I keep a Field Notes book in my bag but rarely use it. Occasionally I remember to input the thought into Notes on my iPhone, but often times the thought just floats free into the ether, never to be recalled. For tracking what I read, I use a site/app called StoryGraph either on my phone or browser. I have a Rhodia notebook waiting to be started - I filled the last one with notes related to writing when I was taking a class, but I haven't done that for a while. Before bed, I jot down a few lines about the day in a five year journal that I started in January. I've only missed a few days and I think it will be really neat if I can keep it up over the span of five years. Lately, though, I have gotten really into sending snail mail - I think it's a justification to use fountain pens and nice paper and also another way to spend analog time.
I would dump my Apple Watch but I do need the sleep tracking for medical reasons. I suppose I could wear it just at night. I also have a little widget called a Brick that I can use to block apps on my phone when I notice I'm doomscrolling too much. The genius of it is that you can't unlock it without getting the little widget. Mine is stuck to the fridge so if I'm sitting on the sofa and by habit tap into Instagram but get the blocked notification I have to weigh whether it's worth getting off my butt.
I used to use a lot of Rhodia notebooks--some of the A5s that are archived in my office. And I have been meaning to get back into writing physical letters as well--though I'm not sure if anyone will be able to read my handwriting these days. The Brick sounds like a great idea; I've simply withdrawn from social media for the most part, but there are times when I miss the connections.
Everyone marvels at the beauty — I made my notes pretty so I will want to look at my to do list again rather than weep and shut the book for the rest of the day.
I love your watch. My son has something similar. I have an Apple watch and at times it is a distraction (especially —horror— at church) however it has saved me in getting urgent phone calls and messages. I have such a health-complex family that it has been so important that people get in contact with me right away. I think otherwise I would be one of those mothers with a pager on me all the time — remember those? I think most people don’t need that level of connectedness though.
I love your notebook, Zina--far more aesthetically pleasing than my pencil-chicken-scratch! And yes, the Apple Watch certainly has some excellent health-related benefits for those who need them.
Dr. Halbrooks, it is such an advantage to have this little peek into your daily rhythm. Living a good, intentional, ordered life can be the fruit of a daily habit as simple as switching to a pocket notebook and wearing a regular watch. I, too, write daily, but it will be new for me to write about what I am reading. For the past 13 or so years, I have kept a commonplace book, recording noteworthy quotes all in one place. I refer to my commonplace book regularly when having conversations or writing papers. It will be good to expand on this- not simply record the quote, but engage with it a bit.
I am a Moleskine devotee. They have an authentic, non-pretentious feel to me. This is not to say, though, that one day soon I might be found with a Field Notes notebook. I salute you for preserving the ways of the thoughtful life.
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Abigail. I have a commonplace book as well, and notable quotations from the FN get copied into it. I also have a number of Moleskines in my archive, dating back to 2006 or so.
I only use my phone for the music, and I keep trying to forget it at home. 😁 I've never been a big user of the tiny screen method of web browsing. I've got a laptop for that.
I still have an iPod! It still loads music from my iTunes library, so I keep using it. If it isn't broken, I don't replace electronics. I recently had to replace my computer and phone, but I'd had my computer for nine years and my phone for six.
Never made the transition to e-notes or e-planner. I find that kind of software cumbersome, but then it is rare for me even to write a shopping list. I have a few notebooks, purchased back when moleskin notebooks were making a revival, but I have yet to fill them, as I am careful what I write in them. One of them is for musical notation (to collect interesting folktunes), one is a commonplace book for quotations, and one is more general purpose, with everything from recipes to language learning notes. I keep a physical daily planner for important dates.
I found I cannot keep battery watches going, so I bought an old-fashioned windup watch several years ago. It works very well if I wind it daily. My only problem is I'd like to get it maintained, but watchmaking is a rare profession these days.
I commend your non-replacement policy for electronics; I tend to keep computers and cars for a long time. And a windup watch! I would buy a windup or an automatic mechanical watch, but I have the opposite problem to yours: I can't keep them going and can't be bothered with maintaining them, but I don't mind changing a battery. You're right about watchmakers, though--a rare breed unless you live in Switzerland or Japan, or probably China.
A watchmaker in the family! Did he pass down any of his knowledge?
I recently had a car totaled in a flood. It was ten years old. Instead of buying a new one, I found a used Honda in good shape that I could buy outright and so avoid a car payment. I plan to drive it for the foreseeable future.
Sadly, no he didn't, although my mother and her siblings sometimes helped out in his shop. We still have some of the tiny tin containers that he got parts in and some empty watch cases.
Related to Field Notes, an interesting podcast you may appreciate is John Dickerson’s cycle of reflecting and revisiting his old notebooks. I dropped in at the 11 May episode as a periodic Merlin Mann investigator, but the whole set is lovely, and has made some notes of my own…
I keep a Field Notes book in my bag but rarely use it. Occasionally I remember to input the thought into Notes on my iPhone, but often times the thought just floats free into the ether, never to be recalled. For tracking what I read, I use a site/app called StoryGraph either on my phone or browser. I have a Rhodia notebook waiting to be started - I filled the last one with notes related to writing when I was taking a class, but I haven't done that for a while. Before bed, I jot down a few lines about the day in a five year journal that I started in January. I've only missed a few days and I think it will be really neat if I can keep it up over the span of five years. Lately, though, I have gotten really into sending snail mail - I think it's a justification to use fountain pens and nice paper and also another way to spend analog time.
