Reddit mentions: The best steno notebooks

Not insulting or haughty at all. It's good to hear about the minutia of a day-to-day ADHDer's life, because really hearing about successful use of tools is what leads to the introduction of new tools in our own lives.

I wish I had known of your method of note-taking (write it, rewrite it, skim daily) during my school days as well: I would have been more successful!

You're so on point here. Always have visible and accessible pen and paper where TODOs are recorded and related notes written (I do something a bit like this using (a steno pad)[http://www.amazon.com/Spiral-Steno-Inches-Greentint-Sheets/dp/B004ZKXUGW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1383233272&sr=8-3&keywords=stenographer+notebook]: I find the smaller paper size more inviting and the two-column layout easier to separate notes from tasks). I think this is the best first step in recording/recollection for us inattentive types, helping to start the process of "initiation" much sooner than when we need to recall the facts or tasks right when they're needed, possibly resulting in failure.

Ensuring the list is fresh by transferring remaining items to the next day's sheet is also big. I tend to make big (or many) lists full of lots of different things, but then I just lose the important items in the clutter. Transferring to a new list really helps. I also find it helpful to start a new day's page the night before, by selecting three items that must absolutely be completed, but no more than three. I don't remember where exactly I learned this particular trick, but it's true that the human brain likes things in threes. When we group three items together that we deemed to be of highest priority, I think we're more likely to get them done.

Thanks for sharing. I know I learned something: hopefully someone else will as well. :)

> Does anyone have any advice or tips?

I went back to school when I was 40. Refresh yourself on old concepts:

https://www.khanacademy.org/

> What kind of supplies should I bring?

In my opinion, and in the opinions of many others, taking notes with good old pen & paper is not only the most efficient method, but it eliminates the possible distraction of various apps on a laptop or tablet. Wait until you observe how many students are wasting time on Facebook or Reddit during lecture...



> What kind of supplies should I bring?

Personally, I prefer graph paper notepads like these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WTSFUY2


> Do I need a laptop, if yes what kind?

NEED? No. You don't require a laptop to be successful in college, but it would probably be helpful.

I've said this countless times before, a refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad is among the most ideal laptops for technology students.

Easy to repair. Well built. Great Linux compatibility. Easy to upgrade...

Here is one example:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W4AMWCI

As a student you should have access to Microsoft DreamSpark, so free Windows & Office...

Honestly, this is a common anxiety. A lockbox or mini-safe of some kind is a possibility, too, although there's a certain loss of convenience that comes with that. Digital journaling is also an option from a security standpoint, but definitely loses something as compared to physically writing, at least for a lot of people.

I'm a physical pen-and-paper girl myself, so I get the concern. When I was younger (like 16), on one occasion someone decided to have themselves a peak, and gave it away by the timing of something they said to me. From then on, I started carrying it with me in my backpack at all times.

Nowadays, I live with people who won’t disrespect me in that way, and that makes it a lot easier. So, as I like to say in response to this relatively common question: protect yourself while you have to, then surround yourself with good people once you’re able.

There’s also various locking journals pretty easily available on amazon or elsewhere, one of which I actually have. (This one actually: https://www.amazon.com/Password-Notebook-Stationery-Business-Multicolor/dp/B071CW17R7)

Now, I have no illusions whatsoever that this would actually keep anyone out that had even a little determination, but for anyone civilized, it should suffice just fine. Really though, I got it more because I think it looks cute… being able to lock it is at most just ritualistic if anything. (For that matter, my wife actually knows what my code is anyway, but I also completely trust she won’t read it, so it’s fine.)

Gorruck 34L GR2 Coyote Tan - a good bag, heavy, uncomfortable, probably give it to my grandchildren in like 50 years

Flip Flops - generic things

Bigblue 28W solar charger - very good, can charge my battery up during the day if i leave it in the sun which I've never really done honestly

Jakemy hardware tools - seamed useful? i've never needed this

Army glove shells - i thought i used these a lot and were indistructable but now that i think of it, i don't use them that often and are probably pretty cheaply made.

Sharpie, pen, all weather notebook - probably should switch over to a fisher space pen...

Straws - these are probably already broken.

Whistle - really really really loud

Fire-striker, matches, lighter - i'm not sure i have enough ways to start a fire

Fresnel lens - ok, now i have enough

LED flashlight - i used to go running in the middle of the night with this flashlight, its tiny

LED flashlight - this isn't the one i have but looks kinda similar? i don't remember where i got mine

Earbuds - generic cheap earbuds

Leatherman Surge - given to me by my wife for passing the bar. thanks wife!

