How I (actually) use my pocket notebook

Key points:

- The pocket notebook can be used in three main ways: capture, distill, and close. 📓
- Capture: Filter and selectively capture information we want to keep, avoiding distractions and unwanted information. 📸
- Distill: Chisel away at confusing thoughts or questions to uncover the essence and solve problems. ✍💡
- Close: Write down persistent thoughts or tasks to close the thought loop and free up mental space. 🚫🔄
- Using a notebook allows for undistracted and expressive writing, providing a focused space for processing information. 🖊📝
- Writing down tasks in a list format helps offload them from the mind, reducing stress and improving memory. 🗒✔
- Keeping a running list in the back of the notebook helps to organize and prioritize tasks for later completion. 📋🔀
- The notebook serves as a reliable external system to hold information, preventing mental overload and random thoughts. 💭🧠
- While phones are versatile, they can trigger additional tasks and distract from the original purpose, creating an edgy feeling. 📱🔗
- Writing by hand has been found to have greater benefits for closing thought loops and managing stress compared to typing on a phone. ✍🖐

Anyone from skill share class?

Loops are closed already, that is precisely what makes them loop. What you need to do with them is not "close" them, but... release them? open them? free them?...

I got really inspired by this idea that I went straight to a dollar store and got one for myself. In it, the first thing I jotted down was my why for using it. It helps me bring reason as to why I should continue finding value in analog activity. Following that, I just note lil thoughts that pop up, lists of to-dos, and new words. I hope in a month or so, I try expanding things to write about and create a lil time capsule for my future self.

My age 71yr old retired now looking back on my old notebooks today making me smile how stressful my life was working long hours and bringing up my daughters I just bought more notebooks for myself and going to give one each to my daughters as one a nurse and the other works in HR I'm hope it will be helpful for them

Is your phone in Russian? Idk why, but I just noticed that 😂

First exposure to the topic of thought loops. Experience this frequently but never fully addressed or defined. Thanks!

I started keeping a notebook by my bedside as a kid. I'd wake up at night and remember something I needed to do, then I couldn't go back to sleep because I was stuck in a thought loop trying to remember until morning. Once I started writing it down I could easily fall asleep again

While the idiot in the blue car did not even bother to stop. Why does it always happen with the nice people.

I recently started using notebooks for different things but they're all normal size. I'm going to try to pocket notebook from today because of your videos. I think it'll make it more accessible when at places I don't want to carry a full sized book around. Thanks for the videos. They've been great

I carry a mini rite in the rain notebook. One of my favorite things ever. All the metric to standard conversion tables. Mini ruler. It's great.

...which pen is that?

I plan on getting a notebook and trying to carry them both around and see which one I end up reaching for the most

I use a pocket notebook this way:

Left page is for shopping lists, the right page is for todo lists. One week at a time.

Why this set up?
Well, let's say you are making bowl of cereal and you notice you are running low on milk; take out the notebook, flip the page, and add milk to your shopping list.

Capture is kind of the easy part for me so I have an slim a5 with me coz i get interested about something and just branch out from there, completely forgetting about time and priorities (unless its one Ive somehow pinned as super important like a delivery or an appointment, can't seem to do anything before those coz i might miss them or something). But comes Distill, i feel hesitant to NOT use some info Ive spent much time reading and understanding (and im not really smart nor quick on the uptake, so i tend to hoard and feel attached to those notes) or feel like the important info isnt enough until i have too much info to do with. So the mental strain pulls me back to either starting out another interest that i feel is easier on my brain or as u point out, get pulled into other tasks i remember as I go thru my analog notes (not so different to the surfing and shuffling i do on my phone 😂) long story short, i struggle to get to step 3 and have something out of the info Ive just went and spent my time and braincells doing. (Its kinda why i stuggle with my course and couldnt graduate. Felt a little lost and insufficient with how i deal with my papers despite the notes I make, the tutorials I watch, or motivations I engrave on my wall...and somehow those papers seem to require so much emotion and attachment 😵)

I mean... im watching this video and at the back of mind, im pinning it among the other videos I watched and now it felt like im just procrastinating even when the idea was to learn or affirm a system 😭

Oh, but the questioning part in both self reflection and probably info sorting is a good point. I seem to struggle with "attacking the problem" coz somehow my brain just takes it on a broader sense of "what am i confused about/what are my intentions?" which I find a lot of the videos I watch have an easier time problem solving with those questions alone-- like I need to know how people have a straightforward and decisive mental processes 😂 i feel so burntout online AND offline 😅

To use notebook and then transfer it’s content to Notion?

Common!!

I noticed the Circle series by Ted Dekker on your shelf - great set of books!

In 2009, I wrote a novel length fan fiction story that took me over a year to complete. I also had a job delivering pizzas at this time. I kept a notebook in my car, where I would jot down bits of dialogue that would occur to me while working. I wrote quite a bit of the story in between pizza deliveries

what pen are you using in this video ?

