How many empty notebooks do you have? Notebooks with the first page filled out and then nothing but sad, blank pages after that? Many people will buy a variety of notebooks simply because they are attracted by their beautiful appearance.

The problem is, once you come home, you don't want to spoil the pages until you've got the best idea for how to use them. The next best alternative is leaving the blank notebook in a lonely drawer somewhere.

The truth is, your notebooks can become far more than a collection of random scribbles. Pick any of these ideas on this powerful list and you’ll turn your habit for note-taking into a practice that unlocks your potential, unleashes creativity, and helps you become your best self.

1. Create an external brain

As a high-achiever, your head is full of ideas, to-dos, and project tasks all wrapped up in a million other thoughts. With so much going on, there’s not a lot of bandwidth to crack on with the real work!

You can cut through this mental clutter by emptying your head onto paper.Fill your notebook all the things you’ve got to remember, and all the filler thoughts that take over your head.

With a notebook serving as an external brain, you’ll free up capacity to crack on and get more done in less time.

2.Write your master to-do list

With the amount on your plate, you can’t manage it all in your head. That simply leads to overwhelm and anxiety because you won’t be able to remember everything and function at your peak.

Instead, write your master to-do list in a notebook. That’s a complete list of everything you have to take care of. From work tasks to appointments, to banking - even birthday cards. If it’s out of your head and on the page, you won’t waste bandwidth remembering.

This cuts the anxiety of worrying about what you’ve forgotten and boosts productivity by removing the faff of remembering what’s next. It’s a practice that boosts your motivation too. Try it for yourself and see.

3.Categorize the content to be recorded

Keep each separate subject on a separate page. One page could be things to get done at work that day. Another page could be a meeting agenda.

Another page could be books you want to read, or movies you want to see. Yet another could be things you want to blog about. But don’t mix the meeting agenda with your blogging to-do list. You’ll see why in a minute.

4.Track your habits

What you do on a daily basis will transform the results you get out of life.

So get into the habit of tracking the routines and rituals that empower you to be your best self. Track your exercise, the amount of water you drink, the steps you take, the social media posts you write, the sales calls you make, the books you read, and the minutes you focus.

Pin down the habits that will close the gap to your goal, start a chain of action, and use your notebook to track it all. Bed those new habits in and you’ll be a new person in no time at all!