I have an overcomplicated system of notebooks and digital applications. I don't know if it makes me more organized but it’s fun.

Right now I have seven notebooks active; each with a more or less specific use. First I always carry two pocket size notebooks. One is to record my thoughts, events or things that catch my eye while I'm out of home. The other contains my to-do lists and other tasks keeping systems (right now I'm trying the Bullet journal, which seems to clean for my taste).

At home or in my backpack I have the remaining four, all of the in A5 format. The first I use for my field research. When I'm in the library or in the archive I use this one to take notes and to plot possible future texts. All of the formal notes are typed into my computer databases. The second is for reading not related with my research. In this I take quotes for history and philosophy books or I sketch the plots from novels or stories. Then I have my novel notebook used for the plotting and ideas for my own novel. And lastly my trash notebook, a thick spiral bound notebook, used for doodles, and throw away information like webpages, things to do once I end the task at hand, telephones and specially hotkeys. Most of this notebook is trash, hence its name, but once finished, I revisit it to tear the useful pages, which are stored in envelopes. The rest of the notebooks have numbered pages and indexes for future reference.

Now, I would love to have all this information in a digital system. And the things I need for research or work are kept in a database. My systems end always in a mess, and for me a paper mess is easier to manage and navigate than a digital mess. Furthermore I have a lot more of fun writing longhand than typing in a keyboard. Every now and then I try to make the change, but never really do.