Dinchamion

I tracked my habits for 300 days and it changed my life

58 min read

Summary This video by Peter McKinnon is a passionate and comprehensive guide to the world of journaling, Notebooks, and Pens, emphasizing how these simple tools can profoundly impact Productivity and personal well-being. Peter shares his personal journey with journaling, detailing how it has become an ingrained habit that has changed his life for the better. He begins by highlighting the scientifically-backed benefits of writing things down, such as increased goal achievement rates, boosted productivity, improved memory, and reduced anxiety and depression.

Peter then dives into his specific routines and preferences, discussing his “two-notebook system” which consists of a larger, more formal notebook (typically a Leuchtturm1917) for structured HabitTracking and a smaller, more rugged FieldNotes notebook for on-the-go thoughts, ideas, and quick logging. He explains his method for habit tracking, including creating grids and graphs to visually monitor progress in areas like fitness, diet, and creative output. A significant portion of the video is dedicated to his favorite pens, ranging from fine-point gel pens like the Uni-ball Signo UM-151 to more affordable fountain pens like the Lamy Safari and TWSBI Eco, and even luxury Montblanc pens, discussing their writing experience and suitability for different tasks. He also showcases various accessories, including pen rolls and cases for organizing his collection. Throughout the video, Peter encourages viewers to find what works for them, emphasizing that the act of writing and tracking is more important than the specific tools used, and that consistency is key to unlocking the transformative power of journaling. He concludes by urging viewers to simply get started, as it’s one of the easiest ways to level up their lives.

The Power of Writing Peter begins by explaining the significant, scientifically-backed benefits of writing things down. He states that tracking progress makes individuals 42% more likely to achieve their goals, putting pen to paper can boost productivity by 33%, and journaling can improve memory by up to 50%. Tracking habits like gym visits, diet, or water intake also increases consistency. Furthermore, journaling is linked to a 30% drop in anxiety and depression, better immune function, and fewer doctor visits. This section sets the stage for the importance of the practices discussed throughout the video, framing journaling not just as a hobby but as a “superpower.” The core idea is that JournalingBenefits extend beyond mere organization to encompass mental and physical health improvements.

  • Key Point: Writing things down, especially for tracking goals and habits, significantly improves success rates, productivity, memory, and mental well-being.
  • Quote: ”Here's the thing, writing stuff down, it's kind of like a superpower. Science backs it up too. People who track their progress are 42% more likely to smash their goals. Just putting pen to paper can boost productivity by 33%, and get this, journaling actually improves memory by up to 50% if you’re tracking habits.” (0:02)

Peter’s Journaling Evolution & Routine Peter McKinnon details his personal evolution with JournalingRoutine and habit tracking, which has become a staple part of his everyday life. He describes it as more than routine, being ingrained into the “fibers of his being.” His morning ritual involves making coffee and sitting down quietly with his notebook to write. He has documented his journey with journaling over several years, from initially trying to get into it, to becoming a fan, and now confidently stating it has changed his life for the better. This journey is a culmination of years of practice, leading to a system he finds indispensable for improving his life, fitness, and mental state. He emphasizes that this practice is not something he forces but genuinely enjoys and wouldn’t go back on due to the positive changes it has brought.

  • Key Point: Consistent journaling, evolving from an experiment to a deeply ingrained habit, can lead to significant life improvements.
  • Quote: "Notebooks and filling in logs and habit trackers and all things pertaining to this world has become a staple part of my everyday life. It's more than routine, it's ingrained into the fibers of my being." (1:20)

Notebooks: The Foundation Peter McKinnon outlines his “two-notebook system.” He always uses a large notebook, his favorite being the Leuchtturm1917 A5 softcover, and a smaller, more mobile notebook. The large notebook is treated with care, used for organized entries, and specifically for habit tracking. He prefers the Leuchtturm1917 over Moleskine for its slightly better paper quality, which is thick, creamy, soft, and excellent for fountain pens (80 GSM). He opts for the softcover version because it’s thinner than the hardcover, and since he fills them with various pasted items like drawings, photos, and letters, the notebook tends to expand significantly. He appreciates the little folder in the back for storing loose items and always notes the start and end dates of each notebook to track how long it took to fill.

  • Key Point: A dual-notebook system, with a larger, more formal journal for detailed tracking and a smaller one for portability, can cater to different journaling needs. The Leuchtturm1917 is highlighted for its paper quality and durability.
  • Quote: "I always have two notebooks going at all times. Big notebook, little notebook. [...] This big boy here, I care about how neat and organized the pages are, and I use this specifically for habit tracking." (3:00)

Field Notes: The On-the-Go Companion For his smaller, mobile notebook, Peter McKinnon exclusively uses FieldNotes. These come in three-packs, and he typically fills about one per month, or one and a half if he’s writing a lot. The primary goal with Field Notes is practicality and portability, not necessarily neatness; they are tools to get thoughts down quickly. He carries them in back pockets, hoodies, or camera bags. Peter enjoys the themed designs Field Notes releases, which makes tracking them by month or period easier and adds an element of fun. He mentions that consistent use and building routines are crucial, and once a habit like using Field Notes is formed and “unlocked,” it becomes an enjoyable and indispensable part of the process, helping to manage tasks and ideas, especially for someone with ADHD.

  • Key Point: FieldNotes serve as durable, portable companions for capturing immediate thoughts and ideas, with their themed designs adding an enjoyable element to the journaling habit.
  • Quote: "The little one is more of like a mobile, on the go, back pocket, hoodie pocket, camera bag. I toss this thing literally anywhere. This, I don't care about. It is merely a tool to get the job done." (3:05)

Pens: The Writing Instruments Peter McKinnon discusses his preferred Pens, starting with his absolute favorite gel pen, the Uni-ball Signo UM-151, specifically the 0.38mm fine point. He loves fine-point pens for their sharpness, crispness, and the control they offer, which he believes helps improve Penmanship. He uses these in various colors (turquoise, royal blue, green, red, purple) for highlighting and accenting notes. He also uses Japanese brush markers for calligraphy-style writing to emphasize points. For fountain pens, he recommends the affordable Lamy Safari and TWSBI Eco as excellent entry-level options that offer a smooth writing experience. He also showcases his Montblanc 149, a luxury fountain pen, but emphasizes that the more affordable options can feel just as good, if not smoother in some instances.

  • Key Point: The choice of pen, especially fine-point and fountain pens, can significantly enhance the writing experience and even improve handwriting. Different pens and colors can be used strategically for organization and emphasis.
  • Quote: "My favorite pen. The Uni-ball Signo UM-151. This is a 0.38 fine point. I love fine point. It's sharp, it's crisp, you have more control over the pen." (7:46)

Accessories: Organizing the Arsenal Peter McKinnon shares his favorite JournalingSupplies for organizing his pens and notebooks, focusing on functionality and aesthetics. He dismisses a cheap Amazon leather pencil case as unsatisfactory. His preferred accessory is “The Sendak” pen roll by Peg and Awl, a waxed canvas roll with numerous pen slots, a zippered pouch for smaller items like sharpeners or erasers, and interior pockets that can fit Field Notes or even larger notebooks like the Leuchtturm1917 A5. This roll allows him to carry all his essential writing tools, including different pens and notebooks, in a compact, organized, and aesthetically pleasing bundle, perfect for taking to a coffee shop or on the go.

