Write it down to remember

Field Notes Notebooks comes with a message, “I’m not writing it down to remember later, I’m writing it down to remember now”.

This is, of course, a handy message for a company selling paper. They want you to write down more so you’ll buy more. And I have, bought many.

But the message is still so true.

In the course of my day dozens of things come up that demand attention. Some matter, many don’t.

When I have in mind what I want to do with my day I’ll usually write it down on my todo list and in notes, and mentally space out the time needed to get it all done.

Inevitably things come up. Plans change, things shift. Maybe I’m more tired than I imagined, or something new pops in that requires urgent attention.

I’ve found that simply writing down the change removes it’s hold on my mind.

Sometimes it feels silly.

A new task comes up that wants to be heard. I write it down, then look at it in light of all my other tasks. Suddenly it doesn’t hold all consuming attention. It’s now seen in relation to the other things I already committed to or intended to do.

That doesn’t mean I won’t change what I’m planning for the day. On the contrary, plans change quite often.

But I’m now taking a moment to deliberately decide what I’ll change, and what will have to get left out as a result.

The result is a bit more calm and stability in a world that is constantly shifting.