How To Take Smart Notes: The Ultimate Zettelkasten Guide
Learn how to take smart notes, based on the most important insights from Sönke Ahrens same-named book.
How To Take Smart Notes: The Ultimate Zettelkasten Guide
Learn how to take smart notes, based on the most important insights from Sönke Ahrens same-named book.
How To Take Smart Notes: The Ultimate Zettelkasten Guide
Learn how to take smart notes, based on the most important insights from Sönke Ahrens same-named book.
The book “How to take Smart Notes” by Sönke Ahrens, is a guide to developing better note-taking skills. It is accessible and practical while also thought provoking and inspiring. In this article, I review and summarise the most important insights from Sönke Ahrens' book, “How to Take Smart Notes” and show the 'how to' steps in action in Scrintal's visual note-taking app.
The book “How to take Smart Notes” by Sönke Ahrens, is a guide to developing better note-taking skills. It is accessible and practical while also thought provoking and inspiring. In this article, I review and summarise the most important insights from Sönke Ahrens' book, “How to Take Smart Notes” and show the 'how to' steps in action in Scrintal's visual note-taking app.
The book “How to take Smart Notes” by Sönke Ahrens, is a guide to developing better note-taking skills. It is accessible and practical while also thought provoking and inspiring. In this article, I review and summarise the most important insights from Sönke Ahrens' book, “How to Take Smart Notes” and show the 'how to' steps in action in Scrintal's visual note-taking app.
The book “How to take Smart Notes” by Sönke Ahrens, is a guide to developing better note-taking skills. It is accessible and practical while also thought provoking and inspiring. In this article, I review and summarise the most important insights from Sönke Ahrens' book, “How to Take Smart Notes” and show the 'how to' steps in action in Scrintal's visual note-taking app.
The book “How to take Smart Notes” by Sönke Ahrens, is a guide to developing better note-taking skills. It is accessible and practical while also thought provoking and inspiring. In this article, I review and summarise the most important insights from Sönke Ahrens' book, “How to Take Smart Notes” and show the 'how to' steps in action in Scrintal's visual note-taking app.
Smart Notes | What is a smart note?
Smart Notes refer to a note-taking system that includes simple notes with one main idea. These notes, as explained in the book: “should not only make it easy to find notes quickly but they should also point out relevant notes when you need them - even if you did not search for them”.
The idea of Smart Notes is rooted in the Zettelkasten Method, created by German sociologist Niklas Luhmann (1927-1998). The Zettelkasten Method is a personal strategic process for thinking and writing. It is one of the most practical knowledge management methods. Zettel means Cards in German and Zettelkasten means Box of cards. Zettelkasten Method is a system for organising note cards in such a way that each idea is small enough to fit on an 4*6 index card. The cards have to be useful in isolation and linked to other cards in the system.
There are three main types of smart notes, including:
Fleeting Notes: Jot down random ideas, thoughts, and information that untimely crosses your mind. And it’s usually unstructured and unorganised.
Literature Notes: Notes you make as comments to the text you have selected or marked down
Permanent Notes: Stand-alone ideas can be made without any direct context to other source information. It can be made as a recap or summary of the information.
There are templates available in Scrintal for all three main types of smart notes.
Smart Notes refer to a note-taking system that includes simple notes with one main idea. These notes, as explained in the book: “should not only make it easy to find notes quickly but they should also point out relevant notes when you need them - even if you did not search for them”.
The idea of Smart Notes is rooted in the Zettelkasten Method, created by German sociologist Niklas Luhmann (1927-1998). The Zettelkasten Method is a personal strategic process for thinking and writing. It is one of the most practical knowledge management methods. Zettel means Cards in German and Zettelkasten means Box of cards. Zettelkasten Method is a system for organising note cards in such a way that each idea is small enough to fit on an 4*6 index card. The cards have to be useful in isolation and linked to other cards in the system.
