Digital Note-Taking Systems are Great at One Thing: Capturing ideas. But it should do more.

Digital note-taking systems are largely idea capture systems.

The technology lends itself well to this function. But if your note-taking system does not help you produce something, then it is just a glorified to-do list. Your digital note-taking tools should add to the discourse about your interests and passions.

Your note-taking system should do the following:

• encourages you to develop and articulate your ideas
• allows you to build on previously captured ideas
• links related thoughts and concepts
• supports the generation of new insights and perspectives

A note-taking system that helps you do these things is an optimal one. The system is the means through which you accomplish your goals.

If you don’t know where to start, keep the following ideas in mind:

• Start small and let the system grow organically. You should not compare your system to a person who has a mature system. Their system matured as it needed to. It did so through trial and error. There is no way around this. Constantly reflect on how you can improve your system.
• Establish your inbox. This should not be your email account. In whatever digital app you’re using, you should have an inbox that serves as the single repository for all captured ideas and stuff of interest.
• Process the items in your inbox. If you don’t do this, it’s just a capture system. Some items deserve more attention. Develop a criteria based on your goals (oh yeah, set your goals- another essay).
• Create. As you collect more stuff of interest, you may see a trend in your interests. Write your thoughts down as if you’re going to publish them. Even if you decide not to, this approach makes you accountable to your audience. It also helps you right clearly since someone else is going to read it.
• Refine the process. Reflect on your current system after giving it some time to develop. Your needs are different from others so it makes little sense to copy someone else’s system entirely.

Good luck in your note-taking journey.

This post was created with Typeshare