Use Two Notebooks, Change Your Life

Using one notebook is great, using two is even better. Here's why!

[FlowCreators]

1. **Handwriting for Better Memory**:
Writing things down by hand can enhance memory retention. Studies show higher brain activity when recalling handwritten information. This process involves more complex spatial information, aiding memory.

2. **Clearing Your Brain**:
Using a notebook helps offload thoughts and tasks, reducing mental clutter. This follows David Allen's "Getting Things Done" concept, allowing the brain to focus on current tasks without being burdened by constant reminders.

3. **Thinking Better on Paper**:
Physical writing helps in organizing and visualizing ideas better than digital means. It encourages creating a visual map of thoughts and prioritizing tasks, leading to more effective thinking and planning.

4. **Focusing on Important Tasks**:
Writing by hand forces distillation of ideas, focusing on the essentials. It also minimizes digital distractions, encouraging deeper focus on the task at hand.

5. **Creating an Ideas Park**:
Having a space in your notebook for non-priority thoughts or ideas, like a commonplace book or an "ideas park, " encourages creativity and serendipity. It's a place to jot down future project ideas or interesting concepts.

6. **Centralizing Information**:
Keeping all notes and ideas in one notebook ensures they are not lost in digital clutter. This centralized system makes it easier to revisit and connect different ideas.

7. **Using Notebooks for Social Interaction**:
Writing down recommendations or ideas from others in a notebook during conversations can strengthen social bonds and show genuine interest.

8. **Two-Notebook System**:
Utilize two notebooks - a larger one for daily tasks and notes, and a smaller one for personal ideas, recommendations, and miscellaneous thoughts. This system helps in organizing and separating work-related tasks from personal ideas and inspirations.

By implementing these strategies, one can improve memory, focus, creativity, organization, and even social interactions.

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This is the first video from your channel I've come across, just subscribed. Lot's of sound advice. Although I personally use a Logseq Daily Page to catch all of my ideas with interstitial journaling, this video still really resonates. Since logseq is like my first digital journal then Day One app on my iPhone is my second digital journal so I don't clutter my main one for more in the moment inspiration, ideas, capturing voice memos, genuine journal entries, and brain dumping sessions. Anything important and actionable gets summarized with AI and transferred to my logseq daily note and can be easily tagged and backlined to where it needs to go straight from my daily page. I also use an ipad with goodnotes when I need to scribble things down and break down more complex ideas, I will also usually bring my ipad if I'm grabbing coffee with a friend which will feel and look more like I'm taking physical paper notes if there is something to recall. I would probably be using Tana instead of Logseq if it weren't for the fact that they don't have a full mobile app just yet.

I've tried carrying smaller journals with me everywhere and I personally didn't enjoy that too much mostly because I also keep a gallon with me most places I go that has a sleeve that carries my wallet/keys/airpods, and it just felt like too much to be carrying at all times but I'd imagine if you have no system at all this would be light years better than letting ideas just accumilate in your head.

[shelleycharlesworth]

Great video. I'm a senior and have loved to write things down all my life. For last 10 years I have used 3 notebooks. One I keep on my desk for daily tasks and a small one for my purse and the 3rd on my nightstand which I call my “paper psychiatrist”.
I write about my fears, joys worries accomplishments.

[MattWatsonHarmonica]

I recently went on a month vacation. First time I missed a month of work in my life. Not my fault I'm from the US! Anyway, I decided to journal the trip. It's changed my life! When I got back I bought a separate journal for work. Sits on my desk and doesn't come home with me. I continue to journal in my personal note book as well. I take it to work with me because sometimes while I'm working I need to jot something down. As a result I'm much happier and more relaxed. I'm 55. Never too late!

[lizziebkennedy]

I recommend indexing. Leave two pages at the front for an index. If you do it as you go, it isn’t onerous. It also allows visible patterns to emerge.

[MrUndersolo]

I actually got a job because of stationery.
I was in Tokyo, teaching ESL. I would go to a café to write and a girl saw me making notes. She invited me to a party and I met an editor with The Japan Times. They published a review of mine.
Yeah, I carry around a notebook...or four.

[dmmchugh]

Point #2: agreed that this is critical for helping to ease mental energy spent in worrying and overthinking. The minute I write ✍️ something down, my mental worry lessens because I know the idea is kept safely in the journal.
An "idea park" is a great phrase!

[malenadoty]

I've been doing this for probably 30 years. I started using spiral notebooks, about 5.5x8 size, for work. I wasn't diagnosed with ADD until I was in my 40's, so I realize that this was my way of trying to compensate for having immediate access to so much information at any given time, and was great way to brain dump - all day long. When a notebook is full, I go back through it and transfer anything I think I'll want/need into the new notebook, and off we go. And I keep the old notebook. Everything goes into the notebook. I also realized, without realizing it, many years ago that I have to take notes in order to listen, in many cases. It just keeps me focused on what's being said. Even in church, I have to take notes on the sermon or my mind is off on who's there and who's not, people's hair, what I forgot at the grocery store, etc. The physical act of writing just helps. (I do still keep digital notes.) I write my grocery list in those notebooks - organized by classifications - bread, dairy, meat, canned, dry, etc. Our son has ADHD and dysgraphia, and writing is literally difficult for him. Fortunately, he absorbs the spoken word like a sponge, and remembers what he's read. I also keep a paper calendar to back up my digital calendar. I highly recommend the spiral notebook.

