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It's for exactly this reason that I keep a personal, daily journal. At the end of each day, just before I go to bed, I take a few minutes to reflect over what I

by isamuel 17y ago

It's for exactly this reason that I keep a personal, daily journal. At the end of each day, just before I go to bed, I take a few minutes to reflect over what I did that day that I'd like to be able to remember in 5 or 50 years. I keep it mundane: I did this, then I did that, and after dinner, I did this. If commentary occurs to me, I'll jot it down, but if not, a Joe Friday "just the facts" transcription will do just fine. It usually takes only a few minutes. And yet reading entries even a year old can be fascinating: the amount you will forget in a year's time (to say nothing of a decade) is enormous. Even recording just big-picture outlines of day to day life makes a great journal.

AngryParsley 17y ago
I also recommend having some sort of personal log. People forget things easily, but they're just as easily reminded of them. Rereading old entries helps remind you how you changed (or how you haven't), and helps you recall events that otherwise would have been forgotten. Do you use a paper journal or an electronic one? I used to use composition books, but last year I switched to digital since I can easily back it up. My system is just text files in a directory hierarchy: ggreer@carbon:/Volumes/DIARY/2010/01$ ls 02.txt 03.txt 04.txt 05.txt 06.txt 10.txt 11.txt ... In the rare event that I want to draw something, I'll draw it on paper and scan it or draw on a whiteboard and take a photo. I prefer text though, since I can grep -r it.
- isamuel 17y ago
  Your method sounds good. Right now, I use paper. I do create backups (photocopies), although whether I'll buy another paper journal when I fill this one is an open question. One advantage that paper has is that, if properly preserved, it's quite durable; it's not vulnerable to file system changes or anything. A disadvantage is that it's laughably easy to destroy in a flood or fire, whereas data can be searched and backed up. I also have some irrational quasi-romantic attachment to a journal written in my own handwriting, but I'm probably going to need to let that go.
nazgulnarsil 17y ago
anyone who is serious about being an innovator MUST keep a log. innovation occurs from the connection of ideas and you don't want to limit yourself merely connections between ideas that just happen to occupy your head at any given time. jotting down ideas (your own, and your reactions to other people's) allows you an easy way to play with connections.

by isamuel 17y ago

AngryParsley 17y ago

I also recommend having some sort of personal log. People forget things easily, but they're just as easily reminded of them. Rereading old entries helps remind you how you changed (or how you haven't), and helps you recall events that otherwise would have been forgotten. Do you use a paper journal or an electronic one? I used to use composition books, but last year I switched to digital since I can easily back it up. My system is just text files in a directory hierarchy: ggreer@carbon:/Volumes/DIARY/2010/01$ ls 02.txt 03.txt 04.txt 05.txt 06.txt 10.txt 11.txt ... In the rare event that I want to draw something, I'll draw it on paper and scan it or draw on a whiteboard and take a photo. I prefer text though, since I can grep -r it.

isamuel 17y ago
Your method sounds good. Right now, I use paper. I do create backups (photocopies), although whether I'll buy another paper journal when I fill this one is an open question. One advantage that paper has is that, if properly preserved, it's quite durable; it's not vulnerable to file system changes or anything. A disadvantage is that it's laughably easy to destroy in a flood or fire, whereas data can be searched and backed up. I also have some irrational quasi-romantic attachment to a journal written in my own handwriting, but I'm probably going to need to let that go.

nazgulnarsil 17y ago

anyone who is serious about being an innovator MUST keep a log. innovation occurs from the connection of ideas and you don't want to limit yourself merely connections between ideas that just happen to occupy your head at any given time. jotting down ideas (your own, and your reactions to other people's) allows you an easy way to play with connections.