Notepads are very convenient helpers for storing various information: they are compact, varied in shape, size and number of pages, which allows you to choose the most suitable one depending on the purpose.
Let's talk about what you can write in a notebook, and also consider which notebooks are best to choose for which entries.
Notepad as a diary
You can choose a medium-sized notebook of the desired thickness and turn it into a diary, where you can write down your daily routine. It is more convenient to use a separate page for each new day.
Notepad for recording thoughts, ideas, plans for the future
If you are full of various brilliant ideas, constantly find something new for yourself that you want to study better, etc., but are very forgetful, a notebook will help you. For this purpose, it is better to choose a bright, medium-sized notebook, divide its pages into several sections, title each one, and write down information according to the sections. Sections can be called, for example, like this: “My brilliant ideas”, “Plans for the near and distant future”, “Books”, “Movies”, “Music”, “ Interesting events" etc.
Notepad as a personal diary
If you want to start Personal diary, then for this purpose you can use a beautiful, thick and large notebook, maybe with bright and unusual pages inside. Keep personal notes as you please; often they are written with the date. Entries can be diversified with additional memory items: a pasted photo, a concert ticket, an autograph, etc. Your personal diary is a hiding place of your thoughts, experiences, and memories.
Quote notebook
If you like to collect apt sayings, quotes, sayings famous people, then they can also be written down in a notepad. Any medium-sized notebook will do for this.
Notepad for recording income and expenses
If you are used to keeping strict records of your Money, then get yourself a notebook to record your income and expenses. Dedicate each page to a separate day, divide it into two parts: the first - income, the second - expenses.
Notepad as a personal cookbook
If you are used to collecting recipes interesting dishes, then you can choose a simple style and large notebook for this.
There are many options for what to write in a notebook. Choose any one you like and that suits you, or invent or even make your own. You can find information about this in our article.
You may also find the material from the article useful.
Many people have notepad mania. For example, mine :)
A blank notebook is full of promise. You can think, create, express yourself. When you look at a blank notebook, you can't help but be tempted to grab a pen and start filling out its pages.
Despite the fact that there are a great many notebooks, a large number of people literally pray for Moleskine notebooks from the Milanese company Modo & Modo. At the Moleskine notebooks high quality, they are portable, you can take them with you everywhere, they have a pocket for storing notes. In addition, the pages have an excellent texture: it is pleasant to touch, and the pen does not leave a mark on the back side.
1. Journal of nutrition and exercise. Many people dream of having a great figure and excellent health. To achieve this, you must first watch what you eat and what exercises you do. Use a notepad to keep a journal of your diet and exercise routine.
Create a template to track what you eat. You can, for example, keep records according to the following principle: Date - Time - Item - Serving Size - Nutrients - Calories.
Additionally, create another template to track how much you exercise and how many calories you burn. To do this, you can keep records in the following sequence: Date - Time - Action - Duration - Calories burned.
2. Tracker of your time. A blank notepad can be used to write down how you spend your time. Determine once and for all where your time goes. Additionally, keep track of the following:
How much time do you spend on procrastination (putting things off until later)?
How often do you take breaks?
Do you work on one project or do you tend to multitask?
How much time do you spend working on your main life goals?
How much time do you waste on unnecessary work and unimportant things?
3. Expense tracker. Good use for a blank notebook is to use it to track expenses. Determine the following:
Do you spend money on unnecessary things?
What expenses can be cut?
Are you investing money in your education, income-producing assets, creating lifelong memories, or are you wasting it?
4. Start a “One Sentence Journal.” If you're short on time or writing isn't your thing, try keeping a "one-sentence journal." Every evening, write one sentence about your day. It could be the following:
"Today was a good day".
"A man talking on the phone while driving almost hit me with his car. My whole life flashed before my eyes."
"Today I finally finished my story."
If you do this for 5 years, you will have a 5-year summary of your life.
5. Start a Gratitude Journal. You've probably heard it many times: the key to happiness is to focus on the positive aspects of your life. And one way to make sure you do this is to keep a Gratitude Journal.
Scientific research has confirmed the enormous benefits of regularly writing down what you are grateful for in life. The easiest way to keep a journal is to take a few minutes every night before bed to write down 5 things you are grateful for.
