sticky notes

Sticky Notes – Version 2

FrostyLeave a comment

We all know the little yellow papers that stick to things and tend to cluster around our monitors. The Sticky must be one of the most clever inventions of our times.

We carry a powerful computer in our pockets. Access to knowledge has never been easier. I also think of my phone – as I am sure many people do – as a note-taking device. To me, there are three sticky notes levels, short term, medium term, long term. I use three apps to help me stay organized. (I am not affiliated with any of them.)

Simply Sticky: light weight, no frills, app. It works as a widget. I use it for daily tasks and things I need to remember for a few days. The beauty of this app is that your notes have a limited screen space and they cannot be saved. This forces me to clear the tasks asap to make room for other tasks.

Google Keep: short-term notes. Thoughts can be stored categorically and organized in groups. I use this for grocery lists, book reviews which then go to my permanent storage location, anything that needs collaboration as notes can be shared, etc. This is a medium-term storage and notes get deleted when they are filed.

OneNote: my projects, lessons I learnt, daily journals, advanced notes, goals, long term goals, things that need to be tracked, and basically anything that does not fall in the above two, will end up here.

Why three apps and not just one? The three act as independent idea environments. The act of moving the idea through the stages helps evolve and solidify it.

I must mention that nothing will replace old fashioned pen/paper. All ideas start here. The apps just complement this and make it easier to stay organized.

Hope this helps others. Feedback and suggestions are welcome.

Writing Thoughts Down

FrostyLeave a comment

post-it-notes-1284667_640

The brain is like a computer, I know people say this all the time, but what I mean is more technical than just the expression. Computers have a limited cache and RAM. Before you can process new information, the cache must be cleared. This is only done by storage on a HDD.

So, to clear your brain’s cache, you need to either write your ideas down on paper (or computer) and store them for later processing, or execute the idea so that it is done and over with. This is the only way you can have new ideas.

One of the subtlest inventions of our modern times is the “sticky note”. Post-it® is the most recognized and popular brand of sticky notes. The discovery of this invention here.

I am an avid user of this technology. I would strategically litter my work area with these notes that serve multiple purposes: reminders to do things; my daily checklist, which I carry with me during the day; inspiring quotes; Scrum-ing tool — what is Scrum is best explained in this video.

But I take it a few steps further. I use the sticky note in my car. I would note down important ideas and notes when I listen to audio-books. I note down places that I want to visit when I drive by them (for my sales prospecting job). Of course, writing the actual note when the car is safely parked.

In the washroom, I have a water-proof notebook which I often take into the shower. Like most of us, the best ideas come when we are in the shower, and what a shame that as soon as we exit, the idea is washed away. There are products you can buy to “write in rain”, but I like to keep it simple with a cheap and reliable water-proof notebook and a pencil.

I have sticky notes apps on my desktop PC and my cell phone. I use “Simply Sticky Notes” as it is one of the simplest app out there.

The idea is to get rid of the stickies asap by completing the task — put them in the recycle bin. The act of trashing the sticky is a satisfying dose of endorphins, which further reinforces the habit.

You can keep things old school by carrying a notebook always — which I also do — but, the tactile nature of the small piece of paper adds an additional dimension to the habit.