28 Oct How to take notes on the go

Multi-tasking used to be the domain of mums, nurses and high-flying business execs. But in today’s 24/7 society, when it’s so easy to fill our time up with hundreds of online and offline activities, all of us are busier than ever. More and more of us are juggling tasks to get everything done.

It can be difficult to find time to think in a busy world that keeps our minds occupied at all times, and this means that we often have to slot our thinking time around everything else. So how can we adapt to keep track of everything we need to do, on top of remembering those useful thoughts that come to us when we’re out and about? Here are a few pointers.

1.     Always carry something you can write with

We’ve all had a brainwave with no pen or paper to hand, then been unable to remember it later. If you’ve ever jolted awake with a ‘Eureka!’ moment but couldn’t face scrabbling around your bedroom looking for a pen and paper, you need to get something you can keep by your bedside. The same goes for when you’re out and about – whether you use a handbag or rely on your pockets, ensure you have a compact notepad and pen to hand at all times.

2.     Keep notes short

If you’re out and about you’re probably not going to have time to write an essay, so find a way to keep your notes short and sweet – write in bullets, or develop your own shorthand system.

3.     Get doodling

Doodling can be quicker than writing – so long as you can interpret your own doodles, that is! If you think drawing icons could save you time, go for it – it could quicker to draw a simple house shape and a time than to write ‘Home for tea at 6.30pm’

4.     Have somewhere to store notes

There’s nothing worse than having your thoughts scattered at work, home and in various suit pockets; you need to make your notes in one place where you can access them easily. The scribbled notes we write on the go have a tendency to end up scrunched in pockets or at the bottom of handbags where they can lurk for days before we come across them again. Either stick your notes to your diary or a single notebook that can be used to store both work and personal notes.

5.     Use sticky notes

Unlike traditional notepaper, sticky notes such as Post-its are much less likely to get lost in your wallet or handbag as you can stick them to other surfaces.

6.     Use your smartphone or borrow a Dictaphone

Sometimes it’s just not practical to take notes – whilst driving for example, or in a fast-paced interview. In these cases it’s a good idea to have your smartphone or a Dictaphone to hand as a back up.