Writing things down is by far my favorite way to maintain order in our full (aka busy) life. I bet I even have notes on you (creepy right!?!). In fact, I have notes on most things. This one simple routine does more to help me stay organized than any other action I take. Writing things down harnesses the power of the pen to increase memory, release anxiety, and develop focused vision.
"Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it's the only way you can do anything really good." --William Faulkner
People are frequently amazed by my memory, but the truth is I am totally average at remembering things. I “remember” things like names, birthdays, professions, events, random to-dos and more by writing them down. My brain is visual, and it turns out everyone can benefit from the physical act of writing to improve memory…
In, For More Effective Studying, Take Notes with Pen and Paper, Allison Eck says, “According to Pam Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer of Princeton University and UCLA Los Angeles respectively, students who write out their notes by hand actually learn more than those to type their notes on laptops. Writing by hand is slower and more cumbersome than typing, and students cannot possibly write down every word in a lecture. Instead, they listen, digest, and summarize so that they can succinctly capture the essence of the information. Thus, taking notes by hand forces the brain to engage in some heavy “mental lifting,” and these efforts foster comprehension and retention. By contrast, when typing students can easily produce a written record of the lecture without processing its meaning, as faster typing speeds allow students to transcribe a lecture word for word without devoting much thought to the content.
Of course, I use my phone to “write down” most things! Google docs serves as my giant digital notebook as it communicates through all my devices and saves instantly in the cloud. I have a daily, weekly, and long term to do list. I use voice to text to talk through article ideas. I keep shopping lists, write out meal options, and track our budget. I also save personal contacts with notes about people’s stories to remember for next time. In all likelihood, if I have your phone number, then I also have notes about you (I hope you take this as a compliment). This system helps me to recall key parts of conversations with others, which is a win for everyone!
“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect." --Anaïs Nin
Digital or handwritten notes BOTH work their magic to not only increase memory, but also to relieve anxiety by unburdening the mind. Once something is written in an easy to find location (key point), I no longer have to worry about it!
"Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen." ― John Steinbeck
There is power in writing stuff down simply to destroy it. Writing clears my mental clutter! Journaling events can also help mental processes evolve. One of the reasons I love drafting these articles is because they put me in student mode. I am constantly learning as I revise and summarize to share concepts.
“Half my life is an act of revision." --John Irving
The final layer of value in scripting a note is providing focus to concepts. When I am organizing a space (or doing any number of other life things) I draw out thoughts to target the heart of the matter. I think about what purpose I am trying to achieve, so I can chart a clear path towards my goal. I can act peacefully, and in manageable steps, knowing I have a plan to complete my vision.
"Words are a lens to focus one's mind." - Ayn Rand
As an organized writer I often wonder what came first, the habit of organizing or my writing routines? Either way, I know I depend on both!
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