📓 My Small Productivity Routine

How I Use an A6 Moleskine to Stay Focused Every Day

I’ve tried a lot of productivity systems. Digital planners, apps, complex Notion dashboards — all of it.
But the one thing that truly stuck with me is a small A6 Moleskine notebook.

It’s small, portable, and intentional.
It’s not about tracking everything — it’s about tracking what really matters.

My A6 Moleskine notebook setup

💬 The Quote That Keeps Me Honest

At the top of the page, I keep a small quote that reminds me what this is all about:

“Is this the real, most important thing that’s moving me forward?”

It’s just one line — but it’s the line that helps me check in with myself.
If the answer is no, I know I’m wasting energy.

⚡ The Structure of My Day

Every day, I open a new spread in the notebook.
On the left page, I plan the day.
On the right page, I reflect on the previous one.

Let’s start with the planning side.

🥇 Daily Highlight (Main Priority)

At the very top is my daily highlight — one single task that matters most.
This is my non-negotiable. The thing that must be done, no matter what.

I use black ink for it. Simple. Bold. Unmissable.

🟥 Second Priority (Red)

Then comes the second layer of priority — marked in red.
These are my four non-negotiables. I can have up to four of them max, no more.
These tasks are big enough to move things forward, but not so many that they become noise.

🟠 Third Priority (Orange)

Next are orange circles — smaller priorities, “nice-to-haves.”
They’re the kind of tasks that won’t break the day if they don’t get done,
but still give me progress and momentum.

🟡 Fourth Priority (Yellow)

Yellow is the soft zone — small or admin-like tasks.
They matter, but they don’t define the day.

🎨 Color Codes by Area

I also use different colors for different types of tasks:

🟤 Brown – learning
🔵 Blue – marketing
🟢 Green – my personal projects

This helps me see, at a glance, what kind of energy my day is built around.

⏹ Tracking Progress

For progress, I use small squares next to each task:

◻️ empty – not started
◪ half-filled – 50% done
⬛ fully filled – finished

If something is technically done but still in progress (like waiting for results or uploads),
I double-cross the square. That’s my symbol for “done, but still processing.”

🧠 Reflection Page

The right page of my notebook is where I slow down.
Every morning, before I plan the day, I reflect on yesterday.

I write down:

what I accomplished,
what held me back,
what I could do better,
and what gave me progress or clarity.

It’s a short process — five minutes max — but it helps me see patterns.
And honestly, it’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed consistent for so long.

✍️ Why It Works for Me

This isn’t a system about productivity for productivity’s sake.
It’s about awareness — knowing what’s actually moving me forward.

No apps, no tracking graphs, no dopamine dashboards.
Just me, a pen, and a pocket-sized notebook.

Because at the end of the day, clarity beats complexity.
And that’s exactly what this small Moleskine gives me —
clarity, focus, and a sense of progress that I can actually feel.

🖊️ If you’re looking for a minimal, mindful system to stay productive — start with a small notebook. It might surprise you how much it changes.

My Small Productivity Routine – How I Use an A6 Moleskine to Stay Focused Every Day