I have written about this in the past, but thought it would be good to revisit this topic.

When I started out buying specific pens I used to get the broadest possible gel ink pens I could find. Then I did the same with fountain pens. When I got into that.

What I loved was the feeling of a super smooth writing experience putting down a thick line of ink as I wrote.

It is still the experience I enjoy the most.

But these days I use everything from extra fine to broad and sub nibs.

What I have found is that more scratchy nibs makes it easier to control what I write.

So it all depends on the situation.

One of my favorite notebook accessories are various clips. Either was something to keep notebooks shut. Or to keep them flat on the desk. Or to just stick together all the processed pages I don’t need to think about.

My all time favorite is the way too expensive ones from Travelers. I also have some magnetic ones from Oliblock and some huge ones I got from JetPens.

For a change I have included some links to them.

What I love about all of these, in addition to regular paper clips and binder clips is that they can be a really cheap way to make your notebooks work a lot better for you.

Links:

• https://www.etsy.com/shop/OLIBLOCK
• <https://www.jetpens.com/TRAVELER-S-COMPANY-TRAVELER-S-notebook-Accessories-030-Brass-Clip-Airplane/pd/26943 >
• <https://www.jetpens.com/TRAVELER-S-COMPANY-TRAVELER-S-notebook-Accessories-030-Brass-Clip-TRC-Logo/pd/26942 >
• <https://www.jetpens.com/C.-Ching-Classic-Clip-51-mm-Gold/pd/28876 >
• https://www.jetpens.com/Nakabayashi-Magnetic-Bookmark-Ruler-S-15-cm-Orange/pd/23607

A while back one of the “bookmark” string inside my travelers notebook. Probably used it too much.

So I just cut a couple of elastic bands, from my daughters bracelet crafting supplies. And tied it to the top.

Mostly the same. With way more colors.

Will probably end with me doing a bunch of weird shit with this

I was having one of those moments where I just: if I threw out cost and all realities like that — what would the ideal binder be for me?

It would certainly be in a format with a similar paper size to the full size travelers notebook, with a “pocket” version with half the height. With compatible ring sizes so that I could take out two pages of the small and stack them on top of each other in the big one.

The big version would have rings on both edges instead of in the middle. To make it easy to have control of both of the pages I look at.

It would most likely be stupid expensive and loads of practical issues with designing it, like how to make the pages line up without the rings being on top of each other closed and being extra bulky because of it.

In the world of notebook & paper systems we have binders, like Plotter and William Hannah; and notebook systems like Travelers Notebooks and a few others.

I always wish this was a bigger product area. Ideally in a way where it isn’t all proprietary. With similar paper sizes

More paper layouts, more covers, more accessories.

All the time I find myself splitting pages into sections that are similar to common index card sizes.

Typically close to either 3x5 or 4x6. Depending on the notebook and size.

Based on how little I have used index cards over the years I find the whole thing weird and funny.

But there is something about that size that is perfect for a constrained collection of tasks that works really well for my brain.

For example, at the moment my a double spread in my full sized Travelers Notebook is divided into 8 blocks like this.

One has random captured impulses and thoughts. The other one has the start of a shopping list. And the first one has the tasks I’m currently working on.

Another part of it for me is that by splitting in vertical I use around 50% more of the paper surface compared to if I didn’t.

And of course it limits how much I have to move back and forth between pages.

When I have a list of tasks, there have for a long time been an ideal size of it for me.

I may have multiple of them going on at once, but the ideal group for me is what I’d describe as an index card amount of paper.

Smaller and it becomes a bit meaning less to break up the paper. Bigger and it becomes a bit overwhelming.

The thing I like about it is that I can have a few blocks at the end that is more capture or lists I’m creating. And blocks that are a bit more “focused” on the other side.

For example a block with personal routine stuff first, then a block with work stuff etc. And alter through things that way to have progress on multiple things during the day.

Because of reasons, partly money and being in that weird place between systems, I don’t use a dated analog planner at the moment.

One interesting thing about that is how much less aware I am about what the current date is. Weirdly interesting.

And also why I think I should get back to having a paper one always visible with today’s plan.

I’ve been using pocket notebooks more or less daily for months at this point for the first time since COVID.

This have been an ongoing thing for me to get back into using them since like 2021.

I think, this is when they’re finally back.

This matters a lot to me, because using them most days means that I take more notes in random places, something that is really good for my mental well being and productivity.

It is good for my mental well being that I take the notes, and it is good for my productivity to do it there instead of opening my phone and getting sucked into something.