Very helpful. It's like The Seven Best Habits of Highly Successful People (or whatever that was), but very specific. Healthy habits mean that one needs less willpower.
That is exactly it. I like to think of the gym freak, or athlete. For them working out doesn't require discipline, or force of willpower. They actually enjoy going to the gym...that physical struggle is a form of pleasure for them
This is very insightful – I'll try your suggested approach. I am struggling with the tone of notes the most. My real block is tone. The notes often come out advicey and I’m not sure which voice is genuinely mine.
I keep having this rich vein of ideas and quirks. But the act of sitting down and putting finger to touchscreen, is onerous and increasingly frustrating.
Like there's aicky lump of residue at the Spigot and pressure building up in the pipes.
I love the way you've articulated this idea. It's like there is the same quantity of output, but when it's all connected it makes more sense, and people can follow it better. I also find it makes it so much easier to write when you've got a theme or "gravitational center" (like you mentioned) in mind. Thank you!
I’ve felt that chaos too—sitting down with a dozen half-baked ideas and wondering why nothing sticks.
What you describe really resonates because the moment I started organizing my own content into clusters and rhythms, everything became clearer.
It’s like giving the nervous system a map: less decision fatigue, more consistent output. I explore a similar approach in my own notes, breaking big ideas into small, connected pieces that build momentum over time.
I love how the universe sent me your message this morning. To say I needed to hear this is absolute truth.
That last line sums it all it up:
"It’s where you stop chasing and start aligning."
This past week, every batch of my scattered and struggling thoughts lead me back to your simple statement. It's like every time you try to drive a car forward in a car that's out of alignment—you feel it. It's a reminder that you need an alignment.
For the last six months I have been interviewing for a job and last week I learned I would not receive an offer. In fact I am currently writing about it for my next post. I was one of 2 final candidates after hundreds of applicants. This job meant returning to the toxic corporate culture that I ran from after 30 years. I was trying so hard to manifest the job, knowing it would both remedy my financial problems, but also take me out of the alignment that I have worked so hard to gain.
At the same time, I have been "dating" someone who is not emotionally available. Once again, I am out of alignment.
I know what I have to do. It's time I do it.
Thank you so very much. I will be saving and re-reading this post again and again.
Such helpful insights, thank you! The core formats section in particular really spoke to me. I’ve been trying to hone exactly those kinds of tonal pillars for my own notes practice, and your explanation along with simply just seeing that I’m not alone in that pursuit is really reassuring! ☺️
Hey Rebecca. We are not alone. It’s so good when you finally have that feeling that you’re starting to make sense. I wrote spontaeous notes for quite a while and it started to really drag and get repetitive. That’s why I find it much more invigorating and just more fun to write a weeks worth of notes in one sitting
Some people have developed notes schedulers…I do think it’s probably a feature that they will role out at some point…however I think they probably want us to be on the app as much as possible and scheduling notes might mean that we open the app less often…..
This is great - I like how you touch on something that I ‘recognise’ even though I don’t have a word for it.
I’ve also recently just been writing and publishing articles (without emailing them around because I don’t want to irritate people on my email list) than once a week just because I find it easier to do now I have a structure.
Perfect. and I get that mentality. I thought that I would be bothering people as well. But if oyu have something to say that you really do think could be helpful then do send it on. Once a week is not a lot. I would think twice about daily emails but once or twice a week is fine…as long as this is easy for you to manage…
Thank you for the practical and inspiriting look at how you work. I am returning to Substack after a three month hiatus to focus on family, travel, and regaining my writing mission. Your post today is helping me reassemble my system. Much appreciated.
So good ! I thought the framework/5 core formats were especially brilliant… not only how they elicit curiosity in their own way but also how they connect to each other. Yes Ben, please keep me in mind when your notes system is ready. Thanks for your excellent work.
Very helpful. It's like The Seven Best Habits of Highly Successful People (or whatever that was), but very specific. Healthy habits mean that one needs less willpower.
That is exactly it. I like to think of the gym freak, or athlete. For them working out doesn't require discipline, or force of willpower. They actually enjoy going to the gym...that physical struggle is a form of pleasure for them
Yup, just systemize it and let the system run.