I’ve been wanting one to write down my ideas on paper. I feel like when you write it on paper you have a more personal feel with the idea you wrote and writing it down on my phone is boring. I feel like it could help me connect with the world better. I should go to the store and get one today, thanks for the video

I love this!

How would you organize two journals? I have a journal for a day to day record, and I'm going to implement a notebook for during the day. How would you organize the two journals, and would you use them together?

been trying this out this week and it is going really well. I mostly write down - interests, thoughts, items i want, reading lists, and things im stressed about.

Hey! I like what you're doing!

Along those lines, please look up what's inside a lump of coal.

imagine ironman wth all those ui up on his face all the time (i mean in the suit) i normally feel like that. i have so many things that i need to start doing, keep doing and finish. and i need to keep these in mind. also i have mild ocd so i have "problem trends". like i need a small problem but can't solve it at the moment or something that is not possible to solve. i keep thinking that through out the day over and over again until i lose my mind :D i stress myself over it because i need that subject to be solved and closed. like a puzzle that is unsolved, that thing drives me crazy. but when i write it down i feel like it's secure now. this mostly applies to my emotional problems like i ask myself the same questions or i keep telling myself how this happened etc but when i write it down in detail without skipping anything i feel like the thoughts really moved into the notebook. i get over the issue easily afterwars. of course this can't solve my problems by itself but i don't obsess or stress over the same thing.

and i've always been a journaling girl before it was cool :D i used to wrote my memories cause my memory isn't good at remembering details. so i wanted them to be unforgettable. and no i don't remember my memories just because i wrote them but i do read them from time to time. and sometimes i swear i've never heard of that memory before :D i discover my own past :D

but for now i'll just keep a notebook as a "mindbook". whatever needs to be cleared and remembered will be in that notebook, no rules no pretty bullet journal templates no perfection just practicality

I couldn't agree more. You really just can't beat writing with a pen on a piece of paper. It's satisfying, especially when you actually enjoy the physicality of writing words / sentences. I've always loved writing.
Thanks to one of your videos, I now carry around a little pocket notebook and it's a blast

I just remember that I actually used to do this a lot when I was a teen.
I had a couple of diaries.

HOW IS THIS SO RELATEABLE?!

Hi Austin! Thank you for going over everything in detail within this video - it was all extremely informative and helpful!

I do have a question regarding certain lists I’d like to start in a new notebook. I’ve been thinking about creating specific “master lists” I’d like to have on hand - ideally all in one notebook, for quick & easy reference.
For example, I have a few places (notebooks, planner, notes app) where I’ve started certain lists, such as “Etsy shops to try, Fave stationery shops, Discount codes…etc.,” but I’d like to have ONE notebook where all these “master lists” go (that’s the best term I can think of to describe these).

Hopefully that makes sense! Do you have any suggestions or ideas on how to organize these lists?? Ideally I would like for “like items/lists” to be sectioned together, but not exactly sure how I would do that 🤔
Thank you (and anyone else who’d like to chime in! Lol) for any ideas or tips you may have!! 🎉

✨Celia

I went out and bought two packs of those today on my lunch break. I was worried they wouldn’t have any (they had a bunch) and immediately started writing in it.

Very cute and convenient, I have fond memories of begging my mom to buy the bigger version of these composition notebooks by the box full so I could write my stories in them.

Cool a pocket 'journal'. I remember those big books in school

I have came across your video about keeping a pocket notebook about 2 weeks ago .. I captured the idea into my "main" table journal .. since then I have aquired a notebook, started carrying it with my phone everywhere my phone goes jounalled in it a little (mainly just organizing notes from my main journal) doodled in a bit .. aaaand here I go .. 2 weeks later I am in a rut not knowing how to continue .. did I just open my notebook while watching this just to capture the esence of CDC without even thinking about it? .. :D .. this thing is crazy :D .. often times I have found myself staring into my phone and noting down things from that into my notebook to wrap my head around it "later" .. I guess I need to work on my "distill" skills :D

Genuine question: how to train yourself to prefere opening up your notebook instead of the instinctive need whenever you can you just doom scroll? Like, if I'm somewhere and i have a phone and a notebook, i can never see myself going "okay time to pull out my notebook!". I'll always choose the phone in a search for consent stimulation

