How do you jot down your ideas?

I note down the ideas to work on in my mobile. Instead of typing in, I prefer to write it in my own handwriting. I had a big to-do list for my software that I am working on, and each time I complete a task, I open the app and then mark it done with stylus. It was a silent motivator to see the progress I was making, and to keep going and complete the rest of the tasks as well.

The mentioned to-do list was duly completed, and I am working on my second big to-do list now!

Dynalist.io

My ideas list is still very unorganized.

I also keep a (plain) notebook on my desk at all times in case its not just text that has to get out of my head

1. Get a small / pocket-size notebook - plain. And a pen.
2. Keep writing ideas as they come
3. Every month (wait for the time to pass and maybe forget about them) go through you notes and mark those you feel still worth psnding time on. - Important is to distance your self from the any particular idea for a while.
4. Next month go through them again... one will sufrace as most resonating with you => Take that one and put through business canvas.

Only have one at a time you are validating... other ideas stay in your notebook.

For me physical notebooks do not work. I use Evernote with the following workflow:

• Think of something? Create a note in "project ideas" with idea in title like: "${name} | ${shortDescription}"
• Sometimes it stops there but most often I'll fill in a loosely defined template over time that lists the most important points (competitors, design, architecture, feature ideas)
• Once I get started the idea moves to "projects" and a couple of sections are added: Bugs, Todo's, Sprints. I usually work on my projects' todo's in sprints (3-4 days of intense uninterrupted work)
• Project either stays there or someday dies off and gets archived

A big part of why we created Taskade was to give structure to notes and tasks. We built a structured document that lets you outline and organize in tree-structure, and gives hierarchy to your ideas, thoughts, and tasks. Give it a try! :)

I use Trello. I setup a board called "Ideas"
Each time I have an idea I send an email to the board and it sets up a new card.
Later I review the list and use trello (same board) to manage the stages like research, validate, MVP...

I keep it as unstructured as they come! Short phrases, bullet points, drawings, and diagrams in a blank sketchbook.

I jot them down in notebooks that I stumble across years later :)

I think the process of jotting them down is part of the process of clarifying your ideas. At the end of the day your brain is the ultimate arbiter of what's worth saving or pursuing. We shouldn't try to replace that!

I use Trello to keep tab of my ideas.

I created a private board called "Ideas Library" and in that board, I have 4 List labelled "Random Burst", "Validating", "Potential" and "Not Sure". When I have an a new idea, I create a new card and place it under the "Random Burst" list. When I'm ready to validate the idea I move it to the "Validating" list. If it has great potential, I then move it to the "Potential" List and set a time to likely start working on it. If it's worth working on for one reason or the other I move it to the "Not Sure" list.

Using Trello allows me to attach images, links and docs that is related to that idea, and help me to keep things organized.

Thanks all for all the feedback and suggestions. Seems like Trello might work for what I need, will give it a closer look.

An Evernote notebook titled "Ideas".

I use Microsoft OneNote

Mix of emails to self, Evernote and Asana.

I think adding some type of action step is key - i.e adding "research monthly search volume for IDEA niche" to your Asana. Otherwise it is easy to end up with a random pile of ideas and more importantly the "emotional burden" of un-acted upon ideas.

And if you can't get yourself to add action steps related to the idea, that probably speaks to your motivation and / or the quality of the idea.

Just my 2 cents.

Bear

I use onenote on the phone with a separate section for ideas.

I use Google Keep which is a little note pad app and I just open it up and write my idea down whenever I have one. I probably have 1000s of little notes

I use a single Evernote notebook for ideas, then if the idea has legs I'll make a special notebook for that idea and flesh out design, market, etc within that notebook and link to the new notebook from the original note.

I've tried numerous other methods as well Google Sheets, Apple Notes, various todo/note apps, etc. The closest I came to replacing Evernote was using several Field Notes for jotting down ideas quick, even sketching them as well. Sadly it didn't work to well for recalling them (no ctrl+f in analog paper), even the bullet-journal method of indexing was just too much for quick near-fleeting thoughts (eg, "Squirrel, I have this idea need to write down, "Ok, what were you saying," etc.)

I probably have a thousand different ideas in my phone / notebooks. The problem I have is that very few of them have structure in the beginning. Some of them are literally a few words in length while others are streams of consciousness.

Would be interested to hear more about how you plan to structure these un-structured thoughts!

Cheers,
Jonathan

Have you ever tried Evernote?

This comment was deleted 2 years ago