What's in the Mini-Tardis? Mostly Index Cards...
The contents of one of my favourite things. A small blue box with index cards.
The Box Version (Version 2.0)
At the Coffee Creatives I always had lots of curiosity about what was in "the box", as I'd bring it out to make notes. I usually brushed off the questions with something like "oh just bits and pieces for different projects".
What is it? Originally a box for A6 cards (5 inches by 3 inches in old tech), version 1 was replaced by the slimmer, easier to travel with blue box (as seen in the pics). It contains a variety of A7 (and some folded down A6) cards with notes, pictures and various systems for organising my life.
Why? I wanted a way of being able to take notes and organise offline. And take them with me. This is small enough to take when travelling light and limited spaces means I'm concise when writing on the cards. I can work with the cards without needing my screen or being distracted by things on the mobile.
Box Things that aren't Index Cards
So starting with the Box, it's an A7 Blue Box that acts like a mini-Tardis. It's fairly sturdy but does chip if dropped accidently on a wooden floor. Mine is currently sporting a plaster that helps the closing mechanism.
Technical Details. Wedo 2507303 card box
Inside but not index cards are...
- A pretty cheap Papermate pen. It's easy to write with and sturdy. And fits behind the cards
- A smaller white telescopic Zebra Pen that's about 7 cm fully reduced. A spare.
- A hinge that came off when dropped. Awaiting some glue on my travels.
- A load of dividers. I should probably get rid of most of them.
Index Cards of the Blue Box
And onto the index cards. From front as stored to back are...
- Schedule And Leftover Cards. This includes a small card with schedule for the week, records of habits trying to set and a column filled out for each day . This week's is pretty barren as it's been a work week in an isolated Irish house. So this card has been neglected. There are also cards that don't belong anywhere else with a variety of notes and cards to re-use as the other side is done with.
- Weekly Welfare Deck. This is a set of cards used to complete weekly tasks, such as "Study Portuguese" and "Ideas Hour". If all tasks are completed by midnight each Wed then I get a card from the Rewards Deck and add another card to this deck. If it's not completed then a card gets removed from the deck. If only 1 or 2 are left then nothing changes but this can't repeat two weeks in a row. The decks grows when I have more time and reduces in busier months.
- Rewards Deck. This is cards with one-time things that I want to try, need reminding about or little rewards such as "Do Yoga in a Park" and "Try Streamside Cafe". I pick out cards as rewards for other bits and have until the end of the month to complete them or cross them out (thus giving a certain sense of urgency).
- Sketches. One of my current habits to set is putting aside more time for sketching. This is happening mostly in cafes and having the materials in the box makes it easy to make happen. When there are enough I'll review them and throw them away.
- Grammar Notes. My least favourite cards are the ones on Polish and Portuguese grammar. Occasionally I remember to study them.
- Solo RPGs. Character Records, random tables and notes for solo-roleplaying. Some are folded over A6 cards. Solo gaming grew in popularity during Covid and my latest Side Project. I've recently found a section of tabletop gamers who love random tables and play tabletop roleplaying games on their own. I'm trying it while traveling, usually an hour before sleep. It's a mix of work and fun.
- Blank Cards. Cards that have yet to find their purpose.
Finishing Up
Well that answers the question of people when they as "What's in the Box".