  • Key Point: Well-designed accessories like pen rolls not only help organize writing tools but also enhance the overall journaling experience by making it more convenient and enjoyable.
  • Quote: "It fits everything in a perfect just little bundle. [...] I'm going to a coffee shop, I want to work outside in the cafe here, I can just grab this, it's all there." (13:11)

Sponsor: Squarespace (This section is an advertisement) Peter McKinnon introduces Squarespace as the sponsor. He describes it as an all-in-one platform for WebsiteBuilding, making it easy to create a professional-looking website. He highlights features like beautiful templates, 24-hour customer service, Squarespace Payments for e-commerce, and new AI tools to help customize websites. He encourages viewers to build a website, even if it’s simple, and offers a 10% discount using his code “MCKINNON.”

  • Key Point: Squarespace is presented as a user-friendly platform for creating various types of websites with robust features and support.
  • Quote: "Squarespace is an all-in-one platform. It makes it super easy to build a website if you built websites with a keyboard." (14:03)

How to Habit Track Peter McKinnon demonstrates his method for HabitTracking in his Leuchtturm1917 notebook. He uses a ruler to create a grid: days of the month are numbered down the left side of one page, and categories to track (e.g., coffee, water, sugar, alcohol, workout, run, weight, money spent) are listed across the top of the grid on the facing page. On the right page, he creates a line graph to track hours of sleep, with hours (3-10) on the Y-axis and days of the month (1-31) on the X-axis. Each day, he fills in the grid for the habit categories (e.g., checkmark if he drank coffee, X if he spent money) and plots a dot on the sleep graph. He also writes a brief, memorable entry for the day on the left page corresponding to the date. This system provides a visual snapshot of his habits, helping to identify patterns and maintain accountability. He sometimes uses different colored pens (red, yellow, green) for a “stoplight” system in a smaller Field Notes habit tracker to indicate no progress, some progress, or good progress on certain goals.

  • Key Point: A visual habit tracking system using grids and graphs in a notebook can effectively monitor daily activities, identify patterns, and maintain accountability towards goals.
  • Quote: "The rough idea is a graph down the side where I like to track all the individual habits, and then I like to do a graph down this side sideways tracking all my sleep." (16:34)

The Future: Digital Journaling? Peter McKinnon contemplates the future of his journaling practice, particularly the idea of DigitalJournaling. While he deeply values the tactile experience of pen and paper, he has been told by tech-savvy friends that he might appreciate an e-ink reader like the reMarkable tablet, which offers a paper-like digital writing experience. He’s intrigued by the possibility of consolidating all his notebooks—Field Notes, Leuchtturm1917, habit trackers—into one digital e-ink device. However, he expresses a strong preference for the traditional method, stating, “I would just rather write on paper.” This sets up a potential future exploration or a “version 4” of his notebook video series, should he decide to try an e-ink solution.

  • Key Point: While traditional pen-and-paper journaling is preferred, the potential of e-ink devices to consolidate various notebooks into a single digital format presents an intriguing future possibility.
  • Quote: "Now, recently, I have been told by some of my friends who are big into tech that I would like an e-ink reader, reMarkable, I think makes something that's like a digital notebook. [...] Maybe that's the fourth video in this series, compiling all of these things into one digital e-ink reader." (20:41)

Just Get Started & Conclusion Peter McKinnon concludes by reiterating the core message: the act of using Notebooks for journaling, tracking habits, setting goals, and building routines is transformative. He emphasizes that consistency is key to “unlocking” the benefits, making these practices an integral and enjoyable part of one’s being. He encourages viewers, especially those who feel overwhelmed or unfocused (like himself with ADHD), to simply start. Once the habit is formed, it becomes easier and even enjoyable. The video wraps up by showing his extensive collection of filled Field Notes, underscoring his long-term commitment to this practice and its positive impact on his life. The main takeaway is the encouragement to begin, as it’s a simple yet powerful way to improve various aspects of life.

  • Key Point: The most important step in harnessing the benefits of journaling and habit tracking is to simply start and build consistency, which eventually makes the process enjoyable and an essential part of life.
  • Quote: "This is who I am. I'm a bit of a nerd at heart. I love stationery, I love writing, I love using notebooks, and they make my life better. And I implore you to give it a shot. Once you fill one, it's easier to fill two." (21:42)
tagsrelated keywords
JournalingPersonalDevelopment
NotebooksStationery
HabitTrackingGoalSetting
ProductivityTimeManagement
PensWritingTools
FieldNotesPocketNotebooks
Leuchtturm1917BulletJournal
FountainPensPenmanship
SelfImprovementMindfulness
DailyRoutineMorningRoutine
CreativeProcessIdeaGeneration
MentalWellbeingAnxietyRelief
AccountabilityProgressMonitoring
StationeryAddictAnalogTools
LifeOrganizationPersonalEffectiveness

Key points

  • Writing things down acts as a “superpower” for goal achievement and productivity. Tracking progress makes individuals 42% more likely to achieve goals, and journaling can boost productivity by 33% and memory by 50%.

  • Journaling and HabitTracking offer significant mental health benefits, including a potential 30% reduction in anxiety and depression. These practices also contribute to better immune function and overall well-being.

  • A “two-notebook system” using a large, organized notebook (like a Leuchtturm1917) for structured entries and habit tracking, and a smaller, portable notebook (FieldNotes) for on-the-go thoughts, can effectively cater to diverse journaling needs.

    • Quote: “I always have two notebooks going at all times. Big notebook, little notebook. The little one is more of like a mobile, on the go… This big boy here, I care about how neat and organized the pages are, and I use this specifically for habit tracking.” (3:00)
    • Fact Checking:
      1. The concept of using multiple notebooks for different purposes is a common practice in the BulletJournal community and among those who practice GettingThingsDone (GTD). (Source: Ryder Carroll’s Bullet Journal Method)
      2. Many productivity systems advocate for separating contexts or types of information into different tools or sections. (Source: David Allen’s “Getting Things Done”)
      3. The specific "two-notebook system" as described by Peter is personal, but the underlying principle of dedicated tools for different functions is widely supported in productivity literature.

  • The choice of Pens and writing tools, such as fine-point gel pens or fountain pens, can significantly enhance the writing experience, improve Penmanship, and make journaling more enjoyable.

