April 10, 2007
Notes
I take notes. All the time.
While I am working on things I my mind will sometimes briefly switch over to another subject and I will have to write that point down so that I remember to come back to it later. This helps me keep myself on task and also helps me to resist the urge to keep my primary focus on the task at hand. As long as I write it down I know that I can come back to it and that has been working for me.
As a result I will sometimes come home with Post-it notes with all kinds of things scribbled on them. Some things that may appear on my notes are:
- Ideas for (personal) projects that I am currently working on
- Lists of topics to Google. These typically include things related to topics I've already been researching.
- Lists of things that I need to pack for when I go out of town.
- Lists of things that I need to do tonight before I go to bed.
Problems do arise with this system. Notes get lost. Often times a piece of paper with notes like this will find its way into the hands of a woman or small child. At this point the note becomes useless to me. Not because the contents change, but because I will most likely never see the note again. A note is only useful to me if I can see it.
All points considered, I prefer still prefer to take notes on small pieces of paper and carry them around in my pocket. When am finished with the note it can be easily disposed of in the wastebasket and the note's useful lifecycle is complete.
I am always busy and always thinking about new things. That is why I write notes.
