How I take daily notes at work and thinking about reusable notebooks
I have a system I've been using since 2019 for taking notes at work.
I use an Arc notebook that I got from Staples that has refillable pages. It's a customizable system, so I can remove pages and insert them elsewhere in the book by simply pulling out the sheet. It’s really nice! I’ve had the same notebook for 5 years now.
I mainly use my notebook for meeting notes, notes from calls and notes about projects I'm working on. I also like to use a Pentel Energel 0.5mm in blue as my default pen.
Everyday I open up my 8-½” x 5-½” arc notebook and insert the day:
And then for every project or meeting that I'm currently working on I add a sequence number and a title/subject and start writing. If I change focus and start working on another subject/project/meeting, I will add a sequence number with the title and continue from there.
Some of those notes will generate new next actions, which I add an asterix or arrow so that I remember to capture those into my Nirvana inbox during my shutdown routine at the end of the day.
The notebook will hold 50 pages at a time, and when they are all filled up, I pull them out, and refill the notebook with new pages that I get from Staples.
I then scan all the written pages into a PDF and save the file. At the end of the year I will have around 350-400 pages scanned. Then I recycle the paper copies.
These are all the notes from 2023:
Thinking about Reusable Notebooks
After 5+ years of doing this, I can see the amount of paper I generate! I feel bad about using that much paper, honestly. That’s not even considering the paper I use for time blocking every day, and personal notes.
I'm curious to try out a reusable notebook, so I ordered a Rocketbook! I will try the 6” x 8.8” Fusion (Executive size, like my current notebook) because I'm super curious to see how it works! And to know if I will enjoy writing on it.
It should be delivered later today, so I will write a post about my first impressions once I’ve used it for a while.
P.S.: Wow! This is the 100th post since I started the #100DaysToOffload challenge!! 🥳
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Post 100/100 of 100DaysToOffload challenge!
#100DaysToOffload #100Days #notes #GTD #Productivity
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By Noisy Deadlines
Minimalist in progress, nerdy, introvert, skeptic. I don't leave without my e-reader.