Note Taking Question

[gator]

Hi, I was curious as to what size notebooks most are using when taking notes and do you keep it in the same capture "device" as your context lists?
I have the Circa letter foldover leather notebook, and wasn't sure if it made sense to keep a notes tab and collect everything in one place along with my context lists?
Thanks

 

[Brent]

I just use a Hipster PDA. 3x5" index cards. Much easier to remove and add cards than a notebook, for me.

 

[Oogiem]

Hi, I was curious as to what size notebooks most are using when taking notes

For quick capture I have a tiny spiral bound notebook I carry with me all the time it's maybe 3 x 5 or so. Those pages get torn off and put in my inbox for processing.

For notes on meetings, phone calls, and other things that will become reference I use Levenger note paper in 8.5 x 11 size. Those notes get added to project folders in reference filing.

 

[kewms]

I'm a writer, so I take *lots* of notes. The best solution I've found is a grid-ruled junior size (5.5 x 8.5 inch) ring-bound notebook with numbered pages and double covers (stiff board + plastic). After trying lots of different designs, I had these custom-printed and they've been well worth the investment.

It's rigid enough to use without a table. The grid lets me rotate it so the rings are at the top/bottom edge--the horizontal format seems to work better when I need to draw diagrams, show relationships between topics, etc. And because the pages are numbered, it's easy to create an index for future reference.

I found loose leaf pages *don't* work for me, because I often refer to the same conversation for multiple projects. If the notes are buried in a project file they're much harder to find.

Katherine

 

[Brent]

Ah yes, meeting notes! I don't use my 3x5s for that. I use my meeting notes template page, which includes:

• At the top, Date and Title/Reason for meeting
• In a column along the left, Attendees and My Actions
• On the right, filling most of the page, Notes (this is where I write during the meeting)
• At the bottom, Summary (filled out after the meeting to "bake in" my memory of the meeting)

If I don't have any pre-printed templates with me, I'll just use a blank 8.5x11" sheet of paper.

The important thing is that this is only a record. I don't work off of this. This goes into my inbox, and I process it like anything else, creating NAs and Projects and Waiting Fors from it. I'll then file the paper in my A-Z reference system.

 

[Jon Walthour]

Hi, I was curious as to what size notebooks most are using when taking notes and do you keep it in the same capture "device" as your context lists?
I have the Circa letter foldover leather notebook, and wasn't sure if it made sense to keep a notes tab and collect everything in one place along with my context lists?
Thanks

It makes sense to me to have them all in one place. I recently went retro and got a GTD Jr. Coordinator (5 1/2 x 8 1/2). There is a Notes/In tab in the setup. I also have a junior ledger tablet in the back of the book. Between the Notes/In sheets in that front tab and the tablet in the back, I can get just about any notes (meetings, phone messages, quick conversations, my own thoughts, etc.) into my system. And since it's all in one place along with my Action lists and project plans, if I think of an additional item for a project or want to create a quick list, I don't have to make a note in a capture device and then actually create the list later when I get back to my lists. Now, I also have a NoteTaker wallet from my computer list days, but I find I'm using that very little for capture these days as I take my Coordinator wherever I go.

Hope this helps.

j

 

[Oogiem]

I found loose leaf pages *don't* work for me, because I often refer to the same conversation for multiple projects.

Good point. My notes are almost always very project related. Typical ones are conversations with the contractors for the changes to our new building, notes on the water court phone calls re the water lawsuit we are in, notes on other flocks of sheep that want to use our shearer, notes on specific clothing items I am making and so on. Meetings are almost always very specific to a given job or task so my notes likewise go into neat categories.

 

[Yoshimi]

I use my meeting notes template page,

I love this idea, I have already made a template up for myself, filled in the date and meeting title on one and put it in the front of the project folder, along with the prep I have for that meeting. Wonderful Idea.

 

[Grey1618]

Small and Cheap!

My notebook for idea capture is a little 4in x 3in thing that I keep in my back pocket. Any bigger and I couldn't guarantee that I'd always have it on me. Any nicer, and I wouldn't use it.

 

[GTDWorks]

I use the GTD Coordinator, too, and have the pages in an old Day-Timer binder because the cover that comes with it is a little less sophisticated than what I desire for my main tool. Tab 1 is for Notes/In so it goes in there and then processed into my system at the end of the day.

I also carry a Notetaker wallet and love it!

 

[Oogiem]

My notebook for idea capture [/URL].

I also use a tiny spiral bound notebook for capture but notes to me are something other than capture of random ideas. Notes are details that will go into a project file later. THose I use nice paper for.

Capture is quick stuff and for that I agree small and cheap is best.

 

[MsB]

Ah yes, meeting notes! I don't use my 3x5s for that. I use my meeting notes template page, which includes:

• At the top, Date and Title/Reason for meeting
• In a column along the left, Attendees and My Actions
• On the right, filling most of the page, Notes (this is where I write during the meeting)
• At the bottom, Summary (filled out after the meeting to "bake in" my memory of the meeting)

If I don't have any pre-printed templates with me, I'll just use a blank 8.5x11" sheet of paper.

The important thing is that this is only a record. I don't work off of this. This goes into my inbox, and I process it like anything else, creating NAs and Projects and Waiting Fors from it. I'll then file the paper in my A-Z reference system.

Brent I've been looking for a note taking system for my hubby and self. I've been torn between two methods, the Cornell note taking system and the three column system similar to mighty notes. Your system reminds me of the cornell system. Did you make or buy your templates?

Thanks in advance

 

[SGTM]

I use 8 1/2 by 11 legal pads which allows me to pull notes off and put them in files. Being left handed not too many notebooks combine laying flat enough with paper that easily pulls off, which is what I like.

Gerry