4 Prolific Perspectives On Frictionless Note Taking You Should Implement ASAP
There Are Capture-Worthy Things All Around Us.
I’m big into productivity. Even to a fault at times but one of big things that’s so important to keep in mind, actually don’t keep it in mind, write it down instead.
“Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.” – David Allen
We come across new, interesting, curious, odd, share-worthy things everyday. It’s a great idea to find a frictionless way to capture anything that resonates with you that might be useful to your future self.
Also by noting it down somewhere you reinforcing and activiely thinking about and engaging with that idea. Working this mini intention can lead you to remembering a fond coversation with a loved one, a deep question, or hey, maybe even a million dollar idea. Just jot it down.
Here are 4 inspirations of mine when it comes to their approaches on notetaking. I don’t do each of these but I wanted to give a variety.
Don’t choose the shiny one. Choose the one that works for you.
🗒EveryDay Carry Pocket Notebook-Tim Ferriss
The notorious productivity guru carries a pocket notebook where he jots:Action Steps, Absurd Goals, Brainstorming, Quotes, Reviews, etc. I've carried one for 2+ years now and if I could use one word to describe it: handy. (The leather cover I keep my little notebooks in. I love brown leather. If you wanna be real fancy get a Field Notes )
🗂Notion+Readwise-Ali Abdaal
"I would spend all of this time over the last like 10 years+ of my life listening, reading, browsing, and watching all of this stuff, only really taking away a fraction of it and remembering even less of it and applying even less of it to my life. "-Ali
Ali is known for not only being a viral YouTuber but also a former Doctor. He consumes content at a super-human rate, but even someone like Ali has to store it all somewhere. He uses Readwise, which syncs/recalls highlights/notes from books, podcasts, articles, quotes, and pours it into the infamous Notion. All the content consumed doesn't go to waste but is resurfaced so it can be reflected on, shared, used, or re-purposed.
🖍Scribbles Over Scripts-Dickie Bush
"The single most productive thing I’ve done in my entire life was giving up trying to create the perfect note-taking system."-Dickie
Dickie, co-captain of Ship 30 for 30 tweeted this recently. 'nuff said. Perfectionism is the nemesis of productivity. Your notes should be scribbles not scripted. Stop looking for the perfect note-taking system. You won't find it. The whole point is to get the notes/ideas/thoughts/quotes/etc out of your mind and into your system.
🧠Building A Second Brain-Tiago Forte
"Building A Second Brain is a methodology for saving and systematically reminding us of the ideas, inspirations, insights, and connections we’ve gained through our experience."-Tiago
The Second Brain should be a catch-all place for any piece of note-worthy information for your future self. Tiago's system functions in conjunction to his P.A.R.A framework which breaks all notes into 4 buckets (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives).
Question: Where do you take your notes? How’s that working for ya?