[sathackr]

I've shunned mechanisms like this for fear I would become dependent on them, and then really in trouble if I were to lose the notebook, which, unless it was permanently attached to my body, would be quite likely.

Having 'the cloud' has started to help me. It's something I know I can't lose, so I'm slowly allowing myself to become dependent on it (things like calendar, short notes, and keeping track of receipts). And by the cloud, I mean google drive, emails to self, etc..

[qb45]

Hmm, doesn't writing something down increase your ability to remember about it later?

In my case writing seems to work as "hey brain, this stuff is important, don't forget". If I write something, it turns out I didn't need to. If I don't, it turns out I'd have better done.

[sathackr]

Yes, that is something. The act of writing it down helps my ability to remember it.

[lfowles]

Think about it this way: Would you shun glasses because it's possible to lose/break them?

[sathackr]

Probably not for the same reason, because they are easy to replace. A notebook full of thoughts is not.

Interestingly though, I have shunned glasses for fear of becoming dependent on them. I can see well enough without them, and noticed, after wearing them for a while, my uncorrected vision was worse than before I started wearing them. Whatever mechanisms my eyes had developed to see better became less effective after wearing glasses for a while. I lost the last pair about 4 years ago and haven't replaced it.

[lfowles]

I've used a notebook at well and I think you'd be able to work with the same strategy. The notebook is just ephemeral thoughts that you have the impulse to take action on, so you write them down instead of acting on them. At some point you move the worthwhile content to a better resting place. It shouldn't end up being an irreplaceable object :)

Edit: Specifically, I followed the Bullet Journal system: http://bulletjournal.com/