When I stepped out of the water at sunrise, I felt alive.

This summer, I set out to live more intentionally. I was tired of going through the motions and not doing more of what I enjoyed. So I made a whimsy list. The goal was to do more things that brought me joy.

The final item on my list was to go swimming in a lake at sunrise. It was hard to wake up early on a Saturday, but once it was done, it was one of my favorite parts of the whole summer.

Of course, I brought my pocket notebook with me, and after I dried off at the lake, I crossed the final task off my summer whimsy list.

The summer whimsy list worked so well for me that I want to invite you to do the same with me in November. Welcome to the November Whimsy Challenge.

Why a whimsy list?

If you don’t prioritize what brings you joy, then it will likely fall by the wayside. Having a whimsy list is a way of being fully engaged with life. It’s about paying attention and taking action. Writing it down makes it more real and increases the chances you will do the things you want to do. I guarantee that if I hadn’t had my list this summer, I wouldn’t have gone for a sunrise swim. I would have found an excuse and not done it.

But here’s what I am finding about life: it’s all about the extra effort. That’s where the magic is. That’s what whimsy is all about: taking that extra step.

This summer was special because I made the effort to build a fire on the night of the full moon, have a picnic with my family on a Sunday morning, and make homemade ice cream. I didn’t have to do any of those things, but I knew they would add a little joy to my life. So I wrote them down and committed to doing them. And it was worth it.

The November Whimsy Challenge

Here are the details on the challenge:

• Pick five things: two easy, two medium, one hard

• Do them between today and November 30th

• Write them on the punch card and fill in each oval as you go

• You must complete all five to finish

• You decide what counts as easy, medium, and hard. No one is judging your list. Pick the five things that work for you. Each task should be something you don’t normally do that brings you joy

• Feel free to share the challenge with your friends and family. Plenty of these (a picnic, a leaf pile, dinner with friends) are better together

How to enter and what you win

• Anyone can do the challenge, but the punch card download and rewards below are for paid subscribers. Become a paid subscriber here for $5/month

• Download the punch card, print it, and tape or glue it in your pocket notebook

• Submit a photo of your completed punch card by November 30th

• Every paid subscriber who finishes gets:

  • Entry into a giveaway of one of my Field Notes pocket notebooks and a copy of Devotions by Mary Oliver

  • An invite to a Zoom call with me and the other finishers in early December

  • A shout-out as a finisher in one of my Substack Notes (with your permission)

  • A printable bookmark made by me

  • The satisfaction of doing it!

Ideas for your list

If you need ideas for what to pick for your five tasks, here are some suggestions. You don’t have to pick from this list; it’s just inspiration to get you started:

Easy

• Put fresh flowers or a jar of fall leaves on your desk

• Make pour-over coffee

• Wear a fun watch

• Read a poem out loud

• Write a poem by hand

• Glue something into your pocket notebook

• Go for a walk and count how many animals you see

• Look up the birds in your area

• Carry a book with you everywhere

• Watch the sunrise and sunset on the same day

• Jump in a leaf pile

• Visit an independent bookstore

• Get a new candle

Medium

• Bake something with apples, pears, or pumpkin

• Create a fall drink and give it a name

• Ride a bike

• Draw something outside (even if you can’t draw)

• Use a film camera or old digital camera

• Go to a farmers market and buy something in season

• Plant spring bulbs

• Turn your phone off and go somewhere without it

• Write a letter and mail it

• Have a picnic

• Leave a random gift on a friend’s doorstep

• Learn one constellation and find it on a clear night

Hard

• Create something with your hands

• Write in a pocket notebook every day starting today

• Go hear live music somewhere local

• Make a fire during the next full moon (November 24th)

• Invite friends over for a home-cooked meal and dessert

• Go on a sunrise hike

My five

Here is my whimsy list:

The sunrise swim was one of my favorite memories of summer, so I wanted to lean into that again with the sunrise hike. Leaving something at a friend’s door sounds very whimsical, and I can’t wait to do that.

Do it together

Let’s do this challenge together! Post your progress and pictures of your adventures in The Pocket Notebook Chat. I’ll be sure to do a mid-month check-in to see how we’re all doing.

I’m very excited about this, and can’t wait to hear what tasks you pick.

What is one task you plan to do?

-Mark

Here’s the punch card download and the link to submit it:

October has been a hard month.

Lots of things have broken, which means expensive repairs. My family was sick. It’s been stressful. In seasons like this, I find myself returning to wisdom from others that has given me comfort in the past.

The last few weeks, I have constantly returned to one of my favorite quotes by Richard Rohr:

“There is nothing to prove and nothing to protect. I am who I am and it’s enough.”

I wrote it down in my current pocket notebook, and every time I see it, I feel a little peace.