There are three main types of smart notes, including:
Fleeting Notes: Jot down random ideas, thoughts, and information that untimely crosses your mind. And it’s usually unstructured and unorganised.
Literature Notes: Notes you make as comments to the text you have selected or marked down
Permanent Notes: Stand-alone ideas can be made without any direct context to other source information. It can be made as a recap or summary of the information.
There are templates available in Scrintal for all three main types of smart notes.
Smart Notes refer to a note-taking system that includes simple notes with one main idea. These notes, as explained in the book: “should not only make it easy to find notes quickly but they should also point out relevant notes when you need them - even if you did not search for them”.
The idea of Smart Notes is rooted in the Zettelkasten Method, created by German sociologist Niklas Luhmann (1927-1998). The Zettelkasten Method is a personal strategic process for thinking and writing. It is one of the most practical knowledge management methods. Zettel means Cards in German and Zettelkasten means Box of cards. Zettelkasten Method is a system for organising note cards in such a way that each idea is small enough to fit on an 4*6 index card. The cards have to be useful in isolation and linked to other cards in the system.
There are three main types of smart notes, including:
Fleeting Notes: Jot down random ideas, thoughts, and information that untimely crosses your mind. And it’s usually unstructured and unorganised.
Literature Notes: Notes you make as comments to the text you have selected or marked down
Permanent Notes: Stand-alone ideas can be made without any direct context to other source information. It can be made as a recap or summary of the information.
There are templates available in Scrintal for all three main types of smart notes.
Smart Notes refer to a note-taking system that includes simple notes with one main idea. These notes, as explained in the book: “should not only make it easy to find notes quickly but they should also point out relevant notes when you need them - even if you did not search for them”.
The idea of Smart Notes is rooted in the Zettelkasten Method, created by German sociologist Niklas Luhmann (1927-1998). The Zettelkasten Method is a personal strategic process for thinking and writing. It is one of the most practical knowledge management methods. Zettel means Cards in German and Zettelkasten means Box of cards. Zettelkasten Method is a system for organising note cards in such a way that each idea is small enough to fit on an 4*6 index card. The cards have to be useful in isolation and linked to other cards in the system.
There are three main types of smart notes, including:
Fleeting Notes: Jot down random ideas, thoughts, and information that untimely crosses your mind. And it’s usually unstructured and unorganised.
Literature Notes: Notes you make as comments to the text you have selected or marked down
Permanent Notes: Stand-alone ideas can be made without any direct context to other source information. It can be made as a recap or summary of the information.
There are templates available in Scrintal for all three main types of smart notes.
Smart Notes refer to a note-taking system that includes simple notes with one main idea. These notes, as explained in the book: “should not only make it easy to find notes quickly but they should also point out relevant notes when you need them - even if you did not search for them”.
The idea of Smart Notes is rooted in the Zettelkasten Method, created by German sociologist Niklas Luhmann (1927-1998). The Zettelkasten Method is a personal strategic process for thinking and writing. It is one of the most practical knowledge management methods. Zettel means Cards in German and Zettelkasten means Box of cards. Zettelkasten Method is a system for organising note cards in such a way that each idea is small enough to fit on an 4*6 index card. The cards have to be useful in isolation and linked to other cards in the system.
There are three main types of smart notes, including:
Fleeting Notes: Jot down random ideas, thoughts, and information that untimely crosses your mind. And it’s usually unstructured and unorganised.
Literature Notes: Notes you make as comments to the text you have selected or marked down
Permanent Notes: Stand-alone ideas can be made without any direct context to other source information. It can be made as a recap or summary of the information.
There are templates available in Scrintal for all three main types of smart notes.
Important tips for taking Smart Notes
Select the Contextual Keywords to Store the Permanent Notes
Selecting keywords should not be about where to store information but about how to retrieve it.
Do not think about “Which keyword is fitting?” or “What category does it fall into?” Rather we should ask ourselves “In which contexts would I come across this note?” When and how will I use this idea?
Assign Keywords for the idea you’re working on, never for the note in isolation.
