Ability to enter time on timesheet view and add notes at the same time

We currently have a validation rule which requires the notes field on a time log to not be blank. This is preventing users from quickly/easily logging time right away with the timesheet view, but they can't because the note field is blank, and you can't edit the note field until after you have saved your time in the timesheet view. It has essentially made the timesheet view/log pointless as we cannot add new records to it, only edit/view records.