I have written that Rohr quote down so many times over the years, and when I needed some comfort, it was there waiting for me. I think of this as having access to a “well of wisdom.” These are wise words from people throughout history, waiting for you when you need them.

To help build my well of wisdom, I write down a short quote in my pocket notebook every day.

Last month, I turned 31 of my favorite short quotes into a download that paid subscribers could print out and put in their pocket notebook. Now they have an inspirational quote ready for them every single day without having to use technology.

I call it the Pocket Quotes Sheet.

A lot of people told me they loved it, so I made another for November.

The Pocket Quotes Sheet is only available to paid subscribers. Become a paid subscriber to get access now, as well as these benefits:

• Exclusive Posts - Posts only available to paid subscribers

• A Monthly Download - a new resource each month to help you live with intention

• The Member Vault - a library of tools and resources to help you use a pocket notebook and take action. Everything I’ve made, all in one place. View it here.

• The Pocket Notebook Chat - A daily quote to write in your notebook and weekly prompts to help you pay attention to your life. Plus, connect with The Pocket Notebook community.

• Future access to group challenges, book clubs, and more

There will be another download dropping on Monday, and I am incredibly excited to share that with the community. It will help you do more of what you love in November.

Here is the Pocket Quotes Sheet for November:

Read more

The last straw was when the toilets started bubbling.

I recently had a very bad week.

On that Monday, we found out our car needed a new alternator. Then, a lamp broke.

Then, my whole family got a stomach bug the day before my daughter’s 1st birthday party. We had to delay the party a day. I could barely move on Friday.

My parents were in town to come to the party, which was nice because they could help us while we were sick, but I was constantly worried they would get sick too.

The party happened on Sunday, and that went well.

Then, I went to open the garage Sunday afternoon, and it wouldn’t move. I couldn’t even unlock it and lift it by hand. The coil at the top was snapped in half. I called a garage repair person.

The next day, the garage person came and asked me to move the car out of the garage. I got in the car, went to turn it on, and guess what? It was dead. Yes, this was the car that just got the new alternator.

I called the mechanic; he said to bring it back in on Tuesday.

That night, I was exhausted and cleaning the dishes when I heard a bubbling sound coming from the toilets. They wouldn’t flush, and a plunger wouldn’t help. The main sewer line was clogged.

I had kept it pretty cool throughout the week, but when the toilets stopped working, my frustration boiled over. I was so tired of things breaking.

Fortunately, everything is fixed now. (Well, the dryer stopped working 3 days ago too, but that’s not part of this story.) My bank account is a little lighter from all the repairs, and I’m a few pounds lighter from the stomach bug, but all is well.

Something that kept me sane during that week was trying to focus on the good things that were still happening. We did get to have the party, and my daughter got to have her smash cake. We got to see my brother and his family. We got to spend time with my parents. Florida beat Texas in football. The weather was beautiful.

I could focus on the positive parts of each day because I make it a habit to write down the good things that happen in my pocket notebook. Noticing the good in life is a skill. Challenges will come, things will break, and negativity can threaten to overwhelm. Even then, pay attention to what good there is.

To train that goodness muscle, I write these things down every day:

• What I’m grateful for from today

• Something I noticed that brought me joy

• The best part of my day

-Mark

You know what I don’t like?

Opening up my pocket notebook for some screen-free time, and then having to look something up online.

I have written a lot about how to set up your pocket notebook and what to fill it with, so I wanted to create a small printout you can put in your pocket notebook to remind you what to write.

Presenting: The Pocket Notebook Starter Cards

Card 1 lays out what to write on the first 12 pages of your notebook. Card 2 lays out what to write in it every day. They are designed to be printed, cut, and glued or taped into your pocket notebook.

The Pocket Notebook Starter Cards are available for free to all subscribers. Download them here:

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The great thing about a pocket notebook is that it’s so versatile.

The difficult thing about a pocket notebook is that it’s so versatile.

It’s not just a journal. It’s not just a planner. It’s anything you want it to be.

Pocket notebooks are the Wild West of notebooks.

With virtually unlimited options for what you can write, it can be overwhelming. I have been using pocket notebooks for 17 years, and I have used them for all kinds of things. So I put together a list to give you some ideas of what to write in yours. I have personally tried all of these.

Today’s post is brought to you by REFYNE.

