Since 2016, I’ve been using the same organizational method with very few alterations. It’s designed for organizing tasks day-by-day and week-by-week, with an emphasis on recording events that occurred, events that will occur, space for todo-lists and reminders.

These are the journals I’ve had since November 27th 2017 to now, November 16th 2018 with tape measure for scale.

Specifications

The core of my method is having each page represent my waking hours for that day, and recording events and reminders during that time. The top of the page is when I wake up (usually 8am) and the bottom is when I go to sleep (10pm or so). Each line of the ruled paper is either one or two hours depending on the notebook. Events typically go alongside the hours as bracketed time spent participating in these events, while notes about the events go along the right side. The bottom and top of each page are for daily reminders (birthdays, holidays, etc). If I need to take up a entire page to write something like a map or very long list, I’ll write it in the back of the notebook.

Of course this format won’t be followed exactily, but it’s a good framework. For example you’ll see in my June 2nd entry in the above photo, I slept until afternoon due to a late night out. So according to my rules I technically should have started the day with a time of 14. But these are guidelines and not strict rules, plus usually nobody gets a look into these messy pages!

So the days go on and on for each page. But there is a special page, the 〇 page. This is a “blank page” for weekly reminders or when I need more space to write. It also has the convenient side effect of making an even number of 8 pages in each cycle so each day of the week consistantly falls on the same side of the notebook. Monday is always on the right side.

Physically, it should be a small, ruled notebook that could feasibly fit in a back pocket or coat pocket. My favorite have been cheap ones from walmart or walgreens. You can buy fancier ones from moleskin but even with daily heavy use they are usually pretty durable or can be fixed with glue and tape. Otherwise I’ve found some neat ones in chinese used book stores. From what I can tell these ones were used during more patriotic times and usually have 5-10 pages taken up in front with notes about armies, politics, or even revolutionary songs!

Reasons to have this kind of journal

• Recording daily reminders: The utility should be obvious.
• Recording thoughts: If I have ideas for a project or song lyrics or a movie that’s recommended, it’s all in there.
• It’s not a phone: No worries about battery, and writing on paper is 500% more human than pressing fingers on glass.
• Remembering past events: I know where I was at a certain time on a certain day, and as the years go by I can look back and remember exactily what I was doing (and even thinking!) on that day.
• You always have a pen and paper: Sometimes you need to sketch out a map for a stranger or leave a note on a desk for someone.