Writing It Down

I think we often say things like “I need to write this down or let me grab a pen“ however how often are we actually physically writing it down with a physical pen verses entering it into a notes tab on our phones or computers.

This to me is something I believe can make a huge difference into how we remember small details but also how we can. Learn from experiences especially as photographers. I would also like to say this is a new technique for me too so please don’t feel like I am up my ivory tower preaching to all you iPhone notes using losers. My aim here is simply to provide my experience since switching to a more physical media life. There are pros and cons trust me.

Firstly let’s start with why I chose to start trying this somewhat “alternative“ method. The number one reason was due to my memory, many of you may know I have ADHD and one of the biggest struggles I have is my memory for what my brain considers to be “non vital information“. This includes if I have food in the house have I eaten in 10 hours and have I sent that birthday/christmas card out. Due to this ideas I have that I would try to keep track of would end up in my notes app and then never get looked at again. I lost way too much momentum forgetting ideas that needed constant work and updates that there is now a note I simply call the project graveyard.

So around 4 months ago ( pretty much when I quit photography to work more on projects) I got my self a tiny little pocket book, well technically I stole it from a shitty retail job I was working, and started writing down my thoughts in it along with other bits and pieces of information I needed to remember. I write down anything from petrol costs on my motorbike, shopping lists to things I want to do throughout the year and work into a long term project.

It has really helped me keep track of things and I have found it is definitely making me remember things a bit better and finding myself actually being organised in my life. I don’t use it everyday however it is always on me just in case. People at my work do tend to think I am a bit odd when in the middle of a conversation I will pull out my little pad and write down the name of a film or book they recommend I check out.

Reminders like this are a great improvement however my personal favourite way to use the small pad in combination with a larger pad I don’t carry with me everyday. My current process is to make small little notes of sometimes just a couple of words. Then every couple of days I sit down with both the small and large pad and flesh out the notes into more “memorable“ passages for which I can work from at a later date. I appreciate this is a bit of a long way round the houses however for me it really works well and has me on course already working on my next project.

So those are the pros a nice little workflow allowing me to remember and flesh out normally forgotten ideas. Let’s get to the cons of the method. The biggest and probably most hilarious one is, FORGETTING THE FUCKING NOTEPAD. Whilst this may seem like the whole point of the bloody exercise I often find myself running back to my desk before heading out to make sure I have it either on my person or in my bag. It’s an easy enough thing to fix however just might require a small amount of what I like to call strategic eyeline placement. Basically leave the pad close by something you know you will look at before you leave the house. Currently my watch lives on top of the pad.

Another issue I have found is thinking I have written down enough information to then flesh out later but in reality I have just written down some cryptic crossword clues to which I have no idea what I meant when writing it. This can cause me some very minor issues however usually after a day or so I remember what previous Sam was thinking and am able to add to the small notes to make more sense.

Outside of those 2 cons I really don’t have any others to speak of. I find the physical act of writing quite therapeutic and I am definitely sure it is helping me to be a bit more proactive and creative. It is definitely helping me have ideas for this blog also which is hopefully a good thing for those reading.

Go and buy a notebook and watch how much more you start to remember and you might even feel a little bit cooler as a person if I’m being totally vain and honest. :)

The current “put this here so I don’t forget it“ situation.

I really enjoy how this “recall and flesh out“ method works for me.