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Here are 45 things to write in your pocket notebook:

1. The date

2. The weather

3. Sunrise and sunset times

4. The moon phase

5. What you’re grateful for

6. A short quote each morning

7. A log of what you did

8. Quick notes and reminders to yourself

9. Something you noticed today

10. The best part of your day

11. A plan for tomorrow

12. Every city you visit while traveling

13. Your phone number on the inside cover, in case you lose it

14. An index of pages you’ll want to find later

15. A main to-do list

16. A family or household to-do list

17. Ideas for projects and creative work

18. A calendar

19. A poem to memorize

20. A page of favorite quotes

21. A weekly meal plan

22. Printed photos

23. A habit tracker

24. Workouts and personal records

25. Recommendations from others

26. Books you want to read

27. Notes about books

28. Grocery lists

29. Recipes

30. Gift ideas

31. Date ideas

32. Lecture or sermon notes

33. A note to someone, torn out and handed to them

34. Words you overhear

35. Mind maps

36. Project plans

37. Research and fun facts before a trip

38. Packing lists, itineraries, and flight info

39. A camping gear checklist

40. Favorite sights and restaurants from your travels

41. Conversations with strangers

42. Board game scores

43. Drawings (they don’t have to be good)

44. Anything you can glue into your notebook

45. Your wedding vows

What do you write in your pocket notebook? Let’s get some more ideas going in the comments.

-Mark

P.S. For more tips on how to use a pocket notebook, join the community and become a subscriber:

Subscribe now

Last week I finished the third season of Ted Lasso.

In the finale, a beloved character who has passed away does a voice-over and reads When Death Comes by Mary Oliver.

Ted Lasso is one of my favorite shows, and Mary Oliver is my favorite poet. So I got goosebumps as soon as they started reading one of Oliver’s poems.

Here is the poem:

This poem reminds me of the Latin phrase memento mori, which means “remember that you must die.” Like the poem, it’s not meant to be morbid; it’s meant to be an encouragement to remember that life has an end date, and to live well while you can.

My favorite lines from the poem are:

When it’s over, I want to say all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

That is what I’m after: being married to amazement.

The other day, as the sun was rising, I was amazed at the way the light hit the leaves in the trees in my backyard. It looked like they were glowing. That simple moment happened because I was on the lookout for it. Moments like these are available every day if we pay attention.

I want to prioritize feeling amazed daily, and this is something that we can directly control through what we give attention to. You don’t have to travel to a new city or go on a long hike to experience amazement.

Don’t rush through your day. Slow down, look for amazement, and you’ll find it.

-Mark

Yesterday, I finished another pocket notebook. As I closed the back cover, I realized this is part of the magic of the pocket notebook.

In that moment, I felt the satisfaction of finishing something.

These days, a lot of what we experience is infinite.

Infinite entertainment options.

Infinite storage for photos.

Infinite places for our thoughts in a notes app.

The inbox is always being filled, and there’s always a feed to refresh.

It doesn’t end.

Notebooks are special because they have constraints. They are limited. They will end. You can view your progress, and that feels good.

Have you ever quit your journaling practice because you were daunted by how long it would take to fill up your notebook? It can feel overwhelming to have a slim stack of paper in your left hand and a thick stack in your right. For me, it’s easy to lose momentum because I feel like I’m not making any progress.

A pocket notebook doesn’t ask for 30 minutes of your time each day. I used to do Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages, and I loved it. But I couldn’t maintain the 30-45 minutes every morning. It ended up stressing me out a lot of mornings. The pocket notebook asks for 5-10 minutes of my time, and I feel more grounded the rest of the day.

A pocket notebook is so uniquely satisfying because you can finish one quickly, in 4-6 weeks if you write in one every day. I think this is why I have latched on to the pocket notebook versus a regular, larger notebook.

I love the momentum that comes with using a pocket notebook. It’s a small notebook I can feel, that shows signs of wear, and that I will finish. Forty-eight pages and it’s done.

Fill up a pocket notebook and feel the satisfaction of finishing something you can hold in your hands.

-Mark

P.S. If you want a step-by-step way to start, become a paid subscriber and you’ll get The Pocket Notebook Starter Guide.

I started writing on Substack in August of 2025.

Before that, I had been writing on X/Twitter with minimal success for 3 months, so I decided to try Substack.

Now I’m 14 months in (I was planning to write this post 2 months ago, whoops), and it’s the most fun I’ve ever had writing and creating.

As I have reflected on my first year on this platform, I wanted to write down some of the lessons I have learned.

1. The subject was hiding in plain sight

When I started on Substack, I wrote about books and intentional living. Then I focused on The Lord of the Rings for a while. I didn’t focus on pocket notebooks for months, even though I had been using them for over 10 years. I had more knowledge and experience with pocket notebooks than almost anything, and I didn’t think to write about that for a long time. Kind of silly when I look back on it.

2. You have to experiment

You have to keep trying new things and new strategies. Write different kinds of content, write about different topics. See what sticks. Find what interests you and what other people want to read.

3. Concrete and useful beats artful (most of the time)

All of my most popular posts are concrete and useful. I don’t know if I’m a good writer or not, but I have some good ideas. I try to make my posts short and useful. Those are the posts that the most people read.