    • Quote: “My favorite pen. The Uni-ball Signo UM-151. This is a 0.38 fine point. I love fine point. It’s sharp, it’s crisp, you have more control over the pen, and you will write way neater than you think you possibly can.” (7:46)
    • Fact Checking:
      1. The tactile experience of writing is known to affect enjoyment and engagement. (Source: Various articles on the psychology of handwriting and tool preference, e.g., discussions in pen enthusiast forums like Fountain Pen Network).
      2. Different pen types (ballpoint, gel, fountain) offer distinct writing feedback, which can influence writing speed and legibility. (Source: JetPens - Pen Type Guide)
      3. The use of fine-tip pens is often recommended for neater handwriting as it allows for more precise strokes. (Source: Calligraphy and handwriting improvement guides often discuss nib/tip size).

  • Visual HabitTracking systems, created manually in a notebook with grids and graphs, provide a clear and satisfying way to monitor daily activities, identify patterns, and maintain accountability, making the process of habit formation more engaging.

    • Quote: “You can see your patterns of spending money, how many days you had sugar, and you can just see this at a glance. And you can see over here to the sleep, it’s all over the place.” (19:24, referring to a filled-in habit tracker page).
    • Fact Checking:
      1. The “Don’t Break the Chain” method, popularized by Jerry Seinfeld, relies on visual tracking of daily habits. (Source: James Clear - “The Habits Scorecard”)
      2. Visual feedback is a powerful motivator in behavior change. Seeing progress (or lack thereof) can reinforce positive actions. (Source: BJ Fogg’s Behavior Model emphasizes the role of prompts and ability in habit formation, visual trackers serve as effective prompts and feedback mechanisms.)
      3. Bullet journaling often incorporates habit trackers that are visually similar to what Peter describes. (Source: Tiny Ray of Sunshine - Habit Tracker Ideas)

  • Consistency is paramount in journaling and HabitFormation; sticking with a practice long enough allows it to become an “unlocked,” enjoyable, and indispensable part of one’s life.

    • Quote: “Once you fill one, it’s easier to fill two. Then the second something becomes a chore or a bit of a grind, it’s not fun. Things start off that way, but once you pass the hump, that’s when things start to open up, like they unlock.” (21:51)
    • Fact Checking:
      1. Habit formation literature consistently emphasizes the importance of repetition and consistency. (Source: Lally et al., 2010, “How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world.“)
      2. James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” extensively discusses the power of small, consistent actions in building lasting habits. (Source: Atomic Habits_James Clear)
      3. The concept of an ” удовольствие петля” (pleasure loop) or reward cycle is critical in making habits stick; the satisfaction of tracking can become part of this loop. (Source: Charles Duhigg’s “The Power of Habit”)

Related

Written Content:

  1. “The Bullet Journal Method” Blog by Ryder Carroll

    • The official blog for the Bullet Journal system, offering tips, community stories, and insights into mindful productivity through analog journaling.
    • Link: https://bulletjournal.com/blogs/bulletjournalist
    • Topics: Journaling, Notebooks, Productivity, HabitTracking

  2. “Zen Habits” by Leo Babauta

    • A blog focused on finding simplicity and mindfulness in daily habits, often touching on journaling and reflection as tools for self-improvement.
    • Link: https://zenhabits.net/
    • Topics: HabitTracking, SelfImprovement, Mindfulness, DailyRoutine

  3. “The Art of Manliness - The Power of Pen and Paper: The Magic of Journaling”

  4. “Tiny Ray of Sunshine - Bullet Journal Reference Guide” by Kim Alvarez

    • A comprehensive resource for Bullet Journal enthusiasts, offering guides, ideas, and printables, including various habit tracking methods.
    • Link: https://www.tinyrayofsunshine.com/blog/bullet-journal-reference-guide деревянный стол, на котором лежит много небольших блокнотов. Peter McKinnon discusses his journaling methods and favorite tools. He advocates for a two-notebook system: a large Leuchtturm1917 for structured habit tracking and a smaller FieldNotes for on-the-go thoughts. He details how to set up a habit tracker, emphasizing consistency for SelfImprovement. Peter also shares his preferred pens, including Uni-ball Signo UM-151 and fountain pens like Lamy Safari and TWSBI, and accessories like the Peg and Awl Sendak pen roll. The core message is the transformative power of writing things down for Productivity and personal well-being.

The Power of Writing Peter introduces the concept of writing things down as a “superpower,” citing statistics that support its benefits. He mentions that tracking progress increases goal achievement by 42%, writing boosts Productivity by 33%, and journaling improves memory by 50%. He also notes that tracking habits like diet or exercise enhances consistency and that journaling can lead to a 30% reduction in anxiety and depression, better immune function, and fewer doctor visits. The act of writing helps make goals tangible and progress visible, which is a recurring theme.

  • Key Point: Writing down goals and tracking habits is scientifically linked to higher success rates, increased productivity, better memory, and improved mental and physical health.
  • Quote: "Here's the thing, writing stuff down, it's kind of like a superpower. Science backs it up too. People who track their progress are 42% more likely to smash their goals." (0:02)

Peter’s Journaling Evolution & Routine Peter shares his personal journey with journaling, explaining that it has become an integral part of his daily life, far beyond a simple routine. He describes his morning ritual of coffee and writing, a practice he has cultivated over years. This dedication stems from the positive changes he has experienced in his life, fitness, and mental state. He emphasizes that this JournalingRoutine isn’t forced but is a genuinely enjoyable and indispensable activity for him, a culmination of years of developing the habit of HabitFormation.

  • Key Point: Evolving a journaling practice from an occasional activity to a deeply ingrained daily habit can lead to profound personal improvements and become a source of enjoyment.
  • Quote: "Notebooks and filling in logs and habit trackers and all things pertaining to this world has become a staple part of my everyday life. It's more than routine, it's ingrained into the fibers of my being." (1:20)

Notebooks: The Foundation Peter details his “two-notebook system.” He uses a large notebook, favoring the Leuchtturm1917 A5 softcover for its paper quality (80 GSM, fountain pen friendly) and durability, especially for habit tracking and organized entries. He prefers softcover because his notebooks expand as he pastes in items like drawings and letters. The second part of his system is a smaller, more portable notebook for on-the-go use. This structured approach to Stationery allows him to separate different types of journaling.

  • Key Point: Employing a two-notebook system—a larger, formal one like a Leuchtturm1917 for structured entries and a smaller one for portability—allows for versatile and organized journaling.
  • Quote: "I always have two notebooks going at all times. Big notebook, little notebook. [...] This big boy here, I care about how neat and organized the pages are, and I use this specifically for habit tracking." (3:00)

Field Notes: The On-the-Go Companion For his smaller, mobile notebook, Peter exclusively uses FieldNotes. These PocketNotebooks come in three-packs, and he fills about one per month. Their primary appeal is their practicality and portability for capturing thoughts quickly, rather than neatness. He appreciates their themed designs, which aid in monthly tracking and add an element of fun to his routine. He finds that consistent use helps manage tasks and ideas, especially beneficial for his ADHD.

