Why You Should Carry a Notebook and Pen With You

Inspiration is everywhere. Use these two tools to help inspire your creativity.

Carry these two things with you because you just never know when your next big idea will arrive.

I started carrying a notebook and a pen with me everywhere I went when I became a mom, but that led me to writing down inspiration I received from songs, nature, conversations, meals, travel, my commute to and from work. There’s something about writing things down with a pen instead of typing it in my phone, which I’ve done, too, that helps inspire more creativity. Plus, when I write things down as opposed to typing them, I remember them better, as if the pen and paper sync with my thoughts and actions.

My notebook, different from my journals (yes, I’m always writing!), contains a blend of:

• Words and phrases that might turn into a theme of a yoga class or a topic of a blog post

• My to-do list

• Notes so I don’t forget

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Practice It: Carry a Notebook and Pen With You Everywhere for a Week

Notice how often you think about writing something down, how often you actually write things down and where the ideas take you. Do they encourage more creativity?