6. Write “morning pages.”"Morning Pages" is a kind of "test of the pen." They became famous thanks to Julia Cameron's book "The Artist's Way". The idea is to take time every morning to write three pages of your thoughts. Write everything that comes to mind. Describe the things that bother you, make a plan for the day, get in touch with your true desires (what you really want, not what society imposes on you).
7. Create Your Life Story. Make a list of prompt questions that will inspire you and start writing down your memories in a blank notebook.
Prompt questions could be: What is the meaning of your last name? What stories did your grandfather tell you as a child? What are your favorite summer memories?
8. Conduct an audit of various areas of your life. It is very important to periodically evaluate different areas of your life in order to improve them and move forward. Such records can be kept in your notebook.
For example, if you track your energy, you can record your activity levels throughout the day in a notepad. Do you feel exhausted after communicating with certain people? Do you experience a burst of energy if you eat an apple during the day? How will you feel if you take a short nap?
9. Adopt Leonardo da Vinci's habit. Leonardo da Vinci had a habit of always taking a notebook with him wherever he went. He used a notebook to draw people, birds, objects that he could observe during his walks, to record thoughts and observations. The simple habit of writing down ideas allowed Leonardo to examine them more closely and improve them over time.
You can use a notepad, say, to write down the names of the characters in your future story, the name of the color you just opened, interesting dialogue things you heard, ideas for new blogs, poems you came up with, recipes you want to try, and any other thoughts.
10. Write down quotes that you like. It's so great to just sit down with a notepad of smart thoughts and immerse yourself completely in their wisdom. Start writing down quotes that you like, and soon you will have a whole notebook filled with motivational sayings that can boost your morale at any time.
11. Start keeping a diary. A diary is a description of your day. It also contains your feelings and thoughts about the events that happened to you during the day. Many people use special templates to help them keep their diary. You can make these templates yourself. This template can be used as an example:
- This made me smile today;
- This got me thinking;
- This should have been done differently today;
- This is what I learned today;
- This is something good I did today;
12. Keep an art journal. An art journal is similar to the journal discussed above, but you can include drawings, sketches, and embellishments. You can also cut out pictures from magazines and paste them into your art journal, add photos and other visual elements.
13. Write down ideas from books you read. When you read a book to learn something new, it will be great if you write a summary of the book. by writing down the main ideas that you find interesting. This can be done in the form of regular notes or in the form of brain maps. Essentially, you turn your notebook into a repository of knowledge.
14. Keep a goal journal. Goal log - powerful tool to achieve these same goals. The benefit of writing down goals is that
- This forces you to write down your aspirations, that is, take the first step towards their fulfillment;
- Recording goals - great way make a plan to achieve them. This will help you overcome circumstances and difficulties that may come your way;
- You will be able to track your progress;
- This will force you to become more responsible.
15. Analyze your life. Socrates once said that life without analysis is incomplete. We cannot achieve personal and spiritual growth unless we take time to reflect on our lives.
One of the best ways Analyzing your life means asking yourself the right questions that will prompt you to the right thoughts.
16. Make your Wish List. Take a blank notebook and make a list of what you would like to do in your life. Write things down like this:
- Visit Paris in spring;
- Go to the carnival in Rio de Janeiro;
- Go to the Super Cup;
- Take the family to Disneyland;
- To write a novel.
You can also use a Moleskine or any other notebook to write your Book of Possibilities - a kind of “Guide to Dreams”.
17. Use it for writing exercises. If you want to become a writer or improve your writing talent, you should write as often as you can. To keep your writing muscles toned, find a collection interesting topics for essays and use it for writing exercises.
18. Start keeping a Language Journal. When you teach new language, it is incredibly important to write down everything you learn. You can use a journal for this. Here are some things you can include in it:
- Write down every new word for yourself;
- Write grammar rules;
- Write down the study method you follow, note how effective it is;
- Write down common mistakes you make so you can work through them later.
A simple notepad can help you improve your life. What will you do with your notebook?
