Analogue v Digital 4 - Making Notes

Last week you heard from that Luddite, Fleet. She’ll never amount to anything with those silly paper calendars...

OK. I’ll concede that being a Doctor of Physiology lecturing at one of the world’s greatest universities probably constitutes “amounting to something”. And yes, publishing a novel is pretty good too. Publishing two is just showing off. Three? That’s rude.

Oh alright, she’s doing OK.

Go and buy her books, or at least sign up to her newsletter. Don’t tell her I said so, but each of her novels is a great read.

Notes

Today, I want to look at notes.

The Digital

I’m steeped in Apple. Not cider, but the electronics firm. I use multiple Notes apps that sync (sometimes) across all my devices and can be shared with other people.

Every week, I co-host a podcast, and TJ & I work from an Apple Note. It’s awesome, when it works. I also use Goodnotes, where I edit notes with my Apple Pencil, a sort of analogue/digital hybrid.

My notes are editable, instantly shared and backed up. Unbeatable, surely.

And yet...

The Analogue.

I am never without a notebook. At a conference, watching a video, making a call, on a trip, out for dinner, even walking down the street. I’m forever taking notes.

These notes don’t sync or backup. There are times I struggle to even read them.

Keeping analogue notes helps me focus. If I’m writing stuff down, then I remain in the present, switched on.

A notebook and a pencil or pen is an essential part of my every day carry. If I’m on business, then there will be several of each in my bag.

Verdict

At last! The good Dr and I are in agreement.

You can’t beat pen and paper for notes.