I had seen your previous video on pocket notebook and at that very instant i bought a pocket notebook and to my surprise i still carry it daily for past 2 months and i am so fascinated that how it helps me in my decision making, mental clarity and all other aspects in my life.
I'm a bit of a writer and I just started using a pocket notebook. After you started talking about how much clearer your ideas are without the complete overwhelm of technology, I made a note in my pocket notebook to take some note book time to figure out a character's back story I was struggling with. I really hope this works. A good friend of mine who's more experience as a writer said I definitely have all the pieces but I'm just struggling to put them together. I think the struggle might come from being distracted and overwhelmed.
I saw your first video on carrying a pocket notebook and loved it. Even shared it with my brothers because of how much i connected to your story. I went and got one. That was 5 or 6 months ago. I prefer a blank notebook or sketchbook as I like to draw and create my own boxes and doodles. I've since broken it down to a kind of planner/brain dump. With a top 3 to do each day. I am now on my second book and I love it. I've seen others talk about using a notebook, their books were pretty and artsy and organized. But you were the only one who I could relate to the most and I saw myself using it like you, so you inspired me to actually do it. So thanks man. I love having it. Also, its a huge conversation starter when people see you bust out a pen and paper to jot something down lol Ps my favorite pen is the Sharpie Pen felt tip 👍
If you couple this with meditation you'll be dangerous in todays world. Alot of the ideas I have in my notebook I internalize when I meditate. Love this concept and I think its highly underrated
Love this!!! I am old. Well, not really, but when it comes to how most of the world works today, yeah, it’s true. I graduated high school in 1993. That was the year that the internet was kinda born. My first year of university it was all the rage. But it wasn’t easy to access. At that point the internet was a bunch of sweaty nerds in small rooms with computers that required users basically using code DOS to access the internet. Anyway, at that point there was also, no Cel phones or easy access to information. We had to go to the library. Or make a friend who could understand the internet code. The other part was about writing down ideas, or stuff to remember. And most of that involved writing down paper and pen/pencil. The gist of where I’m getting at is I am hooked on my phone now. And access to information. There is so much out there that is so interesting. I want to know it all. And all of that leads to what you’re talking about in this video, distraction, lack of focus, and basically the opposite of what technology supposedly is offering. Think back to a time before all this was around, but now I had to write down my ideas, and actually go searching and digging for information when I didn’t know or understand something. I used to write creatively quite a bit back in the day, and I remember one method I used to harness and develop my creativity was with a method similar to your notebook. I carried a notebook with me everywhere, and when I Ideas would pop into my head, I would write them down, and then go about what I was doing. Ideas would just randomly pop in my head, and write them down, and go on. Later on when I have a moment to harness that creativity I’d have access to ideas I had earlier in the day. I go through my notebook, and turn ideas into stories, songs, poetry, or whatever I feel at the moment. This video has really reminded me of how powerful such a simple tool was. I’m happy you stumbled upon it, and I hope that you’ll inspire others to at least try it. Maybe people start putting down their phones and letting their brains Do what they do best. Thanks for posting. This was great
That's a quiet nice suggestion. I actually used a kind of "rough notebook" for home for a quiet similar purpose like to do list, plans for self improvement, writing down ideas, etc. Though I scarcely viewed it; no more than once every 3 days, that too just a little peek. But a pocket notebook is a much better idea. Checking it multiple times a day is quite natural and solves the problem I had with the rough notebook. Especially, making the pocket notebook a spiral would help me pair a small pen with it and I would also write much more ideas.
I'm loving the videos on the pocket notebook. Such a simple topic, but a way better practice than trying the next best software that'll for certain work this time.
I wrote down in my note book to ask questions. Also, too many times we hear the input of others and don't make time for our own thoughts. Great video. 👊
I did this too, I can confirm that having a pocket notebook is so helpful and just nice in general to have. It allows me to just completely think organically and have better ideas. I feel like a notebook is not for everyone but for that small amount of people its perfect for them. (cough cough I actually made a video based of your experience)
I really enjoy my pocket notebook. I really enjoy writing in it when I'm on the train and when I'm on the bus . I really love journaling . A lot of times I take the train and the bus to the end of the line so I can write in my pocket notebook. 👍 I put a like on this video. I really enjoyed this video.
Slowly, but surely, you’re making a difference. One idea can change many. I’m interested in trying this, got some good notes from your videos, I appreciate it.
