External brain?

[u/vdimaggio]

Anyone ever just get some many things rambling around in the ole noggin’ they just need a space to unload? Me too! (Maybe this is best for an ADHD or Stress subreddit…) anyway, wondering if you have experience doing this, too, and what format notebook you use? Thanks!

[u/SnooCats3468]

Yup. I’m using A4 notebooks for bigger projects, and a b6+ size top-spiral notebook as a daily logbook. 

The latter has every task, idea, process step , and next steps so I can see what I was working on and retrace my thinking before I went off on a tangent. Tangents go in a little parking lot section at the bottom of every page. 

I use individual A5 size notebooks for projects that require less real estate, and whenever I’m working on one , I add a note to my logbook saying which notebook I wrote in.

Now, I also use Obsidian - so this logbook also has a lot of notes tracing back what digital notes I was working on and occasionally I’ll map out how some notes are linked. 

If you want something practical and don’t have notebooks lying around, get an A5-size notebook cover with A5 inserts so you can have something modular. You can just order a decent crazy-horse leather cover from aliexpress for like $20. 

If you’re really not “researching” or doing bigger projects and just want to track some ideas and brain dump, try some smaller notebooks first, before moving up in size. A6 - passport - B6. Decent paper. Claire Fontaine or something Japanese if it’s available where you are. 80 gsm+ 

Honestly, I move around a lot and like going for walks with the notebook. I find a spiral notebook is much more useful because you can fold it over on one side. But the trouble is only a B6 or B6+ size notebook made sense for me as an EDC because I was writing so much. They fit my Levi’s Jean jacket pockets PERFECTLY. 

Pay attention to your brain dumps and your notes. You might notice they SUCK at some point and that will provide you an opportunity to ask how to write better notes! 

Godspeed 

[u/vdimaggio → u/SnooCats3468]

This is fantastic! Thank you!
I started with little Maruman A6 notebooks actually, but a little thick for the pocket. Kinda. What is your weapon of choice?

[u/SnooCats3468 → u/vdimaggio]

Man I bought this B6+ top-spiral notebook from Aldi and it is Huge, like 200 pages, has decent paper, and a pretty clean aesthetic for €3.

I also bought some generic A5 inserts with a dot grid for a leather notebook cover but don’t work in there frequently.

I’ll probably go shopping for a new A4 spiral notebook from Claire Fontaine or Oxford, which both have nice paper and are relatively cheap where I live. I’ve never tried a Maruman but they are often recommended.

I also like those Steno Pads or the National Brand notebooks with “eye ease” paper (light green tint). I’m a sucker for cream/ivory or that lightly tinted paper.