Find Meaningful Connections between your Notes
The more connected information means the more cues we can use to trigger our memory.
Ask the following questions to create connections in your notes.
1. How does this idea fit into what I already know?
2. Can this be explained by something else?
3. What does X mean for Y?
4. How can I use this idea to explain Z?
Select the Contextual Keywords to Store the Permanent Notes
Selecting keywords should not be about where to store information but about how to retrieve it.
Do not think about “Which keyword is fitting?” or “What category does it fall into?” Rather we should ask ourselves “In which contexts would I come across this note?” When and how will I use this idea?
Assign Keywords for the idea you’re working on, never for the note in isolation.
Find Meaningful Connections between your Notes
The more connected information means the more cues we can use to trigger our memory.
Ask the following questions to create connections in your notes.
1. How does this idea fit into what I already know?
2. Can this be explained by something else?
3. What does X mean for Y?
4. How can I use this idea to explain Z?
Select the Contextual Keywords to Store the Permanent Notes
Selecting keywords should not be about where to store information but about how to retrieve it.
Do not think about “Which keyword is fitting?” or “What category does it fall into?” Rather we should ask ourselves “In which contexts would I come across this note?” When and how will I use this idea?
Assign Keywords for the idea you’re working on, never for the note in isolation.
Find Meaningful Connections between your Notes
The more connected information means the more cues we can use to trigger our memory.
Ask the following questions to create connections in your notes.
1. How does this idea fit into what I already know?
2. Can this be explained by something else?
3. What does X mean for Y?
4. How can I use this idea to explain Z?
Select the Contextual Keywords to Store the Permanent Notes
Selecting keywords should not be about where to store information but about how to retrieve it.
Do not think about “Which keyword is fitting?” or “What category does it fall into?” Rather we should ask ourselves “In which contexts would I come across this note?” When and how will I use this idea?
Assign Keywords for the idea you’re working on, never for the note in isolation.
Find Meaningful Connections between your Notes
The more connected information means the more cues we can use to trigger our memory.
Ask the following questions to create connections in your notes.
1. How does this idea fit into what I already know?
2. Can this be explained by something else?
3. What does X mean for Y?
4. How can I use this idea to explain Z?
Select the Contextual Keywords to Store the Permanent Notes
Selecting keywords should not be about where to store information but about how to retrieve it.
Do not think about “Which keyword is fitting?” or “What category does it fall into?” Rather we should ask ourselves “In which contexts would I come across this note?” When and how will I use this idea?
Assign Keywords for the idea you’re working on, never for the note in isolation.
Find Meaningful Connections between your Notes
The more connected information means the more cues we can use to trigger our memory.
Ask the following questions to create connections in your notes.
1. How does this idea fit into what I already know?
2. Can this be explained by something else?
3. What does X mean for Y?
4. How can I use this idea to explain Z?
Taking Smart Notes is a Habit and will take time!
This is a habit and it will require time to get used to it. What follows smart notes is the writing process which will be so much easier as you’ll have your smart notes as your draft.
After a while, you’ll develop ideas far enough to decide on a topic to write about.
This is a habit and it will require time to get used to it. What follows smart notes is the writing process which will be so much easier as you’ll have your smart notes as your draft.
After a while, you’ll develop ideas far enough to decide on a topic to write about.
This is a habit and it will require time to get used to it. What follows smart notes is the writing process which will be so much easier as you’ll have your smart notes as your draft.
After a while, you’ll develop ideas far enough to decide on a topic to write about.
This is a habit and it will require time to get used to it. What follows smart notes is the writing process which will be so much easier as you’ll have your smart notes as your draft.
After a while, you’ll develop ideas far enough to decide on a topic to write about.
This is a habit and it will require time to get used to it. What follows smart notes is the writing process which will be so much easier as you’ll have your smart notes as your draft.
After a while, you’ll develop ideas far enough to decide on a topic to write about.
Ece Kural
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Unlock brilliance
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