In the last few years, a close friend of mine has started carrying around little books with him everywhere, owns and regularly uses a typewriter, and I think he's much better for it
if you add an adhesive pocket at the back, you could put a washi card in there (or use a washi card as a bookmark), and then you add that to the edge or corner of the pages you want to refer back to, so it's easy to flip to
Yep... in the morning on the throne is the brain storming period for me so... a notebook / pencil by the TP would be very useful for documenting these thought moments :)
How many of these note books do you go through a month? Do you keep them and reference later? If so do you have a system in place to find some idea for example that was in your last notebook?
I go through one notebook every 2 months usually, although it depends on what I'm doing in life around that time. I always save them, even if I don't go back and look through them. As for marking, yes I have a system, I fold the top of the page over that I think I may want to come back and refer to, then when it's finished I go back through and find al those pages and copy over what I want to keep into my computer. That's the top 3% usually
I tried the pocket notebook but I keep losing the silly things. Sounds like a me problem, right? Right. So I switched to a full size composition book. Harder to lose! I still credit Austin with showing the benefits of keeping a notebook, just a bigger one!
Sometimes I write stupid things in my diary😑. And seeing those writings, I sometimes think that when I die, what will someone else think of me if they see this diary?🙂
Hi Austin, just reaching out to ask about the book stand you showed briefly at the 7.57 mark. Could you tell me what it is if possible? Thank. Great videos and I've adopted your notebook technique in the UK.
I though about getting back to a notebook (I used one when I was 10 years old already...) Today with my phone, I came up to a solution that works for me. My "idea" taking app is my calendar. I just put them inside, I don't care about the time, they are saved "today". Because is the limitation of the title, I only write keywords I know I will remember later. This forces me to consciously find the right words, and forces me to slow down. Once home, on the computer I can process these ideas, reformulate them, and move them as task in the calendar (or simple move to the bin). And because they are keywords, I use a note taking app (in my case Obsidian) to expand my thoughts in the project they belong. I type my own words too. Because I'm bad at typing, I mistype a lot and this forces my to rephrase a lot (it took me more than 5 min o correct this comments xD). I do your CDC, digitally. And this is why I like smartphone, to help me first hand. 💪🏼 Thank you for your content and how to present them!
So, I like this, but it doesn't go deep enough IMHO, you can go much more specific and beneficial with notebooks. I know it can be good to keep it simple, but say you do want to find your notes on something, there's ways to collect those notes on notebooks like these and keep track of them. Sometimes you want to keep thoughts in particular areas of your life, processing thoughts can also be a completely separate notebook. I have one notebook just for thinking and progress tracking for my content production. I understand that this wasn't what your video was about and this isn't a complaint or anything, I just think that with this being like your fourth video on notebooks, it's about time you went deeper than surface level life stuff and started showing more than the basics.
The ‘distraction’ part of this video had me scratching my head. Don’t you put your phone on silent, or face the screen down when you’re busy? I also still carry a notebook in 2024, and this many others would get mileage out of doing so, too. But I don’t carry it because of a lack of distractions. It’s often just quicker and more convenient for both taking notes and sharing notes with others. Especially at work.
We can avoid distractions yes, but I meant more in the sense of when you’re using it. Brain storming and problem solving for example is hard for me on a phone because distraction is one click away. But using a notebook doesn’t allow for that. Hopefully that makes more sense
Great video! I've been watching your content for a while and your videos helped in motivating me to take more analog notes. (Now I love carrying my pocket notebook with me at all times!) Let me try and give you something back in return, which I'm sure you'll find deeply thought-provoking: Maryanne Wolf's book "Reader, Come Home" draws connections between "deep" (analog) reading, the development of a "reading circuit" in our brain, our capacity for empathy, and how all this connects to democratic societies. And she also lays out how "shallow" (screen) reading can close many of these doors for us when done for a long time. The author finally proposes a way we could take the best of both kinds of reading (deep vs. shallow) by cultivating a "biliteral brain". "Reader, Come Home" by Maryanne Wolf. - If any of the above sparked your interest, I highly recommend you give this book a try! Quick read, big thoughts!
Thank you so much for this! I will check it out, that sounds quite interesting and very valuable. We need to learn to balance this, as it's the way the world is. That's an important skill. If you think of anything else, feel free to shoot me an email or DM
@@AustinSchrock You are very welcome - always happy to give something back when I feel it might be well received. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the book (maybe) in a future video?! 😉 I'm sure you'll be inspired by what Wolf has to say about the topic of analog/deep reading and many of her key messages will naturally find their way into your future content.
