You cram information and figures into your pocket book. However later, while you’re prepping for take a look at time, it’s all a blurry mess. Scribbles right here. Illegible writing there. Wait—how did a “I coronary heart Taylor Swift” doodle get on the nook of the pad?
There’s received to be a greater approach to do that. Mastering the way to take notes—good notes—so that you simply don’t end up guessing what that squiggly line means.
“For those who take notes, you’re going to recollect extra,” factors out Jim Kwik, a mind efficiency professional and coach of Mindvalley’s Superbrain Quest.
With only a paper and a pen (or laptop computer, whichever you favor), you’ll be capable to soak up all that data in—snap—no time.
What’s the #1 Strategy to Take Notes?
The crown jewel of note-taking strategies shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all method. Relatively, it’s about discovering a method that resonates along with your distinctive studying type.
No matter how you’re taking notes, Jim recommends handwriting over digital note-taking. He explains, “Research present that while you handwrite one thing, you’re taking higher notes than while you kind it.”
In actual fact, the outcomes of a 2021 study counsel that writing phrases by hand, in comparison with typing them, would possibly aid you keep in mind them higher.
In fact, with that being stated, in relation to typing and never taking notes, Jim says to “kind it digitally.” The explanation? “The worst approach of taking notes shouldn’t be taking notes in any respect.”
3 Varieties of Observe-Taking
Understanding the three main kinds of note-taking—linear, non-linear, and digital—can considerably improve the way to take good notes. Every type has its personal distinctive strengths and caters to completely different wants and preferences.
So by familiarizing your self with these sorts, you may tailor your note-taking technique to suit your private studying type extra successfully.
1. Linear note-taking
Out of all of the kinds, linear note-taking is the most typical. It’s easy, and it’s excellent in case you choose simplicity and order.
It includes summarizing info in a top level view within the order it’s offered. As an illustration, in case you’re attending a lecture on the significance of wholesome consuming, your notes would possibly seem like this:
- Major Matter: The Significance of Wholesome Consuming
- Key Level 1: Advantages of Wholesome Consuming
- Improves total well being
- Boosts vitality ranges
- Helps weight administration
- Key Level 2: Elements of a Wholesome Eating regimen
- Fruit and veggies
- Complete grains
- Lean proteins
- Key Level 3: Suggestions for Adopting a Wholesome Consuming Behavior
- Planning meals forward
- Selecting complete meals over processed meals
- Consuming loads of water
- Key Level 1: Advantages of Wholesome Consuming
This methodology retains your notes tremendous organized. It permits you to learn it sooner and research later.
2. Non-linear note-taking
Non-linear note-taking is the place creativity meets readability. It permits for a extra versatile method to organizing info.
Listed below are just a few examples:
- Thoughts mapping is a visible note-taking approach the place you draw info round a central thought. You begin with the primary thought within the heart of the web page and department out to subtopics, which additional department into extra particular factors.
- Idea mapping is just like thoughts mapping, however as a substitute of specializing in one thought, it connects many concepts or ideas, type of like a spider’s internet. It’s helpful for complicated matters that require understanding how completely different ideas relate to one another.
- The Cornell Technique divides the paper into three sections: a slender column on the left for key phrases or questions, a bigger note-taking space on the proper to jot down important concepts or notes, and a abstract part on the backside. This methodology encourages you to assume critically about your notes by summarizing and asking questions.
These are just a few non-linear strategies that you may profit from when it comes to visible studying and the flexibility to see how concepts interconnect.
3. Digital note-taking
There’s little question that the digital revolution has reworked the way to take notes successfully. It affords productiveness instruments that cater to each learner’s wants.
Listed below are just a few you may try:
- Evernote is a flexible app that permits you to take notes in numerous codecs, together with textual content, photos, and voice notes.
- Obsidian is a novel note-taking app with the flexibility to create idea maps between your notes via backlinks and graph views.
- Google Maintain is a simple, easy-to-use app that permits you to create color-coded notes and lists, along with including photos and voice notes.
From apps that sync throughout gadgets to software program that may convert handwritten notes to digital textual content, the chances are endless. What’s extra, digital note-taking is especially advantageous in case you worth accessibility and effectivity.
So whether or not you’re jotting down concepts on an iPad or summarizing a gathering, digital instruments could make the method seamless and interactive.
5 Finest Observe-Taking Strategies
Do you know that while you study one thing new, you’ll forget approximately 75% of it inside 48 hours? It’s what’s referred to as the forgetting curve.
And an effective way to extend brainpower on this facet? Figuring out the way to take notes, based on Jim.
Listed below are 5 strategies that you should use:
1. The Seize-Create Technique
This methodology is one which Jim actually advocates. It includes dividing your notice web page into two components the place you’re “note-taking and note-making.”
Find out how to use it: On the left aspect, seize key factors in bulleted lists. On the proper, jot down your ideas, questions, and connections to current data.
Benefits: It encourages energetic engagement and transforms note-taking into an interactive brainstorming session.
