I have used a variety of systems for personal organization, from notebooks to legal pads, and PDAs to smartphones. I now use a combination of a smartphone, web-based task list, and a stack of index cards. I carry 15 unruled index cards held together with an ideal clamp (a big paperclip that looks like a butterfly). I use the index cards to capture information. Tasks that are not completed by the end of the day are entered in my web-based task list, and the index cards are retained for a month. If you have a scanner, you can scan the index cards and keep them on a computer. Index cards may be a ideal choice for missionaries who need a place to quickly jot down a phone number, draw a map, sketch a concept, make a task list, take notes and more.
Reasons why index cards are better than smartphones/PDAs:
- Writing on index cards is faster than using a smartphone
- Index cards are available in most locations
- Index cards are not likely to be rejected on an expense report, but getting approval to purchase a smartphone may be tricky
- Index cards are easy to give away
- Index cards are easy to let someone use
- The use of index cards is more reproducible/transferrable than a smartphone because it does not introduce an economic or technological barrier
- Index cards require little training to use
- Index cards do not become outdated
- Index cards do not create the appearance of affluence
- Index cards do not need power or internet
- Index cards are not likely to become a distraction for yourself or others
- Index cards will not reboot when you need them the most
- No one wants to steal index cards
- No one thinks you are texting or playing games when using index cards
- Index cards can survive being dropped on the sidewalk
- You don’t envy your neighbor’s index cards, as you might a newer smartphone
- Index cards can be easily destroyed, without fear of data theft
- Index cards fail predictably (fire, water) unlike gadgets
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