4. Pick a schedule and stick to it

If you want to grow on Substack, you have to pick a weekly schedule and stick to it. More than anything, this is for you. Commit to a plan so that you’re not constantly asking yourself, do I need to write this week? That question turns into skipping a week, then two, and then you’ve stopped writing.

5. My process is still chaotic

If there is one thing I would like to improve about my current process, it would be to make it less chaotic. I typically write notes the day of posting, and I write my articles the day before. I would love to get a week ahead on everything so that I don’t constantly feel a little rushed. I’ve systematized when I publish but not how I get there.

6. I waited too long to turn on paid

I waited a whole year to turn on a paid tier. I wanted it to be perfect and valuable, and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be included in the paid tier. I’m glad I took it seriously, and it has worked out for me, but I probably made it loom larger than it needed to.

7. Doing Substack with a full-time job is very hard

I give a lot of time to Substack, and it’s really hard to balance it with a family and a full-time job. But I am committed to growing this Substack, and it’s 100% worth it. Helping people live a little bit more intentionally and use a pocket notebook brings me a ton of joy.

8. Pick a niche?

When deciding what to write about, I saw this advice a lot: pick a niche. For the most part, I agree with that. There are so many people writing online, and picking a niche can help you stand out. But who we are matters too. We need to infuse our passions and personality into our writing. I still write about books and living intentionally, because I think it all ties together.

9. Be persistent

I learned a lot about persistence in the last 14 months. I experienced very low growth for the first 6 months on Substack. It would have been easy to admit defeat and recognize it wasn’t for me. Fortunately, I committed to writing for 1 year without quitting. I had to find a writing routine I could do indefinitely, and keep going no matter what.

10. What I didn’t expect

The best part about writing on Substack, specifically about pocket notebooks, is the messages I have received from readers. I have received messages from people who started a notebook practice because of me, people who now pay a little bit more attention to their day because of a strategy I shared, and more. I have always wanted to help people, but I didn’t expect this when I started writing. If you have ever said anything kind to me about my writing, thank you so much. It makes my day every time.

Final thoughts: what I’d tell myself in August 2025

If I were giving August 2025 Mark some advice, this is what I would say:

• Be patient - it took 8 months to get traction and “find your niche”

• Keep trying new things - experiment until you find what you enjoy writing and what people enjoy reading

• Enjoy the journey - this should be fun. Writing, creating, learning, this is the good stuff.

If you have any questions about Substack growth, let me know in the comments!

-Mark

P.S. and I will be doing a Substack Live today at 1 PM Central Time. We’ll be discussing various pocket notebook systems. Watch it here.

I had all of my pocket notebooks on the desk next to me.

As I flipped through them, I thought about how amazing it is that I have my life on paper in these notebooks. Not just my thoughts, but my tasks, my reminders, anything I thought was worth writing down. I have about 80 pocket notebooks that span back to 2009 that tell the story of Mark Ragland.

Last week, my friend Steven and I did a Substack Live to talk about our pocket notebook journeys. We spoke about why we first picked up a pocket notebook and how our methods have changed over the years.

Steven and I talked about 2020 specifically and our notebook habits during the COVID era. I looked through my notebooks from that year, and I realized that I did a lot of woodworking and camping.

This jumped out at me because I don’t do either of those a lot now. I had no kids in 2020, and I have two now. These notebooks gave me a portal back to who I was in 2020 when I had nearly unlimited time for woodworking projects. I made a pair of desks for my home office (which I have now been kicked out of because I've had too many children). I also made a smoker stand for my brother, and an indoor rock wall for my nephews.

I’ll get back to frequent projects and camping trips soon, but it’s not the season I’m in now, and that’s okay. I love that 2020-Mark was prioritizing those things.

And I really love that 2020-Mark took the time to write it down.

There is a paper trail of my life thanks to my notebooks, and that is such a gift to me. The notebooks store not just what I did but who I was then. If I didn’t have my notebooks, then I could tell you “I used to do woodworking more often.” Now, I can tell you “I did a lot of woodworking in 2020, and it helped me get through a really strange year.”

None of this would have been possible if I didn’t start.

Memory is vague. Words in a notebook are concrete. What you did and who you were 5 years ago or last year matters. Begin using a pocket notebook today so that you have a record of your life in the future.

As the saying goes, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Or, for our purposes, the best time to start a pocket notebook was 5 years ago; the second best time is now.

Where to start?

If you’re reading this and you like the idea of using a pocket notebook but don’t know what to write in it, start super simple.

Today, write:

• The weather

• A short quote

• A log of what you did

• Tasks you need to do

• The best part of your day

A pocket notebook should fit naturally into your day. Write more things as you establish the habit.

