Friday Question 249

By , April 4, 2014 6:20 am

Are you a note taker?

140404notes

I love taking notes. Definitely at work, but even in my personal life, at times! Taking notes keeps me focused on what is going on (and sometimes keeps me awake!), and gives me something to reference later, if I forget a detail.

I am meticulous about storing my work notes. I take them by hand, then scan them and organize them by topic and date. I LOVE FILING!!! Hmm, that makes me think of another question: do you have much paper storage at your work/home, or do you try to store most things on the computer?

My notes are about the only paper I use on a regular basis.  Sometimes I print out something to review, or, bring to a meeting, but even then, I see if I can bring my computer to the meeting instead. Bye bye, paper clutter!

Totally unrelated, but tomorrow is my dad’s first race of the year – the Fools 5K! Well, his first race if it doesn’t get canceled due to potential 50 mph winds. Go get it you fool, Dad!

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23 Responses to “Friday Question 249”

  1. Rachel says:

    That is a pretty goofy shirt for that race! I hope the weather cooperates and the wind is at his back! Go Dad!

    I don’t really take many notes and I HATE paper clutter. Some people at my work are addicted to paper and note pads and it drives me bonkers. Just purge it already! I once found a folder marked “PERMANENT” and when I opened it the only thing in there was a handwritten note that said “Blueberry muffins=YUM!” And now you know what I’m working with…

    If I do need notes I type them up and store them on my computer. (My handwriting is pretty terrible, so even if I scanned them in I might not be able to read them later!)

  2. Erin says:

    You’d think that since a HUGE part of my job is helping people organize stuff that I’d be better about it myself. But, I’ve found it’s actually MORE difficult to organize things electronically. Especially if they are items that you need to share with people. Inevitably someone puts something in the wrong folder or names it in some weird way so you can’t find it. For some reason people lose their minds when it comes to filing electronically. Like they can’t make the leap from paper to electronic.

    • kilax says:

      Yeah, we have a shared folder system at work and I have seen things labeled in a way that makes no sense to me. It’s good to have a labeling policy! And to talk about where things will be stored. And write it down, so you don’t forget. Ha.

      • Erin says:

        We suggest making a .txt file with instructions on what should be in the folder, how long it needs to be kept, and how to name the files. That way everyone can see the rules!

  3. Xaarlin says:

    Come file for meeeee! My office is a train wreck. 🙁

    I love taking notes too. I have a little yellow notebook that I keep solely for “personal” notes. I’ve got lists of groceries, along with race schedule to packing lists for races in it. 🙂

    I’d prefer to only use electronic means for storing my notes like you, but always end up using my little yellow notebook instead of my phone. I have a “special” box where I keep all my
    Important paper things- like CB’s vet visit papers, passport, tax stuff.

    Good luck to your dad in his 5k!! I hope those 50mph winds show up post race. Yikes!

    • kilax says:

      You still working on it? 🙂

      Yeah, notes on my phone haven’t really clicked for me. I have a few in there, but I often write myself note emails for things. For some reason, I don’t dig the note app too much.

  4. Gina says:

    Good Luck on your race, Daddio!!! If you have to deal with winds, I hope they are tailwinds to the finish line!

  5. Chaitali says:

    50 mph winds!?! I cna’t even imagine running in that. Good luck to your dad 🙂 And I’m horrible with paper. I just have one drawer I throw all “important” papers in but that of course makes them harder to find later. I can always find the things I store electornically, though.

  6. Kristina says:

    I definitely take notes but I’m not so good at filing them.
    Michael takes art classes, and he’s amazed that so many students do not take notes. A lot of them just video tape the class, but there is such a different way that the brain functions.
    Good luck with the race and the winds!

  7. Kandi says:

    I take some notes at work but I don’t usually keep them after a project is over unless they are on my computer. I’ve never scanned my notes to the computer though. I’m terribly unorganized but that doesn’t seem to affect my work too much. My boss is super organized (to a point where I’m pretty sure I’d never find stuff he’s filed on his computer because he keeps so many folders!) and has both typed and hand-written (chicken scratch?) notes.
    I love that fools 5k shirt! I hope your dad has a good race and it’s not cancelled!

  8. Diane says:

    Ha, I get teased at work about my extensive notebook pile. I do BOTH–I have a series of folders on my desktop AND piles of notebooks. I’m in HR, there’s a lot to document! 😉
    BUT, I take crazy notes. They make sense to me but I think they must be a mystery to everyone else. Here is an unedited sample of what’s in front of me right now:
    Brittany -> Colgate*
    Briley
    Updates -> Draft custom
    Patricia -> Follow up!
    Close Jeff (IP)

    *I use arrows in my notes A LOT!

    • kilax says:

      Hey! As long as they make sense to YOU! I mean, as long as you are the one using them. Hee hee. So are the arrows action items?

  9. Good luck to your dad! We have some gnarly winds here right now, and I was so grateful they picked up after my run this morning.

    I use reporter’s notebooks all the time, and they are everywhere. What’s weird is I tape all of my interviews but take notes, too. I also like notebooks for the grocery. I just can’t high tech it.

    • kilax says:

      Luckily, the winds were okay and he ran a new 5K PR!

      What is a reporter’s notebook? A certain size? Yeah, I can’t high tech the grocery list, either!

  10. ChezJulie says:

    Why does the T-shirt for your dad’s race have a Mardi Gras theme when the race is in April? Confused (says the gal from the Gulf Coast).

    I prefer to do what I can online, but I have four big spiral notebooks that I use at work. Three are for the distinct facets of my job, and one is for “other.” I use them to take notes in meetings with individual employees and jot down stuff from phone calls and other one-on-one meetings. When I’m in a larger meeting, I just jot down notes on the meeting agenda. Then I lose the meeting agenda in a pile of papers on my desk. Hmmmn, maybe I should scan them in, too.

    I have an employee who takes all her notes with one of those stylus thingys on an iPad and then syncs the notes to her computer. I’m not quite that tech solution oriented.

    • kilax says:

      I have no idea. Maybe since the theme is “fools” and those guys have fools hats on?

      Dang! You are organized! I applaud the people who use iPad/computer for notes. I am just not there yet!

  11. Amy says:

    Oh no, I hope your Dad does well in his first race and doesn’t get blown away!

    I take lots of notes. I really believe by taking written notes I absorb the information so much better than just listening. It is also a way to focus and keep my mind from wandering. When I went to visit the different college department presentations with my son when he was trying to decide what to study, I took notes during all the presentations and he was like, OMG, mom, you take really good notes! I have to admit that made me feel good – ha ha!

  12. Michele says:

    Of course I take notes!! Haha! I’m in nursing school!

    That is the ONLY note taking I do though. After the semester is over, I write on the cover what is inside then file them away. I have had to reference them from time to time. I’m a super organized note taker, each subject has a specific color and different things to distinguish them!

    Good luck to your dad!!!

  13. Irina says:

    Oh my gosh I’m a note taker for LIFE! I love love love everything about note-taking, and note-taking on a computer will never compare. I’m known in the office for my wonderful collection of notepads. #oldschoolforlife !

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