Here's my video for those who like to listen more
Translation of the article http://daringtolivefully.com/things-to-do-with-a-notebook
Will you be recording your inventions there? Or ideas for a play, novel or poem you might one day write? Will you be capturing ideas for any project? Or do you just need a place to write down your to-do or shopping list? Some people write down their thoughts in a notebook or family information, others take notes from work or events. Some people use a notebook as a repository for all sorts of ideas that pop into their heads.
Choose the notepad that suits you. There are many different types of notepads, so take the time to choose the one that suits you best and don’t be afraid to spend a little more money. After all, your immortal work may appear in this book! Here are some criteria for selection:
- Size and portability. Notepads are most useful when they are always at hand. Choose one that is large enough to keep track of your notes and small enough to take with you everywhere you go. Where do you want to keep your notebook: in your pocket, wallet, bag, backpack?
- Conditions for keeping records. Will you need to take notes while standing? Or on the way? Then you need to choose a notebook with a hard cover so that it is comfortable to hold in one hand while taking notes with the other. Should it be used in specific conditions: in the kitchen, in a factory, on the street, in a boat?
- Target. A notebook with blank pages and a colorful floral cover may inspire you to journal, but it's unlikely to be appropriate for a business event. The spiral notebook can be completely unfolded, and the cover will not interfere with your notes. Do you need lined paper or a blank sheet, or maybe some margins? Some notebooks even have musical items printed in advance.
- Separators and markers. Do you need to divide your notebook areas into different categories, for example, Housework, Ideas, Reflections, To-Do List? Or is it better to use a free-form notebook, such as for keeping a diary? You can buy notebooks with ready-made dividers or divide them yourself with stickers, flags, bookmarks, and so on.
- Legality. If your notebook will contain information that you might want to patent in the future, look for a padlocked notebook with numbered pages. Learn the rules for using a notepad for such purposes.
Take notes in a notepad. Develop your own method for getting value from your notebook. Use it in the way that is most convenient for you. There are many situations in which it is useful to take notes in a notepad:
- When you receive a task.
- When you are thinking about an invention or a new idea.
- When they give you a compliment, give you a recommendation or good advice.
- When you hear something funny or unusual.
- When you want to remember something.
Organize your notes, at least minimally. Even if you think it doesn't matter, taking the time to categorize your entries will save you much more time and effort in the future that you would otherwise spend searching for the information you need.
- Date each entry.
- Number the pages.
- If possible, include titles for your posts.
- Record contextual information, such as who attended the meeting.
Keep it readable. Write legibly enough so that you can read what you have written. You should be able to read your handwriting. If you are making notes for public reading, make sure others can read it too.
Keep records regularly.
- Write constantly and consistently. Write at approximately the same time every day, if possible. If you are a morning person, early morning maybe the most productive time to take notes because your brain is fresh and functioning as flexibly as possible, and this activity helps shape the day ahead. Evening time is more suitable for night owls to take notes; It's useful to take a little time before leaving work or school to mark the important points of the past day and outline plans for the next. Either way, writing daily will help make notebooking a habit.
- Take notes during short breaks while you're standing in line or waiting for the next event, for example.
- Write as soon as any thoughts come to you. Ideas come and go, and if you don't write them down, they might be forgotten. Remember the historian's approach: What is not written down did not happen.
- Sometimes it’s useful to just pour it out on paper - write everything that comes to mind until you come to a “useful” thought. Your “outburst” may turn into something important!
What to write in a notebook, diary or notebook? You are faced with this problem if you received such an item as a gift or bought it for the first time.
There are either a lot of ideas or none at all. In addition, you feel sorry for spoiling the pages with nonsense written in clumsy handwriting.
We will figure out what to write in a notebook, notebook and diary. But first, let's clear a few points.
Differences between a notepad, notebook and diary
The difference between a notebook and a notebook is that the notebook is fastened on top, and the notebook on the side. Hence the prefix “book”. The notebook is also called a reporter, because this form factor is convenient for journalists.
Notebooks are often confused with notepads. It's wrong, but not fatal.
Notepad or notebook for planning. In the classic version, the pages of the diary are filled with special markings on which it is convenient to keep plans. But you can also use a regular notebook for planning and consider it a diary.