I would dump my Apple Watch but I do need the sleep tracking for medical reasons. I suppose I could wear it just at night. I also have a little widget called a Brick that I can use to block apps on my phone when I notice I'm doomscrolling too much. The genius of it is that you can't unlock it without getting the little widget. Mine is stuck to the fridge so if I'm sitting on the sofa and by habit tap into Instagram but get the blocked notification I have to weigh whether it's worth getting off my butt.
I used to use a lot of Rhodia notebooks--some of the A5s that are archived in my office. And I have been meaning to get back into writing physical letters as well--though I'm not sure if anyone will be able to read my handwriting these days. The Brick sounds like a great idea; I've simply withdrawn from social media for the most part, but there are times when I miss the connections.
I love my Maker Notebook which I have always modified to suit my particular needs. I have a post that features it here: https://zinagomezliss.substack.com/p/undrowning?utm_source=publication-search
Everyone marvels at the beauty — I made my notes pretty so I will want to look at my to do list again rather than weep and shut the book for the rest of the day.
I love your watch. My son has something similar. I have an Apple watch and at times it is a distraction (especially —horror— at church) however it has saved me in getting urgent phone calls and messages. I have such a health-complex family that it has been so important that people get in contact with me right away. I think otherwise I would be one of those mothers with a pager on me all the time — remember those? I think most people don’t need that level of connectedness though.
I love your notebook, Zina--far more aesthetically pleasing than my pencil-chicken-scratch! And yes, the Apple Watch certainly has some excellent health-related benefits for those who need them.
Dr. Halbrooks, it is such an advantage to have this little peek into your daily rhythm. Living a good, intentional, ordered life can be the fruit of a daily habit as simple as switching to a pocket notebook and wearing a regular watch. I, too, write daily, but it will be new for me to write about what I am reading. For the past 13 or so years, I have kept a commonplace book, recording noteworthy quotes all in one place. I refer to my commonplace book regularly when having conversations or writing papers. It will be good to expand on this- not simply record the quote, but engage with it a bit.
I am a Moleskine devotee. They have an authentic, non-pretentious feel to me. This is not to say, though, that one day soon I might be found with a Field Notes notebook. I salute you for preserving the ways of the thoughtful life.
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Abigail. I have a commonplace book as well, and notable quotations from the FN get copied into it. I also have a number of Moleskines in my archive, dating back to 2006 or so.
I read this and much much more on my phone😊❤️
Whatever works!
I only use my phone for the music, and I keep trying to forget it at home. 😁 I've never been a big user of the tiny screen method of web browsing. I've got a laptop for that.
Smart man.
Loved reading this and love it that you write in a notebook nearly every day. Inspiring! And, explains a lot! 😊🌟
Thanks, Jane. I think that Austen would have loved Field Notes.
I still have an iPod! It still loads music from my iTunes library, so I keep using it. If it isn't broken, I don't replace electronics. I recently had to replace my computer and phone, but I'd had my computer for nine years and my phone for six.
Never made the transition to e-notes or e-planner. I find that kind of software cumbersome, but then it is rare for me even to write a shopping list. I have a few notebooks, purchased back when moleskin notebooks were making a revival, but I have yet to fill them, as I am careful what I write in them. One of them is for musical notation (to collect interesting folktunes), one is a commonplace book for quotations, and one is more general purpose, with everything from recipes to language learning notes. I keep a physical daily planner for important dates.
I found I cannot keep battery watches going, so I bought an old-fashioned windup watch several years ago. It works very well if I wind it daily. My only problem is I'd like to get it maintained, but watchmaking is a rare profession these days.
I commend your non-replacement policy for electronics; I tend to keep computers and cars for a long time. And a windup watch! I would buy a windup or an automatic mechanical watch, but I have the opposite problem to yours: I can't keep them going and can't be bothered with maintaining them, but I don't mind changing a battery. You're right about watchmakers, though--a rare breed unless you live in Switzerland or Japan, or probably China.
Yes, I need my great grandfather! He was a watchmaker.
I've had my car for 6 years, but I bought it used - it is actually a quarter century old. The body is going to rust out before the engine quits.
A watchmaker in the family! Did he pass down any of his knowledge?
I recently had a car totaled in a flood. It was ten years old. Instead of buying a new one, I found a used Honda in good shape that I could buy outright and so avoid a car payment. I plan to drive it for the foreseeable future.
Sadly, no he didn't, although my mother and her siblings sometimes helped out in his shop. We still have some of the tiny tin containers that he got parts in and some empty watch cases.
Related to Field Notes, an interesting podcast you may appreciate is John Dickerson’s cycle of reflecting and revisiting his old notebooks. I dropped in at the 11 May episode as a periodic Merlin Mann investigator, but the whole set is lovely, and has made some notes of my own…
https://slate.com/podcasts/navel-gazing