  • Key Point: FieldNotes are ideal for capturing thoughts on the go due to their durability and portability, and their varied designs can make the journaling habit more engaging.
  • Quote: "The little one is more of like a mobile, on the go, back pocket, hoodie pocket, camera bag. I toss this thing literally anywhere. This, I don't care about. It is merely a tool to get the job done." (3:05)

Pens: The Writing Instruments Peter discusses his favorite Pens, starting with the Uni-ball Signo UM-151 (0.38mm fine point) for its control and ability to improve Penmanship. He uses various colors for highlighting. For FountainPens, he recommends the affordable Lamy Safari and TWSBI Eco as good entry points, alongside his luxury Montblanc 149, noting that cheaper pens can offer a comparable writing experience. He also mentions Japanese brush markers for calligraphy.

  • Key Point: The choice of writing instrument, from fine-point gel pens to fountain pens, can greatly enhance the journaling experience and legibility.
  • Quote: "My favorite pen. The Uni-ball Signo UM-151. This is a 0.38 fine point. I love fine point. It's sharp, it's crisp, you have more control over the pen." (7:46)

Accessories: Organizing the Arsenal Peter showcases his preferred JournalingSupplies for organization. He highlights “The Sendak” pen roll by Peg and Awl, a waxed canvas roll with numerous pen slots, a zippered pouch, and pockets for notebooks like Field Notes or a Leuchtturm1917 A5. This accessory allows for a compact and aesthetically pleasing way to carry essential writing tools. He contrasts this with a less satisfactory, cheaper Amazon pencil case.

  • Key Point: Quality accessories like a well-designed pen roll can significantly improve the organization and portability of journaling tools, making the practice more convenient.
  • Quote: "It fits everything in a perfect just little bundle. [...] I'm going to a coffee shop, I want to work outside in the cafe here, I can just grab this, it's all there." (13:11)

Sponsor: Squarespace (This section is an advertisement) Peter introduces Squarespace as the video’s sponsor. He describes it as an all-in-one platform for WebsiteBuilding, emphasizing its ease of use, beautiful templates, 24-hour customer service, e-commerce capabilities with Squarespace Payments, and new AI tools for website customization. He offers a 10% discount with the code “MCKINNON.”

  • Key Point: Squarespace is presented as a comprehensive and user-friendly platform for creating and managing websites, with a range of tools and support.
  • Quote: "Squarespace is an all-in-one platform. It makes it super easy to build a website if you built websites with a keyboard." (14:03)

How to Habit Track Peter demonstrates his HabitTracker setup in his Leuchtturm1917. He creates a grid with days of the month down one side and habit categories (coffee, water, sugar, alcohol, workout, run, weight, money spent) across the top. He also makes a line graph for sleep (hours vs. days). Each day, he marks the grid and plots sleep, writing a memorable daily entry on the opposite page. This visual system aids in GoalSetting, pattern identification and accountability. He also shows a “stoplight” color system (red/yellow/green) in a Field Notes tracker for progress.

  • Key Point: A manually created visual habit tracking system in a notebook, using grids and graphs, is an effective way to monitor daily activities and stay accountable.
  • Quote: "The rough idea is a graph down the side where I like to track all the individual habits, and then I like to do a graph down this side sideways tracking all my sleep." (16:34)

The Future: Digital Journaling? Peter considers the future of his journaling, mentioning the possibility of DigitalJournaling with an EInk device like a reMarkable tablet. Friends have suggested he might like it for consolidating his various notebooks. While intrigued, he expresses a strong preference for the tactile nature of traditional pen and paper, but leaves open the possibility of exploring digital options in a future video.

  • Key Point: While analog journaling is preferred, the potential of e-ink technology to consolidate multiple notebooks into one digital device is an area of interest for future exploration.
  • Quote: "Now, recently, I have been told by some of my friends who are big into tech that I would like an e-ink reader, reMarkable, I think makes something that's like a digital notebook. [...] Maybe that's the fourth video in this series, compiling all of these things into one digital e-ink reader." (20:41)

Just Get Started & Conclusion Peter concludes by emphasizing the transformative power of using Notebooks for journaling and habit tracking to achieve SelfImprovement. He stresses that consistency turns these practices into enjoyable and essential parts of life, urging viewers, particularly those who feel unfocused, to simply begin. He shows his large collection of filled Field Notes as a testament to his long-term commitment. The core message is Motivation to start, as it’s a simple yet powerful life-enhancing tool.

  • Key Point: The most crucial aspect of benefiting from journaling and habit tracking is to start and maintain consistency, eventually making the practice an enjoyable and integral part of daily life.
  • Quote: "This is who I am. I'm a bit of a nerd at heart. I love stationery, I love writing, I love using notebooks, and they make my life better. And I implore you to give it a shot. Once you fill one, it's easier to fill two." (21:42)
tagsrelated keywords
JournalingPersonalDevelopment
NotebooksStationery
HabitTrackingGoalSetting
ProductivityTimeManagement
PensWritingTools
FieldNotesPocketNotebooks
Leuchtturm1917BulletJournal
FountainPensPenmanship
SelfImprovementMindfulness
DailyRoutineMorningRoutine
CreativeProcessIdeaGeneration
MentalWellbeingAnxietyRelief
AccountabilityProgressMonitoring
StationeryAddictAnalogTools
LifeOrganizationPersonalEffectiveness

Key points

  • The act of writing things down, such as goals or daily progress, is presented as a “superpower” that significantly enhances Productivity and the likelihood of achieving objectives. Scientific studies suggest that people who track their progress are 42% more likely to succeed in their goals, and journaling can boost productivity by 33% and memory by 50%.

  • Journaling and HabitTracking are linked to significant mental and physical health improvements. These practices can lead to a 30% drop in anxiety and depression, better immune function, and even fewer doctor visits.

  • A “two-notebook system” is highly effective for journaling; Peter uses a larger Leuchtturm1917 A5 for organized habit tracking and a smaller, portable FieldNotes notebook for on-the-go ideas and quick logging, catering to different needs and ensuring consistency.

    • Quote: "I always have two notebooks going at all times. Big notebook, little notebook. The little one is more of like a mobile, on the go... This big boy here, I care about how neat and organized the pages are, and I use this specifically for habit tracking." (3:00)
    • Fact Checking:
      1. The use of multiple notebooks for different purposes is a common productivity strategy, similar to context-based task management in systems like GTD. (Source: David Allen’s Getting Things Done)
      2. Ryder Carroll, creator of the BulletJournal method, also discusses tailoring the system to individual needs, which can include multiple notebooks. (Source: BulletJournal.com)
      3. While Peter's specific choice of notebooks is personal, the principle of having dedicated tools for distinct functions (e.g., detailed planning vs. quick capture) is a widely recognized organizational best practice.

  • The choice of Pens can significantly impact the writing experience and Penmanship. Fine-point pens like the Uni-ball Signo UM-151 (0.38mm) offer control and neatness, while fountain pens like Lamy Safari or TWSBI Eco provide a smooth, enjoyable writing experience at an affordable price.

