This pocket notebook is transforming my mental clarity

As you may know, I carry a pocket notebook everywhere with me. Why? It helps me increase my mental clarity. I used to think that mental clarity came after accomplishing goals, or achievements when I could finally slow down and think. I've come to the conclusion that mental clarity actually comes from selectively slowing down in specific areas of our life. That is what the pocket notebook helps me do.

Just like driving slowly, you notice your surroundings more, a pocket notebook gives me the ability to slow down at any time and notice what is flying past me. I specifically use this in the areas of problem-solving, creative brainstorming, and processing information.

Mental clarity 0:00-2:00
Problem Solving 2:00-3:16
Creative Brainstorming 3:16-3:58
Processing Information 3:58-5:55
How to start using a pocket notebook 5:55-7:23

Thanks for stopping by my channel where we focus our energy on self-improvement, productivity, and making the best possible versions of ourselves. Obviously, this is not attainable, which is kind of the point. Never stop growing and improving. Most of what we cover are personal lessons that I have learned, as I don't have the authority to speak for others, but just my personal experiences. Below we have a discord server where you can message me, there is my gear, and also my website. Thanks again for watching!

#productivity
#selfhelp
#selfimprovement
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Did I forget anything?

[GabeLM]

You inspired me to buy a notebook to write and draw instead of scrolling endlessly. It cleared my mind, and now I find myself with a pencil in my hand instead of on Instagram. The people's reactions when I pull it out of my pocket mid conversation is hilarious!

[the_eerie_faerie_tales]

My coworkers lightly make comments about the fact that I don't do everything digitally like them and instead I write everything down first, then transfer only what I need to digitally .. it has no bearing on what they do so it shouldn't matter anyway. I'll never stop using pen and paper!

[grantmiller]

Beware, I carry...a notebook. I love how my notebook has no ads and requires no premium subscription.

[Boop-beep-bap]

I started using pocket notebook after watching your video. Someday I just wrote grocery list, then slowly i started mental dumping like a rant . Somedays there were just sketches of eyes, lots and lots of eyes.
After finishing the diary i noticed that I loved my own company and spent less time on social media, with 45 mins of YouTube only...i had extra 3 hours for myself. And I have 3 kids, i never used to get time for myself. Thank you so much for the video xo

[audreyplayz]

My parents bought- 5 of those tiny notebooks a few years back, and my dad would take them with him when he went Lyft driving as a side job, writing down interesting conversations he'd had after it happened. I always thought that was really cool of him, and then I saw your video on it, so I dug through our junk drawer and found one of those many notebooks and I now carry it around with me. Instead of scrolling through TikTok for hours, I write down ideas and draw little doodles mindlessly in my notebook. Thank you for the huge inspiration to help shorten my screentime. Usually, on a high day, my screen time would be at least 5+ hours per day. Now, it's down to currently one. Although I still do have a digital life with my pc (which I still use sparingly, like you said, there's some things that your computer can do way better than the notebook can, so-) and I also feel like with the notebook, I'm a lot more social. On the internet, you'd see me looking down at my phone almost all day, you'd never be able to catch my attention. But now, I'd probably be the one talking to the person, trying to get their attention. All I wanted to say, was thank you. You're awesome, I'm so glad you've shared your notebook experience with the internet.

[Misiex]

I use my phone for hours, but after watching this video. You have inspired me to buy a pocket notebook, and surprisingly I never use my phone anymore! Which is strange to say but it’s true! My mental health has been getting better just from a notebook. Thank you so much!

[xenoshadowmorph]

Yes, I started doing this after coming across your channel and the little notebook video. Went out and got one (OH and I found a 3 pack of those little notebooks at dollar tree for $1.25 if you need another place to find them.).I've found that I have just been writing down my thoughts but sometimes ideas. I go back and review at end of day. More than anything it has kept me motivated and driven me to keep learning. I started doing this last week and I have found that at the end of the day my phone battery is almost full so I am spending less time on scrolling which was also a big goal - less time on social media. Thank you for doing these videos ❤.

