paper brain…

I have used many systems over the years, trying to keep myself organized. I’d print this one and that one off. I had a couple of actual notebook calendars that ran monthly/weekly. None of them really stuck for long. I’ve also been a journaler for a long time, but never seemed to actually finish a notebook through (and once I began blogging, this blog took the place of much of that journaling). When smart phones came along, I attempted to use a few online planners and calendars. I learned very quickly that virtual calendars didn’t work for me at all because I couldn’t see them.

I was in make-do mode for a long time. We’re talking years, people.

Way back, I picked up some cheap, small Moleskine notebooks to use as travel notebooks/scrapbooks. I used one of them for my Colorado album , but the others languished in storage for nearly five years. Around October of last year, I picked one of them up out of desperation for clear, blank paper, not necessarily a notebook. (Blank paper disappears quickly around here with so many young artistes about.) I needed it for meal planning.

Next thing I know, this small notebook is following me everywhere and keeping track of everything, and would you know it? I think I found a system. I call it my paper brain, and I’d be hopelessly lost without it. I filled up my first one about February of this year and have started into a new one (slightly thicker with book binding and the pocket at the back, which is so useful for holding grocery receipts). After struggling to find what I was looking for sometimes, I remembered Molly’s little tip about washi taping the edges to color code the organization, and with that, my system is complete. Beautiful and functional.

What I didn’t realize at first was how it was also collecting quotes that interest me. A tiny bit of art in a whole lot of functional. All but one (the ‘great and noble’ quote) were from the older notebook. Enjoy!