[binary132]

I struggle with this too. You need to find a process and system that work for your particular combination of needs and limitations.

My current best effort is pure-analog: I keep a small notebook for each distinct project. I also keep a box of index cards with dividers (now/next/tomorrow etc.) for things I’m working on. When I sit down to my workday, I start a list on a new index card, taking any needed leftovers from yesterday. I then schedule it into my planner for the day. If I need more space specific to a task, I start a new card and either put it or the active card in the “next” section.

The index cards serve to constrain the space and complexity of my active topic and to force me into a serial workflow. The notebooks are only for finalized plans and documentation, i.e. I treat them as the permanent record for the project and its higher-level organization. If I need to eventually I will organize an oldschool index card catalogue I can put references into in my notebooks but it’s nowhere near that complicated yet.

I also use emacs orgfiles for note-taking / “thinking in place” / as a scratchpad but I try to prioritize the analog system. It’s really efficient, and helps me control my complexity and avoid distractions. Digital systems easily get too big and complicated to manage.