If you would like a full guide on how to get started with using a pocket notebook, become a paid subscriber, and you’ll receive The Pocket Notebook Starter Guide.

For those of you who are already using a pocket notebook: keep going. It’s worth it to have a paper trail of your life.

5 years from now, you’ll be glad you took the time to write down what an ordinary day in October looked like.

-Mark

On Tuesday, I traveled down to Birmingham, Alabama, with my childhood best friend to see Mumford & Sons in concert.

Of course, I brought my pocket notebook, but I also brought two other things I don’t normally carry: scissors and glue.

Lately I have been wanting to get more creative with my notebook by adding things other than ink. I love that my pocket notebook is a total log of my activities, feelings, and whimsies, and I want to take it one step further by adding physical objects that fit inside.

So, I’m going to start having scissors and glue nearby more often. Not only will this make my notebook a little more interesting, but I also think it will help me notice more because I will be on the lookout for things to put in my notebook.

Back to Birmingham: my friend and I sat down at the Alabama Peanut Co. because he loves boiled peanuts, and I noticed that they had a great logo on brown paper bags. So, I grabbed one, separated the logo, and glued it into my notebook.

Then, we went to a bar that had a functioning typewriter that they let people use. I have long admired typewriters from afar, but I’ve actually never used one before. It’s hard to describe the feeling I had when I started typing, but it was a little magical. I tried to think of some wise words, typed them up, cut up the index card the bar provided, and put it into my notebook.

Two of the main reasons I use a notebook are to inhabit today a little more deeply, and to remember these days in the future. Adding physical objects to my pocket notebook achieves both of these. I’ll pay more attention to what’s around me, and these will be anchors to remember this day with my friend.

Tools I used: any multi-tool with scissors would be good for this. I like Swiss Army knives. I use the Swiss Champ and the Classic SD that fits on a key ring. (For the sake of clarity: I left the multi-tool in the car during the concert).

For glue, I like UHU glue sticks. Especially these because it comes with a travel-sized glue stick.

Of course, you don’t need to carry scissors and glue with you to do this. Just keep your eye out for things you’d like to glue into your notebook, put them in your pocket, and add them to the notebook at home.

A bonus benefit: looking away from your screens and doing something tactile with your hands is incredibly good for you. Gluing stuff into your notebook gives you a little craft to do. Try it; I bet you’ll get a little spark of joy that you are giving your hands something to do other than type and scroll. More on that here.

If you try this, I’d love to see what you add to your notebook!

-Mark

ICYMI: Every month I send a resource to paid subscribers; October’s download is The Pocket Quotes Sheet. Get the full details here.

Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you buy through one, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend tools I actually use and carry.

I made a resource to help you start each day with inspiration: The Pocket Quotes Sheet.

Every month, I send paid subscribers a download they can use to live deliberately. This is October’s download.

A lot of people have asked where I find the quote I write in my notebook each morning. A few of you pointed out the irony of picking up your phone to look one up, just so you can write it in an analog notebook. So I made this to fix that.

I picked 31 quotes and put them on a single piece of paper that you can print at home, trim, and fold into fourths. Folded, it’s small enough to tuck inside your pocket notebook.

The quotes come from people like Mary Oliver, Annie Dillard, Henry David Thoreau, and Emily Dickinson. Every one is short enough to copy by hand in under a minute.

I write a quote every morning, next to the weather and what I’m grateful for. It’s an easy way to get something on the page and build momentum for the rest of the day. The Pocket Quotes Sheet will help you do the same without having to look up a quote online.

This download is available for paid subscribers only. Why join as a paid subscriber?

• Exclusive Posts - Posts only available to paid subscribers

• A Monthly Download - a new resource each month to help you put knowledge into action

• The Member Vault - a library of tools and resources to help you live with intention. Everything I’ve made, all in one place. View the vault here.

• The Pocket Notebook Chat - A daily quote to write in your notebook and weekly prompts to help you pay attention to your life. Plus, connect with The Pocket Notebook community.

• Future access to group challenges, book clubs, and more

For the cost of a coffee from a fancy coffee shop, you’ll unlock the full The Pocket Notebook experience - monthly downloads, essays, and access to the growing Member Vault of resources designed to help you live your life with purpose.

Become a paid subscriber now to access these benefits and The Pocket Quotes Sheet.

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Last Saturday, I woke up at 5:20 am. I grabbed my swimsuit and kettle and headed to the lake.

I was going for a sunrise swim.

I arrived at the lake at 6:07 am, made some pour-over coffee, and watched the world come alive.

Then the sun peeked over the horizon, and I went for a swim. It was one of the highlights of my summer.

It all happened because of my whimsy list.