    • Quote: "My favorite pen. The Uni-ball Signo UM-151. This is a 0.38 fine point. I love fine point. It's sharp, it's crisp, you have more control over the pen, and you will write way neater than you think you possibly can." (7:46)
    • Fact Checking:
      1. Pen enthusiasts often discuss the impact of pen type (ballpoint, gel, rollerball, fountain) and tip size on writing comfort and legibility. (Source: JetPens - “The Best Beginner Fountain Pens”)
      2. The Lamy Safari and TWSBI Eco are consistently recommended as excellent beginner fountain pens by reviewers and communities. (Source: Goulet Pens - “Top 5 Beginner Fountain Pens”)
      3. The assertion that finer points lead to neater writing is a common anecdotal observation, though individual results may vary based on writing style and pressure.

  • Manually creating a visual HabitTracker in a notebook, using grids for daily habits and a line graph for metrics like sleep, fosters accountability and provides a clear, satisfying overview of patterns and progress over time.

  • Starting and maintaining consistency with journaling and HabitFormation is key; overcoming the initial hurdle can transform these practices into enjoyable and indispensable habits that contribute to SelfImprovement.

Related

Written Content:

  1. The Bullet Journal Method Blog by Ryder Carroll

    • The official blog for the Bullet Journal system, offering tips, community stories, and insights into mindful productivity through analog journaling.
    • Link: https://bulletjournal.com/blogs/bulletjournalist
    • Topics: Journaling, Notebooks, Productivity, HabitTracking

  2. Zen Habits by Leo Babauta

    • A blog focused on finding simplicity and mindfulness in daily habits, often touching on journaling and reflection as tools for self-improvement.
    • Link: https://zenhabits.net/
    • Topics: HabitTracking, SelfImprovement, Mindfulness, DailyRoutine

  3. The Art of Manliness - “The Power of Pen and Paper: The Magic of Journaling” by Brett & Kate McKay

  4. Tiny Ray of Sunshine - “Bullet Journal Reference Guide” by Kim Alvarez

  5. Ness Labs - “The science of journaling: how to make it a powerful tool for self-reflection” by Anne-Laure Le Cunff

    • Explores the cognitive benefits of journaling, different methods, and how to build a sustainable journaling practice.
    • Link: https://nesslabs.com/journaling
    • Topics: Journaling, SelfImprovement, MentalWellbeing, Productivity

  6. The Gentleman Stationer - Pen and Notebook Reviews by Mike Dudek

    • A blog dedicated to reviewing high-quality pens, paper, notebooks, and other stationery items, offering insights for enthusiasts.
    • Link: https://www.gentlemanstationer.com/
    • Topics: Pens, Notebooks, StationeryAddict, WritingTools

Multimedia Content:

  1. Matt D’Avella - “I tried journaling for 30 days”

    • Matt shares his experience with daily journaling, its impact on his productivity, creativity, and overall well-being.
    • Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSklM3_2h6A
    • Topics: Journaling, SelfImprovement, Productivity, HabitTracking

  2. Thomas Frank - “How to Start a Journaling Habit That Actually Sticks”

    • Provides practical tips and strategies for making journaling a consistent and beneficial habit, addressing common obstacles.
    • Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3t523D4m5E
    • Topics: Journaling, HabitTracking, Productivity, DailyRoutine

  3. Goulet Pens - “Fountain Pen 101” Series

  4. The Tim Ferriss Show - “Dr. James Pennebaker on Expressive Writing, The Power of Stories, and The Link Between Language and Recovery”

    • Podcast episode discussing the science behind expressive writing and its therapeutic benefits with a leading researcher in the field.
    • Link: https://tim.blog/2021/08/02/james-pennebaker/
    • Topics: Journaling, MentalWellbeing, SelfImprovement, Productivity

  5. Lavendaire - “Journaling for Self-Discovery & Personal Growth”

    • Aileen Xu shares her approach to journaling for self-reflection, goal setting, and personal development, with various prompts and ideas.
    • Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA9m14bFStQ
    • Topics: Journaling, SelfImprovement, MentalWellbeing, CreativeProcess

Related Books:

  1. The Bullet Journal Method_Ryder Carroll

    • The definitive guide to the Bullet Journal system by its creator, explaining the philosophy and practical application of this popular analog method for organization and mindfulness.
    • Ebook Link: https://bulletjournal.com/products/the-bullet-journal-method-book
    • Topics: Journaling, Notebooks, Productivity, HabitTracking, LifeOrganization

  2. Atomic Habits_James Clear

    • Provides a framework for building good habits and breaking bad ones, emphasizing small, consistent changes. Highly relevant to the habit tracking aspect.
    • Ebook Link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/atomic-habits
    • Topics: HabitTracking, SelfImprovement, Productivity, GoalSetting

  3. The Artist’s Way_Julia Cameron

  4. Getting Things Done_David Allen

    • A landmark productivity book that, while not solely about journaling, offers systems for capturing thoughts and tasks, aligning with the organizational benefits Peter discusses.
    • Ebook Link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/getting-things-done-1
    • Topics: Productivity, LifeOrganization, TimeManagement, GoalSetting

  5. The Power of Habit_Charles Duhigg

    • Explores the science of habit formation in individuals, organizations, and societies, providing a deep understanding of why habits exist and how they can be changed.
    • Ebook Link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-power-of-habit
    • Topics: HabitTracking, SelfImprovement, Productivity, MentalWellbeing

Related Creators:

  1. Ryder Carroll

    • Creator of the Bullet Journal method. His work is foundational for anyone interested in analog journaling for productivity and mindfulness.
    • Link: https://bulletjournal.com/

  2. James Clear

    • Author of “Atomic Habits.” His focus on habit formation and continuous improvement aligns well with the benefits of tracking and journaling.
    • Link: https://jamesclear.com/

  3. Brad Dowdy (The Pen Addict)

    • A prominent voice in the pen and stationery community, co-hosting “The Pen Addict” podcast and writing a blog with extensive reviews and insights.
    • Link: https://www.penaddict.com/

  4. Ana Reinert (The Well-Appointed Desk)

    • Blogger focusing on analog tools, pens, paper, and the joy of writing. Offers reviews, tips, and community engagement for stationery lovers.
    • Link: https://www.wellappointeddesk.com/