[JulieTrelstadbooks]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

00:00 📓 *Using a notebook can have a profound impact on your life, as many influential people have benefited from it throughout history.*
00:27 🖋️ *Writing things down by hand can enhance memory and cognitive processing compared to typing or dictating.*
01:35 🧠 *Clearing your mind by writing down tasks and thoughts in a notebook allows your brain to focus on more important matters, reducing the rehearsal loop.*
02:46 📝 *Pen and paper help you get ideas out of your head, providing a physical space to visualize and prioritize them, aiding in better idea processing.*
03:29 🚀 *A notebook can serve as an "ideas park" where you jot down concepts, quotes, or thoughts that don't fit into your current priorities, fostering serendipity and creativity.*
04:41 📖 *A notebook is an ideal place for creating a "watch-read-hear" list of books, movies, and music recommendations, making it easier to keep track of them.*
05:52 📝 *Writing down recommendations in a notebook shows that you take them seriously and can help strengthen relationships.*
06:06 📆 *Consider using two notebooks: one for daily tasks and notes, and a smaller one for miscellaneous ideas, recommendations, and creative pursuits.*

Made with HARPA AI

[MindfulMorningReflections]

I completely agree. I used to teach my university students to take actual notes and not rely on digital notes so heavily. Now I'm starting a whole reset after turning 50 with journaling and goal setting at the center of my morning routine.

[luludiamond]

As a former foreign language teacher, I used to explain this “cycle” at the beginning of every year. I’ve written all my Life. I totally agree that we “think better on paper!” Does create focus. Which is why I was horrified when the schools stopped “teaching” the PRACTICE of Writing!! It’s recycling now, thank And I’ve been steadily journaling for over 28 years and have carried a small notebook in my purse for as long as I can remember. WRITE ON!

[dameanvil]

00:22 💡 Benefits of using a notebook include improved memory retention compared to digital methods.
01:29 🧠 Writing things down allows you to clear your mind and reduce cognitive load.
02:28 📝 Pen and paper aid in better thinking and idea generation compared to digital mediums.
03:30 💡 Having an "ideas park" or a place to jot down miscellaneous thoughts fosters creativity and prevents forgetting important ideas.
04:45 👫 Using a notebook can help build relationships by showing others that you take their suggestions seriously.
06:03 📓 Utilizing two notebooks—one for daily tasks and one for miscellaneous notes and ideas—can enhance productivity and organization.

[OprahCoco]

Smiling cause I've got 3 notebooks. My small to-do list and quick notes one. My journal notepad for documenting my day and another one to scribble thoughts, ideas etc.

[emmsue]

This is a great idea, thank you... I have always written down birthdays, appointments etc in a yearly diary. Every New Year I buy a new one & transfer the birthdays across.. I also have a spiral notebook for shopping needs, random reminders etc. I think it maybe a bit of anxiety & once its written I feel more relaxed because I can refer back, also crossing things off is a sense of achievement somehow!

[regenaguinn]

I buy spiral notebooks and have at least one going all the time.
Each morning I write my prayer in one (keeps the mind focused)
Then I copy a scripture passage, circle important parts, and write a note summary.
Finally, I jot down what I want to accomplish for the day (a.m., p.m., & after supper.

Glad to know others are like me and need notebooks too 😊.

PS: I keep my stuff in a tote, as it’s handy and prevents that “Rats Nest” look I’d developed.😊

[lipingfeng]

Thank you for sharing your insights. yes, I am totally into note-taking, in all forms, digital, longhand, words, doodles ... life is better with notes! AND they definitely clear out your mind of all the rehearsal-loops or what I call mental rehash, and bring in fresh air. It's like giving your mind a daily bath, a daily laundry, a daily bowl-movement... I think a good hand held digital notebook and a physical notebook make a perfect combo.

[nickhumphries]

At 63 I have never used anything but note books and it really does my head in to be reading everything on a screen. I find I have always learnt by the connection between mind and body movement to lock information into the brain. Even as an engineer give me a full A0 drawing on paper any day. It is so much clearer when you can see the whole picture.

[MrsPink]

I’m not nuts😄 I have been doing this for a while. It works for me. I don’t need all the planners. I call mine “Daily” and “Along the way”.

[carolinemccormack]

bloody brilliant I’ve been trying the Bujo method for the last 4 months and this really is a distilled version and simpler as i’m about to start setting up a Hobonichi techno cousin for the new year i’m definitely going for another notebook thank you Joel for simplifying a serial overthinker.

[jamesbriggs]

I have four notebooks. One is to record things that I can do sometime. One is for current activities. Including routine activities. Third is for Bible study notes.
Kathy B

[simpsfitlife]

Loved the video, mate. Been dabbling with notebooks as a 2024 resolution of mine to be more organised and less forgetful of things that need doing so this video really reinforced my intentions. Thanks man!