On July 17th, I set out to have a whimsical summer. I had grown tired of thinking about doing fun things but not actually doing them. So I wrote down 10 things that I thought would add some fun to my summer. The 10 things had to be achievable, but they also had to take at least a little effort.

On the final weekend of summer, I completed the list with the sunrise swim and pour-over coffee.

The goal of this list was to help me prioritize actually doing things that bring me joy. The unfortunate reality for me is that if I don’t do this, I will drift towards whatever is the most comfortable option. Fun often requires effort.

This whimsy list was the perfect solution to ensure that I identify what I would enjoy and then actually do it. If you feel like you need to be a little more intentional with how you spend your time, here are the 5 steps I took to make a whimsy list and actually do it.

Identify what you want to do

I think about this quote by Boyd Varty a lot: “Track what makes you feel good and bring more of it into your life. Notice what makes you feel lousy and do less of it.”

This reminds us to pay attention to ourselves. What brings you joy? We all have the ability to be intentional about bringing more of the things we enjoy into our lives.

So the first step is to think about the things that bring you joy.

A helpful way to look at this: what are things you enjoy that you wish you did more often?

For a list of ideas, check out this post.

Write it down

While thinking about what brings you joy is a helpful exercise, it won’t do much good if you don’t make it a priority to actually do those things.

This is where writing it down comes in. I prefer a pocket notebook, but any pen and paper will do. Write down 5-10 things that you would like to do that will add some fun to your life. Write a box next to each thing.

Set a deadline

You have to set a deadline on your list. Without a deadline, your list likely will be buried beneath your other responsibilities. For my summer whimsy list, my deadline was the fall equinox. I did my final 3 tasks within 3 days of my deadline. If I didn’t have that constraint, I would have pushed off the sunrise swim. Now, it’s cooler in the mornings in Nashville, and I doubt I would make time for waking up early to swim in the cold.

Check in on your list

The easiest thing to do when making a list like this is to write down the list, check off one or two things, and then never look at it again.

Put the list somewhere visible so you don’t forget about it, or put it on your calendar to circle back and check in on the list.

Do the things on your list

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART: do the things on your list.

Between work, friends, family, screens, etc., it’s easy to not do the things that bring us joy. Fun ideas and good intentions easily fade away in the busyness of life. Combat this by prioritizing what’s on your list.

Life can be fun, adventurous, and interesting. But it won’t happen automatically.

-Mark

Paid subscribers: If you would like some accountability to get your list done, send me a message with your deadline, and I will check in with you at the halfway point to see how things are going.

My wife and I have been watching the TV show Lanterns on HBO.

I typically don’t go for the comic book movies and shows, but I heard so many good things about Lanterns that I had to give it a try. Plus, Kyle Chandler is starring, and his character gives slight Eric Taylor vibes from Friday Night Lights. I’m glad I gave it a try because the show is great.

For those who don’t know, the Green Lantern is a superhero who receives their power from a Green Lantern and a ring. They can fly and pretty much create anything just by thinking about it.

Side note: I am not a Green Lantern expert, so if I said anything incorrect, feel free to let me know in the comments.

While I was watching the other day, it was clear that Hal Jordan - the Green Lantern (the superhero)- is unable to maintain steady, healthy relationships with others because of the Green Lantern ring.

The Lantern looms so large in Jordan’s life that he can’t look past it to other parts of life that might be good for him.

It made me think of another object in a story I love: the palantír in The Lord of the Rings.

In The Lord of the Rings, a palantír is a magical stone that allows people to see and communicate across vast distances. One character, Denethor, becomes obsessed with the palantír. He uses it to run from reality. Rather than taking action on what he could control, Denethor despaired over what he saw in the stone. He couldn’t look away.

Of course, the palantír and the Green Lantern made me think of a magical device in our world: our cell phones. These 3 devices have a lot of similarities.

They all give access to unlimited resources or information. They have benefits that can help you or others. They provide a shortcut (sometimes to our detriment). They can be used to ease discomfort. And they can also block other good things in your life.

All of this is making me think about my relationship with my cell phone. These stories have warnings for us about the pitfalls of giving too much power to an object.

Cell phones are incredibly useful tools, but without guardrails, they will dominate our lives, just like the Green Lantern and the palantír did. Our phones and the information within them should not have unlimited access to our minds and energy.

With some routines and boundaries, we can ensure that we have healthy phone use.

Here’s what I’m trying this week: putting my phone in a drawer when I finish work so that I’m fully present with my life and my family. I have found that if my phone is in my pocket, I will check it. This makes me distracted and takes my attention away from what I truly care about.

If you want to try some small changes in your phone use, here are some ideas:

• Remove social media apps from your phone

• Go for a walk every day without your phone

• Leave your phone in a drawer at certain times during the day

• No phone use in the first hour after you wake up, or the last hour before you go to sleep

If you have any simple tips for healthy phone use, share them with us in the comments!

