I am always trying new notebooks, tools, lists, and strategies for productivity. To be clear, I’m all about doing less rather than more - focusing on the activities that actually move our goals forward and eliminating distractions that take us out of the zone for getting those things accomplished.
Some of the tools I try I find useful, some are just ok, and others are a bit complicated to keep utilizing well. One challenge I have is that I love using and trying notebooks and therefore often have too many things in too many places. I also love writing on paper*, so I found that there were too many folders and loose papers around that needed to be kept in files.
One resource that I tried this year that I recommend is called the Rocketbook.
The main reasons I recommend this book:
You’ll reduce the amount of paper notes you have hanging around
You’ll be forced to digitize your notes in order to free up new pages
Cons/words of caution:
There are a limited number of pages, so you will have to clear out old space when you get to the end of the book (but secretly I consider this a pro)
You’ll have to come up with a system for organizing digital files and take the time to sort them
You have to use Frixion pens
You can’t easily erase when taking notes, like with any pen
You have to use water to erase pages and it can take a minute or two for the page to dry before being able to turn it
What about sustainability?
From a sustainability perspective, it’s not my favorite that this product is made out of plastic, but I am glad that it keeps trees new from being cut down for paper. The key will be to ensure that you use the Rocketbook for as many years as possible and keep it in good condition. You could consider buying a used version, especially if you’re not sure you’ll like this product. Also re-gift your old book rather than throwing it away if you decide it’s not a good fit.
Conclusion
It looks like the con list is longer than the pro list, but in my opinion and for my specific business needs, the weight of the shorter pro list outweighs the length of the cons.
My goals were to:
Digitize my client notes
Reduce/eliminate paper usage
Stick to my system and keep it up
Rocketbook helped me do all of those things, and I’ve kept with it. My Rocketbook note file naming system is:
Client Name _ YYYY MM DD _ Short Description
When I scan the pages they get dropped into a Dropbox file and then weekly I move them into their own client or project files. Once I’ve scanned a page (if I don’t erase it right away) I indicate that it has been reviewed by putting a circle in the upper right-hand corner.
Organizing Your Notes as a Practice
Even if you’re not using an erasable notebook like this one, I recommend doing a weekly review meeting with yourself where you take time to look over any notes you’ve taken. That will allow you to catch any remaining tasks, capture action items, or transfer notes that need to be kept for future reference elsewhere. You can also use a free app like Adobe Scan to digitize your notes. Once your review is complete, you should put an indicator on that page that you have completed it.
What is your current note-taking or note-reviewing strategy? What do you struggle with when it comes to taking and finding notes?
Let me know in the comments below!
Lana
LK Consultants does not receive any incentives or kick-backs from any of the products mentioned in this review.
*Although I haven’t always been good about it, I am committed to reducing my notebook/paper consumption and only purchasing any future items that are made with 100% post-consumer recycled paper sources. If you want to help me continue to lower C02 levels in the atmosphere, consider making a donation to Ecologi.