If It’s On Paper It’s Off Your Mind
If It’s On Paper It’s Off Your Mind
How do I get things off my mind?
I always get my best ideas in the middle of the night. Don’t you! I must dream of them. But, I was finding it hard to fall back to sleep once I had something on my mind. I found if I sleep with a pad of paper and a pen on my bedside table I can jot down my thoughts and ideas right then and there. I can write enough of my idea in the dark. That way I’ll remember it in the morning. This gets the thought off my mind and then I can relax (not worry about forgetting it) and fall back to sleep. I like this timed to-do list pad, because you know if you schedule it (anything) it’s more likely to happen.
If it's on paper - it's off your mind! Click To Tweet
I know that technology offers us the option of taking notes on our phones or just shooting off that text message or email when we think of it at 2 am, but we’re all trying not to take our phones to bed with us, Right?! I’ll confess that I am challenged to leave my phone alone at night. We all know the practice of keeping your cell phone in your bedroom can disrupt your sleep. Read Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Sleep With Your Phone in Bed to learn more.
Try it sometime. Your thought may be to remember to pick up the dry cleaning or it may be your next great business strategy for work. If it’s on paper – it’s off your mind!
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Janet Schiesl
Janet has been organizing since 2005. She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Basic Organization.
She loves using her background as a space planner to challenge her clients to look at their space differently. She leads the team in large projects and works one-on-one with clients to help the process move quickly and comfortably. Call her crazy, but she loves to work with paper, to purge what is not needed and to create filing systems that work for each individual client.
Janet is a Past Board Member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and a Past President of the Washington DC Chapter of NAPO were she has been named Organizer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
Janet Schiesl
Janet has been organizing since 2005. She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Basic Organization.
She loves using her background as a space planner to challenge her clients to look at their space differently. She leads the team in large projects and works one-on-one with clients to help the process move quickly and comfortably. Call her crazy, but she loves to work with paper, to purge what is not needed and to create filing systems that work for each individual client.
Janet is a Past Board Member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and a Past President of the Washington DC Chapter of NAPO were she has been named Organizer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
Another good reason to write it on paper instead of typing it on your phone: you won’t be tempted to look at anything else!
That’s an excellent point!
I have the old fashioned pad of paper and pen next to my bed. Once I look at a screen I can’t seem to fall back asleep. Must be something about the bright light!
Yes, the bright light can definitely keep you awake. Paper and pen is less intrusive sometimes.
I have my phone plugged in next to my bed to charge it overnight. I know it’s supposed to be out of my bedroom but it’s not a temptation for me to look at and I have it set to sleep so there’s no ambient light. I also use it as my alarm clock. Having said all this, I also do not have a pen and paper by my bed. I tend to get my best ideas either in the shower or walking the dog. I agree that the best way to get it out of your head and off your mind is to put it on paper.
It sounds like you have a really great system with your needs figure out.