How do you take efficient notes?
24 comments
Look into Orgmode.
The challenge you are describing is of the cost of context switching between multiple tools as all your information that you need to recall to do your work (say about a project or a topic of what have you) is living in different places. Your tasks may be in todoist but it’s not great for writing notes to preserve context. Trello etc all have similar problems. Notion is too powerful in the way you can do a lot with it and it’s easy to fall into the paradox of choice there. Unfortunately there is no good solution today. Even orgmode that i mention has its challenges (mobile usage for 2023’s world is pretty poor)
Most of the time you end up using something setting up a system to take notes manage work only to move on to the next thing which is when you realize that data portability matters and you don’t like being locked into a tool. Enter plain text which has its own limitations in terms of tooling ,collaboration. Etc.
Not the answer you were looking for but a long winded way of saying there isn’t one tool/silverbullet. Start with something simple and stick to it. The more data in there the more valuable it starts to become.
The real question you want to ask and answer is why do you take notes. And the answer more than likely is going to be you need notes for different things which result in realizing you need diff types of notes and that note taking is more nuanced. And that you may be able to use something like orgmode as one solution to it all but it lacks mobile, collaboration support etc. you may then have more clarity on which tools you need to use for which type of notes. Or if you can live with one tool that does it all but trading off some other qualities you desire.
The challenge you are describing is of the cost of context switching between multiple tools as all your information that you need to recall to do your work (say about a project or a topic of what have you) is living in different places. Your tasks may be in todoist but it’s not great for writing notes to preserve context. Trello etc all have similar problems. Notion is too powerful in the way you can do a lot with it and it’s easy to fall into the paradox of choice there. Unfortunately there is no good solution today. Even orgmode that i mention has its challenges (mobile usage for 2023’s world is pretty poor)
Most of the time you end up using something setting up a system to take notes manage work only to move on to the next thing which is when you realize that data portability matters and you don’t like being locked into a tool. Enter plain text which has its own limitations in terms of tooling ,collaboration. Etc.
Not the answer you were looking for but a long winded way of saying there isn’t one tool/silverbullet. Start with something simple and stick to it. The more data in there the more valuable it starts to become.
The real question you want to ask and answer is why do you take notes. And the answer more than likely is going to be you need notes for different things which result in realizing you need diff types of notes and that note taking is more nuanced. And that you may be able to use something like orgmode as one solution to it all but it lacks mobile, collaboration support etc. you may then have more clarity on which tools you need to use for which type of notes. Or if you can live with one tool that does it all but trading off some other qualities you desire.
organice is a user friendly, cloud backed up, lightweight front end to orgmode (or based on).
https://organice.200ok.ch/
https://organice.200ok.ch/
... but looks aesthetically unpleasant.
Use whatever is in front of you.
Worry about the things being noted, not how to note them.
Worry about the things being noted, not how to note them.
I was searching for a note/knowledge/plans managing app just yesterday, and wasn’t satisfied either.
What I think I’d like to use is some sort of a wiki-based app that also allows to organize and present “pages” in a columns/grid format with some tabbed control around it. So I could store notes, links, tasks, snippets, everything in there, categorized visually. And add them with a simple “+” command. Something in spirit of https://new-tab.vlad.studio/ ( https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=vladstudio )
Right now I use OBTF.txt (one big text file) in a repo, with vim folds around sections. And Trello for task-y things. Pen and paper for ongoing “designs”.
What I think I’d like to use is some sort of a wiki-based app that also allows to organize and present “pages” in a columns/grid format with some tabbed control around it. So I could store notes, links, tasks, snippets, everything in there, categorized visually. And add them with a simple “+” command. Something in spirit of https://new-tab.vlad.studio/ ( https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=vladstudio )
Right now I use OBTF.txt (one big text file) in a repo, with vim folds around sections. And Trello for task-y things. Pen and paper for ongoing “designs”.
After trying quite a few, I started using multiple tools without worrying about sticking to one tool. This automatically free's up my mind space and allows me to focus on what notes to take rather than how I should format or which tool to use. The core point is that tools will evolve continuously, and it's hard not to switch.