[bca-]

I've also started carrying around a little notebook after seeing that video you did! Something I didn't expect it to do, which it has started doing, is serving as a menmonic for me to not go on my phone. Even just catching sight of its pale purple cover reminds me of my decision to cut my phone time down :)

[essaysbyken]

It sounds counterintuitive but being able to "slow down instantly" (as said around 7:04) is the new superpower of this era. And yes, manually writing ideas down not only forces one to slow their speed of ascent to a sustainable level but the act also implants the idea deeper into our minds for subconscious processing.

[kathydent]

Thanks for this. It made me realise how terrible it must be to be young. I'm going to try to be more forgiving when young people seem to be so dumb. I grew up in a world where everyone had 'mental clarity' all the time and so I am vigilant about not letting any devices act like they're smarter than me. That means making sure my phone doesn't access the internet, except when I tell it to. I also block ads, don't allow alerts about emails or social media, don't pay for any subscriptions and never link accounts across different platforms. I found you by chance because I am, in fact, always going at the speed where I can notice trees and people holding up little notebooks. I also pretty much think 'fuck productivity' most of the time. This is what it's like to come from the 20th century. Good luck in the future. I'm sorry that some of my generation taught too many of your generation to disregard the trees. That was wrong.

[DaltonHBrown]

I went and bought a pack of 3 pocket notebooks like this and that very night I had a dream where I was journaling. I've carried it the past two days and have brought it up to a couple coworkers, one of who seem intrigued the other mentioned that he already regularly journals.
I've tried to do regular journaling before, but neve formed the habit. Being able to carry it with me like this is great because I can force myself to make it a habit.
Doesn't even have to be important notes, just anything. I jotted down a short poem today with waiting at the dentist.
"roses are red,
Violets are blue.
I gotta get a crown set today.
Booo! 👎"

...I dont like going to the dentist if you couldn't tell.

[smileyginger]

I had seen MANY journal videos before, but your last one really stuck with me for some reason. I've always preferred writing lists and notes to using digital options. As someone who is a ruminator, I've started writing down those sudden thoughts or feelings (especially negative ones) in my little notebook instead of sitting and gnawing on them like bone. Oddly enough, I've found that just getting these particular thoughts OUT of my brain helps to make space in my head to focus on other things. Then I can go back to the notebook to ask if that thought, feeling or idea is worth exploring more fully or if it was something transient that just needed to be released instead of carried around.

[HumblebeeAndMe]

I bought a wee notebook last week after watching your video and I'm already loving it for ideation & brainstorming vs. my phone. Thank you!

[markin_mask]

i started doing this as well after watching your previous video and IT IS LIFE CHANGING! i really feel great being aware of my thoughts emotions i also realised that so many of us are nowadays just thinking what the internet or social media wants us to think and how dangerous it can be, i'll continue this journey forever it truly is liberating and thank you for making these videoes.

[marinamartinez]

Excellent post Austin! Think Michelangelo. I hope a lot of people will watch this. 👍👍👍

[viktorp]

I tried this and it really helps, unlike most other journaling tips on youtube. I have 2 notebooks. One of them I spam with thoughts, tasks, good things I did, as well as things I didn't do.

At the end of the day, I transfer that data into another notebook, which I take care of more. In general, I procrastinate a lot less, and remember my tasks, as I transfer the ones I don't complete today, to another day, making sure I don't forget them, but still keeping them organized and not as a mental weight.

[alessandrobourke]

Man you hit the nail on the head I dont know how you do it but everything about your 2 videos on notebooks have been pitch perfect honestly. Thank you so much for helping people join the Paper revolution.

[ianrios]

I started carrying around a tony notebook again after your last video about it. I used to do it in college and it helped me a lot to keep up in school. I don't know why I stopped doing it but I'm back on it and it has helped a ton in the last 2 months.

[TheYoda]

I have watched and rewatched your last pocket journal video. Journaling works and taking little steps, moves me forward, so much more than I thought it would. Many little steps equal many steps forward. Thank you!

[marchingmatters]

I found a pocket notebook while cleaning/purging things from my house. Because I saw your first video I started to carry it daily. Currently I use it document gratitude, make to do lists and plans for the future. I look forward to continuing this habit.