Ive given a lot of good productivity tips in past articles. Although I do encourage you to practice them, there is one small productivity tip that I can give right now. It can certainly help with preparing and planning for your day ahead of time.
This small productivity tip that I’m talking about is just having a pen and paper near you. Or if you want to go the extra mile, just having a little notebook along with a writing tool can help you save time.
Do you think this is a big deal? Actually, it’s a really good strategy to help you prepare for your day. By doing that, you’re only going to save yourself the headaches and frustrations when you don’t have any ideas in place.
- The Power Of Pen And Paper
- How I Utilize Using Pen And Paper
- How Does This Deal With Productivity?
- Practice This Tip At All Times
- Do It While Doing Passive Activities
- A Small Action Can Lead To A Better Outcome
- Questions To Ask Yourself
The power of pen and paper
Having a pen and paper on hand can come in handy. I found out not too long ago that you’re more likely to remember what you write down rather than just simply typing it out.
The research shows it: According to one study of college students, they were more likely to remember what they wrote down rather than typing it on their laptops.
One big reason why we tend to go slower while writing is that it helps us to retain our memory longer.
It’s interesting because even when I was in school, a lot of my peers took notes on their laptops. Although some professors are not fans, it was a very convenient way to take notes rather than just having a notebook on hand.
I won’t go too much into the science of it, but it’s fascinating to think about how our brains work effectively. When it comes to writing down things we’re more likely to retain the memory better.
How I utilize pen and paper
I used to be someone who would just type my notes down on the notes app on my phone. Sure it was easier and more convenient as many people would say.
But in the last few years, I’ve stuck to pen and paper because I know I’m going to remember the information that I’m learning much better.
So when I’m working on a task- whether that’s small or big, I make sure to have some type of pen and paper with me.
Whether that’s a big notebook or just having some sticky notes on hand, even writing down one word or a concept can really help with memory retention.
How can I be productive in little time?
You can be productive by setting aside time to do work in shorter periods. Besides taking notes on the spot, doing focus sessions (25 minutes) on doing one task can help a lot. By doing that, your productivity will go up a lot.
How does this deal with productivity?
You may think this has nothing to do with productivity, but there’s more to it. Just simply having something to write with and to write on can really save you a lot of time.
For example, if you’re researching for a paper or even writing a blog article, you can use your notebook to write out an outline. Or even just some quick notes that you want to do while you’re preparing to write an article.
For the most part, that is what I do in the research stage before I write articles for this website. I write out outlines because I know it’s going to help me write faster when I’m working on the drafts.
It might be a little bit inconvenient. But believe it or not, it will save you a lot of time. When I have my outline written out, I can write out an article in less than an hour.
Practice this tip at all times
I suggest doing this tip at any time of the day, even when you’re focused on one crucial task. It can help to write it down if something comes up in your mind.
Otherwise, you will likely forget it later. Especially when you’re doing some type of research or deep work on a particular subject, you get in the habit of doing this sooner than later.
You’re going to find yourself saving a lot of time.
Do it while you’re doing passive activities
I find it helpful to write things down when I’m not doing deep work. So for example, if I’m listening to a podcast that might be a good time to take notes depending on the show and the topic.
If there are tips I learn about, I’ll make sure to write them down. The same thing goes when you’re reading a book or an article.
If there are things you can take away from the reading materials, you might as well have something to write with if you find it helpful.
A relevant article from notimekillers.com
Read next on “How To Batch Time: A Brief Guide To Boost Your Productivity“, to learn how you can time batch your tasks in an effective manner.
Don’t you hate those moments?
Depending on your perspective, do you know when you’ve had times when you forgot about something later on? I know it happens to me.
So say that you thought of some great idea you want to do. But then later in the day, or a day or two later, all of a sudden just forget about it.
I can’t tell you how many times it has happened to me; for instance, when I think of an idea to write for a blog post. I’ll tell myself I’ll write it down but then I don’t and then later on I forget about this great idea.
So those are the moments where it can feel frustrating and where having just pen and paper nearby easily saves you the frustrations.
A small action can lead to a better outcome
Even writing just a concept or something down on paper can really save you a lot of time. What takes less than a minute can save you those headaches later.
Trust me: I’ve been through it before and I find it really time-consuming to kind of think of some idea that I had early on.
That’s why I’ve gotten to the practice of writing things down at the moment when it could save me time.
Questions to ask yourself
- Are you a pen-and-paper person or do you prefer typing only?
- Do you agree that writing things down helps with memory retention?
- Have you had any moments where you forgot about something and wish you had written it down?
- Do you think it’s helpful to have something to write, even when you’re relaxing?
Final Words
There are many productivity tips that I’ve shared. They’re all great but there’s one other small thing that I could add to that list.
I encourage you to try it out. Start with having a pocket-size notebook or even a bunch of sticky notes nearby. If you’re not someone who likes having a notebook nearby, these are better solutions.
Make sure to have something to write with at all times. I can’t tell you how beneficial it is to retain information better.
Your turn: Do you find this productivity tip helpful?
I would like to get your thoughts on this topic. Do you find pen and paper to be effective in remembering things?
Are you someone who carries a pocket notebook nearby? Or are you someone who has a stack of sticky notes just in case?
Do you believe it can help with boosting your productivity? Can it help you do better and complete your most important tasks?
Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below. I look forward to reading your responses, and I’ll gladly respond promptly.
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Eric is the owner and chief editor of notimekillers.com. He takes great pride in helping people manage their time and grow their businesses. Eric is a firm believer in financial and time freedom, as he believes in financial independence and taking ownership of your time. “Time is your most important asset. It can be your best friend or worst enemy. How you use your time can shape the future you desire to have.” In his leisure time, Eric loves to write and read whenever possible. He enjoys going for long walks outdoors while doing in-home workout videos every week. You can also connect with Eric via LinkedIn.