Notebook 
Notebook 
Diary
Notepad, notebook and diary are paper tools. Paper because they are made of paper. And tools - because they are used to solve specific problems. I do not claim to be the author of this term, but I use it within the blog.
Write what you want
This is a personal tool and only you can decide what to write in your diary, notebook or notebook. At least mark the boiling time of the kettle. You have every right.
Let go of the idea that your writing isn't deep or big. Paper is often used for small things like grocery lists. Write whatever you want. This is your thing, your ideas and your business.
In the article “What to write in a notebook, diary and notebook” I will give you several options. Use examples or ignore.
Records are universal
Examples of what to write in a notebook or diary are universal. Recordings can be made in any instrument. Of course, a diary is more suitable for plans, and a notebook for a personal diary. But who dares to ban the mix.
I will briefly describe each idea. I have specified many of them in separate articles. Decide which of the above is right for you.
What to write in a notebook, diary and notebook
1. Goals, plans and lists
Paper tools are designed for time management. Plan, keep to-do lists, formulate and specify goals.
This is one of the most useful options paper use.
2. Personal diary
The usefulness of a diary is in no way inferior to planning. If you keep a diary in a notebook or notebook, you definitely won’t go wrong.
Share thoughts, reflections, experiences and feelings.
3. Creativity
Whatever you create, a notepad, diary or notebook will help you. Draw, write poems and stories, generate ideas and sketches.
4. Self-development
If you are engaged in self-development, a notebook will be useful to you. Record directions and successes, systematize knowledge, keep a list of books.
5. Ideas
Record every idea. Then re-read and decide what to do with them. Implement, postpone or throw away.
Ideas appear spontaneously. That's how they disappear. Grab it and pin it to the page. Who knows, maybe one of them will change your life.
Even the furry one knows what to write in a notebook or diary.
6. Thoughts
If you don’t want to keep a diary (point 2), then at least write your thoughts. Even in a business diary there is a place for them. Describe events, moods, states. Unload everything in your head. Get things in order.
7. Work/Study Notes
Depends on your main occupation. But no matter what you do, there is sure to be related information. Schedule, schedule, assignments, bibliography, etc.
Where else to write this down, if not in a notebook, notebook or diary.
8. Meetings, events
Both work and personal. Briefly summarize and highlight the main idea.
As the meeting or presentation progresses, write down everything that seems important. You will remember better and then use the notes.
9. Finance
It is easier to record small incomes in special applications. But it’s better to plan your monthly budget, trips, and events on paper.
Add a shopping list. Not bread, milk, cheese, but something more substantial. What you need to think about and plan in advance.
Summarize the financial results of the week, month and even year.
10. Questions and solutions
Sometimes questions pop up in your head that deserve attention. Write them down and reflect on them free time. The answers are similar to the ideas. They also affect life.
11. Control and analysis
To achieve results more successfully, control and analyze yourself. At the end of the week or month, take stock. Write what you did, what you didn’t do, for what reasons.
12. Lists
Everyone loves lists. Books, films, travel and more.
Other notes
I will transfer the essence of this point to you. You know better.
What am I writing?
I love, write and collect notebooks. That’s why I lead four at a time. First- diary. My business lives there. Plans for the week and for every day. I also make any entries in the diary that relate to business: lists, expenses and income, ideas, etc.
The second notebook is a diary. For personal and indecent.
The third is creative. For thinking and creating texts. I have several directions in which I write. I allocated a piece of my notebook for each and I think about it, come up with ideas, and generally have fun.
The fourth is pocket. This is a kind of compromise between the previous three. In it, I can make a list of tasks (diary), write down what worries or interests me (diary), and sketch out an idea, the structure of the text (creative). I got a pocket assistant so as not to carry several tools with me. For trips out of the house and trips to other cities and countries.
This system meets my needs. I didn’t come to it right away, but after dozens, if not hundreds, of attempts.
Join the owners and admirers of paper stationery. They carry, in addition to benefits, a special charm. Soon notebooks and notepads will become something like vinyl records. Archaic, inferior to modern innovations, but at the same time they do not lose their audience.
