Sounds like my blank page footer templates would be perfect for your note-taking style… shameless plug!

About the portrait/landscape cards, I had the same problem. I chose the easy way out–I turn the card landscape, and write the date and purpose (e.g. client meeting, ABC project notes) on the upper left side. Then I turn the card portrait and take notes. When I store them in my disk-notebook, I put them in so I can see all the date/title lines. Works for me.

Thanks for your compliments and very interesting questions. My back-pocket 3×5 notebook (subject of next week’s Tuesday Hack, BTW) has become absolutely indispensable. I’m a big fan of traveling light, and there are times even a regular notebook is just too much to carry around (at a lunch-time presentation, for example, when there’s nowhere to push your plate of chicken carbonara to make room for your notebook).

I punch my own cards using cheapos bought in bulk from the office supply store. I use a Levenger portable punch; the card edge can be easily centered by feel, so I don’t need to use the guide.

You raise the most important question — the sideways factor. I carry around a mix of blank 3x5s (not ruled) and the small 3×4 cards from the Jotz mini-notebook, which are ruled sideways (i.e., holes on the left side). I try to use the Jotz cards for notes that will end up permanently in a file, and the 3x5s for temporary notes, sketches, and things that I don’t mind being sideways because I won’t be looking at them much.

Even so, my files can end up with notes written every which way. I find that this actually makes me pay better attention to the contents of a file. And when I’m searching for something, it also helps me visually “rank” items.

The reason I use the paper from the Jotz minis, BTW, is because I have 65 jazillion pages of it. When you order a Jotz notebook, they usually throw in mini as a freebie, each one packed with 60 pages of thick creamy papery goodness. When (if) I ever run out, I’ll probably switch to ruled 3x5s.

Which makes me realize that I should make an hPDA template for a footer that can be used on the long side of 3x5s. (I only have one for the narrow side at the moment). Thanks for the inspiration! Look for it soon on the Downloads page of my site…

Cheers,
Paul

Franklin Planner has this concept (I think they call it a Satelite), but the small notebooks are flimsy and of poor quality, as well as an awkward size. The sheets just tear off too, so it does not work as a hipster pda.

I have a couple of questions: you seem to be using the top-punched 3×5 cards. Are you using the Levenger cards, or punching your own regular cheapo cards? And how are you punching them?

One more question before you cut me off: when you put them into your master notebook, you must turn them sideways. Any tips on how to keep them organized?

Thanks, great hack!