I love my notebook and I have to say I would be a little lost without it. It is a wonderful place to vent when you don't want to burden others.
Anyway here is a re-run from last year - suggesting 10 things to write in YOUR notebook. What other things can you think of?
Allen
I have been a long time fan of using a notebook as a tool for self-improvement, as a journal or just as a place where I can do some brainstorming. I am a proud Hipster PDA and Moleskine user and with that in mind here are 10 different things I like to write in them.
1) New words that I have learnt that day.
2) Mind maps of my goals for the week, month, year.
3) Creative writing such as poems and short stories.
4) Mental stresses and tensions that I notice I feel during the day, the thoughts I felt that caused those stresses and alternative more positive thoughts in order to reduce those stresses for the future.
5) Sketches to exercise the right side of the brain.
6) Reviews of movies, music or television etc.
7) Books I want to read in the future, movies I wish to see and music I wish to listen to etc.
8) General “dear diary” prose including my observations, thoughts and feelings relating to the day.
9) Any physical tensions and what may have caused them.
10)Ideas for my blog.
What do you write in your notebook?
19 comments:
I absolutely agree with you and my note books usually contain those kind of notes as you described. I really appreciate writing my plans and wishes in note book, because I believe that then they have much more power to become my reality.
Little lessons I've learned during the course of the day.
I like to write quotes that I hear through the day. Whether someone said something funny, or I just heard something motivational or inspirational, I like to write it down! (can you tell that I am not a writer? =)
I use a series of prompts to record what's important to me. I wrote about it in my blog:
http://workingonme.squarespace.com/journal/2007/8/5/sustainable-journaling.html
Great article.
I use ZuluPad to write my journal entries on my laptop. It works well for the most part, however, it does not allow me to draw sketches or complete mind maps, as you suggested.
Does anyone know of a software which allows you to make sketches and draw, in addition to traditional journal entries?
Thanks,
Jason
Hi Allen,
Great article! If you're interested in a comprehensive mindmap template for setting your goals, check out my post:
Use Mind Maps to Achieve Your Goals
http://eric-blue.com/blog/2007/03/use_mind_maps_to_achieve_your_goals.html
For journal writing nothing for me has surpassed the old school form of writing instrument scratching against paper. I write best after reading. A good bit of prose, a description or detail will get me to remember an element of my life that I must write down. When I don't have anything to write I make a P.I.'s description of events happening around me. "A grey Ford Sedan parked next to the Starbucks..."
great list!
I'm not sure what mind maps are but I'd add free association and drill down trees for goals, story layouts, explanations of interesting concepts, etc.
Also, write and/or answer questions that you find interesting and discuss.
or write 'unsent' letters to anyone--family, friends, leaders, authors, artists, the dead, anyone.
Does anyone know of a software which allows you to make sketches and draw, in addition to traditional journal entries?
If you're on a Mac, I believe VoodooPad can do sketches and written work.
http://flyingmeat.com/voodoopad/
jason...
i know of a few for the mac
vijournal
circus pones notebook
mariners macjournal - dan schimpf
Ujwala
@Jason
There's plenty of free mindmapping software out there. LifeHacker.com is great starter site for that kind of information. Search mindmaps on their site and it should pull up some good relevant posts.
Sometimes I write little letters to my daughter (she's just a baby now) about cute things she's done or little moments we've had. I do them on a separate page so I can tear them out one day and put them in her baby book for her to read when she grows up.
I like this entry. However I think you should retitle it "Self Help for People Who Think They Don't Need It" It might reach a larger crowd. ;-)
I'm going to use the suggestions posted here!
I'm a big fan of gluing photos in my journal for later viewing, adds a little graphic touch to the whole page, stickers are a big thing too.
Also, write down crazy dreams you have, some day it might make more sense when you're reading it, or it could just make for an interesting read.
Interesting list. I've been thinking about what my list would look like. It's about the same as yours but no reviews (I think I'll try that) and no poems or creative writing, I have tons of other notebooks for that. However I do write lists a lot, of things I want or should do, I record a lot of feelings and often write when I'm sad - kind of scrub it off against the pages and leav it in there. :-)
I'll have to think more about what I acctually write! :-) I write a lot though.
Three distinct sections in mine:
1. Journal/Random thoughts/sketches(ish)
2. Books I've read and mini-reviews
3. New Quotes
Allen,
Thanks for such a timely post. For me, I have been contemplating things such as what to do next, where what I have been doing fits best, and just what else in the world I may be thinking. Your idea about mind maps is something I haven't done in a long time. Maybe it's time to get back to trying those out again.
I use http://www.sunflwoersky.com . It's a journaling site that allows you to journal online privately. Friendly e-mail reminders are sent to you, just click on the link and you're in your juornal. It automatically formats for you and you can insert photos as well. It can be private, or you can invite others. It's great for parent journals of their kids, trip journals, etc. You can print, download or have on CD when done.
I use the back of my notebook to record all the criticisms I receive, so I can self-improve. You'll be surprised how many criticisms you can get in just one lunch time.
Also, things that only mean to me are in my notebook, words like 'Faraway Dream' and Rainbow Souls'.
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