tasks, I have found that the plain text based todo.txt system first described on Lifehacker.com is the only one I’ve stuck with for any significant length of time (and I’ve tried and given up on lots of others before). It’s simple and does just what I need. It even has it’s own site now (http://todotxt.com/).

    Funny how sometimes things come full circle.