This is very insightful – I'll try your suggested approach. I am struggling with the tone of notes the most. My real block is tone. The notes often come out advicey and I’m not sure which voice is genuinely mine.
I keep having this rich vein of ideas and quirks. But the act of sitting down and putting finger to touchscreen, is onerous and increasingly frustrating.
Like there's aicky lump of residue at the Spigot and pressure building up in the pipes.
I love the way you've articulated this idea. It's like there is the same quantity of output, but when it's all connected it makes more sense, and people can follow it better. I also find it makes it so much easier to write when you've got a theme or "gravitational center" (like you mentioned) in mind. Thank you!
I’ve felt that chaos too—sitting down with a dozen half-baked ideas and wondering why nothing sticks.
What you describe really resonates because the moment I started organizing my own content into clusters and rhythms, everything became clearer.
It’s like giving the nervous system a map: less decision fatigue, more consistent output. I explore a similar approach in my own notes, breaking big ideas into small, connected pieces that build momentum over time.
I love how the universe sent me your message this morning. To say I needed to hear this is absolute truth.
That last line sums it all it up:
"It’s where you stop chasing and start aligning."
This past week, every batch of my scattered and struggling thoughts lead me back to your simple statement. It's like every time you try to drive a car forward in a car that's out of alignment—you feel it. It's a reminder that you need an alignment.
For the last six months I have been interviewing for a job and last week I learned I would not receive an offer. In fact I am currently writing about it for my next post. I was one of 2 final candidates after hundreds of applicants. This job meant returning to the toxic corporate culture that I ran from after 30 years. I was trying so hard to manifest the job, knowing it would both remedy my financial problems, but also take me out of the alignment that I have worked so hard to gain.
At the same time, I have been "dating" someone who is not emotionally available. Once again, I am out of alignment.
I know what I have to do. It's time I do it.
Thank you so very much. I will be saving and re-reading this post again and again.
Thank you Benjamin 🙂 this is exactly what I need for my next step on my writing journey ✍🏻
It was a pivotal shift for me. Keeping a certain kind of coherence is not always easy
I think it’s one of the most important yet difficult things to identify and uphold - you’ve shone a light on this in a way that makes sense ☺️
Such helpful insights, thank you! The core formats section in particular really spoke to me. I’ve been trying to hone exactly those kinds of tonal pillars for my own notes practice, and your explanation along with simply just seeing that I’m not alone in that pursuit is really reassuring! ☺️
Hey Rebecca. We are not alone. It’s so good when you finally have that feeling that you’re starting to make sense. I wrote spontaeous notes for quite a while and it started to really drag and get repetitive. That’s why I find it much more invigorating and just more fun to write a weeks worth of notes in one sitting
Absolutely!
Nice work, that description is just like my Crazy and Foolish work.
Great advice once again, Benjamin.
I just wish we could schedule Notes.
It would make the whole business of organising and planning so much easier.
Some people have developed notes schedulers…I do think it’s probably a feature that they will role out at some point…however I think they probably want us to be on the app as much as possible and scheduling notes might mean that we open the app less often…..
agree.
This is great - I like how you touch on something that I ‘recognise’ even though I don’t have a word for it.
I’ve also recently just been writing and publishing articles (without emailing them around because I don’t want to irritate people on my email list) than once a week just because I find it easier to do now I have a structure.
Always grateful for your insights!
Perfect. and I get that mentality. I thought that I would be bothering people as well. But if oyu have something to say that you really do think could be helpful then do send it on. Once a week is not a lot. I would think twice about daily emails but once or twice a week is fine…as long as this is easy for you to manage…
Thanks for the advice! I’ll take it on board - keep up the great work.
Thank you for the practical and inspiriting look at how you work. I am returning to Substack after a three month hiatus to focus on family, travel, and regaining my writing mission. Your post today is helping me reassemble my system. Much appreciated.
Writing within a structure is the secret of haiku.
So good ! I thought the framework/5 core formats were especially brilliant… not only how they elicit curiosity in their own way but also how they connect to each other. Yes Ben, please keep me in mind when your notes system is ready. Thanks for your excellent work.