  5. JetPens

Transcript Peter McKinnon: (0:00) (Sound of pen on paper) (0:01) (Close up of eye) (0:02) Here's the thing, writing stuff down, it's kind of like a superpower. Science backs it up too. People who track their progress are 42% more likely to smash their goals. (0:08) Just putting pen to paper can boost productivity by 33%, and get this, journaling actually improves memory by up to 50% (0:18) if you’re tracking habits, whether it’s hitting the gym, eating better, or just drinking more water, you’re way more likely to stay consistent. It’s like having a personal coach, but instead of it yelling at you, it just sits there looking classy on your desk. But here’s where it gets even crazier. (0:21) Journaling has been linked to a 30% drop in anxiety and depression, better immune function, even fewer doctor visits. Seeing your progress on paper, that’s like a cheat code for motivation. It keeps you accountable, focused, fired up. So whether it’s a to-do list, deep thoughts, or just random doodles of your next big idea, grabbing a notebook might just be the easiest way to level up your life. Science. (1:05) (Intro sequence with music) (1:16) What’s up everybody? Peter McKinnon here. Welcome back to yet another video. Now, notebooks and filling in logs and habit trackers and all things pertaining to this world has become a staple part of my everyday life. (1:20) It's more than routine, it's ingrained into the fibers of my being. I wake up, I make coffee, I sit down with it usually somewhere quiet if I can, and I’ll just start writing. And there’s a multitude of things that I’ll write. Over the last few years, I’ve documented my journey in trying to get into journaling and then becoming a fan of it and how I still use it. (1:40) And this is kind of like the culmination of all of these years to the point now where I can confidently say it has changed my life for the better. It is absolutely part of my routine and I would never not make it part of my routine because the changes in how it’s implemented different things into my life and improved it, it’s not worth going back. So today in this video, I want to dive into several things. (2:11) From how habit tracking has absolutely changed the game, my fitness, and my mental state, how continuing to journal has made me more creative, how I’ve actually improved my handwriting considerably. My favorite pens, the notebooks that I prefer to use, big and small, how I tackle this when I’m on the road, travel a lot. (2:25) Do I still journal or write in a notebook when I’m on the road? The accessories that I use to keep all of this stuff in and organized. And trust me, I have tried many and many of them suck. I found a few that are very good. Simple is best. These are actually systems and implementations that can 100% change your life forever. (2:50) And I know that and I can say that because it did mine. (2:57) (Text on screen: NOTEBOOKS) (3:00) I always have two notebooks going at all times. Big notebook, little notebook. The little one is more of like a mobile, on the go, back pocket, hoodie pocket, camera bag. I toss this thing literally anywhere. This, I don't care about. It is merely a tool to get the job done. This big boy here, I care about how neat and organized the pages are, and I use this specifically for habit tracking. (3:16) Let’s go over the brand of notebooks. This is my favorite brand of large notebooks. It’s like a Moleskine, but I find it to be a little bit better quality. It’s soft cover. It’s got the elastic closure. The paper is perfect. It’s super thick, creamy, soft, great for fountain pens, the GSM count or whatever you call it. (3:25) GM. 80 GM. I don’t know what that means. I don’t even think I can pronounce the brand. Leuchtturm? It’s German. If you don’t like soft cover, you can also get them in hard cover. They’re actually a little bit thicker, so I don’t like the hard cover ones because I want the thinner notebook because after you start using this, filling it up with stuff and writing in it constantly, it will double in size. (3:47) I like taping stuff in, like drawings from my kids that I can look back on and I’ll even stick photos in here. That’s stuck at an airport trying to memorize a deck of cards. A nice letter from someone written on a typewriter. But the satisfaction when a full book like this is done, practicing my cursive. I remember one day I heard someone say perfect is boring, you don’t want to do that. (4:01) I wrote that down like a hundred times on this page like a psycho. A little fun thing about these ones too, at the back they have like a little folder. Here’s the picture when I could see the northern lights from my backyard. Here’s a little playing card I found. That was my food credit when I was shooting the Kaleo show at Red Rocks. (4:24) You know, you’re pasting stuff in there, letters that people sent you. You start to kind of just get attached to it and then you don’t want to mess it up. This was January 19th when they banned Tik Tok and then unbanned it like a few hours later. That’s funny. I always like to put a start date and an end date and then the total of the days it took me to finish this notebook. This took 96 days to finish. (4:45) They also make small versions of these if you’re not a big notebook person, but I feel like by the end of this video, you’ll want the A5 size and you’ll want a field note size. (5:07) (Text on screen: FIELD NOTES) (5:09) Now, the Field Notes come in three packs. I usually fill up about one Field Notes a month. If I’m really ripping, I can do one and a half a month, but that’s just kind of a lot of unnecessary writing. And the whole goal here is to not make it not fun. It’s to make a system here that improves your life and that you get used to. (5:19) This isn’t, I should also say, this isn’t something that I just make myself do. I enjoy doing this. Like my favorite part of the day is usually having coffee in the morning first thing and writing in my notebooks. It’s also without saying, as the day progresses and I check back into to-do lists and scratch things off, I get immense satisfaction out of that as well. (5:37) So, the notebook’s role throughout my day is always very enjoyable and it was always my plan and goal to keep it that way. I think the second something becomes a chore or a bit of a grind, it’s not fun. Things start off that way, but once you pass the hump, that’s when things start to open up, like they unlock. It’s just like anything. (5:52) Look at fitness, for example. I hate working out. It sucks. I cannot get into it. I just I don’t get excited. I don’t like it. And that’s because I haven’t given it enough consistency to get to the point where I’ve unlocked it and gotten over that hump. Running was the same. (6:09) At the beginning, it was hard. It wasn’t something that I enjoyed doing, but I continued doing it. I passed that hump. I unlocked it. And now, I’ll find myself sitting in the studio or doing something somewhere and just thinking, I would rather be running right now. And that is mind-blowing for Peter McKinnon. Who would have thought? November kilometers had five runs, a total of 28 km. (6:24) In December, I had one run, a total of 5 km. In January, I was like, nah, that. I want to fill more of that back page. That’s the game it became. I want the satisfaction of seeing more than half that page filled with runs from just one month. (6:42) January total, 124 km. That’s missing five runs, too. That gets me fired up for February. Now I want to see the whole page full of runs. That’s crossing the hump. I’ve unlocked it. It did take that certain amount of time to form that habit, but once that habit’s there, it’s now an enjoyable part of the process. (7:01) I’ve got ADHD. It’s undiagnosed, but it’s by God there. When I have a simple task, it takes me at least 10 other tasks to get back to the original task. I’m so unbelievably sidetracked. So these types of tools that I’ve made staples, they help calm the storm that’s up here, and that’s invaluable for someone like me. (7:27) And I’m sure if you’re watching this, someone like you. (7:32) (Text on screen: PENS) (7:36) (Pens spill onto table) I shouldn’t have done it that way. Now it’s all disorganized. (7:46) My favorite pen. The Uni-ball Signo UM-151. This is a 0.38 fine point. I love fine point. It's sharp, it's crisp, you have more control over the pen, and you will write way neater than you think you possibly can. If you’re one of those people that thinks, “Oh, I have horrible writing, it’s chicken scratch,” I promise if you just spend some time, make an effort and use a fine point, like a 0.38, you will have nicer writing than even you imagine. (7:48) We could probably end the segment right there. This is a 0.38 fine