Tracking Work Tasks & Notes with Index Cards

Using index cards for notes and tasks is not a new concept. Recently, I learned about the Zettelkasten system of note-taking, created by German sociologist Niklas Luhmann, which has gained popularity. Luhmann used this method to manage his extensive research and writing, contributing to his prolific output of books and papers. Also, systems like Baron Fig's Strategist Cards and Ugmonk's Analog System have emerged, adapting the index card format for note-taking and task tracking.

At first, I was skeptical about tracking my tasks and notes on physical cards. It felt clunky and inefficient. However, this past January, I decided to give it a real shot. To my surprise, my initial doubts began to dissolve as I continued with the practice.

I think what I love about index cards is the simplicity. Every day can start fresh with clear head and blank card. Tasks and notes from the previous day are easy to reference, and if something still needs attention, I simply move it to a new card.

By the end of the week, I have a small, tangible deck of completed tasks and notes. I can shuffle through them to review what got done, identify anything that needs to carry over, and get a clear picture of my progress.

Beyond just tracking tasks, index cards also serve as a record of what I've accomplished. I recently started reading through Oliver Burkeman's Meditations for Mortals", and in the book he emphasizes the importance of recognizing completed work to counter the feeling of “not having done enough.” This resonated with me. So now, I don't just use index cards to list what needs doing—I also use them to document what I've finished. Seeing that growing stack of completed cards provides a subtle but powerful sense of momentum.

Three months into this experiment, I'm still finding index cards to be a valuable tool. Your mileage may vary, but if you're curious about analog productivity, they're worth a try. And if you want to level up the experience, I recommend picking up some high-quality cards—I've been using Notsu cards I picked up from The Gentleman Stationer—and a simple wooden index card box from Amazon for storage.