I have written about notebooks before on my blog, specifically my calendar journals here and here. I’m surprised, however, that I’ve never discussed my three notebook system for writing and staying organized.
At any given time, I always have three notebooks going. One is the aforementioned calendar journal, which contains enough space for me to jot the important happenings of each day of the year. I’ve been keeping a calendar journal for decades now, so I have quite a history built up of my adult life.
Another notebook I keep is a small one just for To-Do lists and sundry random notes. I like this size for carrying around on errands. Because so much of my To-Do list isn’t really attached to specific days, I don’t need a calendar for this. The small notebook isn’t special and allows me to cross things off as I accomplish them or carry over items from one list to the next as a list gets mostly finished and messy.
The third notebook I keep is larger, ideally lined, and undated. In this notebook, I keep writing and art ideas and longer journal entries. I don’t follow a daily writing practice, like Julia Cameron’s “Morning Pages” in this notebook. Instead, I write in it when I feel like it. I have used mostly school notebooks and some proper journals for this. I have preferred school notebooks because they aren’t precious (50 cents each!), so I’m not afraid to scribble and make them ugly. In the past year, I have repurposed a nicer looking thick journal with a black, padded cover from a failed health journal into my idea journal and that has worked surprisingly well. I somehow overcame my fear of messing up a nice journal and have almost filled it in a little over a year. I thought it would take longer.
I know that Bullet Journals have been a thing for a while, but I don’t have time to keep a tidy, beautifully-designed journal. I certainly appreciate the efforts of those who do, however. Oh, to have gorgeous, swirly handwriting and lovely, colorful pages! But, the point of my three notebook system isn’t a finely-crafted end product. It’s to capture ideas before they flit away, focus my thoughts, and organize my life. I’ve gotta be able to set aside neatness for that.
I have a similar three notebook system for work, as well. While I have a Microsoft Outlook calendar to keep track of meetings and events, I also keep a calendar notebook to track the same meetings and events. This allows me to check what’s coming up in the week ahead without turning on my work computer. It also helps me track phone calls and other notes that aren’t convenient to put in my Outlook calendar.
I have a small To-Do notebook and a larger notebook for keeping meeting notes and work-related ideas. Yes, I actually take handwritten notes of meetings at work. I used to take official meeting minutes, so this is a continuation of that habit. It helps me better remember what was discussed, and the notes have come in handy when others have questions about what happened at a particular meeting.
Aside from loving notebooks because I am a writer, I keep notebooks because it’s a way to stay in touch with the analog world … my way of “touching grass,” as the kids these days like to say.
Erik and I watched what seemed to be an AI-generated video* last night about the people who like to ride motorcycles, even though they are always being told how unsafe it is. The main point the video made was that riding motorcycle requires a person to be fully present, their mind and body focused and engaged in the world to stay safe. The melding of rider and cycle creates embodied cognition, with the body reacting instantly to the constantly changing conditions of the road.
We all spend so much time on our computers or phones that we need time to engage again with the physical world. Motorcycling provides this experience for those who like to ride (like Erik). For me, writing in notebooks provides it. I just think better with a notebook and pen.
What do you do to stay in touch with the physical world? Are you a notebook or motorcycle person? Or something else entirely?
*Y’all, while AI-generated videos are getting better, we can still tell they are AI. The misspelled words, like “embodied” in the video we watched, plus the inconsistent but strangely repetitive imagery are dead giveaways. As is that AI-generated voice that sounds like it never has an emotion beyond a placid neutrality. The AI needs to get out there and touch some grass. Lol!
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My way of “touching grass” as you put it is more in touching dirt. My summer activity of vegetable gardening. Also just sitting outside and listening to the sounds of Spring’s arrival. Love that sound!
Joan, vegetable gardening is the original “touching grass”! You’ve long been practicing what some kids are just figuring out. 🙂
There should be a world for “fear of messing up a nice journal”. Surely it’s a universal feeling. I too am a fan of paper notebooks. When it comes to remembering things or planning things out, it really is the better technology. It’s so easy to turn directly to a specific notes page or take in next month’s events when looking at a physical notebook. All the digital storage is searchable but gets lost in the bottomless pit making it very hard to orient oneself with things. While my planner is also paper, my calendar is digital. The sharing features for that are too important. Hope more folks read your posts and sprinkle in more analog in their lives.
Trav – Yes, there really should be a word for “fear of messing up a nice journal.” I bet some culture has that word, and when we discover it, we should adopt it. I’d like to adopt the Canadian term “keener,” which is someone who likes to learn things.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on keeping physical notebooks. 🙂
Mary,
What a treat to find this lovely post today, on its first day even! I stumbled upon a link to your four finger sunset “clock”, written on the 40th anniversary of my second daughter’s birth day (as if you needed to know). I like your simple writing style and your interest in the everyday so I’m exploring your site.
As a huge fan of cheap notebooks, I instantly bonded with your practical ideas and love of the analogue. I had a notebook for everything from travel plans and business, to anxiety notes for getting to the root of unexpected emotions.
Coincidentally, just hours ago I was surprisingly proud of myself for writing a cheque, a small note and an envelope legibly enough to serve its purpose. At the same time I was thinking how many of us take for granted the simple act of writing something down and that, at any point in time, could lose that ability like I did at 72 years.
I hope you have many years of writing in your future. Thank you for the smiles.
Pamela – Thanks so much for your kind words! I’m glad you stumbled upon my blog and connected to the sunset clock that was posted on your daughter’s birthday.
Congratulations on being able to write a cheque, note, and envelope! We do have a tendency to take everyday skills for granted.
I remember my grandmother getting older and having difficulty with handwriting. She took a lot of pride in her handwriting, probably because learning it was stressed when she was in school, so she was upset when it got messier as she aged. Eventually, she ended up with Alzheimer’s and could no longer write at all.
The older I get, the more I find myself appreciating when my body works as it is supposed to. Hopefully, it will stay that way for many, many more years, but there are no guarantees.
Thanks for reading!