Hello! I’m Mark. Every week, I share tools, stories, and strategies for using a pocket notebook, analog living, and paying attention. If that interests you, subscribe here:

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-Mark

P.S. My brother is running a 30-day challenge in October to make an analog planning system actually stick. If you’ve got a half-used notebook sitting in a drawer somewhere, this is for you.

It’s about 10 minutes a day, with short daily lessons, six live calls with Matt, and a cohort of people working through it alongside you. All you need is a notebook and a pen. It runs October 1–30, and the cart closes October 1. Check it out here.

Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you buy through one, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. All products, offers, and recommendations I make are based on my own experience and use.

Is your to-do list buried somewhere? In your phone or in the front of your notebook?

This was a constant problem for me. I would put the tasks in my reminders app, or even write them in my notebook, but then I would forget about them.

So I created a system to get things done using my pocket notebook. I call it the Do What Matters (DWM) system.

I have created the DWM system over the last few years. It grew naturally from how I set up my notebook and use it every day. There is a 3-stage funnel for remembering tasks and getting them done.

We are not machines that are supposed to get as much done as possible. But I do want to get the right things done at the right time. I want to do the things I say I’ll do. It’s not about being productive; it’s about being deliberate.

Why use a pocket notebook instead of a phone for this? Because a phone has unlimited entertainment in it, and that’s not a good thing for getting things done. If you pull out your phone to try to look up a task, there’s a good chance you will get distracted by something else.

A pocket notebook has constraints. Limited pages, limited space, only what you put into it.

Writing a task in your pocket notebook makes it a tangible reminder of what you need to do.

Here’s how I do it:

The Master Do List

On pages 4 and 5 of my pocket notebook are 2 lists: The Do List and The Family Do List.

These are my master task lists. Everything I need to do goes here.

The Do List contains my personal tasks.

The Family Do List contains the tasks I need to do for my family.

These lists get transferred when I start a new notebook. If a task isn’t checked off yet, it goes in the new notebook. This is also a good way to keep yourself accountable to the tasks you said you’d do. If you’re having to rewrite the same task month after month, make it a priority to check it off in your current notebook.

I call it a “Do” list and not a “To-do” list because this is a list of things that I will do. It’s not a hope; it’s a commitment. I got this idea from Van Neistat, who got it from Cynthia Rowley.

Then I bring the master list to the present in the next stage.

Read more

On September 16th, the legendary writer Annie Dillard passed away.

This is just a few weeks after Wendell Berry passed. Two of our great elders who taught us to slow down and pay attention.

Before Wendell Berry passed, I had never written a “tribute” post. Here I am writing another.

I think it’s important to honor those who have impacted us. It blesses their memory and their work for us to take some time to think about how they influenced us. Because people like Dillard and Berry did something miraculous: they created, and they shared it with others.

So, today I will honor Annie Dillard by writing about one of my favorite quotes of all time:

I don’t know when I first stumbled upon these words, but it was many years ago. It has been with me my entire adult life.

This quote is one of the core reasons that I write, and most of what I write about circles the message Dillard conveys.

These words highlight that today is the most important day. It’s a reminder that we must value today and live deliberately, because today is all we have.

It makes me think: how have these words impacted how I live?

My current weekday schedule is:

• Exercise

• Write/read

• Family time

• Work

• Family time

• Cleanup house

• Time with my wife

• Bedtime

Annie Dillard’s words don’t change my schedule, but they do change the attention and intention I give within the schedule. They help me to try to live well within the day in front of me.

For me, not living well means letting screens dominate my day. It means getting distracted by social media when I should be writing, or checking my phone when I should be giving all of my attention to my family.

Living well means giving my full attention to what’s in front of me. It means focusing on family, reading, writing, and being outside.

Every day, there is space to choose how we live. There is an opportunity to prioritize what brings us joy.

Thank you, Annie Dillard, for this reminder.

-Mark

P.S. My brother is running a free 5 Day Bullet Journal Challenge, September 21st to 25th at 11 am ET. Each morning he’ll open his bullet journal and show you one piece of how he uses it, including a day on seeing where your time actually goes. Get more details and join the challenge here.

I write a lot of things in my pocket notebook.

The weather, what I did, highlights of my life, short quotes, my internal ramblings. They’re all things I find useful to pay attention to, and most are pretty normal.

I do write one thing every day that’s a little odd: the current phase of the moon.

It’s not because I love astronomy or astrology. Here’s why:

It connects me to nature

I’d say the main reason I track the phase of the moon is that it connects me to the natural world. It’s easy for us to spend the entire day in our comfortable bubbles of home and transportation. We can go home → car → work → car → home every single day without considering the world around us. I want to be more aware of nature, and tracking the moon puts me in a better mindset for noticing the world.

