How to Take Good Notes

Whether you are at work, studying, or doing housework, when you think of something or hear something interesting on TV or the radio, you want to take a note so you don't forget it.
However, sometimes things don't go well, such as forgetting to look at the note later, or not understanding what it meant when you do look at it.
In the first place, if you forget to take the note, you won't remember it at all.

Today, I will talk about how to take good notes that are useful in various situations.

<Inspiration is a Race Against Time>

First, the most common situation is when you have a flash of inspiration, an idea pops into your head, or you want to jot down something that interests you.

The most important point in this case is to write it down immediately.

This is because it is said that important information or flashes of inspiration disappear in about a minute.
I'm sure you have experienced forgetting what you were going to write while you were busy looking for a place to write it.

This is a race against time.
It doesn't matter if it's a receipt or the back of a flyer; the important thing is to write it down somewhere.

I often get flashes of inspiration in the bath, so I keep a notepad and pen in the dressing room so I can write them down as soon as I get out.
Even then, I sometimes forget while I'm drying off, which is frustrating.
It's also a good idea to keep note paper in the living room or kitchen.

<Where to Write>

In the case of flashes of inspiration or ideas, it's a race against time, so anywhere is fine, but for work or study notes, it's better to decide on a place to write them.

Something I often do is write something down somewhere, but then I can't remember where I wrote it or what it was.

Have you ever experienced this?
If you lose the inspiration notes I mentioned earlier, it's all for nothing.

I used to keep sticky notes for writing down ideas in the notebook I carry around.
When I thought of something, I would write it on the sticky note and stick it on the relevant page.

Writing in a fixed placeis also a key point.

<What to Write>

When you have something you want to note down, write the main points concisely.

There is no need to write at length.
If there are several points, it is better to use bullet points.

Using symbols or codes can make writing faster and easier, but if you don't remember what they mean, you will end up in trouble later when you can't understand what you wrote.

Also, you shouldn't narrow it down to just the main points so much that you forget why you wrote it in the first place.

Scribbles are fine, but make sure they are legible to you.
This is another common mistake; I often find myself in trouble because I wrote too messily and can't tell what I wrote.

Write down the main points clearly.

<Don't just write and leave it>

Once you have settled down, be sure to read through and organize them and apply them to your next steps.

This is because if you are satisfied just by writing them down and never look at them again, it is meaningless.

For work sticky notes, you should also check them every day, peel them off when finished, and re-stick them if they are carried over.
By doing this, you can drill what you need to do into your head.

Review them without leaving too much time in between.

<The meaning of writing>

It is said that "moving your hands to write something" in this way leads to "brain activation."

Handwriting uses a wider range of the brain than typing, so it is more effective for memory retention apparently.
Your concentration increases when you try to take notes, and your memory switch turns on.
It seems that "the act of writing itself means that in over 90% of cases, you will remember it even without looking back."

Notes taken during school classes are also important, aren't they?

<If using digital tools>

Recently, I have also stopped carrying a paper notebook.
Instead, I use digital tools.
I organize and input my notes later.

What I use are Google Keep and OneNote. This is because both can be shared between my iPhone and computer. It is very convenient to be able to input from either and view them from either.

<Utilizing note-taking techniques>

Several methods have been devised for taking notes efficiently.
Here are some representative ones.

(Cornell Method)

A method of dividing notes into three parts: "notes," "keywords," and "summary." It is a method that allows you to write while listening to a lecture and makes it easy to review later.

(Mind Map)

A method of writing a theme in the center and spreading ideas and associations like branches from there. It is effective when you want to organize your thoughts or expand on ideas.

(PITA Note Method)

The PITA note method is a way of organizing notes by dividing them into four frameworks: P=Point, I=Idea, T=Task, and A=Action. It is suitable for meetings and discussion notes.

(Bullet Journal)

A simple method for managing tasks, notes, and schedules using "bullet points + symbols."
This is for people who want to consolidate their notes, schedule, and goal management all in one place.

(Pyramid Structure Notes)

This method involves writing the "conclusion" first, followed by the "rationale," and then specific examples; it can be used for creating proposals and reports.

(Zettelkasten)

A method of recording one idea per note and linking related notes to accumulate and develop knowledge, which is suitable for creative work such as research and planning.
I recall the late critic Kenichi Takemura saying that he used a similar method.

<Summary>

Notes are just notes.
They are drafts.
There are no set rules.

I believe the best way to take notes efficiently and effectively is to find what works for you by continuing to do it, improving it, and experimenting.
By doing so, your thinking will be strengthened and your learning will accelerate.
Please enhance your daily life and business activities with your own unique note-taking technique.

Thank you for reading. I would appreciate it if you could like and follow. I look forward to your continued support.

#LetsTalkAboutWork