97. How to Stay Organized with Only One Notebook

Summary

The video offers a practical tip for staying organized by using just one notebook for all note-taking, ideas, and tasks. The speaker shares the 'one notebook principle,' explaining how consolidating notes into one place and processing them weekly increases productivity and prevents losing track of ideas. She highlights how this method streamlines her workflow, whether taking notes for personal development or business. Viewers are encouraged to try the 'one notebook challenge' for a month, and share their experiences, helping them simplify note management and improve weekly planning.

Takeaways

• 📝 Embrace using just one notebook for all notes and ideas to stay organized and avoid scattering information across multiple places.
• 🤔 Many people have multiple notebooks but struggle to locate notes or remember where they've written things down.
• 📒 A single notebook system can be very effective if you establish a regular process for reviewing and organizing the notes.
• 📅 Choose a specific day each week to review your notes, such as Friday, Monday, or over the weekend, depending on your schedule.
• 🔖 Use two markers in your notebook: one for the current page you're working on and another to mark where you’ve processed up to.
• 📝 During your weekly review, decide if the note needs action, should be added to a master task list, or if it’s no longer relevant.
• 💻 For important information that may need later action, consider transferring detailed notes into a Google Doc or other digital system.
• 🗂 At the end of each notebook’s use, toss the old one if everything has been processed and stored in a more accessible place.
• 📚 Although it's tempting to collect notebooks, resist using multiple ones by treating yourself to a new notebook only when you've filled the previous one.
• 📸 Megan encourages her audience to embrace the 'One Notebook Challenge' and share photos of their notebook on social media.

Q & A

What is the main tip shared in the video?

The main tip is to use only one notebook for all notes, ideas, and tasks to stay more organized and avoid forgetting where things are written.

Why does the speaker prefer using one notebook instead of multiple?

The speaker prefers using one notebook because it helps avoid the confusion and frustration of trying to remember which notebook a particular note or idea is written in.

What system does the speaker suggest to manage and organize notes effectively?

The speaker suggests reviewing the notebook once a week and processing the notes by either discarding unimportant ones, adding tasks to a master backlog, or transcribing them into a Google Doc for future reference.

How does the speaker handle tasks that need follow-up after writing them down?

The speaker either adds them to a master backlog for prioritization or transcribes detailed notes into a Google Doc for future reference.

What are the three possible outcomes when processing notes from the notebook?

The three possible outcomes are: 1) Letting go of notes that are no longer relevant, 2) Adding tasks or ideas to a master backlog, or 3) Transcribing notes into a Google Doc for future use.

Why is it important to review and process notes weekly, according to the speaker?

Weekly review keeps the notes fresh in mind, helps ensure important tasks or ideas are followed up on, and prevents the confusion of forgetting what the notes meant if left unchecked for too long.

What does the speaker do when a notebook is full?

When a notebook is full, the speaker keeps it until the new notebook is full, and then discards the old one because everything important has already been captured or transcribed.

How does the speaker balance work and personal life when using a notebook?

In the past, the speaker used separate notebooks for work and home because their work and home life were more distinct. Now, they manage everything in one notebook since their life has become more integrated.

How does the speaker make use of Trello in their note-taking system?

The speaker uses Trello to maintain a master backlog of tasks and ideas, adding important tasks from the notebook to Trello during the weekly review.

What does the speaker suggest for those who are attached to having multiple notebooks?

The speaker suggests trying the 'one notebook challenge' for a month to see how it feels, which might help people simplify their note-taking system and improve organization.