It helps me look up

I have spent too much of my life looking down at my phone. Anything that helps me look up is incredibly valuable to me. Now, when I go outside at night, I am always looking up and looking for the moon. It’s a little thing, but it’s so much better than checking my phone again.

It’s impractical (and I love that)

For most of human history, the moon was one of the primary sources for tracking the passage of time. It was practical to look at every night. Now, being aware of it has no practical use - but it’s those impractical things that I am trying to notice. Pocket notebooks aren’t practical; neither is noticing birds singing in the morning. There is a lot of joy in the impractical.

It’s fun and whimsical

I track the moon because it’s fun. I love knowing what phase the moon is in (waxing crescent if you were curious). It adds a little whimsy to my evenings to look for the moon and recognize its different visible shapes. It’s so cool that there is this giant object in SPACE that looks different every night!

Ultimately, tracking the moon helps me embrace what it means to be human. This quote by Wendell Berry sums it up nicely: “It is easy for me to imagine that the next great division of the world will be between people who wish to live as creatures and people who wish to live as machines.”

Last night, my daughter looked out the window and said, “Daddy, I can see the moon!!” If the only result of tracking the moon phase is that it helps my children be more aware of nature, then I’ll see it as time well spent.

Do you write anything odd in your notebook?

-Mark

P.S. A little bonus for paid subscribers: here is a mind map I did to brainstorm today’s essay in my pocket notebook.

Books are one of the greatest inventions ever.

These pieces of paper stacked together give us a chance to read the thoughts of the greatest minds ever to live. One of my favorite things I have learned from books is how to notice more.

Noticing is a skill that you can develop. Many of us are not very good at noticing because we have supercomputers in our pockets that can distract us at all moments of the day. But you can be a person who notices the world and yourself with more meaning. It just takes practice.

Here are 5 books that will help you learn how to notice more:

The Art of Noticing -

What it’s about: A book of exercises for paying attention to objects and surroundings in everyday life, wherever you are.

How it will help you notice more: The Art of Noticing will help you see how extraordinary every day is simply by giving more attention to it.

An example exercise is the counting game: Count 1 through 10 (or A through Z) using only numbers/letters you actually see. A 1 on a mailbox, a 2 on a street sign, a 3 in a phone number. This works well on a walk or in the car. The exercise forces your eyes onto surfaces you normally go past. You’ll notice things like the variety of mailboxes and signs you never would have slowed down to see before.

Devotions - Mary Oliver

What it’s about: a book of poetry by the patron saint of attention, Mary Oliver. Oliver’s poems cover a multitude of topics, but her most impactful ones to me focus on paying attention and recognizing the gift of being alive.

How it will help you notice more: Oliver reminds us that the world is worth noticing and that the more we pay attention, the more alive we will feel. This is your one life; don’t miss it.

I recommend picking one of her poems and putting it in a pocket notebook. Memorize the poem so it’s always in your mind. Two poems I have carried are: Why I Wake Early and The Summer Day.

The World-Ending Fire - Wendell Berry

What it’s about: This is a collection of essays, and it covers a lot of ground on topics of nature, society, and more. Specifically, there’s an essay in it called ‘A Native Hill.’ I love how he describes the natural landscape as he’s walking through the woods, and how he integrates noticing the landscape with philosophical pondering.

How it will help you notice more: Reading Wendell Berry will help you notice the natural world more and think more deeply about your life.

Here’s a quote I love: “Though as a man I inherit great evils and the possibility of great loss and suffering, I know that my life is blessed and graced by the yearly flowering of the bluebells.”

The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien

What it’s about: A fantasy story set in Middle-earth. Two hobbits carry a ring to destroy it and overthrow the Dark Lord. A timeless tale of good versus evil.

How it will help you notice more: You might be wondering how a fantasy story will help you notice more, but I’d argue that The Lord of the Rings is one of the best books you can turn to fill your life with a little enchantment. As you read, pay attention to how Tolkien describes the landscapes in Middle-earth. He describes it in such detail that I have found it has helped me notice the details of our world a little better. I wrote more about how to see like Tolkien here.

Awareness - Anthony DeMello

What it’s about: This is a book by a priest that goes over internal awareness. DeMello argues you are mostly asleep, running on programming you never chose.

How it will help you notice more: Reading this book will help you notice yourself. Notice who you are, what your actions are, and why you’re doing those actions. Are those the actions that you actually want to be doing? Spend some time thinking about this.

If you have any other recommendations on how we can notice more, I’d love to hear them.

In this newsletter, I write about using a pocket notebook, analog tools, and living intentionally. If that interests you, subscribe here:

Subscribe now

-Mark

Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you buy through one, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend tools I actually use and carry.