Capture on the Run
The practice of being always ready to capture ideas and thoughts whenever and wherever they arise, not just at your desk.
Also known as: Writing on the Run, Mobile Capture, Ubiquitous Capture
Category: Techniques
Tags: capture, note-taking, ideas, productivity, pkm, habits
Explanation
Capture on the Run is the practice of capturing ideas, thoughts, and insights in the moment they occur—regardless of where you are or what you're doing. It recognizes that valuable thoughts don't wait for convenient times.
**The Reality of Ideas**:
Ideas and thoughts come and go unpredictably. They're not constrained to specific times or places:
- In the shower
- While commuting
- During conversations
- While exercising
- In the middle of the night
- During unrelated activities
If you wait to write them down 'properly' later, they often vanish.
**Being Ready to Capture**:
To capture on the run effectively, you need:
1. **Ubiquitous capture tools**: Phone apps, pocket notebooks, voice memos—something always accessible
2. **Low friction**: The capture method must be faster than the thought fades
3. **Permission to be messy**: On-the-run captures are rough drafts, not polished notes
4. **Habitual awareness**: Training yourself to recognize capture-worthy moments
**Practical Tools**:
- **Smartphone apps**: Quick capture to your notes system
- **Voice memos**: When typing isn't possible
- **Pocket notebooks**: Analog backup that never runs out of battery
- **Wearable devices**: Quick voice capture
- **Send-to-self**: Email or message yourself
**The Processing Step**:
Captures on the run are temporary holding places. They need regular processing:
- Review captured items daily or weekly
- Expand rough notes while memory is fresh
- Route items to appropriate places in your system
- Delete what's no longer relevant
**Why It Matters**:
Your best ideas often come when you're not actively trying to think. Capturing on the run ensures these serendipitous insights aren't lost. It's the foundation of a reliable capture habit.
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