The Design of a Personal Notebook

Years ago, I read a book by Anne Ortlund (The Gentle Ways of the Beautiful Woman) in which I was introduced to the idea of a personal notebook. This idea is actually reiterated in several popular organizing websites. Flylady (http://www.flylady.com/) recommends a type of book and journal for routines, to do lists and such and several other sites have suggested and offered ideas and print outs for home journals. The most important concept is to collect all the bits of information that you can carry with you at all times in a manner that works with your personal habits and tendencies. The personal notebook should become incorporated in your routine to be an effective tool to make you more productive and to help you simplify, rather than becoming another task/chore to get done.

A personal notebook, however, has the best value when you create your system yourself.

Three Steps to start a personal notebook:

1. Analyze which areas of your life you would like to organize by collecting information in your book. Make a list. Decide which to include in the personal notebook.

I have included book lists, shopping lists, addresses and phone numbers, quotes to remember, website information, to do lists, Important pieces of Information (i.e. main Flylady routines, low maintenace shrub list, recipes, gift lists, Things to look for at Yard Sales/Thrift stores, insurance and account numbers), and my checkbook register in mine.

One important thing to consider is also what not to include to keep your main personal notebook simple and effective. I use a dollar store journal for my Bible study, sermon notes and prayers. I use index cards and an alphabetical card file for making notes from reading. I use an 8x5" recipe card envelope recycled from a cooking DVD insert for meal planning, and a separate notebook for budget planning. I use my business planner/calendar, purchased by the company, to also record events for my personal life. More copious information and lists end up in the planner to leave more room in my personal notebook so it weighs little and fits in my purse.

You may want more of a system of a few notebooks or everything in one simple notebook. Again, it depends on your style and tendencies. Be sure to include a page for your contact information should you misplace your book.


2. Decide on a format for the book itself.

Ideas: store-bought planner, binder of one size or another with dividers and looseleaf paper, recycled notebook with a new homemade cover, index cards and a small case with dividers, dollar store journal, simple composition book, index cards or small format paper and a photo album

The notebook should be appealing to you. Make it pretty or stylish. Personalize it. This can be done with pretty papers, ribbons, fabric book-style covers, a piece of salvaged embroidery, anything that looks like you.

3. Start it today. Just start from where you are. There is no need to make a huge effort to develop it at once. Let it evolve over time with you. Let it grow with you. It should become your tool for living and being organized.

Now that I use a personal notebook, I am less stressed to remember things, I am more productive, and I feel focused without a lot of additional effort. I can use the energy I used to do just to keep it all together or deal with not having information I needed when I needed it to do things I really want or need to do.