The humble index card

The index card is so plain that it is easy to overlook. It is a small rectangle of stiff paper, often 3 by 5 inches, with lines on one side. It has been used by librarians, scientists, writers and students for well over a century, and it is still hard to beat.

Where it came from#

Libraries used cards to build catalogues, with one card for each book, filed in drawers. The format spread to offices and homes because it solved a basic problem: information needs to be small, separate and rearrangeable.

Why it works#

A page in a notebook is fixed. Once an idea is written on it, it stays where it is. A card can move.

• One idea per card. The size makes it hard to write too much, which keeps thoughts clean.
• You can shuffle. Lay the cards on a table and reorder them until the structure becomes clear.
• You can sort. Piles can be topics, priorities or steps.
• You can throw one away. A bad idea does not ruin a page.

Ways to use them#

1. Planning a piece of writing. Put each point on a card, then arrange the cards in order.
2. Studying. Write a question on one side and the answer on the other, and test yourself.
3. Daily list. Write three things you want to finish today on one card. When the card is full, it is full.
4. Capturing thoughts. Keep a few in your pocket with a pencil for ideas that arrive at odd moments.

Tips#

• Use a pencil or a pen that does not smudge.
• Date the card if time matters.
• Keep a simple rubber band or small box for them.

Because the card is cheap, you stop treating each thought as precious. That makes you willing to write more of them, and a larger pile of small ideas gives you far more to work with.