Don’t think for long about what to write in your notebook, write. Carry it with you and take notes. Don't worry about form and content. You won't be able to come up with the perfect concept for using paper right away. And finally, get rid of the nonsense that your notes will ruin the notebook or ruin its reputation.
I shared ideas on what to write in a notebook, planner, and notebook. If your heart responds to some point, grab a tool and write.
April 14th, 2016 , 10:30 am
Like most girls, I am a real stationery maniac and love to write by hand, despite the expansion of digital devices. I have great amount notebooks, and I continue to buy them, despite the fact that I don’t have time to use them. Several times I was asked to tell what notebooks I use, or rather, to show them from the inside. So today I open my soul to you and let you into my little office world. Let's go?
1. For daily, weekly, monthly and yearly self-organization, I use an amazing notebook. Work and dream business organizer from White For Type. I like it all: black and white minimalism, beautiful fonts"by hand", inspiring quotes and the absence of dates - and therefore no time frames. In addition, unlike traditional organizers, it has many necessary compartments aimed at organizing the most different areas life. I photographed the notebook as soon as I bought it, so as not to show off my scribbles (however, you will see them in some notebooks). The organizer begins with a mood board, which I still haven’t filled out, but I want to do it today or tomorrow while watching a movie - a real meditation and reboot.
Next is the general page About my project - here I entered several points with personal projects that I am currently developing and gave everyone very general characteristics how I see him in a year. The column “Goals for the year” seems to me to be too small even for one project, so I wrote my goals in the To-do lists section at the end of the organizer. Please note that the organizer has different pages - some are white, and some have dots instead of a ruler and a square. I really like it: on the one hand, fear disappears clean slate, and on the other hand, there is some kind of structure, a visual division of the graphs.
The organization of the months is ideal: I especially like that there are no markings by dates and months, and it is not necessary to start exactly from January. The calendar is convenient: I have enough space to write in everything I need. I put small things in the weekly section, and global things that cannot be moved here (for example, flight time somewhere, important events and meetings). I write down inaccurate global points in pencil. The bottom line of the calendar always remains empty: here I write down which goals from my plans for the year I have accomplished. This simple technique allows me to see progress and move from planning to action.
The left page is also ideal for me: there are important sections for “goals”, “money”, even the number of subscribers :) as well as empty space for personal sections. The only thing that is not clear is “experience +/-”. I usually write “leisure” items there: books, films, performances, exhibitions, etc.
After each month, one spread for entries related to it. For example, in the March spread I wrote places to visit in Kaliningrad, and in the April spread - in Riga. Next, obviously, are the weeks:
Weeks are even more convenient than months: there is enough space for everything, even for those with voluminous handwriting, there is a huge section with to-dos and a separate one for goals (and this is important so as not to get bogged down in small matters and not forget about more ambitious tasks) . In Notes, I write things related to work so that they are in a separate column. The only thing I don’t use is the money section, but this is a convenient option for those who have their own business.
For financial control and analytics I use convenient application Money Wiz. But the Money section in the organizer is convenient, and I use it to record work expenses and efficiency.
The amazing section with goals and dreams captivated me with its thoughtfulness.
For each dream goal, a whole page is allocated, where you can write down the steps in detail, as well as set the corresponding status. As soon as you enter a goal here, it turns from a “dream” state into a “planning” state, and then is gradually achieved - verified!
The To-do lists section is quite voluminous: I assume that the developers did not have goals in mind, but small things. But I prefer to write them down in the week and month sections and don’t see the point in duplicating them. Therefore, in To-do lists I wrote down my plans for the year, grouping them by area:
- Travel
- Career & Finance
- Blogging
- Self-development
- Beauty & Health
At the end of the organizer, my favorite is the summary. Here you can write and analyze which goals were achieved, which were not, why, which actions were successful and which were wrong. The results are given several spreads.
