[tylerneylon]

Paper and pen(cil) notes are the ultimate in low-overhead for a temporary close-to-mind data store.

I would disagree about the author's advice to use page numbers and table of contents, though; these add overhead, and for me the main advantage is ease-of-use, including close to zero extra work when writing something down. (Dates are useful, I admit.)

I keep a paper coding notebook of anything I might possibly refer back to ever -- things like basic how-to's on using new technologies, or diagrams of how I'm structuring my code.

I also use a simple open source work journal (nicknamed wj) that helps me make sure I'm on track in the scope of days and weeks. My plan is to end up with one or two sheets of paper that summarize what I did throughout a year - this is a great personal motivator to make sure I'm doing work that a future-me will be happy with. http://tylerneylon.com/a/wj/

[billswift]

Page numbers and table of contents are very important for finding the info again. Also, they don't have to, and shouldn't, interfere with note-making. I number the pages before I start using a new notebook, and add things to the ToC at the end of the day when I do a quick review, when I also make out tomorrow's to-do list.

[tylerneylon]

Numbering pages ahead of time sounds like a good way to avoid time-of-writing overhead.

I write down a LOT of my thoughts as I work - most of it I never refer back to again after that day. I like to use book darts (maybe two or three per notebook) to mark things I do refer back to more often. http://www.bookdarts.com/