If you use a PC with Windows then you almost certainly have Notepad. It’s a really simple note-taking program — I hesitate to use the term “word processor”. You can’t do very much with it, but it has two definite advantages over other more “feature-rich” applications.

First, you don’t need a huge amount of disk drive space for your files, which are saved in text format (.txt).

Second, it has a handy little feature that makes it easy for you keep a time- and date-stamped log.

Here is what you need to do.

1. Start Notepad.

2. Type .LOG right ta the top:

Note that the case is important. If you type .log then it won’t work.

3. Save your document. Being a writerly sort of person, with vast resources of imagination and creativity, I decided to call mine MyRecord. Once you’ve saved it, close Notepad down and then open your file again. You will see something like this:

As you can see, the time and date I opened the file are displayed. All I need to do is press Enter and start typing.

Save the document.

4. The next time you open it you will see this:

Obviously I could space it all out a bit more, but you get the picture. Each time I open the document, Notepad places the current time and date where I left off, ready for me to make today’s entry.

I can see how something like this might be useful if you want to keep a log of your activities. This may be in order to prove to someone else that you’ve been earning your money, or to prove to yourself that you haven’t been wasting time.

Don’t scoff. The trouble with this writing lark is that quite often you put in a load of work and have little to show for it. This morning, for example, I spent about an hour going through a program taking screenshots for a how-to article. As yet, there is no article, and I have to keep reminding myself that I really have not just been loafing around!

If you’re not sure where Notepad is on your computer, just type Notepad in the Windows search box. )If that’s not visible, hold the Windows key down and press S.)