Not that long ago, I was terrible at taking notes. It felt like I had so many ideas, yet I never was able to hold onto them. As soon as they came, they would fly away from my grasp just as quickly.
That changed when I started making rigorous efforts to keep my notes in an organized, ready-to-capture system, and began reviewing them on a nightly basis.
This is what that system looks like after much refinement and error.
Those that create more, create more #
I will preface this piece with this little piece of advice: This is the thing that I am coming to see once more - the more I write, the more I write. Writer’s block is created by not creating. The less you create, well, so too will you output.
This is the secret to those that are creative: they are creating all the time.
My system #
My capture system is actually four separate points of capture that allow me to grab ideas, notes and writing with as little latency as possible.
They are (in order of always on my person to least on my person but most powerful)
- A Sony Voice recorder
- My phone for “note to self” in Signal
- Supernote Nomad Notebook
- My laptop running emacs
The Recorder #
I always carry my Sony voice recorder, as it is the smallest, easiest way to take notes and capture when on the go. There is next to no friction to record ideas to it - simply pull it out, turn it on and hit record. When I’m driving or out walking, I can easily activate the recorder, take a note, and shut it off. I use it multiple times a day.
I could always use the recorder on my phone, but this device’s recording quality is leaps and bounds above the phone, and it is so small and weighs nothing - so it finds its way into my pocket. The only place I don’t carry it is the gym.
In the evening, I plug the recorder into the usb port on my computer, play my recordings back at 3x speed, and make notes in emacs for actionable tasks, ideas, or notes that I want to keep.
My phone and notes to self #
I am a phone disrespecter, but the fact that the phone is with me very often (less so these days as the recorder is my main capture device when out and about) makes it a fine candidate for capturing ideas/notes/todos on the fly.
I simply use signal’s note to self, send myself a message, and review that evening if there is anything to put into action or to keep for posterity.
Supernote Nomad #
I have wanted to get back into writing with pen and paper for some time, but in traveling, one can’t do so easily without losing notes, having notebooks get damaged, and the fact is they take up space and weigh something.
The Supernote completely alleviates all of these concerns, and is truly a great device.
I love writing in a distraction free environment, I love the look of handwriting, and I am able to “flow” better with this method of input. It has been life altering to write every day with my hand, and I actually can tangibly feel my creativity coming back to me, something I had felt was gone for a while.
I export my notes that I make daily, put them into a git repo, and call it a day. I review my handwritten notes on a weekly basis for anything that I may want to write about in the future and, convert some of my writing to plain text to start the process, and write every morning and evening.
The huge benefit of the Supernote is that it doesn’t have a backlight, so in the evenings, I shut down my computer after reviewing the day, and it is my only device I look at the rest of the night (with the exception of my kobo to read and fall asleep to.) My sleep has been measurably better ever since I put this constraint into practice.
If you like to write with pen and paper, but always are losing your notes, this thing is a life changer. I will be doing an in-depth review soon.
Emacs - The Grand Finale #
No system would be complete without emacs - and specifically for my use case, org-mode. Org mode allows me to remain entirely in context when taking notes, marking tasks, saving ideas, everything. It is the greatest system ever invented, bar none.
When I am working in front of my computer, I use it endlessly (I really only use emacs and a browser nowadays, with the exception of editing and rendering software - something I am looking to replace with emacs and lisp scripting soon!). It is my home, and I will always use it until the day I die - there is no better place to write, program, manage projects, or do anything on a computer.
While working, I add captures from within emacs or online and get back to what I was working on.
When I sit down to review at the end of every day, I have my org directory open, and file away everything into its respective place. I add long-term todos, set deadlines, schedule tasks, mark my calendar, make sure I know what I am working on tomorrow, everything. I listen to my recordings and dictate the important parts, file away my handwriting into my org-roam directory, and copy over the signal notes.
Emacs becomes my one source of truth then - Org mode is truly a killer app in the killer app that is emacs.
Putting it all together #
I simply choose the best capture method I have available for the task at hand, and make the capture without thinking. If I am on my computer, I use org-capture and then immediately return to what I was doing, no context switch whatsoever.
If I am not at my computer, I use whatever I have and is best suited for the capture:
Can’t use my phone (driving or walking)? Voice recorder. Quick note? Voice recorder or note to self. More involved note/idea? Note to self or Supernote. Longer piece of writing? Supernote. Can’t capture because I am sleeping? I haven’t solved this one yet.
I am really never without some way to grab ideas out of the ether, and this system has made this endeavor a dream come true to make sure I take action and move the ball down the field as it were.
What do you use to keep your life in order? Comment below or send me an email.
As always, God bless.
Until next time.