Merlins Tower

Notetaking and Organization - How I got sucked in.

Posted on August 29th, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, GTD, Hack, Journaling, Miquelrius, Moleskine, Search Engine, Tutorial, working.

You can read and read many different blogs and forums and there are many different ways to take notes and organize yourself.

I have read them - in fact many of the blogs are in RSS reader and I take a peak at them when I have a few moments of time. - I don’t know why but I enjoy learning new hints and tips to help me organize myself better.

A few years back I discovered writing in small journals and notebooks. I started out writing in Steno Pads that we had at work. These are great for taking quick notes and organizing myself for the day when ever I would receive a phone call or work on a issue - In the notebook it went - I was going through quite a few notebooks as you can guess. I then would take the info that was relative to an issue and the rewrite it into my permanent notebook (This is after I gave up using a PDA - Great for searching out data but hard to input and harder to always sync and keep the battery fresh. Basically a pain in the rear end.) My permanent notebook was a journal I picked up the local bookstore in Downtown Pittsburgh near my bus stop. I loved the small size and the quad ruled paper that it had it in. This was my first Miquelrius Journal. I actually first saw this at the computer help desk where I saw one of the techs using one while on the phone easily looking up past issues and their resolution she made organization look so easy. I asked her about it and this I believe was the down fall of me purchasing notebooks and pens. She showed me a few of the ways she organized it and followed her lead. She always numbered each page. (Which I also read on quite a few blogs) She used alot of sticky notes to lead her to the correct area of her notebook to help her solve one of her cases. She was always faster then trying to find the info in the database that was given to them to try and do what she was doing in her notebook.

It was hard for me to start writing in the notebook journal as it was so pristine and I guess I felt intimidated looking at all those blank pages staring back at me. To make my process of writing in the journal one step closer was to number all the pages - Well not all but in the bottom right hand corner I would number ever other page. 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 9 - 11 ……….

Then I would draw and comment on the inside flap what I was using this journal for. (I read this somewhere and it really does help get over the new notebook jitters) I now no longer had a pristine journal but a personalized organization system. (Ok Ok the start of one)

The next step was to keep a hard copy of all the number I had in my cell phone. Since I was no longer syncing my pda or carrying it with me I needed a way to have all my numbers with me where I could find them. So, What I did was to divide my notebook up into smaller sections. First Section was for Business - Second section was for Personal Notes - and Third was General Info. The Phone number went into the third section. I took and wrote out all my phone numbers and that was the start of my notebook. After I finished writing out all my numbers I then took several high liters and highlited the names of the people I just wrote down. Pink was Personal - Blue was Business - Yellow was the important numbers. This little step helped me look over the list of over 300 numbers and spot the frequently called numbers that much easier.

Next I did a step similar to my friends - I made an index section - I marked about 10 pages in the back of the notebook to just be cross reference data / Index of what I wrote. Say I wote in my personal section all the birthdays of all my friends and family - something I don’t use on a daily basis - I wrote it down in the index - Birthdays and Anniversaries - p105 - List of Past Christmas Presents - p157 (Whew no more embarrassing buying the same gift 2 years in a row)

This was the basic startup of how I started the analog way. This did take me some time getting used to writing in my notebook and once I got used to finding the data. I believe I was faster and more organized as I didn’t mind jotting a quick note down in my journal. But turning on the PDA removing the stylus getting to the right program - creating a new note - naming it and then finally being able to use graffiti to jot the note down. Since it was that much easier I was writing and documenting more instead of trying to remember it all. I didn’t always jot the notes down into the index so I would do a weekly round up that out remembered from one of the organization meetings I got to go to. I would go through my notes and it I thought it was worth noting I wrote it down in the index and noted the page. This also allowed me to cross reference some of the info. So, if I ran out of room on a page and needed to write more I would just make a note of the page I had additional info on and highlight it. I believe this is what started me reading more about organization and note taking. I wanted to be better at it then I was. And I am pretty sure that is the same reason you read so far in this long winded entry. In the next few days I will write about my modified Cornell Note Taking system. So be sure to stop back and comment here and let me know some of the tips you are using. Or if you think you might have a better way to do something I wrote about Please let me know I love to learn some more tricks and hacks. I know these hint and hacks really did work for me  - I still use this daily in my own business working on websites and in my computer services. My clients are amazed that I am so low tech with my fountain pen and little black journal.
Thanks for Reading.
Digital Alan - Merlins Tower

Technorati Tags: analog, note taking, notebooks, journal, journals, journalling, organization, fountain pen, fountain, pen, quad, ruled, quad ruled, GTD, PDA

2 comments.

Miquelrius Journal - How to use for Organization

Posted on August 18th, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: GTD, Hack, Journaling, Miquelrius, Moleskine.

First - Sorry I have been quite busy lately - Working on a couple of new web sites for several clients, and working on a clients crashed hard drive and and and and just didn’t have enough time in the day to organize myself enough to write a few blog entries.

So, It looks like I need to take a few notes from Isahrai.com and get myself organized. Yes, I am trying but when all hell breaks loose…. Out goes my organization. ;-)

She talks about her organization scheme and what she uses. ([_] Re Read Isahrai’s Blog on Organization)  The Basis of her scheme is that she had quite a few notebooks to track her life and now she is using my favorite journal the Miquelrius 4×6 graph lined journal. She talks about how the Miquelrius that is perfect for her. That they are cheaper then Moleskines (And if you read - doesn’t have as many issues with production - Read the Google Groups Articles) She also mentions that they are the perfect size in both interior and exterior dimensions. The pages are thick enough that her Zebra Sarasa .7 doesn’t bleed through and the binding last the entire duration of the 200 page abuse. Her article then goes into great detail about her organization scheme. Her use of Check Boxes, Her Weekly Round up and how she even marks up the pages.  This really is an informative guide to help get organized.

Several of the hints and tips I have seen and used myself like on the to-do lists that she actually use the top down for work tasks and the bottom up for personal tasks.

She did give  a few Ideas that I didn’t think about - like using paper clips  to allow easy access to her “Week Page” - One for her Daily Page - and the other two for other purposes in her all-in-one Miquelrius journal.

She even uses index cards - One in the front for her grocery/shopping lists - Ideas for her blog and other publications - Her “Let It Go or Non - Nice Things Card” where she writes the things she wishes to say but never does. “Great Idea” And she also has a wish card for her dreams.

Her article goes on that she does have a journal just for her journaling but that is only taken out for coffee or the beach. (Boy I want a beach near by that is not a man made lake) :-(

I would like to welcome her to the cult umm movement  about using the Miquelrius Journals. Welcome - But I am learning quite a bit from her.

Here is the link to her Blog Entry - Isahrai on Organization with the Miquelrius Journal

Technorati Tags: Miquelrius, Moleskine, Journal, Organization, GTD, Index Card, Notetaking

1 comment.

*NEW* - Miquelrius Journals on their site.

Posted on July 16th, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: Journaling, Miquelrius, Moleskine.

Well I just Saw these on Miquelrius Website (boy, I really hate that flash presentation site - just give me a nice olde fashioned html page - Sorry, I digress) But it looks like these might be new - or at least I have not seen them before on their site. Looks like it is a Miquelrius - Moleskine Mashup. If it is the quality and the same paper I love from Miquelrius then this might be the nirvana of all notebooks. I have not found any place to purchase these from. I did see they were mentioned on a Japanese website (Aichen World) - But was not able to translate the page. (Google Translate didn’t work) - From the sparse info on their website:

Sizes (2):
152 x 210 mm & 104 x 150 mm Or
6 x 8 1/4 inches & 4 x 6 Inches

Available in Squared, Plain and Horizontal Rulings.
Number of pages: 100, 200, and 300 Leaves.

The Description is: Leather-Look Bound. Closes with Elastic Band.

Ok anyone - Please let me know if you see these journals anywhere. Thanks

From the 43Boards Posting about this - I was told these can be bought at:
http://www.shopmiquelrius.com/ (do a search for flexible)
They have all the different types and styles From… Grid/Graph/Square - Horizontal Rule - or Blank in Both Sizes and some of the older Leather Like ones have index tabs on them.

Thanks

Tags: analog, GTD, Journal, Leather Journal, Miquelrius, Moleskine, notebook, Office Supply Porn, paper

6 comments.

Moleskine Notebook - So Disappointing to use!

Posted on July 14th, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: Journaling, Miquelrius, Moleskine.

