WIP notebooks

I have two types of journals for work: a small-ish disc-bound one for time-based task planning, and a second for notes and research.

The first one is a 5x7 I just got from the dollar store. It turns out they have a bunch that work just fine. Each morning I write out the hours and mark in the meetings I have. I wrote down what I'll say at the Standup (= what I'm working on). During the day I plot each task as it's being done in 15-minute increments, so I have a history of what I'm spending my time on.

This has worked incredibly well! By tracking my time carefully I take breaks and celebrate my wins. Before things got mashed together and work could be a drag sometimes.

The second journal is just a cheap 8.5 x 11 one. It contains: 1) notes "in the moment" when I'm working on something, 2) meeting notes, and 3) research notes.

Capturing notes on paper makes a big difference. I focus more, and re-reading it helps cement the info into my brain. If I have questions or unique ideas they get highlighted so I can discuss with the team later or another time.