There is something incredibly chic about a pocket notebook. One that comes everywhere with you, and fits in your jacket pocket, like a little friend you can whisper your secrets to. A life companion.
Such a notebook plays a key role in my life at the moment: it helps me to stay off my phone. I started to notice that any time I felt bored, stressed, overwhelmed, or simply had a spare moment, I was reaching for a quick scroll. That didn’t feel good. I was rarely doing anything nourishing or meaningful with that screen time. Mostly, I was just filling gaps.
Enter: the pocket notebook. It’s small (not much bigger than my phone), adaptable, and inexpensive to keep stocked with refills. Crucially, it gives me something else to reach for in those gaps in my day. Whether I’m at home, in a café, or on the train, I know it’s available to me for distraction, mental clarity, or creativity. It’s such a simple item, but reclaiming those small moments in my day feels genuinely powerful.
What I love most about a pocket notebook is its flexibility. It can be practical, reflective, creative, or completely silly, depending on what you need in the moment.
Here are ten ways I use mine.
1. reviews
I love writing short, in-the-moment reviews of the things I read, watch, or experience. Even scribbling a few sentences after seeing a film at the cinema or eating in a new restaurant can allow me to pause for a moment and gather my thoughts. This doesn’t need to be intellectual, insightful, or demonstrate any expertise; it’s more about fully experiencing the things I’m doing day-to-day.
Examples of things you could review: books, articles, films, TV programmes, theatre performances, concerts, albums, restaurant/café visits, exhibitions, museums/galleries, hiking trails, new fragrances, anything else that makes you think or feel!
2. a mini commonplace book
A commonplace book is usually a collection of passages, quotes, and fragments from different external sources (I go into more detail about curating a commonplacing practice here). I love keeping a larger one of these at home, but it is also very handy to have a pocket version for when I’m out and about. This is a lovely way to engage more deeply with the world as you experience it, by paying closer attention.1
Examples of commonplace excerpts: a quote, a passage from an article you read, a line from a play you see, song lyrics, a snippet of a poem you came across, some information copied from a museum brochure
3. favourites lists
If I find myself with nothing to do for a few minutes, perhaps while sitting waiting for a friend to arrive in a café, I sometimes write a short ‘current favourites’ list. This could contain any number of categories, but the point is to take a snapshot of your current taste. It’s satisfying to look back over these and see how this has evolved over the months, or to rediscover old favourites.
Example categories: songs/albums, recent reads, TV programmes, films, outfits/items of clothing, fragrances, meals/snacks, cafés, activities, stationery, etc
4. pocket games
When you’re out with friends or your partner, and there’s a lull in conversation (perhaps you’re at the pub or on a long train journey together), it is very fun to produce a little notebook for playing pen-and-paper games. Rather than each retreating into your phones to scroll, this provides a lovely, sociable alternative. Bonus points because many of these indulge your inner child.
Example games: pictionary, noughts and crosses, hangman
5. overheard conversations
I have publicly admitted to being an avid eavesdropper before. I swear I can’t help it; my brain just tunes in to the nearest conversation, particularly if there is anything juicy being discussed. I love to write down snippets of these conversations. I’m planning to attempt to write a novel once I’ve finished my PhD, and I view this as crucial research.
Example snippets: funny quotes, anecdotes, juicy gossip, arguments, awkward first date chat, turns of phrase
6. new words/phrases
On a related note, I keep track of new words and phrases I come across. These could be picked up in conversation, or they could be from things I read or watch. I particularly enjoy good idioms or words from another dialect.
An example phrase I picked up recently: ‘owls in the moss’ (from Norwegian, meaning that something is not quite right; similar to ‘I smell a rat’ in English)
7. worry lists
I am a fierce champion of the worry list. This is something I was taught in therapy many years ago as a way to stop anxious overwhelm. In its simplest form, these are lists of all of the things that are currently worrying you. You could also add a single line after each about why you don’t need to be worrying about that right now. I find this a very powerful way to clear my head in moments when I am struggling.
An example worry list
Unpaid phone bill (added to my to-do list to sort tonight)
Haven’t heard back from a job application (already submitted it, so can’t do anything to change the outcome now)
I won’t submit my PhD on time (I’m working as hard as I can and will deal with applying for an extension if it comes to that in a few months)
Recent election results (nothing I can personally do right now to change this; will look into local action groups later)
Friend hasn’t replied to my message (they’re likely busy at work right now, I shouldn’t jump to the worst conclusion)
8. distractions list
As a highly distractible person, it is helpful to have somewhere to park these distractions when I’m meant to be focusing on something. I often leave my pocket notebook open by my laptop when I’m writing, so that when a distraction pops into my head, I can write it down to return to later. This is a way of saying to myself, ‘This might be important to come back to, but it’s not what I’m doing right now’.
Examples of distractions: emails to send, messages to respond to, things I want to order online, work things I need to follow up on, notifications I feel compelled to check.
9. sketches & doodles
A simple one. Rather than spending two minutes scrolling, spend two minutes doodling. I am bad at drawing; the picture I have in my head very rarely transfers to the page. But that is not the point! The point is to enjoy a silly little doodle.
Examples of things you could doodle: the scene around you where you’re sitting; little characters; dogs you have spotted that morning; flowers; how you’re feeling today in doodle form; how you’d imagine the protagonist from your current read would look
10. notes to self
Another simple one to finish on: quick notes to your future self. Particularly when I’m very busy or stressed, I find myself worrying that I won’t be able to hold important things in my mind. Being able to jot things down by hand lets me capture these without triggering the impulse to scroll on social media while I have my phone in my hand.
Examples of notes you might leave for yourself: creative ideas for future projects. Life admin tasks you keep forgetting to get around to. An old film you just remembered and would like to rewatch. Someone you want to reach out to, who you haven’t spoken to in a while. The solution to a problem you’ve been mulling over.
The beauty of a pocket notebook is that it can become whatever you need in the moment. Mine is messy, private, and increasingly feels like a reliable friend.
NB: For me, the difference between a commonplace book and a ‘catch-all’ notebook is that my commonplace book only contains copies of external resources, not my own thoughts or opinions.
I love these ideas! I keep thinking of things to make little notebooks of... I have a travel notebook filled with pictures of nothing but wonderful trees... (and a couple of poems about trees...)
I carry a sketchbook with me wherever I go so when I have a few minutes, I pull it out and draw something. I am now adding my little take along notebook that you have mentioned. Thanks for the idea.❤️