Well, last evening I just finished using up the last page in my journal I write my daily thoughts in. So, I decided it was a good time to use the Moleskine I was given. I have been saving this for quite some time. I guess I didn’t want to ruin it, since it seemed so special.

Well, honesty I really despise this notebook. I really was expecting more I guess.

My biggest complaint was that I love using fountain pens and I just received in my possession a really nice Cross Penatia Silver and Black Fountain Pen (I will post a review at a latter time). I was using some of my new ink I got Private Reserve Orange Crush. I love this ink and it just has a nice old fashioned and regal/rich look to it. Writing with this ink gives me a nice feeling.

Well I stated jotting my daily notes and flipped the page and guess what. The ink bled thru the page. So, I got out my trusty Lamy Fountain Pen with Noodlers Black Ink and it bled as well but not as much But still more then my liking. I guess I am used to using the Miquelrius Notebook. I am going to finish using the Moleskine But Can only use half the pages because the pages bleed way too much to my liking.

With this said I will only buy the Miquelrius Notebooks from now one. And they are much cheaper too. (Well they cost the same but you get more paper and a better quality of paper to boot)

Tags: analog, Fountain, fountain pen, Journal, Moleskine, paper, Pen, Ink, Miquelrius

2 comments.

PDA - Back to Basics or Going from Digital to Analog

Posted on June 29th, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, GTD, Hack, Miquelrius, Moleskine, Tutorial, Uncategorized, Web Service.

Look at all the interesting people going back to digital and what they are using. This past week The Boston Globe had an article entitled PDA Buffs go back to basics. The article is quite interesting and would recommend taking a look at it if you have a few moments to spare. The report that Mike Rohde (Certifiable Palm Fanatic) has gone analog. He was fed up with all the years of cracked screens, battery outages and many glitches that come from owning a PDA and went back to an old comfort zone. The PEN and PAPER. Mikes Blog shows his digital to analog ways and is documenting it. His system is called the “Analog Task Management System” or Notebook Here is a link to his resource. Which I have been reading for quite sometime as it really is a good information resource.
The Boston Globe article is 2 pages and list a few good resources that I have mentioned before and a few I will look at in more depth. They mention the PocketMod (as seen in the photo above). They also mention Merlin Mann (one of the creators of the Hipster PDA and creator of 43 Folders.com ) And Douglas Johnston of DIYPlanner.com. All Great Resources if you plan on going from Digital to Analog - or if you are already doing analog and have a few hints to provide or want to pick up a few interesting helpful hints.

Tags: analog, Blog, DIYPlanner, GTD, Hacks, HipsterPDA, Indexcard, IndexCards, Lifehack, Moleskine, notebook, Notecard, Online Reference, Organization, Organizer, paper, Reference

0 comments.

To PAD or Not to PAD?

Posted on March 17th, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: GTD, Journaling, Miquelrius, Moleskine.

Found this interesting blog entry on using a PAD (Personal Analog Device) and not using a PDA.

Quote from chrisbrogan"s blog:

But for me, for getting things done, for GTD as the kids call it, I like my PAD. (Someone else coined the phrase "personal analog device." Please remind me who.)

Pads are portable- I can whip my memo pad out of my pocket easy cheesy. AND I can sit on it.

Pads are fast- I can boot my pad in the time it takes to flip the cover.

No special language- Instant handwriting recognition.

Great Graphics- I can render pictures in incredible detail.

Always synched!- What"s on the page is true until I cross it off.

Theft-resistant- Who wants to steal a cheap notepad?

He recommends Mead Notebook

I Recommend the Moleskine Reporter.

Technorati Tags: GTD, Journaling, Miquelrius, Moleskine

2 comments.

Miquelrius Journal - New Images

Posted on January 27th, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: Art, Craft, GTD, Journaling, Leather, Miquelrius, Moleskine.

Click on the photo above to see my Flicker Set of Photos - I updated these with better photo and better cropping. You will find my updated images for my craft project of making a leather cover that would fit the Miqulrius Journal. I chose the Miqulrius Journal since it has many more pages (400 Pages) and it can still fit into my back pocket or inside coat pocket. I wanted the leather to hold in my index cards and some post-it notes, post-it notes tabs, some print-outs, and some money. The paper is a very nice quality alowing me to use my favorite fountain pens and ink.

5 comments.

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