I’ve been a student and learner my whole life. From high school through college and my career, I’ve sat through countless lectures, meetings and training sessions. The one skill that has helped me retain and understand information better than anything else is my note-taking. But not all note-taking is created equal. Through trial and error… Read More »The 7 principles of note-taking
You’ve taken notes, captured ideas, and collected information from various sources. You’ve followed the best advice on active reading and note-taking. Now, you find yourself standing before a towering mountain of wisdom and knowledge—a testament to your commitment and curiosity. But there’s one problem. As you stare at the heap of scribbles and snippets, hoping… Read More »How do you organize your notes? Piles, boxes, notebooks, outlines or mind maps?
The groundbreaking book Atomic Habits offers a powerful and transformative approach to habit formation that can revolutionize students’ educational journeys. James Clear argues that the key to building good habits and breaking bad ones lies in focusing on small, incremental changes that compound over time. He emphasizes the importance of creating systems and environments that… Read More »Applying Atomic Habits to Your Student Life
The power of focused inspiration: A lesson from Bob Dylan on curation In a remarkable speech at a 2015 gala, Bob Dylan, one of the most influential songwriters of all time, shed light on the true origins of his iconic songs. Contrary to popular belief, Dylan’s masterpieces did not emerge from a vacuum. Instead, they… Read More »Curation: Follow your curiosity and joy
Scott P. Scheper discovered the power of the analogue Zettelkasten system after initially committing to a digital version. While reading the book “How to Take Smart Notes” by Sönke Ahrens, the author realized that an analogue Zettelkasten allowed one to communicate with their notes as if they were a communication partner, something missing from digital… Read More »Chapter Six – Analog – Antinet Zettelkasten (Summary)
“How to Take Smart Notes” by Sönke Ahrens explains the Zettelkasten method, a note-taking system created by German sociologist Niklas Luhmann. About the book The book introduces the Zettelkasten (“slip-box”) method, which enabled Niklas Luhmann to become one of the most productive and innovative social theorists of the last century. The book teaches us how… Read More »How to take smart notes [Summary]
The Debate Over Handwritten vs. Digital Note-taking In a world increasingly dominated by digital devices, the age-old question remains: should we take notes by hand or do them on our phones and computers? Both methods have their fervent supporters, each touting their unique advantages. The Power of Pen and Paper Enhanced Memory and UnderstandingStudies have… Read More »Pen to Paper or Keys to Pixels?
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the amount of information you have to deal with every day? Whether it’s for work, school, or personal projects, you probably have to manage a lot of research, writing, and ideas. But how do you organize and keep track of it all? How do you find what you need… Read More »How to Build a Personal Knowledge Management System That Works for You
Recently, I came across an article suggesting learning by reading, listening and watching a little daily as a habit that can boost my productivity. However, as I read further, I realized that the article was not talking about learning by doing but rather by consuming information from various sources. This made me wonder: is reading,… Read More »Doing a little every day is better than reading a little every day
Learning is great, but remembering everything is impossible. That’s why you need a knowledge management system. Without a system to support your thinking, you may struggle to: A knowledge management system is not just a tool or a technique. It is a mindset and a habit that can transform your learning experience. By creating a… Read More »Why you need a personal knowledge management system