I've been using org-journal in emacs. You have all the org-mode stuff, plus it's got a time stamp. I can search with helm-ag (silver searcher)
Ask HN: How do you take notes (useful note-taking strategies)?
21–30 of 32 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes (useful note-taking strategies)?
#22With a physical notebook and a pen. Old style. Tried several notes apps but there's something about freeform on a paper.
I also use it to keep track of my tasks as a to-do list.
Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes (useful note-taking strategies)?
#23Very roughly Cornell Notes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_Notes I have an "actions" column on mine.
It's always pleasant to find names for things. I haven't seen that term Cornell Notes before, but it's close to my method. I tend to use the full width of a page within a lab notebook, but use annotations in the left margin to mark them as Question, Person (recording contact info), Todo, etc. Everything else is general notes.
I use Bullet Journal methods for todo lists interspersed with that.
Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes (useful note-taking strategies)?
#24I created an app that allow me to take notes in context.
So lets say I am annotating a video online I am watching, the app knows the URL and take notes for that specific video.
Or lets say I am working in Sketch and have some todos or comments or information, my app knows what I am working in and attach notes to that specific context.
Or in Sublime, Terminal etc. I can even add notes to files and folder in finder.
That way I don't have to worry about structuring my notes (because I am not good at that) my notes are structured for me by my usage and always in context.
I am even selling the app now and making quite good money on it.
Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes (useful note-taking strategies)?
#25I experimented for a while until I found my favorite solution, which I'm really quite thrilled about. I treat my notes as if they were a software project, which is to say, a collection of text files organized according to domain-specific methods. I use a code editor to write and edit notes (Textmate in my case) -- this has the bonus of not just using my familiarity with my code editor, but it actually adds to the val…
thanks for the detailed explanation. I have a similar structure of splitting things into different files.
The only difference is I keep most everything on Dropbox Paper. Really love the markdown editing and ability to add images.
Monthly Plan - daily time blocks and a master tasks list
Active Project Notes - I keep a page with a section for every project I'm working on. I'll take log as much as I can, especially any problems I fix. Screenshots and the code markups help in case the issue arises again.
Documentation - The nice thing about Paper is that it serves as a great knowledge sharing platform. So our team will document as much as we can in here. Much better than our previous solution (Dokuwiki). I liked Dokuwiki but other people in our company didn't fully understand the syntax. It's also much easier to add photos and add data tables in Paper.
Then individual files for more specific things I want to keep track of (movies to watch, places to visit, etc..)
I use Evernote for dumping in anything I'm mildly curious about or might be valuable in my development work. But anything of more value and curation will go into Paper.
Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes (useful note-taking strategies)?
#26OneNote 2016 - lecture notes or rough calculation using stylus or typing
Xmind - overview of everything in my mind in form of mindmap
Notepad/Sublime - scattered notepad files on my desktop symbolize sticky notes or reminders
Mathematica 11 - Math & Physics equations with their interactive graphs and my notes on them, can be exported in TeX
Excel 2016 - Time Table, Daily routine, monitoring budget or expenses, time spent in various activities, my progress day by day
Powerpoint 2016 - writing contextual notes just under the duplicate copy of original slides
TeX - Formal notes worthy of sharing with others, I use the textbook templates available online
vim+ranger - saved code snippets and related notes
Sigil - annotation and note taking over epub textbook or novel
Adobe reader/PDF Expert - annotation and note taking over pdf textbook or novel or paper
Scrabook X (Firefox addon) - annotation and note taking over web pages, data can be later exported as epub file
Zim - Journal
Sound recorder - audio note just as a back up in a case I missed something during lecture
Video camera - explaining a point to your future self
I hope this helps.
Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes (useful note-taking strategies)?
#27Bullet journal looks interesting... It's a system on how to write down notes/tasks/events in a notebook. It let's you refer back to your notes easily. http://bulletjournal.com/
This is the way to go. I use a small Bullet Journal that I can carry in my pocket every day. I found Field Notes were expensive, so I use a Fold Journal (http://www.foldjournal.com). They are similar, have dot grid paper, and are way cheaper.
Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes (useful note-taking strategies)?
#28Your question seems to be more about learning than note taking, so here are some of my notes learning to augment what others have said:
To aid recall, use the quiz and recall method: "The idea is to study by lecturing out-loud, to an imaginary class, about the key concepts you need to learn. Something about articulating arguments in complete sentences cements them in your mind like nothing else"
from http://calnewport.com/blog/2007/08/02/the-straight-a-gospels...
Also the book How to become a straight A student by Cal Newport is thin but packed with actionable information. Highly recommended.
Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes (useful note-taking strategies)?
#29For project at work I use one Excel. One Excel for each different project. One single file makes later on very easy to search for key words or filter on columns. While I reuse part of the template for new projects the set of columns is usually new in each project but at least I always have columns for: follow up; who/with who to follow up, creation date, event (meeting, call, etc) deadline -only if hard deadline. It…
This straddles the line between genius and madness.
Re: Ask HN: How do you take notes (useful note-taking strategies)?
#30Very roughly Cornell Notes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_Notes I have an "actions" column on mine.
Cornell notes without the summary for me.
A big tip I once read was: "Write your notes in such a way that you can review them."
I now divide my page with a line which splits the page vertically in 1/3 and 2/3rds of the page. Write your notes in a series of questions/definitions. Then you can cover up the right side and try to use active recall.
I noticed that I used to make very sophisticated notes in class but rarely used them afterwards. This seemed like a huge waste of effort to me. I always used to be the type of guy who has FOMO if he doesn't write everything down while my best friend in undergrad NEVER wrote anything down claiming he couldn't pay attention otherwise. We both got stellar results, I think it depends on the person a lot.