You can also paint the bulb with red nail polish for a more permanent arrangement. At the telescope, a pencil and writing pad on a clipboard works well, as does a Dictaphone or tape recorder. I find using a small Dictaphone easier than writing descriptions by hand, partially because my handwriting is illegible but mainly because it is more convenient and allows greater freedom of expression. For sketching, a dark pencil, eraser and clipboard are useful, as well as sheets of paper with predrawn circles representing the field of view. Whichever record keeping method you choose, you should note the date and time of the observation, where the observation was made and with which instrument, the magnification used, and the condition of the sky.
Many observers design a standard observing form, which can be filled in at the telescope.
This ensures you don't forget some important detail. After the observing session, your rough observing notes should be edited and transferred to a standard record keeping system, which will map your progress as a deep-sky observer. Jeans and a T-shirt might be fine for warm summer nights, but cold winter nights demand a wiser choice. A sensible jacket, with several pockets, can be worn over a jersey and shirt to keep the upper part of your body warm. Wear two pairs of woolly socks and make sure your shoes or boots provide insulation, so that your feet don't leak heat to the ground.