You need to take notes

💌 236 words ⌛ 1 minute

Keep a paper notebook, a piece of paper, a notes app handy, at all times. Make it a habit to write down what is happening and what you need to remember. Start that habit today, it will help you become a better and more relaxed manager.

Why it matters: David Allen once said "The mind is for having ideas, not holding them." And this sums it up perfectly. Keep your mind free to think. As a manager, people throw information at you all the time. If you try to remember everything in your head, your mind is busy with that only. Plus, your mind is not as reliable as pen and paper.

Dig deeper:

• Keep it simple:

  • Make a dot for a task, a dash for information, and a circle for an event like a meeting, like in the drawing

  • Bullet Journaling is a simple yet effective method to take notes and keep them organized.

  • If bullet journaling sounds appealing to you, check out this video.

• Just start:

  • You will either write down too little or too much.

  • Over time you will find your flight level necessary to make information usable.

• Analog over Digital:

  • A paper notebook goes a long way and allows you to write, draw, and get creative.

  • You automatically focus on the note, rather than on the tool.
    

How do you take notes? Talk nerdy to me, reply to this mail.

— Daniel