Your a very smart young man - I have been at this game for a very long time and have used every digital toy in the world - I was there when the smart phone invented and have watched it turn into the digital prison it has become - they are very addictive to say the least - but they do take away that special thing called creativity - with their limited format we are driven to use them for stuff we really can’t creat with - where paper is really boundless - the best form is the dotted paper notebook because the reference dots create at least 8 directional structure - you can make graphs - ruled writing - draw pictures - a piece of paper is as big as your imagination - as open as your brain and is everything you said - it allows you to focus on a objective - do you notice how people at some point ask you what your writing - they never ask what your entering into your phone - and if I may impart another observation to help really get work done - don’t study or think in a open environment - the best study aid is the library style cubical desk - the desk with three walls surrounding you - there is something about siting in such a desk that forces you to Focus on the paper in front of you or the book your reading - little or no distractions - especially smart phone or laptops and you enter your mind - that’s when you get the best ideas - after everything is on paper - you use the computer to creat simulations or graphs or whatever to test out your ideas - I started using a rocket book notepad and scanning the sheets into digital - maybe the best of both worlds - your walking along - you get a cool idea - open the book and erasable pen write it down before you forget and then review - electronics have scrambled our brains - primitive paper brings order back

Keep strong. Dont forget that despite the struggles in this world, God is full of justice, mercy and love.
Justice said we broke His perfect law - causing the world's previous perfection to be destroyed - and therefore we deserve Hell (like a punishment in any legal system but this is eternal as His perfect law is eternal too). Don't think you fit in that category? Ever done one of these?: lying, stealing - regardless of how small the object EVER, hating others - which is murder in God's perfect law, lusting (plus God sees our entire thought life). Justice says "the soul that sins shall die" - if we break one in thought/word/deed it's as if we're guilty of all of them. Quite simply, living by the law (which is doing everything perfectly) is impossible for sinful humans

. The law shows us that 1. We will die in Hell if we fail to follow it and 2. We cannot save ourselves BUT, 3. God's perfect, immovable law points us to Christ, who followed and fulfilled the law in thought, word and deed perfectly in our place. He did what we couldn't and did it on our behalf. He was then sentenced to death on a cross, and took our personal punishment for our sin, paying our penalty (like paying our fine) completely FOR us, and has given us freedom.

If we turn from the sins we have committed and repent (pursue the opposite direction of love through Christ) He will, overtime, recreate us back into that previously perfect image through The Holy Spirit which Jesus sends to all who accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior of their life. He will help us through the struggle, the stress, and anything we experience in the world. It's about letting Christ in to guide and teach you and obeying Him through His power (not ourselves, we need Him to help us as it's impossible without depending on His power and instruction).

He is our substitute in His life, death and resurrection. He essentially rewrote history in our place so that, if you believe in Him, it will be as if you had never sinned if you accept Christ's death as our own in our place.

He is in Heaven right now preparing a place for us so that He can take His faithful, believing children home with Him when He returns. He will ressurrect us from death when He returns, giving mercy to those who accept His love, instruction and teachings in their life, and give justice to those who refuse it.

He doesn't want ANY of us to go to Hell and die for continuing in evil and rejecting His way to life, thats why He died FOR us. Hes giving EVERYONE a chance, He wants everyone to take the free gift of salvation from Hell. He wants us to be His and begin to follow His life of love and service through His power and abiding (staying) with Him. So long as we keep our hearts near to Christ through His strength, strive to follow His will of perfect love revealed in the Bible, and let Him lead in the midst of (very certain) pitfalls and struggles, we will, in time, win the ultimate victory over sin, pain and DEATH through Christ. Even if you are willing to be made willing, pray for Jesus to come in and He will do what we can't. Give us The Holy Spirit who will guide us in the right way.

Christ says in John 16:33: I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]
- (AMPLIFIED version)

NOTE: You are NEVER too sinful or messed up that God cannot turn your life around through Jesus. EVER. Regardless of what you've done or what you're going through you CAN make it through Jesus.

If you have any questions let me know xx

I finished my first pocket notebook just a few days ago, had it for a year and immediately jumped into the second one! I use it for shopping lists, random ideas, and much more! It's recently become a sort of mini sketchbook for when Im away from my big one. The idea of it is to have it replace my phone in the way of "distracted? look at the random things you wrote and scribbled" but also adding new ideas and things. It's become extremely important to me and recently started using it much much more!

I started using one i feel so much better it comes with me everywhere it’s reliable I use my phone less and it does improve mental clarity

this became my favourite inspirational video, thank you so much ❤️✨

I use one as well. Mostly for todo lists or random ideas.

T's always a good idea to carry a notebook

Your brilliant videos are beneficial, and even your sponsors are engaging.

This has honestly been a great addition to my everyday. Just saw this video recently and I have been making entries many times a day. :D

You are a beautiful soul, thank you for the wisdom, ill be thinking about this

What pen is that? :)

I have only watched two of your videos and can immediately tell you are a Christian. Am I wrong? I love writing things down, constantly and I usually use my phone unless I am really working on something specific and then I use a normal sided notebook because I can write! A lot, in a quick amount of time. I think I need to re try the pocket notebook however, because I have recently realized how distracted I get when opening or even looking at my phone. It does cause a yucky feeling one that is almost defeating. I will go back to using a pocket notebook once again. Thanks for the inspiration!

What pen do you use