Practice / FIELDNOTES
Small systems, lasting habits.
A system earns its place by being useful on an ordinary Tuesday.
Choose a repeatable beginning
A habit is easier to maintain when its beginning is clear. Choose a small action that fits naturally into the day: reviewing a list, recording a decision, or preparing the next task.
Make the action useful even when there is no time for a longer routine. A small, complete step provides a dependable foundation.
Keep the record simple
Record only what helps the next person, including your future self. A date, a decision and a reason often explain more than a long transcript.
Consistency makes the record easier to read. Use a familiar structure and improve it when a real need appears.
Allow the system to grow
Look for the repeated difficulty before introducing another step. A process should grow in response to the work, rather than an imagined future.
Review the system with the people who use it. Their ordinary experience is the best guide to what deserves attention.
Give the important things a clear place, and enough room to be understood.