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Just use fucking paper, man

andy-bell.co.uk

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Re: Just use fucking paper, man

#91
post #88
post #20

There's only one method of doing to-dos that has worked for me. This method can be used with paper, Obsidian, Apple Notes, or any other app. Every week I create a weekly note, and write my to-dos for the week. I may add more items to it during the week. If any items didn’t get done I roll them over to the next weekly note or drop them. That’s it. I usually write my to-dos from scratch without looking at the previous…

Why not a single, permanent file?

Not the op, but I do this too because looking at most of the list and deciding what gets copied over is necessary to remove stale items.

(It also creates snapshots that roughly show if the list is growing much faster than things are being done and signals I need to shed load)

Re: Just use fucking paper, man

#92
Aside from my notoriously illegible handwriting (which becomes even worse after just a few seconds, but more on that later), my main gripe with using paper is that I end up with smudges all over my hand—being left-handed doesn’t help. The smudging often makes my already hard-to-read handwriting even more of a mess. (This issue even contributed to my struggles in English classes back then.)

These days, the only time I use pen and paper is during language interpretation sessions. It helps me retain very short-term memory, but afterward, I can hardly make sense of any of the notes I took.

For everything else, I rely on apps. I currently use OneNote. I've tried various solutions, but I found OneNote strikes the best balance between online and offline functionality—it’s saved me many times in situations with spotty or slow international roaming.

Re: Just use fucking paper, man

#93
post #69
post #61

I love paper, but it's difficult for me to organise the notes properly, I have no search function, screenshots, links, endless canvas, etc. I already own a Remarkable 2 but I really don't like it - it's not much more than an e-ink college block. After almost two years they added the function to draw straight lines, meanwhile I still can't search in handwritten notes - not even after converting them to text. You can a…

I’m an incredibly satisfied owner of the Galaxy Tab S7 here, and I recommend that product line. I’m also a primarily “Apple” household but the iPad’s multitasking is absurd, whereas with DeX mode you get a full windowing system that works sanely. I love my Tab :) Also I’m pretty sure that it came with the S pen in the box - which works super well. A joy to write with.

I'm only waiting for the s10+ to be released, so that I can maybe get a discount on the s9+ (currently ~850€). Yeah, the pen is included, which is great compared to the iPad. Can you recommend apps for note taking?

There's a paper-like screen addon by Samsung that apparently provides a similar writing feel as the Remarkable or paper - I might get that as well.

Re: Just use fucking paper, man

#94

Love this. I sit here at my desk with post it notes scattered everywhere, organizing my thoughts and things to do for the day. Something about being able to physically move them around and cross things off just makes it easier for my brain to work. The problem with this workflow is getting it into the apps that I use to organize my life. These change from time to time, but Sunsama is the clear winner for me at the mo…

I have tried various ways to deal with organizing thoughts and tasks, and always end up spending too much time trying to optimize and make the system better when I do it in a digital way. For me, it seems like it is better to just disconnect from the electronics and do it by hand.

Re: Just use fucking paper, man

#95
post #20

There's only one method of doing to-dos that has worked for me. This method can be used with paper, Obsidian, Apple Notes, or any other app. Every week I create a weekly note, and write my to-dos for the week. I may add more items to it during the week. If any items didn’t get done I roll them over to the next weekly note or drop them. That’s it. I usually write my to-dos from scratch without looking at the previous…

Ihave a simple “note” on my iPhone and I do similar thing with, I reevaluate if I really need to do it and if I do I roll it over, otherwise it gets deleted. Between this and my calendar list, I try to simplify lol

Re: Just use fucking paper, man

#96
I don’t understand how note taking is such an impassioned subject on this site.

But fwiw, what works for me is to have notes everywhere. I take notes in a journal, ephemeral notepad, emails, texts to myself, apple notes, and orgmode. I just want to have lots of accessibility.

Re: Just use fucking paper, man

#98
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If your project TODO lists are stretching into years, it's time to get a better project management system. I recommend paper.

This is unrealistic. If I didn't accept TODO items older than a year, or even five years, I never would have built my fence, fixed my stairs, set up my home lab, learned iOS development, digitized my family's old photos/videos, or innumerable other things, because for each of those things, I had 10 to 100 more mundane but more time-sensitive/higher-priority things to do. You can manage long-term lists without losing…

I'm pretty sure you're conflating two different types of todo lists - long term and short term. Paper is great for short term.

Re: Just use fucking paper, man

#99
post #96

I don’t understand how note taking is such an impassioned subject on this site. But fwiw, what works for me is to have notes everywhere. I take notes in a journal, ephemeral notepad, emails, texts to myself, apple notes, and orgmode. I just want to have lots of accessibility.

> I don’t understand how note taking is such an impassioned subject on this site.

Neurotic people thinking that they are going to organize their existence on this earth.

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