Heroes Not Zombies

I looked down from the balcony in this Tokyo museum a few years ago and spotted this man busy entering something into his notebook.

I have to tell you that if you’re a notebook fan, Tokyo is a kind of heaven. Actually if you’re a stationary fan, it’s totally a kind of heaven.

Confession – I am a huge fan of stationary and notebooks!

Everyone has their favourite way of making notes. I guess for many one of the notebook apps on their phone does the trick for them. For others, nothing is better than paper and pencil or pen, so a lined, blank, or squared notebook will be their favourite.

I have a bit of the “and not or” approach – surprise, surprise! I use Evernote on my phone, pad and computer, mainly to store interesting articles and quotes. But I prefer a blank paper notebook when I’m reflecting or thinking something through.

I’m a mind mapper but not in any rigid formalised way. I just find it helpful to write my key ideas or points across two blank pages then to connect them up with lines and frames.

I’m also a visual thinker so I draw a lot of diagrams when I’m working something out.

I think, whatever your preferences, notebooks are great for recording what you’ve noticed or experienced. But, I reckon, more than that, notebooks are my main thinking tools.

First I notice, then I reflect and note. Then later I gather my thoughts and reflections to write posts, create presentations and talks, and just to do more thinking!

How about you? Are notebooks a big thing in your life?