Although I have mentioned in previous articles, such as the one about the self-care app Finch, that I have never really been one to journal or keep a notebook, I have recently found myself with one anyway. Even though I still feel like writing about my life can be boring, it’s a good way to keep myself away from the screen and help me be more aware of my goals and any matters at hand. I am currently using an Amazon Basics black notebook to write in – I prefer this type of notebook with a bookmark and elastic band as opposed to spiral notebooks. It feels like it is more private that way, and it is quite small, which is perfect for my handwriting.
I wanted to share what I keep a notebook for, other than documenting my daily life, and how it helps me with planning and organization. In order to keep things tidy, I actually split my notebook into two parts down the middle: the first half is dedicated to writing and reflection, with the second part is for “brain dumping” and general to-dos.
I still use Finch for routine tasks that I know need to be done every day – make the bed, tidy up the living room, make sure the kitchen and bathroom are clean every night, but for the more mundane things, such as “marinate the chicken for dinner tonight” or “make a list of questions for my doctor’s appointment” are tasks I feel like I might forget if they are stored on my phone. Having them written out in front of me makes me remember to do them.
Academic commitments and deadlines, on the other hand, are stored in my planner, along with a schedule of classes and extracurriculars. It might be confusing to not lump all of what I need to do together, but I find it easier to separate my school and personal life that way.
“Brain dumping,” or just letting myself write out whatever I’m thinking of at the time, is crucial for organizing projects that might have multiple steps in it. What do I want to focus on first? Is there a particular way I want to approach it? At the end of my thinking process, I might have a lot of ideas crossed out or have drawn arrows in different places to convey where they really need to go, and it might seem a bit messy – but again, just like with my personal to-dos, writing it down on paper and giving myself some time to think really helps me.Â
Ultimately, I don’t know if I would be able to manage anything other than school or extracurricular notes digitally – something about typing and not really thinking about what I am typing makes me gloss over what I need to do. I find that using a combination of Finch and a notebook for self-care, accountability, and creativity, is the best solution for me. It can be really nice to not need your phone or computer for every single thing, and it can help improve your memory too. Thanks for reading!