I use org-journal[0] in Emacs as a very efficient lab notebook. I use the Doom[1] configuration, so this is my workflow:

- launch Emacs

- type `Space n j j`, which opens a journal file customized the way I like it*, inserts a date heading and timestamp, and sets me in insert mode

- type my timestamped notes

I can do this from any buffer in Emacs, so it's really convenient to stop in the middle of something, jot down a note, and then go right back to what I was doing. I develop iOS/macOS software right now, so the switch to Emacs from Xcode is a little more friction than I used to have, but it's so useful I don't mind it at all.

* I have a weekly journal in a directory for the year, titled week number-month-day that started that week (this week's is `34_08-23`)

[0]https://github.com/bastibe/org-journal [1]https://github.com/hlissner/doom-emacs