9 Things to Write in A Pocket Notebook Every Day

How to make the most of each day

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

These words from Annie Dillard remind us that we must spend our days taking the actions we want and fostering the presence we desire.

Life is made up of the choices you make every day. We must value the present moment and live deliberately.

The best way I have found to do that is by writing in a pocket notebook.

I know a lot of people like the idea of using a pocket notebook, but then the follow-up concern is, “I don’t know what I would write in it.”

I can help with that.

The purpose of using a notebook is to be more intentional, aware, and organized, so that you make the most of the time you have. I have designed the daily page of my notebook so that every element of it drives these characteristics.

So, this is what we start with:

Here is what to write in your notebook:

The weather

What it is: The high and low temperatures for the day, and a little drawing of either the sun, clouds, or rain.

Why I write it down: I like to be prepared, and writing down the weather prepares me for the day. You won’t catch me without a jacket on a cold day.

Sunrise/sunset time

What it is: Write down the sunrise and sunset times for the day.

Why I write it down: This helps me to see days change throughout the year. It increases my awareness of what the Earth is doing.

Moon phase

What it is: Write down the current moon phase and % illumination.

Why I write it down: This is definitely the oddest feature. I started doing this about a year ago, and I have really loved it. It helps me live with the rhythm of nature. The moon is one of the original ways to track time and the passing of days. I like knowing that the moon is currently a waxing crescent. Overall, it increases my awareness of the world, and I think that’s a good thing.

Gratitude list

What it is: Write down 2-3 things you're grateful for. Keep it simple.

Why I write it down: It is so easy to get bogged down by the difficult parts of life. You have to remind yourself about the people, places, and things that bring you joy.

A short quote

What it is: A very short quote (2-3 lines). Anything longer and there is too much friction, and you might stop doing it.

Why I write it down: It’s good to expose yourself to the wisdom of others daily.

To-do list

What it is: The tasks you need to get done that day. Some tasks are recurring, some are one-offs. I put a dot (•) next to the task in the notebook, and then write an X when I complete the task.

Why I write it down: My memory is not the best, and this helps keep me accountable to what I need to do that day.

Log of what you did

What it is: These are the notable events of your day. I don’t write down everything I did, just what I want to remember when I look back on the day. An event is noted by a circle (o).

Why I write it down: I love the fact that I can look back at what I did on April 21st, 2024, 2022, 2019, etc.

Notes

What it is: Any thought that I want to write down. They are often reminders to myself about how I want to live my life. These are noted by a dash (-).

Why I write it down: Getting my thoughts down on paper helps store them in my memory and reminds me of them later.

The best part of your day

What it is: At the end of the day, I write down something that I loved about that day.

Why I write it down: This helps me remember that there are wonderful moments every single day.

Then, just like that, you have a full notebook page that looks like this:

It’s a simple way to make sure you are making the most of today. Because if you make today a good day, you’ll live a good life.

-Mark

P.S. For more tips on how to use a pocket notebook, subscribe: