Single. Solitary. One isn't necessarily the loneliest number. It could mean the difference between going insane or keeping your cool. What we're suggesting is keeping one notebook at the ready for all of your information.
Keeping It All Together
Following up with Grace's Where to Keep a List we noted that a lot of you already have your own custom systems on how to maintain your busy lives. But we're guessing that a few people are nonetheless still testing out their own methods.
With the one notebook system, your to-do list, grocery list, directions, ideas on a project, random bits of information are all kept in a single place. Most home offices have more than a handful of scratch pads, legal pads and post-its. With all the jotting down of important information flying all over the place, it's no wonder we can't find our password to the container store.
[Image: Jambox]
Because the notebook is a system that we've incorporated into our lives, we have to actively use it. That means, it's small enough to fit in your pocket or just the right size for your purse. It's preferable that the pages are perforated for easy removal when a specific page is no longer necessary.
[Image: Smallsquaredesign]
Oh--and pockets are great too for business cards or receipts. As the weeks go on, your notebook should decrease in size and in time you'll be ready for a new one.
[Top image: Shoofly]
Comments (9)
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I don't have a problem with using a lot of random pads for day-to-day stuff (though come to think of it, I mostly do use just one). What I do keep a single notebook for is long-term stuff. It's an address book where I keep all my password hints and other random bits of information. All alphabatized, of course.
view whytephoenix's profile
My desk at work is a sign that I need some personal organization skills. Stat. At work and at home, I organize by making piles. I have a pile of paper for each project that I'm working on, and at home I have piles of tax info, receipts, bills, etc.
I'm notorious for jotting something down on a lose scrap of paper and getting upset when I find out that my S.O. has thrown it out because it looked like trash. I need a notebook asap.
view revolution9's profile
www.moleskines.com
Reasons to love Moleskines:
1. Sturdy cover,
2. Band closure,
3. Pockets for scrap paper, tickets, receipts, etc.,
4. Variety of types: ruled, blank, cashier, reporter, watercolor, etc.,
5. Uniformity, so when you store used Moleskines on your bookshelf, they look so tidy,
6. Portable size.
I keep one in my purse always!
view HeatherAB's profile
Ditto HeatherAB's comments on moleskin notebooks!!! I love them and have recently gotten myself the DC Cityguide version. It has a DC map and metro map inside, plus tabs for dining, events, contacts, etc, and plenty of blank pages too. It even has a pocket for stamps, business cards, etc.
view soapR's profile
Another one for moleskines! They're a constant in my purse!!
I love the brown ones, especially because its easy to distinguish my brown moleskines from my S.O.'s black moleskines!
view ashleyandpancake's profile
I think I may need to start doing the notebook thing. Right now I just email myself notes, but eventually I'm going to be somewhere with no internet device and need something. I feel like I'm going to have a hard time getting in the habit of writing everything down in one place though.
(Btw, any Howard Stern fans here think of Eric when they saw the first image?)
view SourCherry's profile
Moleskines. My entire life is in there, marked with multi-coloured Post Its. And sometime last week I LOST IT!!
view catspajamas's profile
This is a good idea and if you're feeling really creative you can make your own. I have found plain journals at Big Lots and decorated them myself. Great idea for an inexpensive gift.
The holidays will be here shortly and handmade gifts are sweet.
view farfalla1's profile
Moleskines are also expensive. I don't need to pay 16 bucks for a small notebook when I can pay five for something just as handy. There are plenty of journal options at your local bookstore.
view Avinony's profile