In general, the organizer is ideal, but it has one significant drawback: it is large and heavy; if I were still at university, I definitely would not carry it with me. However, I don’t need it that much in the city and I keep it at home. Finally, one of the wonderful motivational quotes:
2. You are probably already tired, but this organizer is very large and varied - the following points will not be so lengthy :)
ABOUT blogger calendar I wrote to them asking me many times - and I want to immediately note: this is the case that illustrates the phrase: “Everything ingenious is simple.” It looks like a small padded notepad that can be tucked into your planner or carried in any bag. His the main objective: organize the activities of a blogger - creative and therefore a little chaotic. I also photographed the calendar immediately after purchase, so the pages are pristinely clean. By the way, I really like that the organizer and calendar for a blogger are similar to each other, although this is the work of different companies: one in Moscow, the other in St. Petersburg.
There is a laconic phrase on the cover that immediately explains why the blogger needs this calendar :) Phrases and motivational quotes are its basis, they are on every spread and I like almost all of them. On the first page there are immediate goals:
Like the organizer, there are no months or dates, which is convenient for those who will buy the calendar after the new year and long before the next one. The phrases below are great writing kicks; I often remember the one on the left and encourage myself:
These phrases are also an excellent guide to action. Especially “It’s better to write about this on a blog” - this is exactly how a blogger’s thinking works: to perceive the surrounding reality through the question: “Is it worth writing about this?”
And my two favorite quotes:
The last few spreads are post ideas. That's the whole calendar for a blogger: simple, beautiful and functional.
3. Notepad of the beautiful blue color My mom brought it to me from work :) It’s also dedicated to blogging: it’s notebook with ideas for blog and social networks. True, after purchasing a convenient organizer and calendar for a blogger, I began to use it much less, but I still continue to write down versions of posts and this is where I draw inspiration. The notebook contains several sections dedicated to different social networks: LiveJournal and instagram I plan more, and subscribe from YouTube and Periscope interesting ideas, which can be used in a text blog.
Until I got a Calendar for a blogger, I did it myself:
4. “The wisdom of an eccentric” - I write in this small, already falling apart notebook books read and films, TV series, performances and exhibitions seen. He is not in the general photo because I forgot about him at first, but without him the story would be incomplete:
I started writing it in 2011 and at first I rated the work in the form of a block:
And in 2012 I already switched to more convenient fractions:
I like to write down what I see and read, the flow of information is at least a little organized:
It would be necessary to introduce a separate section for TV series, but for now I mark them with the letter S:
When I write down performances in my notebook, I write down the roles of those actors who impressed me, so that, if necessary, I can go to other productions with them:
Exhibitions and performances are not only Moscow, but also non-resident and foreign. When flipping through the notebook, it’s nice to remember both the museum and the trip:
5. Notebook dedicated to the art of photography and videography, - however, how could there be anything different in it? :) Here I write down useful excerpts from numerous webinars and articles on photography, my own observations and reminders like: “call / write to the client on the eve of the shoot,” “take such and such props,” and so on.
Here, as in almost all of my notebooks, I use colored sticky notes for rubrication. Very comfortably!
Setting up the light is, of course, a matter of practice, but it’s easier with a cheat sheet :)
6. And this is the holy of holies: My personal diary. It is small in size, but absolutely wonderful inside, I’m already talking about it. The notebook starts with an organizer, which I "wasted" in 2015, leaving plenty of room for personal essays.
I like not only to write down something important, but also to print out photos from Instagram and attach them to the necessary pages. I do this using paper clips, so that you can pull it out or move it aside and read what’s under the photo:
7. Finally, the strangest notebook from the point of view of how I use it:) In addition, it is handmade: I purchased it at one of the charity fairs where I donate my . This is where I lead list of things I did for the first time. Here are excerpts from the first entries as an example:
- September 8, 2013 - was an observer at the Moscow mayoral elections; I even wrote about this experience, but the photos from it disappeared somewhere :(
- September 11, 2013 - visited the new building of the Faculty of Economics of Moscow State University
- September 24, 2013 - I tried figs for the first time - TASTY!
- September 26, 2013 - came to the new and completely renovated Lyceum building
- November 19, 2013 - I got on a snowboard for the first time. Woohoohoo!
- December 13, 2013 - made a post in the “One day of mine” community
That's all my notebooks that I use all the time - there are 7. This is not counting the notebook with recipes, but it looks more like a folder with magazine clippings or printouts :)
Do you use notepads or have you completely switched to digital format? How many do you have? what are you recording? Share in the comments!
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