# Use Two Notebooks, Change Your Life  ## Introduction [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=0s) - Using a notebook can change one's life, as it has benefited some of the most influential and creative people in the world [(00:00:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=7s). - These individuals have developed systems for using notebooks, which are underpinned by neuroscience [(00:00:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=14s). - The video aims to explain these systems and the benefits of using notebooks, with the goal of convincing viewers to use two notebooks [(00:00:18)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=18s). - The discussion begins by introducing the concept of using notebooks as a tool for personal development and creativity [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=0s). ## Why use a notebook [(00:00:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=21s) - Many historical figures have used notebooks to plan their schedules and organize their thoughts, but they often had no alternative, whereas today there are numerous digital options available for storing ideas, making the benefits of using a notebook less obvious [(00:00:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=22s). - Research suggests that writing things down by hand can make them more memorable than dictating or typing, with a study from [[University of Tokyo | Tokyo University]] showing higher brain activity when recalling handwritten information [(00:00:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=42s). - Handwritten notes contain complex spatial information that can aid memory, and taking notes by hand helps students process information in lectures by forcing them to make conscious choices about what to note [(00:00:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=57s). - This conscious selection process can lead to better retention of information, as highlighted by author [[Raymond Chandler]], who noted that when you have to use energy to write down words, you are more likely to make them count [(00:01:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=80s). - The act of writing down information, such as highlighting paragraphs from books, can also improve memory, as opposed to simply highlighting digitally [(00:01:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=71s). ## Clear out your brain [(00:01:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=88s) - Clearing out your brain involves removing thoughts and reminders that occupy your mind throughout the day, such as tasks, jobs, and people to stay in contact with, by writing them down in a system [(00:01:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=89s). - Without a system to store these thoughts, the brain has to juggle them with other tasks, making it difficult to focus on what's important [(00:01:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=97s). - The brain's tendency to repeatedly recall important information to avoid forgetting is known as the rehearsal Loop, a cognitive process that was useful in the past when writing tools were not available [(00:01:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=105s). - The rehearsal Loop can be too effective, causing the brain to bring up reminders while trying to concentrate on other tasks [(00:02:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=121s). - [[Dave Allen (comedian) | Dave Allen]], author of "Getting Things Done," suggests having a system for writing down reminders to give the brain permission to focus on other things, a process he calls "clearing the mind" [(00:02:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=126s). - This system reassures the brain that it's okay to forget reminders as long as they are captured in a trusted system, allowing the brain to focus on other tasks [(00:02:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=137s). ## Think better on paper [(00:02:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=148s) - Thinking on paper allows for better idea generation and organization, as it enables individuals to physically see their ideas and relate to them more effectively than when viewing them on a screen [(00:02:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=148s). - The use of pen and paper, as described by Reynold in his book "Presentation Zen", facilitates the process of getting ideas out of one's head and into a visual space where they can be prioritized and focused on [(00:02:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=150s). - Writing down ideas by hand helps to create a visual map of tasks and priorities, making it easier to focus on what's important [(00:02:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=172s). - The physical act of writing takes more effort than typing or cutting and pasting, which forces individuals to distill their ideas down to their core [(00:03:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=181s). - Writing in a notebook reduces the likelihood of unintentional distractions, as it requires physical effort to put the notebook down and switch to a computer or other distracting device [(00:03:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=193s). - In contrast, working on a digital spreadsheet or document can easily lead to distractions, such as checking something online or browsing social media [(00:03:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=195s). ## Ideas [(00:03:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=210s) - Having an "ideas park" or a designated space to store ideas is valuable, as discussed by [[Ryan Holiday]] in the concept of a commonplace book, where one writes down meaningful quotes from articles or books by hand [(00:03:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=213s). - Another concept is having an "ideas part" where one scribbles down notes or thoughts that don't fit into current priorities, such as headlines for articles, concepts to try out, or threads to write on [[Twitter]] [(00:03:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=227s). - This "ideas part" can be done online, but using a physical journal can encourage serendipity, allowing one to see connections between notes by thumbing through them [(00:04:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=248s). - The physical journal also ensures that all ideas are stored in one place, preventing them from being forgotten in email drafts or random documents [(00:04:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=268s). - A good notebook can also serve as a "watch, read, hear" list, as coined by [[Austin Kleon]], where one can store recommendations for films to watch, books to read, or music and podcasts to listen to [(00:04:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=277s). ## Make Friends [(00:04:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=285s) - A notebook can help make friends by showing that someone is taking recommendations seriously and is likely to follow up on them, as demonstrated in a scene from [[Captain America: The Winter Soldier]] where [[Steve Rogers (Marvel Cinematic Universe) | Steve Rogers]] writes down Sam Wilson's suggestion to listen to Marvin Gaye's album "[[Trouble Man (album) | Trouble Man]]" in his notebook [(00:04:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=290s). - When someone writes down a recommendation by hand in a notebook, it reassures the person making the suggestion that they are being taken seriously and that the recommendation is likely to be acted upon [(00:05:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=329s). - Writing down recommendations in a notebook is special because it devotes physical space to the information, making it more likely to be referenced later [(00:05:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=338s). - Having a notebook to write down recommendations can lead to meaningful connections and friendships, as it shows that someone values the other person's opinions and is willing to take the time to write them down [(00:05:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=324s). - A newsletter is available that features the best recommendations and discoveries, and it is free to sign up with a link in the video description [(00:05:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=351s). ## Two Notebooks [(00:06:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=363s) - Two notebooks are necessary for organization, with one being a big spiral-bound notebook that stays on the desk for day-to-day tasks and the other being a pocket-sized notebook that is carried everywhere for other notes and ideas [(00:06:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=363s). - The big notebook is used for writing down jobs for the day in a list that can be checked off as they are completed, and is also used for scribbling down notes from work calls and keeping track of ongoing tasks [(00:06:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=373s). - The big notebook is referred to as the "first thing list" because it is used to write down the first task that needs to be done on every project at the start of the workday [(00:06:18)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=378s). - The big notebook helps to keep the mind clear by having all necessary information in one place, reducing the need to constantly remember multiple tasks [(00:06:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=398s). - A benefit of using a spiral-bound notebook is that it can lie flat on the desk without being crushed open [(00:06:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=401s). - The smaller notebook is used for notes, ideas, and recommendations, such as writing out meaningful [[Amazon Kindle | Kindle]] notes, movies to watch, music to listen to, and recommendations from friends [(00:06:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=410s). - The smaller notebook is also used for implementing Ryan Holiday's advice to write out meaningful digital notes in a physical notebook [(00:06:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacY2jpixtE&t=411s).