4.5 KiB
How to Organize a Notebook for Work
Metadata
- Author: Elizabeth Harrin
- Full Title: How to Organize a Notebook for Work
- Category: #articles
- Document Tags: notetaking productivity
- URL: https://rebelsguidetopm.com/how-to-organize-a-notebook-for-work/
- Archive: https://web-archive.alecodes.page/bookmarks?bf=1&search=&title=How%20to%20Organize%20a%20Notebook%20for%20Work
[!tldr] This text provides tips on organizing a notebook for work, emphasizing the importance of personalizing the system to suit individual needs. It suggests practical strategies like cutting corners to locate pages easily and using sections to categorize notes effectively. The author shares insights on maximizing a notebook's potential as a productivity tool within a larger task management system.
Highlights
-
Put the To Do list at the back View Highlight)
-
Put important information on the inside front cover ... • Cost codes, timesheet codes or project codes • Important telephone numbers • Instructions on how to change your voicemail (can you tell that’s a real example from inside my book?!)
You’ll get through a lot of work notebooks in time, so put the start date on the front cover or one of the first inside pages so you know what time period this book covers. View Highlight)
- Organize the inside ... I don’t use page numbers in my books because they are free-flow for my notes and tend to be a chronological representation of what I was working on at the time. ... • Leave a page at the front for the table of contents or keep a page at the back for the index • Add page numbers to each page • Mark where things are in the notebook as you go.
I don’t section my work because as a project manager, I find much of my work overlaps. View Highlight)
If you don’t want to number and structure, an alternative option is to have a different notebook for each project or to use sections. View Highlight)
- Use sections ... • Weekly goals and objectives (or monthly/annual goals) • Trackers for habits e.g. drinking water, gratitude • Lists e.g. team birthdays. ... Use sticky notes or sticky tabs to section off the book and make it easier to find the right page when you need it.
in circles to help them stand out in the notes: A: Action – for specific tasks to be done D: Decision – normally to be transferred to a decision log or confirmed on email so no one can forget that we made it. R: Risk – to be transferred to the project risk log and something done about it. I: Issue – to be transferred to the issue log and flagged with whomever is going to be able to do something about it. Star – something important. Normally something that has to be done today. View Highlight)
I make time to rewrite the important lists in my book (the actions) on a regular basis. It isn’t strictly necessary, but it helps me clear my mind and focus on what is still to do. View Highlight)
However you use your notebook, I would recommend allocating some time on a regular basis to go through it and tidy it up. Mark tasks as complete, transfer notes to other tools, re-write lists. Just refresh yourself on what is in there and check it is still working for you. View Highlight)
Your notebook should be part of a whole productivity and task management system. It should fit alongside your online tools. View Highlight)
Your system should work in the round. No one in your team should be waiting to be told what to do because you wrote it down in the wrong place. View Highlight)
Notebook organization should be simple. If you create a system that is too difficult to stick to, then you won’t stick to it. View Highlight)
Remember, the way you organize your work notebook can evolve over time. Switch up how you use your notebook as your needs change. View Highlight)