It’s long been a truism that interesting people maintain implements to record thought on their person at all times. Some prefer advanced computer devices, moleskins or whathaveyou but I am a firm adherent of the hipster pda. After several years of use I am now resolutely horrified by the prospect of not carrying a pen and paper at all times. If it’s not in my pocket I feel helpless, intellectually isolated and scared.

Fellow blogger Wildcard agrees on the fundamental utility but has implemented a slightly different system. She made me this demonstrative animated gif that brings me rapturous delight.

If you’re dubious about either of these systems they can easily prove themselves. Use one for three days, record various to do items, enjoyable snippets of books or conversations and ideas for projects or solutions to problems. Stow your instruments for 3 weeks and then examine the baffling variety of things you’ve forgotten.

You know when you’re out and about somewhere and remember that you need to complete a tier 2 or tier 3 task (most recent example for me: I need to get a carbon monoxide detector for the tenants). Then a couple days later you remember that you need to do it again? if you don’t record those things and put them into a retrieval system YOU ARE WASTING BRAIN CYCLES!!! Seriously, you’re preventing yourself from being happier. You don’t want that right? Better start writing stuff down. Here’s that hipster pda link again.