point. I love fine point. It’s sharp, it’s crisp, you have more control over the pen, and you will write way neater than you think you possibly can. If you’re one of those people that thinks, “Oh, I have horrible writing, it’s chicken scratch,” I promise if you just spend some time, make an effort and use a fine point, like a 0.38, you will have nicer writing than even you imagine. (8:13) Guaranteed. If it still sucks, I can’t help you. Like, when’s the last time you finished a pen from full to empty? You think finishing a notebook is satisfying? Finishing a pen. Now, I have those in like all different colors. So, turquoise, royal blue, green, red, even purple if I want to go wild. (8:21) I think highlighting and underlining certain things makes a huge difference when I’m writing notes. If a quote that I don’t want to forget is written in red amongst an entire page of black text, it stands out. So, I like using different colors to accent and highlight different parts of my story, different parts of my journal, or different parts of my video planning to really emphasize different points so I don’t forget them. I have a marker for that too, but this isn’t just any ordinary marker. (8:40) This is a Japanese brush marker. It’s kind of like a calligraphy pen where as you press harder on like an upstroke or a downstroke, you’re going to get a different thickness from this marker. And the same thing, if I want to emphasize a point or a quote, or if I want to fill in a progress tracker, sometimes I like doing little graphs, and I’ll show you how I do that soon. I like using red, green, and yellow to show no progress, some progress, good progress. (9:04) Two absolute favorites here, Micron pens. Now we’re talking fine point. These are the finest of points. If you press even remotely too hard, marker’s trashed. It’s done. I can’t I wish I could just show you. Like I can’t I can barely see it with my own eyes right there. There’s no chance. (9:28) Fountain pens. These are two of my favorite that are very affordable. The Lamy Safari, this is like 40 or something. And then this is the TWSBI fountain pen. And I think this is around the same price, probably like 60. Maybe this is a little more expensive. (9:33) And I got to be honest, I’ve had fountain pens my whole life. I’ve been collecting them. I mean, back in the day, I’ve got Montblanc pens here. I remember in my everyday carry video a few weeks ago, some people were like, “You should buy a Montblanc pen.” And I have some. I have the classic 149, which is arguably the most popular Montblanc fountain pen to ever exist. (9:50) It’s like a big cigar when you’re holding it. And I’ve also got a calligraphy version of this same pen, and I keep them in this little special leather pouch. I’m super nostalgic and I romanticize the idea of like my son finding these in my old desk one day. “Dad’s pens. Sick. I’m going to pawn them.” (10:07) Here’s the thing, this like 50 pen feels just as good and in some instances smoother than like these luxury Montblanc, like prestige. (In British accent) Excuse me, sir. Might I have your signature? Would you like it? I could just give you the most beautiful penmanship. ([10:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA4A0vj-F00&t=621s)) This is just as good. Amazon, like 50 bucks. If you're looking to get into fountain pens or you want to try calligraphy or like having better handwriting, this is what I would do. I would get one of these. I wouldn't even bother with this. This is if you just stick with it and like five years down the road, you're like, "No, I want I'm going to a wedding and I don't know." Maybe you never need these. ([10:38](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA4A0vj-F00&t=638s)) I can't even think of a reason why you would need them other than just absolutely blowing money. Of the two, TWSBI is my favorite. This is a little too harsh and sharp for me. Get a TWSBI pen, you'll be absolutely stoked. Mechanical pencil, I never use it. ([10:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA4A0vj-F00&t=650s)) (Text on screen: ACCESSORIES) ([11:14](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA4A0vj-F00&t=674s)) Okay, let's talk accessories. Pencil cases. This is just a cheap 15, $20 pencil case I got on Amazon. It is exactly what it is. I got it and was kind of just like, “Meh.” I’m big into aesthetic and I’m big into like a very specific aesthetic and this just wasn’t hitting it for me. (11:22) So, I did some searching around the internet and I came up, it’s a little more costly, I apologize. This company called Peg and Awl. And they have this thing called the Sendak. Now, its biggest sin is that it has this monstrosity of leather patch riveted to the front with their name and logo and what they call this thing. (11:35) Entirely unnecessary. I would have paid more to not have this abomination. I get that you want to brand things, but like, that’s what the tip of your belt is for. Get your buckles made where it’s just engraved on the buckle. There’s a million ways to do this better. (11:53) Had it just been a little engraving, it’s just a tiny rivet engraved on the rivet is a peg and an awl. Just to go on a little rant here, I would say nine times out of 10, the biggest transgression that companies or cool brands make is their logos are too freaking big. Everyone wants to just plaster the name or the logo. (12:10) I don’t want it to be the whole look at the real estate. And now I’m now now we’re here. Okay, now we can open it up. Strap is great, buckle is great, waxed canvas is great. In mere months, this thing’s going to look incredible. And inside, you’ve got like room for everything. (12:24) What’s nice is it fits the notebooks too. You got a zipper pouch here, pencil sharpener, eraser, some tiny post-it notes. You’ve got interior pockets, one, two, three, four, one of them, two of them, which fit a Field Notes like a glove. Yep, that’s money. (12:41) Fold this thing down. In the back, there’s two huge pockets and that fits the giant notebook perfectly. Fold this over, fold that over again, do up your leather strap. (13:00) And it fits everything in a perfect just little bundle. What do you think of that, eh? Ready to just hit the Lickbo for a quick two-four? Because we all know there ain’t enough juice in a Mickey. You want to go for a rip there, bud? It’s expensive. I’m not sponsored. I paid for this. (13:11) It’s probably too much for what they’re asking, but it is beautiful and I do love it. (13:49) And that brings me to the sponsor of today's episode. (Puts on glasses, clears throat, silly voice) Squarespace is an all-in-one platform. It makes it super easy to build a website if you built websites with a keyboard. So many beautiful templates to choose from. 24-hour customer service. So if you get stuck, like if that was hard for you, based on how easy it is, you could contact them and they would help you very, very fast. You should have a website. It's crazy to think about. You have a phone, you're doing phone things, sitting there at night, just scrolling away. Scroll onto your website. Maybe someone could be scrolling yours, buying things. Squarespace have implemented shopping. You can use Squarespace payments. (13:53) There's all kinds of fancy new neural AI that Squarespace can customize your website is to just really just dive in and just uncover all the layers of you to give you the most personal, exclusive, customized. It's really an experience. You can save yourself 10% off by using code MCKINNON at checkout. You've got no excuse. You should pause and just do it. Your website could just say LOL. That's fine. It could just be a picture of me. That's also fine. Use the link in the bio, sign up. Thanks for letting me do this. I appreciate it. Okay, I'll let you go back. I'll let you go back and do your thing. That was for you. Figured I'd bring him back. I guess been waiting long enough. (14:08) (Text on screen: HABIT TRACKING) (15:28) When we’re talking habit trackers, it took several months of making these to really start to identify different patterns within my life. I wanted to see how much alcohol was being consumed. What my weight was every single day. Was I drinking water every day? Was I drinking coffee every day? Was I spending money that day? And when you go back through one of these habit trackers and you just look at all the months that you’ve marked down for these different categories, you’re shocked at how much or how little some of them can be. (15:41) When you look at the fact that, man, I didn’t drink a full bottle of water for 18 days in a row, but I hit coffee at least every single day, it really holds you accountable and it puts that data right into your face. And the fact that