Boost Productivity: Mastering Effective Notebook Usage

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Notebooks are a timeless tool that you can utilize to organize your day, your home, your ideas, and your memories.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved using notebooks. I would write detailed memories during my high school years of special times with friends. I’ve also used notebooks for journaling my feelings. I love writing down my thoughts and memories in my notebooks.  I also use notebooks for organizing ideas and project planning.

This post will share ideas for choosing the right notebook, strategies for organizing your notebooks, bullet journals, to-do lists, and things you can write in a notebook.

Note: I’d like to thank the Erin Condren team for sharing the new notebook and organizing collection included in this post. All opinions are my own. This post includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.  Read my full disclosure policy here.

Choosing the Right Notebook for Your Needs

When you look at notebooks, you will notice they come in many sizes.  

Your first consideration for a notebook is how you will use it.  For a purse notebook to carry with you all the time, you will likely want a smaller and less bulky notebook. 

The new Erin Condren A5-sized notebooks and softbound notebooks are great for carrying with you and writing down notes and daily reminders.

If you plan to use your notebook for journaling, you would likely prefer the larger 7″X9″ Erin Condren notebook.  I love this size notebook for my personal journal.

If you want to use your notebook as a project planner or to-do list, be sure to get the productivity pages that are sectioned for notes/project descriptions and to-do lists.

Strategies to Optimize Your Notebook Usage and Stay Organized

The best strategy to utilize your notebook is to always have it with you. You probably have ideas and to-do lists of items you want to remember throughout the day. If you have your notebook with you, you only need to write down your ideas or add them to your list.

To organize your notebook, decide what information you will be including.  Then, organize the pages in a way that will make sense to you, and you can find the information when you need it.

Most of the time, I organize my notebooks chronologically. I like to write a date on each page. Dating each page is great when you use your notebook like a daily journal or log. If you are more organized by topic, you can divide your notebook into sections. You can easily add tabs for the topics and sections you need if you prefer sections.

5 Ways to Use in Your Notebooks

Here are 5 productive ways to use your notebook.

Bullet Journal

A bullet journal is a combination notebook and planner that you get to create. Most people who like bullet journals either have notebooks with blank pages or dot-grid.

In a bullet journal, you can create a new weekly layout with fancy lettering and artistic drawings that let you express your creative side (or use stencils if you aren’t good with freehanding art).

Bullet journalers usually keep their schedule and to-do list in quick bullet points for each day.

Erin Condren offers a bullet journal/5 mm dot grid option for most notebooks. Choose the dot grid option for your page layout.

Recommend reading: How to Start a Bullet Journal

To-Do List

Do you keep a running to-do list?  

I usually have more to do than I can complete in one day; I love having a running to-do list. When I have time, I can pick an item to work on.  Depending on my schedule, I might not pick the item at the top of the list if it requires more time. A complete to-do list lets me select what to do with the available time.

For productivity, the Erin Condren notebooks offer the productivity layout with task lists and notes sections and the priorities and notes layout.

Ideas 

I keep a journal close by most of the day and in my purse, so whenever a great idea or inspiration hits me, I just need to grab my notebook and write down my ideas.

I even like to keep multiple ideas journals organized by topic.  For example, I keep notebooks for blog ideas. I’d also like to keep a notebook with travel ideas. 

Writing down your ideas is the best way to remember them.

Either the Erin Condren notebook classic lined or productivity layout would work for an ideas notebook.

Personal Journal

A personal journal is my favorite way to use a notebook. I have kept a journal for years. Journaling can calm your mind and help you process your thoughts.

Journaling is also a great way to remember important events and days in detail. My journal is where I detail everything I want to remember.

The 7″X9″ classic notebook is my favorite for a personal journal.  I also like the A5 size for a more compact notebook.

Project Planner

When I think of a project planner, I think of building a house or something really big. But a project planner could also be for ongoing small tasks and projects.

With a project planner, you can define your project and then break it down into smaller tasks. 

A project planner is a great way to track what you have done and what still needs to be done.

The Erin Condren productivity layout would be great for a project planner. You can detail the project on the top in the notes, then bullet point the tasks.

Party & Celebration Planner

A notebook would work great as your party and celebration planner, including a wedding planner, milestone birthday parties (like 50th or 75th), graduation parties, baby showers, bridal showers, retirement parties, engagement parties, and more.

To make your notebook functional, you could add tabs and create sections for budgeting, guests, menu plans, things to purchase, sketches of table layouts and seating (if needed), decorating ideas, and more.

Depending on how you like to design your notebook pages, you might like the productivity layout, graph paper layout, or dot grid for a party planner.

Pens and Organizers

Don’t forget your favorite pens to go with your notebook.

Erin Condren has new gel pens in bright colors.  You’ll also find pretty highlighters in pastel and double-line markers (these write very nicely – see the image above).

Finally, you don’t want to miss the new essential desktop organizers.  New pen holders and an acrylic paper tray were just added.  Plus, the entire desktop organization collection will keep your pens, paper clips, and notes organized on your desk.

Written Notebooks vs. Digital Notes

Personally, I like to write my thoughts, ideas, and to-do tasks down on paper. The act of writing helps me remember. Digital notes are nice to have, too. You usually always have your phone or tablet with you, and it’s easy to make updates right on your digital planner or journal.

However, I find my memory works better, and I remember more details when I write things down.

Writing ideas and thoughts on paper engages our brains in multiple ways. We process what we hear and then formulate how to write or summarize the information. We see the information as we write it.

Conclusion: Transform Your Productivity Game with Strategic Notebook Practices Today!

Notebooks are a classic tool to help you become more productive and organized. You can use notebooks as a bullet journal, project planners, personal journals, party planners, and more.

Once you start using notebooks, you will find many ways to use them and keep yourself organized and productive. 

Take a few minutes and check out everything new at Erin Condren.

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