Everyone Should Have a Pocket Notebook

The case for an old school tool in our modern world.

In today’s world there are copious amounts of handheld, electronic devices that can perform almost any conceivable task. I own devices like this. I also own a pocket notebook. But if smartphones and other devices are so powerful, what’s the point of carrying around a notebook?

Notebooks are awesome tools and let me illustrate 6 reasons why:

1. Note taking — any time a quick note is needed a pocket notebook is a great resource to have. When a vital piece of information comes your way, pull out your notebook and jot it down.
2. Writing To-do Lists — I don’t know about you, but forming an agenda on a screen doesn’t work well for me. The list will get typed up and then mentally lost in the shuffle with all the other applications and windows I have open. There is a much greater connection to the to-do list when it is physically written out.
3. Solving Equations — calculators and computers are great, but when trying to think through math problems, it can be exceeding helpful to write it down.
4. Drawing and Sketching — nothing better for sketching than a piece of paper and a writing implement.
5. Scrap paper — when in person, getting a message to someone on scrap paper is quicker and easier than e-mail, text messaging or social media.
6. Journal writing — pen and paper give a much more intimate connection with the written word than anything typed into a machine. If you have a thought, idea or feeling you need to get off your chest, your pocket notebook will always be handy.

My Trusty Pocket Notebook

While the uses of notebooks and electronic devices are by no means mutually exclusive, there are some pure benefits of using paper over power. Still not convinced? Ponder these questions:

Ever feel like you need to unplug and disconnect? Pretty tough to do when the whole internet is in your pocket. When you need to be alone, to reset your mind, put your phone away and head outside. It will be just you alone with your thoughts, because that’s all you’ll find in your personal notebook.

What happens when you have no access to power? One of the awesome benefits of a notebook is that there is no battery, nothing to plug in — It needs no further input than ink and your mind. You can take it anywhere, and it is always accessible.

Have you every typed something, and forgot it immediately thereafter? When we type, it is very easy to be disconnected to what is written. This is not the same for the hand-written word. There is a much greater connection. You will remember things better if they are physically written down.

Have you ever felt the pain of a lost or broken device? Let’s face it, smartphones, laptops and tablets are costly. When they become lost or destroyed a feeling of anxiety presents itself when you think about replacing it. It could be anywhere from a $100 to over a thousand dollars needed to replace the device. Cost of replacing a pocket notebook? A few bucks.

Harmony

The good news is you don’t have to choose between a pocket notebook and newer technology — why not have the best of both worlds? Here are some tips that I have found helpful:

• Create a to-do list in your pocket notebook, then type it into your device so it’s accessible in multiple places.
• Use your notebook to jot down quick notes and ideas. Take those thoughts and flesh them out in more detail on an electronic medium.
• I like using my notebook for “brain vomit.” Any idea I have goes into the notebook. Later in the day I review my ideas, and after sometime to let them mellow, I choose which are keepers. Ideas I like go into my Evernote where they can be preserved until I’m ready to act.

Choosing a Pocket Notebook

There are so many different types of notebooks out there, to choose the right one you really need to know how and why you’re using it.

• If you think you’ll be doing a lot of writing in long-hand, I would recommend something that’s a good size; it can be difficult to write a lot in a small notebook.
• For someone who needs frequent access and jots down a lot of quick notes, something small and easily portable is a good idea.
• You can get a notebook for as cheap as a dollar or less, but keep in mind that this notebook will be with you most times and will see frequent use. Spend at least a few dollars more to get something of quality. It won’t do you any good if it’s falling apart.

The notebook I use is pictured above and I quite like it. I picked it up for about $5 dollars somewhere. Are you using a notebook now? I’d like to hear about how it makes your life easier — Tweet me @WT_Bentley or @ProductiveSelf.

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