First Aide kit - i put mine together from stuff i've stolen from friends houses whenever i go over and use the bathroom

playing cards - these look very similar to the ones i have, they are plastic so they won't get rained on

glasses/ sunglasses - i have really bad vision

personal hygiene kit - aahhhh dry shaving

Sawyer Mini / syringe, collapsible canteen (dirty), heavy duty straw - i've never used this

collapsible canteen (clean) - i've never used this either

sewing kit - i've used this a lot

ID tags - i guess if i get blown up they'll know my blood type?

garbage bag - for when my pockets are full

elastic bands - i use these when packing to keep rolled socks and things from falling apart

Salt - i have nooooo idea why i have this

cooking grate - i'm not going to hold meat over a fire with a stick like some sort of caveman

heavy duty ziplock bag - in case my mapcase breaks and other reasons

rip-patch - leftover from when i needed a pack because i bought a crummy cheap inflatable sleeping pad.

Army Fleece Beanie - i always keep this at the top of my pack

4 Bungie Cords - not the one i use but similar. to make a field-expedient shelter

Trowel - for disposal of biological wastes

Lensatic compass - because GPS should only be a backup

Pocketboy 130 folding saw - i have a bigger one for yardwork, this small one is really great

Tent stakes - for tent staking

Ravpower 26800 Battery - use this all the time can fast chage my stuff

Battery Battery holder, cables, wall charger - all fits togehter like glove!

Army Poncho - wear it, make a tent out of it etc

Microfiber towel - not the one i use but similar. i mainly use this for when the kids accidentally fall in a lake like they tend to do for some reason

Down Jacket - cheap chinese knockoff... i feel bad for not buying american

Wet weather top - not sure this is worth the space/weight

Wet Weather bottom - not sure if this is worth the weight/space

Silkweights - PJs! and warmth

Jungle Blanket - this is a lot better than the army's woobie. lighter and warmer

Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet - again, gift from wife. she wanted me to chop things and be more manly, generally. now i come home with parts of wildlife for her to cook

Map of New England - or, how i stopped worrying and love dismounted land navigation

PT belt - keeps me safe in all situations

Compression straps - i don't like lashing things to the outside but i guess i can if i wanted to

Fork and Spoon - stole these from the kitchen. i'll probably be replacing this soon with something titanium.

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EDIT: i just priced it out: $1,585.08 total

I don't user nicer paper for everyday use because frankly, I go too it too much to be constantly buying more, but I do keep a couple of nice notebooks for special purposes.

1. A Moleskine notebook/journal that I fill with quotes using different nice pens. These quotes can be from famous people or just someone close to me, but they're good to look through for inspiration/motivation when I need it.
   
   
2. For similar purposes as #1, I have a Rhodia notepad where I write down all the milestones I want to achieve and have achieved in my life as a sort of "checklist."
   
   Here are the links to the aforementioned:
   
   Rhodia notepad (in hindsight I wish I'd bought the wirebound one, but I got mine from my university bookstore on sale along time ago).
   
   Moleskine (you could probably get the same quality paper for cheaper btw, Moleskine is definitely nice but usually considered a tad overpriced for what it is).

Taking notes in session works for me, but the notepad needs to be small enough to be inconspicuous. I use one small steno notepad per patient/couple/family. From Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003CT3T7M/

I used these in hospice, and found I loved the size and green lined paper. Enjoy!

Congrats on the internship!! YAY!! Also, I live for office supplies ;)

We found steno pads to be helpful because at least the papers are held together in one place. Then, once they are full of notes, the pads can be put all together on a shelf and my mom likes that. Well maybe it's actually her OCD that does LOL. I suppose the challenge would be if your mom prefers to tear the note out of the book once she has written it down.

Bring a pen and a notebook. You want to have a record of life total changes to reduce potential confusion. It's also nice to write down unconventional card choices or things you know are in your opponent's hand. I feel like this is the ideal notebook for Magic events, but YMMV.

The best thing I've found so far are these Mintra 6"x9" steno books. The paper quality is an unknown and probably terrible (not that I needed the greatest quality paper in the world to scribble some notes into at work) but I'm likely to order a pack just to try them out.

why not an actual tablet like: http://www.amazon.com/Ampad-Evidence-Recycled-Sheets-25-774/dp/B000X6MWF2

made from recycled paper and less distracting than some snappy icon for facebook.

I wouldn't really recommend the phones if you're just looking for note taking. The phones are really more the size of these types of notebooks, so it's kind of difficult to take dedicated notes.

I'd go with the Note 8, if you're focused on Samsung, or Nvidia Shield Tablet if you just want a stylus.

The do make left handed spiral notebooks, I've found them in school supply stores for cheaper. Otherwise you could get one with the spiral on the top.

These markers, with This paper.

It took me a few minutes, but I found the link to them

Ok, old school as hell, but the classic Steno pad.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C78YMIS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_GUuTBb4FFHKSH

These are the exact ones I've always used!