Whether you receive one as a stocking stuffer, company gift, or just couldn’t resist picking up a pack of them, mini notebooks are a very popular style. They fit in your pocket, can go anywhere, and have a charming appearance.
But, and be honest here, have you figured out how to actually use one yet? Nobody is expecting you to carry one as an enduring notebook, destined to be by your side for decades, but that doesn’t mean that they have no use whatsoever. Next time you get your hands on one, try one of these ideas to get the most use out of it.
The EDC Notebook
Mini notebooks are sometimes called pocket notebooks and for good reason; you can slide them right in your pocket. If your notebook has a solid spine and cover, it can easily handle the pressure.
A pocket notebook like this is the perfect way to take short notes from time to time while still engaging the parts of your brain that benefit from writing out longhand. It also allows for quick sketches and as an immediate tool when handwritten notes are ideal.
The Doomscroll Defeater
Of course, if you’re looking to use something as an EDC notebook, the real thing you’re often aiming to do is not use your phone. And, it’s true, if you get a quick question, writing it down instead of checking your phone immediately works. If it still matters later, then look. Why? Because pulling out your phone, and risking seeing an “urgent” email or a pesky notification, is a one-way ticket to getting massively distracted and sidetracked.
Used tactically, a mini notebook is a great way to discourage doomscrolling and reduce distractions, while still reminding yourself to pick up that question later.
The Greatest Bookmark of All Time
But what if you still do want to use your phone from time to time, thank you very much? In that case, there’s still quite a bit you can do with a mini notebook.
The slender size of the everyday pocket notebook makes it perfect for jamming between pages. Inside, you can make notes about the book you are reading, too.
Whether you’re making a note about the weird foreign language word on page 47 or the scene on page 93 that you’re positive is going to be instrumental in solving the murder later on in the story, a mini notebook works perfectly as a bookmark for getting all the information down.
Plus, there’s no need to scribble illegibly in the margins, and mini notebooks work just as well with library books as they do items in your own collection.
The Quip Collector
Ever hear a line from a friend that deserves to be written down? Something worth keeping for years to come?
There’s no better tribute to your friend’s glory than to jot their quip down, with pencil on paper, to make a truly great quote book that can slowly become a treasured memory of your friendship down the line. It’s always the small things that count, after all.
Remember, it’s great to co-star in a selfie, but there’s something truly touching about seeing someone use the human labor of writing by hand to capture your words and thoughts. Your friends will pick up on this, even if it might seem off-kilter at first.
The Doodle Aggrandizer
Last but not least, there’s something to be said about using a pocket art notebook. There’s less space to waste, you can draw up to the edges easier, and you inconspicuously make a sketch of anything, anytime, anywhere with nearly nobody the wiser.
If you want to start sketching daily without a high friction reminder, a little notebook that goes with you anywhere and everywhere just can’t be beat.