Notetaking, an update
A while ago I wrote about my need to figure out how to take notes…
I am actually pretty happy about the system I’ve come up with - a Levenger Circa notebook! (I’d admired them in the Levenger catalogue before, but it was this Lifehacker post that made up my mind that I needed one.) Not the least expensive option, but I had birthday money, and I can justify it by telling myself that this is one notebook that I can use and re-use for many semesters, only buying paper refills if necessary, whereas in a regular semester I buy new notebooks and binders and dividers and folders…. it’s probably not that much more expensive in the long run.
I got a sample pack, which came with a gift certificate so I also bought another pack of paper right away. So here are my top three great things about this notebook:
1. I can move around and rearrange the pages (and dividers). If I want to take something out and add it back later, no problem. If I write my symphony notes in the ethnomusicology section, no problem, just move them. This makes having just one multi-division notebook SO easy.
2. I got the “annotation-ruled” pages when I ordered the refill. These have space for a date and title at the top, and are ruled on the right 2/3 of the page; the left 1/3 is a box where you can add notes, asides, headings, etc. This has been helpful as I take lecture notes for the class I TA (is TA a verb? it is now) - I write reminders to myself to cover/review/expand on something in the lefthand box, and then when I make my lesson plans it’s so much easier to find. It’s also helpful for call numbers if I’m writing down resources, for “things to look up” as I’m taking notes on a text, and for marking to-do items as I make notes in a meeting.
3. The starter pack came with several smaller sizes of pages, with different functions (address book pages, ruled pages, to do pages, project pages) - this is not crucial but it is kind of helpful. I use the smaller pages to break down the things I need to do for the next class period - readings, assignments, etc - creating a “next action” for each assignment. These are so numerous, specialized, and ever-changing that I’ve had a hard time finding an effective way to plug them into my regular GTD system.
I plan to take out pages as they become no longer necessary to carry with me, and file them in the appropriate files at home…and it’s easy to add more pages in when I need to. So far, I love it. The paper is high quality, the flexibility is great, and having just one notebook makes my life so much easier. I have everything I need at all times. I better put some “if lost, return to….REWARD” info in it, though, because I would be screwed if it disappeared.