I've learnt a method called CODE (Capture, Organise, Distill, Express from a book - Build Your Second Brain. It changed how I organised my information and helped me be more productive.
You can have a look and see if that methodology works for you.
I've learnt a method called CODE (Capture, Organise, Distill, Express from a book - Build Your Second Brain. It changed how I organised my information and helped me be more productive.
You can have a look and see if that methodology works for you.
I dump stuff into an Obsidian page, then clean and reorganise it. It's simple, but requires a little bit of self-discipline.
During meetings I often use my iPad w. Concepts or Apple Notes.
I prefer doodling when I feel like I'm focusing too much on writing down notes verbatim and not paying enough attention to the conversation.
During meetings I often use my iPad w. Concepts or Apple Notes.
I prefer doodling when I feel like I'm focusing too much on writing down notes verbatim and not paying enough attention to the conversation.
Obsidian.
Similarly as VSCode is an IDE for code, Obsidian is an IDE for knowledge and productivity.
There is a learning curve, but you can start right away, and learn as you go.
Similarly as VSCode is an IDE for code, Obsidian is an IDE for knowledge and productivity.
There is a learning curve, but you can start right away, and learn as you go.
I've been using it for close to 1 year now, but I basically use just the markdown files / editing / previews and folder structure.
Do you use more than that ? Any recommendations ?
Do you use more than that ? Any recommendations ?
There are numerous PKM (Personal Knowledge Management) frameworks available such as PARA method, and resources like books, courses, and Obsidian vault kits. However, in my opinion, it is better to create your own framework. You can start by organizing your thoughts, projects, daily notes, and tasks. If you notice a recurring pattern in your notes, you can create templates. Utilizing Graph view and Dataview plugin can help you identify the emerging structure, allowing you to make incremental improvements until you are satisfied.
Unlike SaaS tools and even VSCode, Obsidian has exceptional speed, and using hotkeys/shortcuts is crucial. To learn more about using shortcuts, I completed the Obsidian Flight School course[1].
--
1. https://www.linkingyourthinking.com/obsidian-flight-school
Unlike SaaS tools and even VSCode, Obsidian has exceptional speed, and using hotkeys/shortcuts is crucial. To learn more about using shortcuts, I completed the Obsidian Flight School course[1].
--
1. https://www.linkingyourthinking.com/obsidian-flight-school
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Wouter Groeneveld's book "The Creative Programmer" [1] talks extensively about note taking in one of its chapters and suggests a worflow mixing handwriting and using digital tools.
1. https://www.manning.com/books/the-creative-programmer
1. https://www.manning.com/books/the-creative-programmer
I use plain-text files stored as markdown to write notes. I have the note taking program open all the time. I revisit and refine my notes often as needed. I dump thoughts that distracting me from my current activities. I write often and it helps keep me grounded. This feels simple and efficient for me.
I just use vimwiki with neovim and hit <leader>ww if need a new note and its super easy to creates links and structures with vimwiki. I used to use Obsidian but once I learned vim I dont want to edit/write in anything that is not vim.
Try GetOutline (https://www.getoutline.com/) : Though its meant for Knowledge base purpose, I find it handy since I prefer markdown support for taking my general notes
I’ve had success in research with printed out mind maps, hand written notes and sticky notes. I put sticky notes on everything and remove them when I don’t need them anymore. I’ve tried everything and I still do though.
I use tasks managers such as Plocs.com and Taskwarrior, depending on the context I use keywords to create new tasks, they act as quick notes
Pen and notebook.
Look up bullet journal.
Look up bullet journal.
txt file living in a dropbox
You can’t beat that simplicity
You can’t beat that simplicity
zettelkasten + vscode + foam extension
obsidian / markdown
cron job to git pull/push
cron job to git pull/push
The trick to notetaking is to filter quickly and to use just enough structure to get through each project. Unless you are literally maintaining an archive, you aren't taking notes to be a librarian. Most of the things you could copy, you don't need to copy. The things you want to memorize, you want to dwell on artistically. So instead of copying those things legibly, draw them as a blind contour sketch. That transfers the "whole thought" into muscle memory, instead of atomizing it into the discrete symbols.