Disadvantages: It is perhaps much less efficient for individuals who choose linear or very structured note-taking kinds.
When to make use of it: It’s nice throughout lectures or conferences while you wish to actively have interaction with the fabric and brainstorm concepts.
2. The Boxing Technique
Boxing your notes is a visible technique to manage them, grouping related concepts into compartments.
Find out how to use it: As you study, draw bins for every new subject. Inside every field, write down key factors and related particulars.
Benefits: It types complicated info visually in order that it’s simpler to know and keep in mind.
Disadvantages: It is probably not appropriate for linear matters or fast-paced lectures.
When to make use of it: This methodology is nice for topics which have clear chapters or sections. It helps make finding out for checks simpler.
3. The Charting Technique
This methodology makes use of columns to construction info into classes, making it perfect for lectures wealthy in information or figures.
Find out how to use it: Create columns for various classes and fill them with particulars as you study.
Benefits: It supplies a transparent construction for notes, particularly useful for data-heavy topics.
Disadvantages: This methodology works finest you probably have an thought of the lecture’s details, so you may create your chart with the related headings upfront.
When to make use of it: It’s finest for topics like historical past, science, or economics, the place you may categorize info simply.
4. The Sentence Technique
This methodology retains issues easy by capturing every new piece of knowledge as a separate sentence.
Find out how to use it: Write down key factors in clear, concise sentences as you study.
Benefits: It’s quick and easy, making it perfect for studying the way to take assembly notes effectively and for capturing a broad overview in fast-paced lectures.
Disadvantages: It’d result in disorganized notes which are tougher to evaluate later.
When to make use of it: It’s perfect for conditions the place capturing the gist of the data is extra necessary than intricate particulars.
5. The Sketchnoting Technique
Sketchnoting combines conventional note-taking with doodles, symbols, and visuals, catering to visible learners and inventive thinkers.
Find out how to use it: You combine drawings, charts, and visuals with temporary notes to create participating and visually stimulating summaries.
Benefits: For those who’re a visible learner, this could possibly be an interesting methodology. Moreover, it enhances your reminiscence by incorporating visible parts.
Disadvantages: It won’t be as efficient in case you’re much less inclined in direction of visible studying or drawing. Plus, it may be time-consuming in comparison with less complicated strategies.
When to make use of it: This methodology is nice for topics or lectures that profit from visible illustration or for individuals who take pleasure in inventive note-taking.
5 Widespread Errors to Keep away from
Even probably the most enthusiastic note-takers can fall prey to those pitfalls:
- Not taking notes in any respect. This may appear apparent. Nevertheless, as Jim factors out, skipping this course of altogether robs you of the chance to actively have interaction with the fabric and solidify your understanding.
- Copying down all the things. Bear in mind, verbatim note-taking is the enemy of retention. As a substitute, deal with capturing key concepts and paraphrasing them in your personal phrases.
- Poor group. Scramble to search out that essential piece of knowledge later? Develop a system for organizing your notes. Use headings, bullet factors, and visible cues to create a transparent hierarchy and improve searchability.
- Neglecting evaluate and reflection. Taking notes is simply step one. Schedule common evaluate classes to revisit your notes, reinforce your understanding, and determine areas that require additional exploration.
- Selecting the improper instrument. Pen and paper could do wonders for you. Or maybe you know the way to take notes on an iPad or laptop computer. Experiment and discover a instrument that enhances your workflow and studying type.
By avoiding these widespread errors, you’ll rework your notes from a passive file into a strong studying instrument.
BONUS: 3 AI Instruments for Observe-Taking
Expertise affords some spectacular instruments to boost your note-taking expertise. Listed below are just a few that may aid you:
- Otter.ai is a lifesaver for lectures, conferences, or interviews. Merely file the audio, and Otter.ai will transcribe it in actual time, full with timestamps and speaker identification. No extra frantically scribbling all the things down; as a substitute, you have got the capability to deal with actively listening and capturing key factors.
- Muse goes past easy textual content seize. It permits you to file audio or video lectures after which transcribe them with speaker identification and timestamps. Moreover, it might assist with summarizing key factors, producing flashcards for evaluate, and creating thoughts maps for higher visible group.
- Bear makes use of highly effective search performance that may search throughout your notes, together with handwritten notes, because of OCR know-how. It additionally affords a novel tagging system that permits for versatile group and straightforward retrieval of knowledge.
Bear in mind, AI instruments are there to complement, not exchange, your energetic engagement with the fabric. With that being stated, they’ll considerably increase your effectivity and liberate cognitive house for issues like specializing in homework.
Unleash Your Limitless
These note-taking strategies are only one technique to equip your self for achievement. However for a fair greater studying increase, discover Jim Kwik’s free 10 Mind Hacks to Study Quick masterclass.
Based mostly on his famend Superbrain Quest, you’ll study highly effective hacks to supercharge your reminiscence, clear psychological fog, and skyrocket your focus.
So say goodbye to “I forgot” and say hey to a sharper, extra energized you.
Welcome in.