The Simple Notebook Experiment That Transformed My Productivity

Photographer Peter McKinnon did something interesting. For 30 days, he carried a small notebook everywhere. He wrote in it constantly.

It changed his life. And when I tried it, it changed mine too.

The Problem With Phones

Here’s what happens with our phones. We think we’ll use them productively. We’ll take a note, write an idea, remember something important.

But then we unlock the phone and… we get distracted. Instagram, emails, messages, games. Suddenly 30 minutes are gone.

Phones are portals to distraction. They promise productivity but deliver procrastination—which is why many are now attempting a digital detox to break free.

The Notebook Solution

The notebook is different. It’s a single-purpose tool. When you open it, there’s only one thing you can do: write.

No apps to switch to. No notifications popping up. No endless scrolling.

Just you and your thoughts.

This might sound old-fashioned. But sometimes old-fashioned is exactly what we need.

What the Notebook Does

Here’s why the notebook works so well:

Captures ideas instantly. Ideas are fleeting. They pop into your head and then disappear. The notebook lets you capture them before they’re gone.

No friction. Unlike your phone, there’s nothing to unlock or navigate. Open, write, close. It takes one second.

Better memory. Writing by hand helps you remember things better than typing. The physical act of writing creates stronger memories.

Less distractions. With a notebook, you can only do one thing: write. No temptation to check anything else.

The Critical List

One of the best things about using a notebook is the “critical list.”

At the start of each day, Peter writes down about 8 things he needs to do—similar to the weekly planner system used by top creatives. Not everything. Just the critical things.

This is powerful because:

It forces prioritization. You can’t write down everything. You have to decide what’s actually important.

It creates focus. Knowing your critical tasks helps you say no to distractions.

It provides clarity. Starting the day with a clear plan beats winging it every time.

It shows progress. Looking back at crossed-off items is incredibly satisfying.

The Psychological Benefit

There’s something powerful about physically crossing something off a list.

It creates a visual record of what you’ve accomplished. Unlike digital lists where done items often disappear, paper keeps them visible.

Looking back at a page full of crossed-off items gives you a sense of momentum. It shows you’ve been productive, which motivates you to keep going—a perfect example of how tiny improvements compound into big results.

What I Noticed

After trying this for a month, here’s what changed for me:

I captured more ideas. I’d write down video concepts, grocery items, book recommendations, everything. None of them got lost.

I was more focused. Without my phone to distract me, I got more done.

I remembered more. Writing things down helped me remember them without needing to look back.

I was more present. When I wasn’t on my phone, I was more aware of what was happening around me.

How to Start

You don’t need a fancy notebook. A small pocket notebook works great. Something you can carry everywhere.

Here’s how to start:

1. Get a small notebook
2. Carry it everywhere
3. Write down ideas as they come
4. At the start of each day, write your critical list
5. Cross things off as you complete them

That’s it. Simple but powerful.

The Bottom Line

Our phones are incredible tools. But they’re designed to capture our attention, not to make us productive.

Sometimes the best technology is low-tech. A simple notebook does one thing and does it well.

Try it for 30 days. See what a difference it makes.

I think you’ll be surprised.