For shorter term written notes and research documents, I use spreadsheets. They are grids. Grids help organize things into nice cellular chunks. They can contain lots of asset types. I don't actually need the other spreadsheet functions, but if I did want to search my notes, I could export a CSV and write something to quickly filter through it. If I need a cloud spreadsheet there are options, but I've been alright with LibreOffice Calc.
If I only access the notes occasionally(e.g. financial records) or there's a need for intensive ideation then I have a paper spiral notebook. Again, I use grids as a way to add some organization - I got a bundle of A5 grid notebooks off Amazon so that I feel like "I have storage to waste". I also use a color multipen, and most recently I've added sticky notes to the arsenal. The point is to have some hierarchies and categories just already there by default - by position, by color or styling. The sticky notes are currently used as project to-dos that I can remove when done - thus when I look through those books I have a view into just current tasks, and done tasks - not things I said I'd do and didn't. If I need to share, I take a photo.
For on-the-go use I also keep a dollar store bound notebook and two pens(a multi and a fountain) in a fanny pack. I use a binder clip to close it flat and prevent dogearing, and I also keep sticky notes available in a tiny case I found at Daiso.
Notetaking bleeds into home/office organization too. You want to have duplicates for things and pre-divided space so that more of your projects are kept together - tools and notes available without a moment of "where did I put the...". Anything that turns into an unorganized pile with no "reset" state is calling for a space divider or binding of some kind, whether that's something small like a binder clip or manila folder, or large shelf storage, file boxes, etc. Electronic often becomes a huge hindrance for this kind of spatial organization by turning into a dependency gatekeeping information access behind an OS, apps, etc.
Sometimes there are units of info that you want to cross-reference - "plan A vs plan B", "section 2" and the like. For this you can invent short identifier codes or nmemonics. Then as the need arises you can decide how you want to collect and archive them.
For shorter term written notes and research documents, I use spreadsheets. They are grids. Grids help organize things into nice cellular chunks. They can contain lots of asset types. I don't actually need the other spreadsheet functions, but if I did want to search my notes, I could export a CSV and write something to quickly filter through it. If I need a cloud spreadsheet there are options, but I've been alright with LibreOffice Calc.
If I only access the notes occasionally(e.g. financial records) or there's a need for intensive ideation then I have a paper spiral notebook. Again, I use grids as a way to add some organization - I got a bundle of A5 grid notebooks off Amazon so that I feel like "I have storage to waste". I also use a color multipen, and most recently I've added sticky notes to the arsenal. The point is to have some hierarchies and categories just already there by default - by position, by color or styling. The sticky notes are currently used as project to-dos that I can remove when done - thus when I look through those books I have a view into just current tasks, and done tasks - not things I said I'd do and didn't. If I need to share, I take a photo.
For on-the-go use I also keep a dollar store bound notebook and two pens(a multi and a fountain) in a fanny pack. I use a binder clip to close it flat and prevent dogearing, and I also keep sticky notes available in a tiny case I found at Daiso.
Notetaking bleeds into home/office organization too. You want to have duplicates for things and pre-divided space so that more of your projects are kept together - tools and notes available without a moment of "where did I put the...". Anything that turns into an unorganized pile with no "reset" state is calling for a space divider or binding of some kind, whether that's something small like a binder clip or manila folder, or large shelf storage, file boxes, etc. Electronic often becomes a huge hindrance for this kind of spatial organization by turning into a dependency gatekeeping information access behind an OS, apps, etc.
Sometimes there are units of info that you want to cross-reference - "plan A vs plan B", "section 2" and the like. For this you can invent short identifier codes or nmemonics. Then as the need arises you can decide how you want to collect and archive them.
I cannot decide which way is the best one and what to choose: a Kanban board, sticky notes, pen & paper, or simple To-Do Lists?
Notion / Todoist / Trello / what to use...!
I save some content in Kanban Board, then I'm missing quick notes I can save with a simple to-do list app. Later I switch to Notion, but finally find it too advanced.
How do you take notes to make it simple and efficient?