Journalling, note taking and a love of stationery

Since taking on a role which involves absorbing a lot of information, determining actions away from meetings, and then implementing them, I have spent the last year trying to refine a system which is simple, robust and, most importantly, works for me. I have watched others on YouTube, and then tinkered with a variety of methods, groping my way toward a workable solution (for the time being). And, ah yes, I love stationery.

My notebook/pen combinations are divided into two. There are a pair of notebooks I take as my Everyday Carry, and two I leave on my desk.

The two notebooks I have with me (almost) all the time begin with a Leuchtturm1917 A5 plain hardback book. I only write in this with my Uni Kuru Toga 0.5 Mechanical Pencil. This is the place I capture everything; notes from meetings, some initial ideas planning, lists of people who have RSVPed to something, Christmas present ideas, dates going forward for things I want to do, and so forth. I try to make it so that everything goes in to this one place, making it easier if I need to go back and find something later - I only have one place to look. I am aware that I need to be more disciplined in my note taking. Writing things down in meetings helps me stay focussed and recall what was said and what was committed to, but if one writes down everything, then it is hard to find the real substance. I am trying to learn how to write as if I were addressing my future self as a stranger. This idea comes from a helpful video by Ryder Carroll, who founded the Bullet Journal method.

My second take-everywhere notebook is a Bullet Journal. I did begin this year by using the larger A5 version, but found it a bit cumbersome (alongside my other A5 notebook) and also the number of videos on YouTube about decorating and artifying a Bullet Journal just bewildered me. Therefore, I have now downsized to the A6 pocket version of the BuJo, and this is strictly for me noting the actions for each week ahead. I still have a bit of the discipline from David Allen’s GTD methodology in mind.

Therefore, I try to spend some time (usually this is a Sunday evening) when I review the actions from the previous week and browse through my notes from meetings and email inbox to create a list of actions for the week ahead. I have borrowed something from the Allister method by dividing the actions into four columns; Quick, Personal, Deep and Fun. I find this helpful to maintain a balance of work and non-work. A few weeks ago I did my usual review, and spotted there were no fun items. I added a new note to start planning the trip to Arles and Aix-en-Provence that we keep saying we would like to do - just to ensure there was something that offered some life into a busy week. The Bullet Journal methodology provides a variety of annotations for an action, or when that action has been moved forward a week, and so forth. A few of these prove to useful to track what actions are taking a long time to complete, for example. I always use my Lamy Safari in this notebook. My preferred Lamy nib is the extra fine.

I then have two journals I keep on my desk. The first is the one I use to journal in the usual way - to note today’s date and then to record events and try to use the process of writing to reflect upon and develop my emotional response to situations. I probably do this about once per week. I love using an A5 Midori plain notebook, writing with my Pilot Custom 742 Fountain Pen. I am still getting the nib to work as I want it, and so I often find myself dissatisfied with my handwriting.

My fourth notebook is a Traveller’s Notebook, leather bound with plain inserts. Again, I have removed a lot of what came to feel like clutter. I maintain two inserts. The first is for putting more complex ideas together; plans for talks or things I need to write. The second is where I make notes from books I am reading. Again, this is for my Pilot Custom.

When the writing tool and the paper suit each other, and I can write easily such that the feeling of writing and the look of my handwritten words both satisfy equally - that is the pleasure of good stationery.