you are manually inputting it, not relying on an app to input it, it makes it stick. Then it becomes a game. Then you want to update it. (15:55) You want to see that habit tracker grow. You want to see it filled out. Here is a little explanation on how I set up one of my habit trackers. A blank notebook, ready to go. I never use the first page, so I would probably start it here. You are going to need a ruler. (16:19) The rough idea is a graph down the side where I like to track all the individual habits, and then I like to do a graph down this side sideways tracking all my sleep. Sometimes, what I like to do is correspond it with something on this left page. 31 days, kind of like a story of the day. So you got your numbers going all the way down the left side. (16:40) These numbers will also affect what’s on this side. I like graph paper for this very reason. And you’re going to go all the way down. I don’t have a ruler that’s long enough, but you’ll get the idea. Run down every line for however many categories of things you want to track. Cap those off. But now, when you look across, the 31st is this box. (16:53) The 30th is here, so on and so forth. Now you got to make your grid all the way up. It’s safe to say too, when I actually do this and I’m setting it up for myself, I take way more time to not go through the lines because that kind of stuff drives me crazy and those little details matter to me. You have your grid. Now we’re going to write down our categories for what we’re going to track. (17:20) Let’s track coffee, water, sugar, alcohol, a workout, a run. Let’s do weight, and last but not least, money spent. Now we’re going to go into the sleep graph, which I like to put here. I’ll draw the number of boxes for however many hours I want to track. So let’s say 10 hours of sleep. (17:33) This is the graph we’re building. 10 hours of sleep, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, and 3. Each of these days is also the same as all of these days. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. And the idea is to fill this in every single day for the month while you’re using it. (18:05) We can write at the top here, Daily Tracker. This is an example of what I would do if I woke up and it’s the 1st. I would write down on this page one thing that’s memorable that I did this day. Made a video about notebooks. And then on this side, I would mark down, did I have coffee today? I did drink water. (18:22) Did you have sugar? No. Alcohol? No. Did you work out? No. Did you go for a run? Yes. Whatever your weight is, let’s just write X. Yes, I spent money today. I bought two extra memory cards because I keep losing my SDs. Then I’d come down here, and I slept 8 hours last night, and I just draw a dot. (18:40) And that's it. That's your day. Now you just move on, you write your entries, you write your notes, you do whatever you’re going to do. Tomorrow, you’re going to come back and you’re going to make another entry. The same with like, let’s say, oh, I slept 5 hours last night, 7 hours, 10 hours because that’s insane, 6 hours of sleep, 8 hours of sleep, 8 hours of sleep, 5 hours of sleep, up here was 9 hours of sleep. (18:45) And then when you connect the dots... what does that tell me right away? That my sleep is absolutely erratic. It's all over the place. There is absolutely no pattern. So you can really average out at the end of the month after seeing this visually. And I know there’s apps that do this, but there’s something satisfying about filling it out yourself. (19:08) You can see your patterns of spending money, how many days you had sugar, and you can just see this at a glance. And it’s fun. As it starts to fill out, it looks insane. And then I make one of these for every single month. If you don’t want to do the full month, you could do 10 days. Here is a small version that I did in a Field Notes book. (19:24) That graph in the bottom is kind of cool because it shows how much social media I did, how much photography. Because it gives me a good snapshot. Not much happened with Pirate Life. And I used this one because I was on the move going to Iceland. (20:00) (Text on screen: THE FUTURE) (20:22) The way I treat these two books when it really comes down to it, because I understand the notion of carrying two notebooks or using two notebooks can be kind of like, “Well, what do I choose goes in one versus the other?” This one I focus more on aesthetic. This one is just practical. I don’t care. I care, but together, it’s the full picture. (20:41) Now, recently, I have been told by some of my friends who are big into tech that I would like an e-ink reader, reMarkable, I think makes something that's like a digital notebook. I'm interested in trying that. Maybe there's a version four of this video where we dive into doing this exact same practice but on a digital e-ink notepad. I'm not even sure what that means, but they say it feels like paper, but I would just rather write on paper. So, maybe that's the fourth video. Compiling all of these things into one digital e-ink reader. Sounds kind of exhausting. (20:51) (Text on screen: JUST GET STARTED) (21:16) So that concludes my thoughts, my processes on using notebooks, tracking your habits, setting goals, and mostly building routine, sticking with something long enough until it’s unlocked to the point where it becomes a very fabric of your being. You cannot exist without it. It is now who you are. (21:31) You never miss. It is now who you are. And I can honestly say after all these years of making all these notebook videos, this is who I am. I'm a bit of a nerd at heart. I love stationery, I love writing, I love using notebooks, and they make my life better. And I implore you to give it a shot. Once you fill one, it's easier to fill two. (21:42) So many people, and I’ve heard this so many times, they get a fresh pack of Field Notes, you crack open that first page, you write in your details, you put a little pirate stamp on mine. You sit there and you’re like, “What do I even say? What do I even write? What do I do with this?” And then like there’s so many it’s so overwhelming. It’s a full blank book. (21:53) I absolutely agree. It’s overwhelming. But once you finish that first book, then you want the second. Then you want the third. Then it actually just becomes easy. Then a few months into the year, you’re just crushing books. I think what I like about Field Notes as well is the fact that they do theme the books. (22:19) So every month they’re coming out with new ones. It makes it easy to keep track of them, and it kind of keeps it fresh and exciting. It’s not just the same black notebook over and over and over and over and over. This is just a little more fun. A little side note too, just if you’re kind of a nostalgic person, they are so much fun to look back on and to just read what your mindset was that day, or even read some of the issues you were having that day. (22:30) One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 months. And you read something and it’s an issue that you’re having, and it’s exactly the same as the current month’s issue you’re having. You can say to yourself, “How am I having the same problem for 10 months? What am I doing that’s persistent? You’ve got the data right here.” So not only is it nostalgic, but it’s like, it’s very helpful and informative to go back and track these things. (23:05) Not to mention, it just looks sick on your shelf when you just have a huge, huge library or archive of notebooks. And the reason I wanted to make this video early on in 2025 is so that you had all the rest of the months to try this out and see if it’s something that you can make stick because I promise you, it makes a difference. And if you’re anything like me and your brain is like a fireworks show and you can’t focus on anything and one task turns into a million tasks, you have too many things to do so you end up doing none of them. (23:20) You don’t use a calendar, you don’t check your texts, things just get out of control. The notebook can really be the calm in the storm. (23:40) (Music starts, outro sequence with Peter making funny faces and gestures, ending with him taking off glasses that were clearly too tight and rubbing his temples.) (23:48) Oh, you’ve hurt my ears, dude. I’ve had this on five minutes and I’ve got like a pressure headache behind my skull. How do you wear these all day? Do you have indentations back there? Like, do they, is it like your foot in a boot? Do they just go on and they just sink into the divot that’s in the back of your skull? Just I’m just asking as a non-glasses guy. Like I don’t I don’t know. Oh, it’s awful. It’s awful. I’d never get Lasik though. Fuck that. I’d just deal with this. (Drinks from a can)